Ventilator apparatus

• US 20080302363A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allied Healthcare Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Allied Healthcare Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Kroupa, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

One or more embodiments of the presently described invention provides a ventilator including a timing device, an electric power source and a flow control device. The timing device is electronically controlled and is capable of controlling a period of time that a fluid is delivered to a patient. The timing device can control this period of time using a solenoid. The flow control device controls a rate of flow that the fluid is delivered to the patient. The flow control device can control the rate of flow using a plurality of orifices. The timing device and flow control device are separate from one another and each is capable of being operated independent of the other.

Claims

1. A ventilator including:

a timing device capable of controlling a period of time that a fluid is delivered to a patient, said timing device including a solenoid;

an electric power source providing power to said timing device; and

a flow control device capable of controlling a rate of flow that said fluid is delivered to said patient, said flow control device including a plurality of orifices.

2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said fluid is provided to said patient by passing by said solenoid before passing through said flow control device.

3. The ventilator of claim 1, further including a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

),

wherein said power source provides power to said PCB to control a position of said solenoid.

4. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said power source provides three volts or less to said ventilator from a plurality of batteries.

5. The ventilator of claim 4, further including a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

) configured to step up said three volts or less to at least five volts.

6. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said power source provides power to said PCB to monitor one or more of a pressure in a patient airway connection, a status of said power source and a pressure at which said fluid is supplied by a fluid source.

7. The ventilator of claim 6, further including at least one alarm that provides at least one of a visual and audible notification when at least one of a plurality of events occurs, said events including:

(a) said pressure in said patient airway connection exceeding an upper airway pressure threshold;

(b) said pressure in said patient airway connection falling below a lower airway pressure threshold and remaining below said lower airway pressure threshold for at least a predetermined period of time;

(c) said pressure at which said fluid is supplied by said fluid source falling below a source pressure threshold; and

(d) a level of said power source falling below a power source threshold.

8. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said timing device controls said period of time by moving said solenoid between at least a plurality of positions including an open position and a closed position, said period of time beginning when said solenoid is at said open position and ending when said solenoid is at said closed position, said solenoid configured to permit a flow of said fluid through said ventilator when said solenoid is at said open position and impede said flow of said fluid when in said closed position.

9. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said flow control device controls said rate of flow by permitting said fluid to pass through at least one of said plurality of orifices, said orifices including a plurality of different diameters.

10. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein a volume of fluid provided to said patient by said ventilator is capable of being altered by adjusting one or more of said period of time using said timing device and said rate of flow using said flow control device.

11. A method for providing improved control of a ventilator, said method including:

electronically controlling a period of time that a fluid is delivered to a patient using a solenoid; and

controlling a rate of flow that said fluid is delivered to said patient by directing said fluid through at least one of a plurality of orifices having a plurality of different diameters; and

providing a volume of said fluid to said patient by permitting said fluid to pass through said ventilator at said rate of flow for said period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of electronically controlling said period of time occurs before said step of controlling said rate of flow.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of electronically controlling said period of time includes adjusting a position of said solenoid using a power source comprising a plurality of batteries.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of batteries provide three volts or less to said ventilator.

15. The method of claim 13, further including increasing said three volts or less to at least five volts.

16. The method of claim 11, further including monitoring one or more of a pressure in a patient airway connection, a status of a power source, and a pressure at which said fluid is supplied by a fluid source.

17. The method of claim 16, further including providing at least one of a visual and audible notification when at least one of a plurality of events occurs, said events including:

(a) said pressure in said patient airway connection exceeding an upper airway pressure threshold;

(b) said pressure in said patient airway connection falling below a lower airway pressure threshold;

(c) said pressure at which said fluid is supplied by said fluid source falling below a source pressure threshold; and

(d) a level of said power source falling below a power source threshold.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of electronically controlling said period of time includes moving said solenoid between at least a plurality of positions including an open position and a closed position, said period of time beginning when said solenoid is at said open position and ending when said solenoid is at said closed position,

wherein said solenoid is configured to permit a flow of said fluid through said ventilator when said solenoid is at said open position and impede said flow of said fluid when in said closed position.

19. A ventilator including:

an inspiratory timing control device configured to start and stop a flow of a fluid through said ventilator, said control device powered by at least one battery; and

a plurality of orifices having different diameters and configured to control a rate of said flow through said ventilator.

20. The ventilator of claim 19, wherein a desired tidal volume is delivered to a patient at a selected rate of fluid flow, said control device calculating a time period required to deliver said desired tidal volume at said selected rate of fluid flow and controlling a start and end to said time period by moving a solenoid between first and second positions.

21. The ventilator of claim 19, wherein said control device includes a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

) that is powered by a plurality of batteries.

22. The ventilator of claim 19, wherein said ventilator is capable of operating for more than eight hours on two size D alkaline batteries.

23. The ventilator of claim 19, wherein said control device is configured to start and stop said flow of said fluid at a point upstream from said plurality of orifices in said flow of said fluid through said ventilator.

24. The ventilator of claim 19, wherein said control device includes:

a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

) powered by three volts or less; and

a voltage step up circuit capable of supplying a voltage greater than three volts to said PCB.