SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT OF A PATIENT

• US 20090255533A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wondka, Anthony, Kapust, Gregory, Freitag, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0468 with valves at the proximal end limiting exhalation, e.g. during speaking or coughing air passages from trachea to oesophagus or to pharynx, artificial epiglottis A61F2/203
• 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 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases

Abstract

Spontaneous respiration is detected by sensors. An additional amount of oxygen is administered to the lungs via a jet gas current at the end of an inhalation procedure. Breathing volume, absorption of oxygen during inhalation, and clearance of carbon dioxide during exhalation are improved. If required, the exhalation procedure of the patient can be arrested or slowed by a countercurrent to avoid a collapse of the respiration paths. An apparatus including an oxygen pump can be connected to an oxygen source and includes a tracheal prosthesis that can be connected via a catheter. The respiration detections sensors are connected to a control unit for activating the oxygen pump. The tracheal prosthesis includes a tubular support body with a connection for the catheter, and the sensors are associated with the support body. The tracheal prosthesis and jet catheter are dimensioned so the patient can freely breathe and speak without restriction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting the respiration of a patient comprising:

a gas pump operatively connected to an oxygen-bearing gas source,

a control unit for activating the gas pump,

sensors controlled by the control unit for detecting spontaneous respiration of the patient, and

a catheter adapted to be inserted into the respiratory system of the patient fluidly connected to the oxygen-bearing gas delivery device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensors include thermistors, pressure sensors, silicone wire strain gauges, respibands, respitrace, transthoracical electrical impedance measuring devices, flow sensors at the mouth or nose, or capnometers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to the control unit wirelessly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter is connected to a tracheal prosthesis within a trachea.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tracheal prosthesis further comprises prongs or petals.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tracheal prosthesis further comprises an antibacterial, a drug, a lubricious coating, hydrogel anesthetics, a treatment to prevent granulation tissue, or a treatment to prevent mucous formation coating.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a jet nozzle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an exit port of the catheter is substantially centered in the trachea though the use of coils or bends in the catheter touching the walls of the trachea.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the catheter further comprises clips or balloons.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the catheter has a single circumferential balloon or a plurality of balloons.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clips are made of a resilient material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter comprises an inner lumen and an outer lumen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wall of the outer lumen comprises a plurality of ports.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ports are substantially circular, hexagonal, oval, or slits.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the catheter further comprises a flow regulator adapted to regulate the flow of oxygen-bearing gas through the ports.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flow regulator comprises a gliding sheath, shutters, louvers, or slats.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ventilator.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one nano device sensor is implanted in the patient'"'"'s body.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas from the oxygen-bearing gas source further comprises fragrances, aerosolized drugs, or water.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas is heated.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmed so that the respiratory device administers a continuous flow of oxygen-bearing gas from the oxygen-bearing gas source and a jet boost is activated only if necessary.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are disposed at different locations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a signal response of a sensor is dampened relative to a signal response of an additional sensor, and wherein the signal response of the sensor and the signal response of the additional sensor are compared for correcting signal drift, transient signals and artifacts.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas pump, an oxygen-bearing gas source, and a control unit are housed together.

25. A method for supporting the respiration of a patient comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter into the respiratory system of the patient without hindering the patient'"'"'s ability to speak,

detecting spontaneous respiration of the patient with sensors,

identifying the end of the inhalation process,

administering an additional amount of oxygen-bearing gas to the lungs without hindering the patient'"'"'s ability to speak.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas is administered continuously, intermittently, or pulsed.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the sensors include thermistors, pressure sensors, silicone wire strain gauges, respibands, respitrace, transthoracical electrical impedance measuring devices, flow sensors at the mouth or nose, or capnometers.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is connected to a tracheal prosthesis.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the tracheal prosthesis is secured in a trachea with prongs or petals.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising supplying an antibacterial, a drug, a lubricious coating, hydrogel anesthetics, a treatment to prevent granulation tissue, or a treatment to prevent mucous formation to the patient by providing a tracheal prosthesis coated thereof.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter comprises an exit port, and wherein the exit port of the catheter is substantially centered in the patient'"'"'s trachea

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the exit port of the catheter is substantially centered in the trachea through the use of coils or bends in the catheter touching the walls of the trachea.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the exit port of the catheter is substantially centered in the trachea though the use of clips or balloons attached to the catheter.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the catheter has a single circumferential balloon or a plurality of balloons.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the clips are made of a resilient material.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is introduced into the patient'"'"'s respiratory system by way of the mouth or nose.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter comprises an outer lumen and an inner lumen, and wherein a wall of the outer lumen comprises a plurality of ports.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising administering the oxygen-bearing gas through the inner lumen during inhalation and administering the oxygen-bearing gas through the outer lumen during exhalation.

39. The method of claim 25, further comprising applying vibratory flow to improve mucus clearance.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising sensing high pressure in the trachea and shutting off the administration of oxygen-bearing gas.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas comprises substantially pure oxygen, mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen, mixtures of oxygen and inert gases, ambient air, or various combinations thereof.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas further comprises fragrances, aerosolized drugs, or water.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the oxygen-bearing gas is heated.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein the control unit is programmed so that the oxygen-bearing gas delivery device administers a continuous flow of oxygen-bearing gas and a jet boost is activated only if necessary.

45. A tracheal prosthesis comprising:

a tubular support body,

a connection for a jet catheter,

at least two sensors coupled with the tubular support body,

wherein the sensors include thermistors, pressure sensors, silicone wire strain gauges, transthoracical electrical impedance measuring devices, flow sensors, or capnometers.

46. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 45, wherein a bridge circuit is compensated by embedding one of the sensors within the tubular support body or under a protective film.

47. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 46, wherein the bridge circuit is compensated by using sensors with different response times.

48. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 45, further comprising a catheter, which further comprises an inner lumen and an outer lumen.

49. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 48, wherein the wall of the outer lumen of the catheter comprises a plurality of ports.

50. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 49, wherein the plurality of ports are substantially circular, hexagonal, oval, or slits.

51. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 50, wherein the catheter further comprises a flow regulator adapted to regulate the flow of oxygen through the ports.

52. The tracheal prosthesis of claim 51, wherein the flow regulator comprises a gliding sheath, shutters, louvers, or slats.

53. A dual lumen catheter for respiratory support comprising:

an inner lumen and an outer lumen,

wherein the end of the inner lumen is provided with a jet nozzle and the wall of the outer lumen comprises a plurality of ports.

54. The dual lumen catheter of claim 53, wherein the plurality of ports are substantially circular, hexagonal, oval, or slits.

55. The dual lumen catheter of claim 54, wherein the catheter further comprises a flow regulator adapted to regulate the flow of oxygen through the ports.

56. The dual lumen catheter of claim 55, wherein the flow regulator comprises a gliding sheath, shutters, louvers, or slats.

57. The dual lumen catheter of claim 56, further comprising at least a first sensor.

58. The dual lumen catheter of claim 57, further comprising a second sensor.

59. The dual lumen catheter of claim 58, wherein the first and second sensors are thermistors, pressure sensors, silicone wire strain gauges, transthoracical electrical impedance measuring devices, flow sensors, or capnometers.

60. A method for supporting the respiration of a patient comprising the steps of:

inserting an oxygen-bearing gas delivery device into the respiratory system of the patient,

detecting spontaneous respiration of the patient with sensors,

identifying an inhalation and an exhalation phase,

administering an additional amount of oxygen-bearing gas to the lungs during inspiration to augment inspiration and/or during exhalation to augment exhalation, and

wherein the administering of the oxygen-bearing gas is increased, decreased, switched on or switched off based on feedback from the sensors.

61. A device for supporting the respiration of a patient comprising the steps of:

sensors for detecting the spontaneous respiration of the patient and identifying an inhalation and an exhalation phase,

an oxygen-bearing gas delivery device inserted into the respiratory system of the patient,

a control unit connected to the sensors for administering an additional amount of oxygen-bearing gas to the lungs during inspiration to augment inspiration and/or during exhalation to augment exhalation, and

wherein the administering of the oxygen-bearing gas is increased, decreased, switched on or switched off based on feedback from the sensors.