SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A VENTILATOR

• US 20110041849A1
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McKenna, Edward M., Chen, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,596,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/202 partial carbon oxide pressure, e.g. partial dioxide pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a ventilator is disclosed. Oxygen saturation values from pulse oximeters may be used to adjust the settings of a ventilator. Multiple sensors and multiple oxygen saturation values in a fault tolerant pulse oximeter configuration may be used to provide a backup value or confidence measure, thereby increasing reliability and patient safety.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a ventilator in communication with a patient, the method comprising:

calculating a first oxygen saturation value based at least in part on a first signal generated by a first sensor attached to the patient;

calculating a second oxygen saturation value based at least in part on a second signal generated by a second sensor attached to the patient;

determining with processing equipment at least one setting for the ventilator based at least in part on the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value; and

applying the at least one setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises calculating a difference between the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining whether at least one of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value is greater than a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

calculating a first change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the first oxygen saturation value and a respective first previous oxygen saturation value;

calculating a second change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the second oxygen saturation value and a respective second previous oxygen saturation value; and

determining whether at least one of the first change and the second change is greater than a threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises calculating an average of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the average is a weighted average and wherein the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value are associated with predetermined respective weights.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the average is a weighted average and wherein the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value are associated with dynamic respective weights.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the setting comprises modifying the fractional inspired oxygen setting of the ventilator.

9. A system for controlling a ventilator, the system comprising:

a ventilator capable of supplying oxygen to a patient;

a first sensor attached to the patient capable of generating a first oxygen saturation value;

a second sensor attached to the patient capable of generating a second oxygen saturation value;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory and the ventilator capable of;

determining at least one setting for the ventilator based at least in part on the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value; and

applying the at least one setting.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the determining comprises calculating a difference between the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the determining comprises determining whether at least one of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value is greater than a threshold.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the comparing comprises:

calculating a first change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the first oxygen saturation value and a respective first previous oxygen saturation value;

calculating a second change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the second oxygen saturation value and a respective second previous oxygen saturation value; and

determining whether at least one of the first change and the second change is greater than a threshold.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the determining comprises calculating an average of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein applying the setting comprises modifying the fractional inspired oxygen setting of the ventilator.

15. A computer-readable medium for controlling a ventilator, the computer-readable medium having computer program instructions recorded thereon for:

calculating a first oxygen saturation value based at least in part on a first signal generated by a first sensor attached to the patient;

calculating a second oxygen saturation value based at least in part on a second signal generated by a second sensor attached to the patient;

determining with processing equipment at least one setting for the ventilator based at least in part on the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value; and

applying the at least one setting.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises calculating a difference between the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises determining whether at least one of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value is greater than a threshold.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises:

calculating a first change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the first oxygen saturation value and a respective first previous oxygen saturation value;

calculating a second change in the oxygen saturation of the patient by taking the difference between the second oxygen saturation value and a respective second previous oxygen saturation value; and

determining whether at least one of the first change and the second change is greater than a threshold.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises calculating an average of the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein applying the setting comprises modifying the fractional inspired oxygen setting of the ventilator.