Inverse Sawtooth Pressure Wave Train Purging In Medical Ventilators
First Claim
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1. A method of purging two or more sensor tubes in a medical ventilator providing ventilation to a patient, the method comprising:
- a) charging a vessel with gas to a first predetermined pressure;
b) detecting initiation of a first exhalation phase in the breathing cycle of the patient;
c) after step b), releasing gas from the vessel through a first one of the sensor tubes into a patient circuit of the ventilator for a first predetermined period of time;
d) after step c), recharging the vessel with gas; and
e) after step d), releasing gas from the vessel through a second one of the sensor tubes into a patient circuit of the ventilator for a second predetermined period of time.
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Abstract
This disclosure describes systems and methods for purging narrow diameter sensor tubing, occasionally referred to as “sensor lines”, in a ventilation system. The disclosure describes a novel approach in which a series of short, periodic releases of pressurized gas through the sensor tubes are used to clear any blockages due to condensation or patient secretions.
271 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method of purging two or more sensor tubes in a medical ventilator providing ventilation to a patient, the method comprising:
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a) charging a vessel with gas to a first predetermined pressure; b) detecting initiation of a first exhalation phase in the breathing cycle of the patient; c) after step b), releasing gas from the vessel through a first one of the sensor tubes into a patient circuit of the ventilator for a first predetermined period of time; d) after step c), recharging the vessel with gas; and e) after step d), releasing gas from the vessel through a second one of the sensor tubes into a patient circuit of the ventilator for a second predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of purging a sensor tube connecting a patient circuit of a medical ventilator to a sensor, the method comprising:
repeatedly discharging gas through a first sensor tube into the patient circuit, wherein each gas discharge has a fixed duration of less than 100 milliseconds and each gas discharge is separated from the prior gas discharge by not more than 300 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A pressure support system comprising:
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a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas; a ventilation system including a patient circuit; at least one circuit sensor in fluid communication with the patient circuit via one or more sensor tubes; and a sensor tube purge module adapted to initiate a purge cycle that purges the sensor tubes, wherein each purge cycle includes repeatedly discharging gas through the sensor tubes into the patient circuit, wherein each gas discharge has a fixed duration of less than 100 milliseconds and each gas discharge is separated from the prior gas discharge by not more than 300 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A controller for a medical ventilator comprising:
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a microprocessor; and a sensor tube purge module adapted to initiate a purge cycle that purges sensor tubes connected to sensors in the medical ventilator;
wherein each purge cycle includes repeatedly discharging gas through the sensor tubes into a patient circuit, wherein each gas discharge has a fixed duration of less than 100 milliseconds and each gas discharge is separated from the prior gas discharge by not more than 300 milliseconds.
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42. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of purging a sensor tube connecting a patient circuit of a medical ventilator to a sensor, the method comprising:
repeatedly discharging gas through a first sensor tube into the patient circuit, wherein each gas discharge has a fixed duration of less than 100 milliseconds and each gas discharge is separated from the prior gas discharge by not more than 300 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A medical ventilator system, comprising:
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a processor; a gas regulator in communication with the processor, the gas regulator adapted to regulate a flow of gas from a gas supply to a patient via a patient circuit; a flow sensor package disposed in the patient circuit, the flow sensor package in communication with a gas accumulator; and a pressure sensor coupled to the gas accumulator and in communication with the processor, the pressure sensor adapted to provide pressure readings in the gas accumulator to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification