Method of triggering a ventilator

• US 20090120439A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Goebel, Fred
• Application Number:
  US11/983,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/037 Measuring oesophageal pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/044 External cuff pressure control or supply, e.g. synchronisation with respiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards

Abstract

There is provided a method for controlling breathing gas flow of a ventilator for assisted or controlled ventilation of a patient as a function of a intra-thoracic airway pressure of the patient using a tracheal tube or naso-gastric tube. The intra-thoracic pressure is transmitted to a controller and the information detected is used to control a valve to vent gas from the inhalation tubing of the ventilator, thus triggering an inhalation cycle in the ventilator.

Claims

1. A method of trigering a ventilator having an inhalation circuit for ventilation of a patient, comprising determining an intra-thoracic airway pressure of the patient and controlling a flow of breathing gas from the ventilator by venting the gas from the inhalation circuit of the ventilator as a function of the determined intra-thoracic pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the intra-thoracic pressure is detected using an endotrachael tube.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the intra-thoracic pressure is detected using a naso-gastric tube.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the endotracheal tube has a cuff that made from a stretchable thin plastic film with a wall thickness of less than 0.02 mm.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cuff is made from a film of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer with a modulus of tension of at least 10 MPa at 300 percent expansion in accordance with ASTM D 412.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said gas is vented to the ambient atmosphere via a valve.

7. A system for trigering a patient ventilator comprising a means for detecting an intra-thoracic pressure of a patient wherein said means are in operable communication with a controller, and a vent valve located in a ventilator tubing line and controlled by said controller.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said controller comprises a transducing module that receives a pressure reading from a tracheal or naso-gastric tube, a converting module that converts the pressure reading from an analog to a digital signal, and a control unit that receives said signal and commands a vent valve to open in response to said pressure reading.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said vent valve is located adjacent to a ventilator.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said vent valve is located adjacent to a patient.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said vent valve is part of a union piece connecting a patient proximal portion of a ventilator tubing and inspiratory and expiratory ventilator tubing.

12. The system of claim 7 having no electrical connections with the ventilator.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein said controller opens said vent valve in response to a drop in said intra-thoracic pressure.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said controller may introduce a time delay between receipt of said pressure and opening said vent valve.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said time delay may be adjusted by a medical professional.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein said means for detecting an intra-thoracic pressure of a patient comprises a tracheal tube balloon or naso-gastric tube balloon.