APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING MECHANICAL VENTILATOR NOISE

• US 20080127976A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tham, Robert Q., Acker, Jaron M., Pinkert, John R., Bilek, Kristopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0627 with sealing means on a part of the body other than the face, e.g. helmets, hoods or domes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A sound dampening apparatus to be disposed in pneumatic connection with a respiratory support system. The respiratory support system may comprise a source of medical gas, a plurality of pneumatic connections and a patient interface. The sound dampening apparatus comprises an inlet, an outlet, and an outer case which forms a sound dampening chamber. As the medical gas flows through the sound dampening apparatus, the noise energy associated with the flow of medical gas is reduced.

Claims

1. A sound dampening apparatus for a respiratory support system, the apparatus comprising:

an inlet disposed for receiving a flow of medical gas;

an outlet for discharging the flow of medical gas from the apparatus; and

an outer casing physically connecting the inlet and the outlet and forming a sound dampening chamber pneumatically connected to both the inlet and the outlet,

wherein noise associated with the flow of medical gas is reduced as the flow of medical gas flows through the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sound absorbent material disposed within the sound dampening chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inlet comprises an end piece extending into the sound dampening chamber, the end piece directing the flow of medical gas towards the sound absorbent material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the end piece further comprises sound absorbent material positioned to contact the flow of medical gas and reduce the noise of the flow of medical gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the end piece further comprises a plurality of passages located proximally to the sound absorbent material, the end piece directing the flow of medical gas through the passages.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the end piece redirects the flow of the medical gas through the passages such that the medical gas comes in contact with the sound absorbent material disposed within the sound dampening chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the outlet comprises an end piece, the end piece comprising sound absorbent material and a plurality of second passages located proximally to the sound absorbent material wherein the flow through the apparatus may be bi-directional.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise associated with the flow of medical gas is reduced by the cancellation of the noise by noise reflected off of the outer casing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a perforated core extending through the sound dampening chamber and physically connecting the inlet and the outlet, the perforated core comprising a plurality of perforations.

10. A sound dampening muffler to be pneumatically connected to a respiratory support system, the apparatus comprising:

an inlet disposed for receiving a flow of medical gas;

an outlet for discharging the flow of medical gas from the apparatus; and

an outer casing physically connecting the inlet and the outlet and forming a sound dampening chamber pneumatically connected to the inlet and the outlet; and

sound absorbent material disposed within the sound dampening chamber;

wherein the noise energy associated with the flow of medical gas is reduced as the flow of medical gas flows though the muffler.

11. The muffler of claim 10 wherein the inlet comprises an end piece, sound absorbent material disposed within the end piece, and a plurality of passages located proximally to the sound absorbent material, wherein the end piece directs the flow of medical gas into the sound dampening chamber.

12. The muffler of claim 11 wherein the sound absorbent material is a foam.

13. The muffler of claim 11 wherein the sound absorbent material is removably disposed within the sound dampening chamber.

14. A mechanical ventilation system for providing medical gas to a patient, the mechanical ventilation system comprising:

a source of medical gas;

a patient connection to facilitate the delivery of the medical gas to the patient;

a conduit connecting the source of medical gas to the patient connection, the conduit comprising a plurality of conduit sections and modules; and

a sound dampening apparatus connected to at least one of the plurality of conduit sections or modules, the apparatus comprising an inlet, an outlet, and an outer case physically connecting the inlet to the outlet and forming a sound dampening chamber pneumatically connecting the inlet to the outlet;

wherein the apparatus reduces the noise experienced by the patient due to the provision of the medical gas without substantially increasing the pneumatic resistance between the source of medical gas and the patient connection.

15. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 14 further comprising sound absorbent material disposed in the sound dampening chamber, wherein the inlet comprises an end piece and a plurality of passages for directing the medical gas into the sound dampening chamber.

16. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 14 wherein the muffler further comprises a perforated core connecting the inlet and the outlet.

17. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is connected to the patient connection.

18. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 14 further comprising a ventilator, wherein the apparatus is connected to the ventilator.

19. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 18 further comprising a manifold associated with the ventilator, wherein the apparatus is connected to the manifold.

20. The mechanical ventilation system of claim 16 wherein at least one conduit section is selected from the list comprising:

a manifold, a Y-connector, a moisture trap, a humidifier, a gas sampling module, and a heat and moisture exchange filter.