VENTILATOR BREATH CONDENSATE SAMPLER AND METHOD OF COLLECTING A BREATH CONDENSATE SAMPLE
First Claim
1. A breath condensate sampler for use with a mechanical ventilator delivering respiratory support to a patient via a breathing circuit with an inspiratory limb and an expiratory limb, the breath condensate sampler comprising:
- an air flow valve disposed to receive exhaled gases from the patient and present within the expiratory limb, the air flow valve being movable between a first position that allows exhaled gases to flow through the air flow valve and a second position that directs exhaled gases to flow through the breath condensate sampler;
a condensate formation means for separating the condensate portion of the exhaled gases from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases; and
a condensate collection means for collecting the condensate portion of the exhaled gases;
wherein when the air flow valve is in the second position, the condensate collection means collects the condensate portion of the exhaled gases as it is separated from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breath condensate sampler for use with a mechanical ventilator, the breath condensate sampler comprises an airflow valve disposed in the expiratory limb of the ventilator, a condensate formation means, and a condensate collection means. The airflow valve directs air from the expiratory limb into the breath condensate sampler wherein the condensate portion of exhaled gases are separated from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases. A method of collecting a breath condensate sample is also herein disclosed.
57 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A breath condensate sampler for use with a mechanical ventilator delivering respiratory support to a patient via a breathing circuit with an inspiratory limb and an expiratory limb, the breath condensate sampler comprising:
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an air flow valve disposed to receive exhaled gases from the patient and present within the expiratory limb, the air flow valve being movable between a first position that allows exhaled gases to flow through the air flow valve and a second position that directs exhaled gases to flow through the breath condensate sampler; a condensate formation means for separating the condensate portion of the exhaled gases from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases; and a condensate collection means for collecting the condensate portion of the exhaled gases; wherein when the air flow valve is in the second position, the condensate collection means collects the condensate portion of the exhaled gases as it is separated from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A mechanical ventilation system for providing respiratory support to a patient via a ventilator, an inspiratory limb, and an expiratory limb, the ventilation system comprising:
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a breath condensate sampler for collection of condensate from a patient'"'"'s expired breath, the sampler comprising; an air flow valve disposed in fluid connection with the expiratory limb; a condensate formation means for separating the condensate from the expired breath; and a condensate collection receptacle; wherein the air flow valve has a first position where the condensate formation means and condensate receptacle are mechanically isolated from the expired breath and the expired breath flows through the air flow valve and a second position where the expired breath is directed to flow through the condensate formation means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of collecting a sample of exhaled breath concentrate from a patient receiving mechanical ventilation via a mechanical ventilator;
- the method comprising the steps of;
inserting an exhaled breath concentrate sampler in fluid connection with an expiratory limb of the ventilator; activating;
the sampler to collect a sample of exhaled breath concentrate;shunting exhaled breath from the expiratory limb into the exhaled breath concentrate sampler; monitoring the progression of the collection of the sample of exhaled breath concentrate; ending the concentrate sample collection when the exhaled breath concentrate sample reaches a threshold volume; returning the flow of exhaled breath in the expiratory limb; and analyzing the exhaled breath concentrate sample to determine the constituent concentrates. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- the method comprising the steps of;
Specification