Apparatus for non-invasive mechanical ventilation

• US 20060283451A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, Co.
• Original Assignee: Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, Co.
• Inventors: Albertelli, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,240,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.280
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for non-invasive mechanical ventilation comprises a fan (2) of Bi-level type, or BiPAP, for generating an air flow according to a succession of inspiration steps, or IPAP, and exhalation steps, or EPAP. The flow is conveyed in the aerial ducts of a patient (25) by means of a flexible tube (3) connected to a nasal mask (4). A flexible air reservoir (5) is provided pneumatically connected to the duct (3) and the nasal mask (4) in order to subtract from the inspiration flow a certain air amount before that it reaches the patient (25) at the beginning of an IPAP step. During the exhalation EPAP step, since the air flow pressure decreases automatically, there is the emptying at least partial of the flexible air reservoir (5), whereas the air exhaled by the patient exits through an opening (14) made on the nasal mask (4). This way an air exchange occurs also in the most peripheral patient'"'"'s aerial ducts and the amount of gaseous exchanges is increased, reducing at the same time the duration of the treatment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for non-invasive mechanical ventilation, comprising:

a) means for generating an air flow according to a predetermined pressures cycle comprising a succession of inspiration steps, or IPAP, and exhalation steps, or EPAP, wherein each inspiration step has its apex with a maximum pressure and each exhalation step ends with a minimum pressure;

b) means for conveying said air flow to a patient'"'"'s aerial ducts; and

,

c) means for subtracting a predetermined air amount from said flow at the beginning of said inspiration step, said means for subtracting being in pneumatic connection with said means for conveying.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for subtracting comprise at least one air reservoir suitable for filling of air between said EPAP step and the following IPAP step, thus subtracting said predetermined air amount to said flow.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is a flexible container suitable for filling of air during the IPAP step and emptying at least in part during the EPAP step.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said reservoir is a flexible container suitable for filling of air during the IPAP step and emptying at least in part during the EPAP step.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said flexible container is a bag or a balloon.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said flexible container has accordion-like involutions for expansion and contraction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for subtracting air comprises a pneumatic air subtraction system suitable for adjusting the subtracted air amount in synchronism with the beginning of said IPAP step.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for subtracting air comprises a calibrated opening made in said means for conveying.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for conveying comprises a duct and a nasal mask, said means for subtracting being operatively connected to said nasal mask or to said duct by means of a junction fitting.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 67, wherein said calibrated opening is opened and closed automatically.