MEDICAL VENTILATION DEVICE WITH HOSE DETECTION

• US 20110120469A1
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Drager Medical AG & Co KG (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: VAN DIJK, Geert, ALMAGRO FRUTOS, Salvador
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/46 Resistance or compliance of the lungs

Abstract

A medical ventilator is coupled to a patient via a hose system to generate a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator has a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow into the hose system distant from the patient. The hose system has a further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The ventilator has an input for receiving the further sensor signal. The ventilator compares the further sensor signal with an expected sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The expected sensor signal is determined by a combination of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator controls the ventilating in dependence on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method of medically ventilating a patient via a hose system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode;

generating a first sensor signal, indicative of an inspiratory flow distant from the patient;

generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient;

determining an expected sensor signal, indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient, on the basis of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode; and

controlling the ventilating in dependence on the expected sensor signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the further sensor signal is representative of the inspiratory flow proximal to the patient; and

the controlling comprises;

determining a discrepancy between the further sensor signal and the expected sensor signal; and

triggering an alarm for drawing attention to the discrepancy if the discrepancy has a magnitude larger than a predetermined threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the further sensor signal is representative of the expiratory flow proximal to the patient; and

the controlling comprises;

determining a discrepancy between the further sensor signal and the expected sensor signal; and

if a magnitude of the discrepancy determined is acceptable according to a predetermined criterion, correcting, under control of the discrepancy, the further sensor signal for controlling the ventilating.

4. A medical ventilation device configured for being coupled to a patient via a hose system and operative to generate a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode for ventilating the patient, the medical ventilation device comprising:

a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow distant from the patient;

a further flow sensor, the hose system comprising the further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient;

an input for receiving the further sensor signal;

a signal processing system configured for;

determining an expected sensor signal, indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient, on the basis of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode; and

controlling the ventilating in dependence on the expected sensor signal.

5. The medical ventilation device according to claim 4, further comprising an alarm unit coupled to the signal processing system, the alarm unit being configured for issuing an alarm to a human operator of the medical ventilation device, wherein:

the further sensor signal is representative of the inspiratory flow proximal to the patient;

the signal processing system is operative to activate the alarm unit if there is a discrepancy between the further sensor signal and the expected sensor signal, and if the discrepancy has a magnitude larger than a predetermined threshold.

6. The medical ventilation device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a controller for control of the respiratory flow in accordance with the predetermined ventilation mode, wherein;

the further sensor signal is representative of the expiratory flow proximal to the patient and the medical ventilation device; and

the signal processing system is operative to determine a discrepancy between the further sensor signal and the expected sensor signal; and

if a magnitude of the discrepancy determined is acceptable according to a pre-determined criterion, correct the further sensor signal, under control of the discrepancy determined, and control the controller in dependence on the corrected further sensor signal.

7. A signal processing system for cooperation with a hose system for a respiratory flow to a patient according to a predetermined ventilation mode for ventilating the patient, a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow distant from the patient and a further flow sensor, the hose system comprising the further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient, the signal processing system comprising:

a determination means for determining an expected sensor signal, indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient, on the basis of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode; and

a control controlling ventilation of the patient in dependence on the expected sensor signal.

8. A data structure on a data carrier for use with a medical ventilation device configured for being coupled to a patient via a hose system for a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode for ventilating the patient with the medical ventilation device including a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow distant from the patient and the hose system comprises a further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient and the medical ventilation device has an input for receiving the further sensor signal, the data structure comprising:

data representative of a relationship between the first sensor signal and the expected sensor signal for signal processing to determine an expected sensor signal, indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient, on the basis of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode and for controlling the ventilating in dependence on the expected sensor signal.