Ventilator Respiratory Gas Accumulator With Purge Valve

• US 20110132366A1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wallner, Thomas, Vuong, Steve, Nakai, Richard, Ogilvie, Mark, Patel, Nirav
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• 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 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient with a system that includes an accumulator for storing a gas mixture. This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient with a system that includes an accumulator located away from the flow path that reduces/eliminates pockets of an undesirable gas mixture from entering the gas flow path and reaching the patient after a gas mixture change by utilizing a purge valve.

Claims

1. A medical ventilator system, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of sources of different gases controlled by the processor;

a gas manifold connected to an outlet to a patient circuit via a flow path, the gas manifold receiving gas from the plurality of gas sources;

an accumulator positioned away from the flow path; and

a accumulator purge valve controlled by the processor, the accumulator purge valve controlling a release of a gas mixture from the accumulator to an environment external to the patient circuit.

2. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to control the purge valve based on at least one of a sensor reading, a change in a gas mixture delivered to a patient, a ventilator parameter, and an inputted command.

3. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the purge valve is a check valve.

4. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the purge valve provides safety pressure relief.

5. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator is positioned within the ventilator system adjacent to the flow path and the manifold.

6. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein a duration between purges is based on at least one of a breath size and a rate of inspiration.

7. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, further comprising an accumulator pressure sensor in communication with the processor, the pressure sensor is adapted to determine the pressure in the accumulator.

8. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, further comprising a gas flow sensor in communication with the processor, the flow sensor is adapted to determine a flow rate in the patient circuit.

9. A pressure support system comprising:

a processor;

a pressure generating system controlled by the processor, the pressure generating system is adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas;

a ventilation system including a patient circuit controlled by the processor;

a plurality of sources of different gases controlled by the processor;

a gas manifold connected to an outlet to a patient circuit via a flow path, the gas manifold receiving gas from the plurality of gas sources;

an accumulator positioned away from the flow path; and

a accumulator purge valve controlled by the processor, the accumulator purge valve controlling a release of a gas mixture from the accumulator to an environment external to the patient circuit.

10. The pressure support system of claim 9, wherein the purge valve is a check valve.

11. The pressure support system of claim 9, wherein the processor is adapted to control the purge valve based on at least one of a sensor reading, a change in a gas mixture delivered to a patient, a ventilator parameter, an inputted parameter, and a command.

12. The pressure support system of claim 9, wherein the accumulator is positioned in the ventilator system adjacent to the flow path and the manifold.

13. The pressure support system of claim 9, wherein the purge valve provides safety pressure relief.

14. The pressure support system of claim 9, further comprising an accumulator pressure sensor in communication with the processor, the accumulator pressure sensor is adapted to determine the pressure of the accumulator.

15. The pressure support system of claim 9, further comprising a gas flow sensor in communication with the processor, the flow sensor is adapted to determine a flow rate in the patient circuit.

16. A method for ventilating a patient, the method comprising:

changing a gas mixture in a flow path of a medical ventilator;

measuring a gas flow rate of the gas mixture in the flow path of the medical ventilator; and

controlling an active gas purge valve in an accumulator positioned away from the flow path based on at least one of the measured gas flow rate and the changed gas mixture concentration.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising purging a gas mixture contained in the accumulator based on the measured gas flow rate and the changed gas mixture concentration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of controlling the active gas purge valve further comprises controlling a duration between purges based on at least one of a breath size and a rate of inspiration.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring a pressure of a gas mixture in the accumulator;

and controlling the active gas purge valve based on the measured pressure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the purging of the accumulator based on the measured pressure.