SUPPLEMENTAL GAS SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A BREATHING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

• US 20100078026A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jourdain, Cedric, Andrieux, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0087 Environmental safety or protection means, e.g. preventing explosion
• 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 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1005 with O2 features or with parameter measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems

Abstract

A system for managing a supplemental gas supply in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient includes a temperature sensor and a control system. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature associated with a breathing assistance system configured to deliver a first gas and a supplemental gas toward a patient. The control system is configured to automatically control the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on the monitored temperature.

Claims

1. A method for managing a supplemental gas supply in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature associated with a breathing assistance system configured to deliver a first gas and a supplemental gas toward a patient; and

automatically controlling the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on the monitored temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein automatically controlling the flow of the supplemental gas comprises at least partially closing a valve associated with the supplemental gas flow.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining an overheat condition based at least on the monitored temperature associated with the breathing assistance system; and

automatically reducing the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on the determination of an overheat condition.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein determining an overheat condition comprises comparing the monitored temperature associated with the breathing assistance system with a threshold temperature.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising automatically adjusting the threshold temperature.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an operational speed of a gas delivery system component of the breathing assistance system; and

automatically controlling the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on (a) the monitored temperature and (b) the monitored operational speed of the gas delivery system component.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a measure of power drawn by a gas delivery system component of the breathing assistance system; and

automatically controlling the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on (a) the monitored temperature and (b) the monitored measure of power drawn by the gas delivery system component.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an operational speed of a gas delivery system component of the breathing assistance system;

monitoring a measure of power drawn by the gas delivery system component; and

automatically controlling the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on (a) the monitored temperature, (b) the monitored operational speed of the gas delivery system component, and (c) the monitored measure of power drawn by the gas delivery system component.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining a first overheat condition if the monitored temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold;

determining a second overheat condition if the monitored temperature exceeds a second temperature threshold different from the first threshold;

automatically reducing the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on a determination of a first overheat condition; and

automatically controlling the flow of the first gas based at least on a determination of a second overheat condition.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the second temperature threshold is greater than the first threshold.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first gas comprises air and the supplemental gas comprises supplemental oxygen.

12. A system for managing a supplemental gas supply in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, the system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature associated with a breathing assistance system configured to deliver a first gas and a supplemental gas toward a patient;

a control system configured to automatically control the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on the monitored temperature.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a valve associated with the supplemental gas flow; and

wherein the control system is configured to at least partially close the valve associated with the supplemental gas flow based at least on the monitored temperature.

14. A system according to claim 12, comprising:

an overheat detection module configured to determine an overheat condition based at least on the monitored temperature associated with the breathing assistance system; and

the control system is configured to automatically reduce the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on the determination of an overheat condition.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein determining an overheat condition comprises comparing the monitored temperature associated with the breathing assistance system with a threshold temperature.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the overheat detection module is configured to automatically adjust the threshold temperature.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein:

the overheat detection module is configured to;

determine a first overheat condition if the monitored temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold; and

determine a second overheat condition if the monitored temperature exceeds a second temperature threshold different from the first threshold; and

the control system is configured to;

automatically reduce the supplemental gas supply in response to determining a first overheat condition; and

automatically control the gas delivery system in response to determining a second overheat condition.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the second temperature threshold is greater than the first threshold.

19. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a speed sensor configured to monitor an operational speed of a gas delivery system component of the breathing assistance system; and

wherein the control system is configured to automatically control the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on (a) the monitored temperature and (b) the monitored operational speed of the gas delivery system component.

20. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a power monitor configured to monitor a measure of power drawn by a gas delivery system component of the breathing assistance system; and

wherein the control system is configured to automatically control the flow of the supplemental gas based at least on (a) the monitored temperature and (b) the monitored measure of power drawn by the gas delivery system component.