PORTING BLOCK FOR A MEDICAL VENTILATOR

• US 20110197883A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: McDaniel, Christopher W., Duff, Winslow K., McDermott, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,314,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0841 for sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

A ventilator that is small, lightweight, and portable, yet capable of being quickly adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes and configurations to deliver a variety of therapies to a patent. A porting system having a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, and a number of porting blocks is used to reconfigure the ventilator so that it operates as a single-limb or dual limb ventilator. In the single-limb configuration, an active or passive exhaust assembly can be provided proximate to the patient. The ventilator is capable of operate in a volume or pressure support mode, even in a single-limb configuration. In addition, a power control mechanism controls the supply of power to the ventilator from an AC power source, a lead acid battery, an internal rechargeable battery pack, and a detachable battery pack.

Claims

1. A porting system for a ventilator, the ventilator including a housing, an inlet port, a flow generator structured to generate a flow of gas, and an outlet port structured to discharge the flow of gas from the housing, the ventilator being operable among a plurality of different modes, the porting system comprising:

(a) a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas; and

(b) a number of porting blocks, each of the number of porting blocks comprising;

(1) a removable routing element structured to be selectively coupled to the housing of the ventilator in order to configure the sensors in one of a plurality of different predetermined configurations corresponding to a desired one of the modes of operation of the ventilator, and

(2) a fastening mechanism structured to fasten the removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator.

2. The porting system of claim 1, wherein the number of porting blocks include a plurality of interchangeable porting blocks each having a different removable routing element, and wherein the removable routing element of one of the interchangeable porting blocks is replaceable with a removable routing element of another one of the interchangeable porting blocks in order to reconfigure the sensors to another one of the predetermined configurations.

3. The porting system of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a plurality of probes, wherein the removable routing element comprises a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a plurality of passageways extending from the first side toward the second side, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways are structured to cooperate with the probes in order to establish the one of the predetermined configurations of the sensors.

4. The porting system of claim 3, wherein the housing of the ventilator includes an exterior surface having a recess, wherein the removable routing element of each of the porting blocks is structured to be coupled to the housing at or about the recess, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing, the second side of the routing element is structured to be substantially flush with respect to the exterior surface of the housing of the ventilator, adjacent the recess.

5. The porting system of claim 3, wherein the modes of operation of the ventilator comprise a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, wherein the predetermined configurations of the sensors comprise a first configuration corresponding to the first mode, a second configuration corresponding to the second mode, and a third configuration corresponding to the third mode, wherein the interchangeable porting blocks comprise a first porting block having a first removable routing element, a second porting block having a second removable routing element, and a third porting block having a third removable routing element, wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the first mode, the first removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator, wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the second mode, the second removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator, and wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the third mode, the third removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator.

6. The porting system of claim 5, wherein the passageways are different for each of the first removable routing element, the second removable routing element, and the third removable routing element, wherein, when the first removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the first removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the first configuration of the sensors, wherein, when the second removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the second removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the second configuration of the sensors, and wherein, when the third removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the third removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the third configuration of the sensors.

7. The porting system of claim 6, wherein the sensors include a machine flow sensor, a proximal pressure sensor, and a monitor flow sensor, wherein the machine flow sensor includes a first machine flow probe and a second machine flow probe, wherein the proximal pressure sensor includes at least one proximal flow probe, wherein the monitor flow sensor includes a first monitor flow probe and a second monitor flow probe, and wherein the passageways of the first removable routing element, the passageways of the second removable routing element, and the passageways of the third removable routing element comprise a number of active passageways structured to permit the flow of gas therethrough, and a number of inactive passageways structured to resist the flow of gas therethrough.

8. The porting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one proximal pressure probe is a single proximal pressure probe, wherein the passageways of the first removable routing element include a first active passageway, a second active passageway, a third active passageway, a fourth active passageway, and a fifth active passageway, and wherein, when the ventilator is operated in accordance with the first mode and the first removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the first active passageway cooperates with the second active passageway in order to connect the first machine flow probe to the first monitor flow probe, the third active passageway connects the single proximal pressure probe to the atmosphere, and the fourth active passageway cooperates with the fifth active passageway in order to connect the second machine flow probe to the second monitor flow probe.

9. The porting system of claim 7, wherein the ventilator further includes a patient interface structured to deliver the flow of gas to an airway of a patient, wherein the at least one proximal pressure probe is a first proximal pressure probe connected to the proximal pressure sensor and a second proximal pressure probe connected to the patient interface, wherein the passageways of the second removable routing element include a first active passageway, a second active passageway, a third active passageway, a fourth active passageway, and a fifth active passageway, and wherein, when the ventilator is operated in accordance with the second mode and the second removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the first active passageway cooperates with the second active passageway in order to connect the first machine flow probe to the first monitor flow probe, the third active passageway connects the first proximal pressure probe to the second proximal pressure probe, and the fourth active passageway cooperates with the fifth active passageway in order to connect the second machine flow probe to the second monitor flow probe.

10. The porting system of claim 7, wherein the ventilator further includes a patient interface structured to deliver the flow of gas to an airway of a patient, an active exhalation valve cooperable with the patient interface, and an active exhalation controller, wherein the active exhalation controller includes at least one active exhalation controller probe, wherein the active exhalation valve includes at least one active exhalation valve probe, wherein the at least one proximal pressure probe is a first proximal pressure probe connected to the proximal pressure sensor, a second proximal pressure probe connected to the patient interface, a third proximal pressure probe connected to the patient interface, and a fourth proximal pressure probe connected to the patient interface, wherein the passageways of the third removable routing element include a first active passageway, a second active passageway, a third active passageway, a fourth active passageway, a first inactive passageway, and a second inactive passageway, and wherein, when the ventilator is operated in accordance with the third mode and the third removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the first active passageway connects the first monitor flow probe to the second proximal pressure probe, the second active passageway connects the first proximal pressure probe to the fourth proximal pressure probe, the third active passageway connects the second monitor flow probe to the third proximal pressure probe, the fourth active passageway connects the at least one active exhalation controller probe to the at least one active exhalation valve probe, the first machine flow probe is connected to the first inactive passageway, and the second machine flow probe is connected to the second inactive passageway.

11. A ventilator comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior and an exterior with an exterior surface;

(b) an inlet port extending from the exterior to the interior of the housing;

(c) a flow generator disposed within the interior and being structured to generate a flow of gas;

(d) an outlet port for discharging the flow of gas from the housing;

(e) a plurality of sensors for monitoring a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas; and

(f) a number of porting blocks, each of the number of porting blocks comprising;

(3) a removable routing element selectively coupled to the housing of the ventilator in order to configure the sensors in one of a plurality of different predetermined configurations, wherein the ventilator has a plurality of modes of operation, and wherein each of the predetermined configurations of the sensors corresponds to one of the modes of operation of the ventilator.

2) a fastening mechanism fastening the removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator.

12. The ventilator of claim 11, wherein the number of porting blocks is a plurality of interchangeable porting blocks each having a different removable routing element, and wherein the removable routing element of one of the interchangeable porting blocks is replaceable with a removable routing element of another one of the interchangeable porting blocks in order to reconfigure the sensors to another one of the predetermined configurations, without requiring the ventilator to be disassembled.

13. The ventilator of claim 11, wherein the sensors include a plurality of probes, wherein the removable routing element comprises a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a plurality of passageways extending from the first side toward the second side, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways cooperate with the probes in order to establish the one of the predetermined configurations of the sensors.

14. The ventilator of claim 13, wherein the housing of the ventilator includes an exterior surface having a recess, wherein the removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing at or about the recess, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing, the second side of the removable routing element is substantially flush with respect to the exterior surface of the housing of the ventilator, adjacent the recess.

15. The ventilator of claim 13, wherein the modes of operation of the ventilator comprise a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, wherein the predetermined configurations of the sensors comprise a first configuration corresponding to the first mode, a second configuration corresponding to the second mode, and a third mode corresponding to the third mode, wherein the interchangeable porting blocks comprise a first porting block having a first removable routing element, a second porting block having a second removable routing element, and a third porting block having a third removable routing element, wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the first mode, the first removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator, wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the second mode, the second removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator, and wherein, when the ventilator is operated in the third mode, the third removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing of the ventilator.

16. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein the passageways are different for each of the first removable routing element, the second removable routing element, and the third removable routing element, wherein, when the first removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the first removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the first configuration of the sensors, wherein, when the second removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the second removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the second configuration of the sensors, and wherein, when the third removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways of the third removable routing element cooperate with a corresponding number of the probes in order to establish the third configuration of the sensors.

17. A method of operating a ventilator comprising:

(a) providing the ventilator with a flow generator structured to generate a flow of gas, and a plurality of sensors for monitoring a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, the ventilator having a housing, wherein the ventilator has a plurality of modes of operation, and wherein the sensors are configurable to a plurality of different predetermined configurations corresponding to the modes of operation of the ventilator;

(b) providing a number of porting blocks, each of the number of porting blocks comprising;

(1) a removable routing element structured to be selectively coupled to the housing of the ventilator in order to configure the sensors of the ventilator in one of a plurality of different predetermined configurations, and

(2) a fastening mechanism structured to fasten the removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator;

(c) selecting one of the modes of operation of the ventilator;

(d) selecting the porting block among the number of porting blocks which corresponds to the selected mode of operation of the ventilator; and

(e) attaching the removable routing element of the selected porting block to the housing of the ventilator in order to configure the sensors in the predetermined configuration corresponding to the selected mode of operation of the ventilator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the number of porting blocks is a plurality of interchangeable porting blocks each having a different removable routing element, and wherein the method further comprises replacing the removable routing element of one of the interchangeable porting blocks with a removable routing element of another one of the interchangeable porting blocks in order to reconfigure the sensors to another one of the predetermined configurations, without requiring the ventilator to be disassembled.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the removable routing element comprises a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a plurality of passageways extending from the first side toward the second side, and wherein the method further comprises providing the sensors with a plurality of probes, and coupling the removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator in order that the passageways cooperate with the probes, thereby establishing the desired predetermined configuration of the sensors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the housing of the ventilator includes an exterior surface having a recess, and wherein the step of attaching the removable routing element comprises coupling the housing at or about the recess, wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing at or about the recess, the second side of the routing element is substantially flush with respect to the exterior surface of the housing of the ventilator, adjacent the recess.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

(a) providing as the different modes of operation of the ventilator, a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode,

(b) providing as the predetermined configurations of the sensors, a first configuration corresponding to the first mode of operation of the ventilator, a second configuration corresponding to the second mode of operation of the ventilator, and a third mode corresponding to the third mode of operation of the ventilator,

(c) providing as the interchangeable porting blocks, a first porting block having a first removable routing element, a second porting block having a second removable routing element, and a third porting block having a third removable routing element, and

(d) determining if the ventilator will be operated in the first mode,

(1) if yes, attaching the first removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator;

(2) if no, proceeding to step (e),

(e) determining if the ventilator will be operated in the second mode,

(1) if yes, attaching the second removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator when the ventilator is operated in the second mode,

(2) if no, proceeding to step (f), and

(f) attaching the third removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator when the ventilator will be operated in the third mode.

22. A porting block for a ventilator, the ventilator including a housing, an inlet port, a flow generator structured to generate a flow of gas, an outlet port structured to discharge the flow of gas from the housing, and a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, the ventilator being operable among a plurality of modes of operation, the porting block comprising:

a removable routing element structured to be selectively coupled to the housing of the ventilator in order to configure the sensors in one of a plurality of different predetermined configurations corresponding to a desired one of the modes of operation of the ventilator, and

a fastening mechanism structured to fasten the removable routing element to the housing of the ventilator.

23. The porting block of claim 22, wherein the sensors of the ventilator include a plurality of probes, wherein the removable routing element comprises a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a plurality of passageways extending from the first side toward the second side, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the passageways are structured to cooperate with the probes in order to establish the one of the predetermined configurations of the sensors.

24. The porting block of claim 23, wherein the housing of the ventilator includes an exterior surface having a recess, wherein the removable routing element is structured to be coupled to the housing at or about the recess, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing, the second side of the removable routing element is structured to be substantially flush with respect to the exterior surface of the housing of the ventilator, adjacent the recess.

25. The porting block of claim 24, wherein the removable routing element further comprises a finger tab disposed between the first end of the removable routing element and the second end of the removable routing element, at or about the second side of the removable routing element, and wherein the finger tab is structured to facilitate the removal of the removable routing element from the recess of the housing of the ventilator.

26. The porting block of claim 23, wherein the housing of the ventilator includes an exterior surface having at least one aperture, wherein the removable routing element further comprises at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the first side of the removable routing element, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the at least one protrusion is structured to be disposed within a corresponding one of the at least one aperture.

27. The porting block of claim 26, wherein the removable routing element further comprises a number of seals structured to be disposed between the first side of the routing element and the housing of the ventilator, wherein at least one of the number of seals is disposed on the at least one protrusion, and wherein the number of seals are structured to resist the unintentional leaking of the flow of gas from between the removable routing element and the housing of the ventilator.

28. The porting block of claim 26, wherein the at least one protrusion is a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein the at least one aperture of the exterior surface of the housing of the ventilator is a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the probes includes at least a first probe structured to be accessible at or about the first aperture, and a second probe structured to be accessible at or about the second aperture, wherein the passageways of the removable routing element comprise a first passageway extending through at least a portion of the first protrusion, and a second passageway extending through at least a portion of the second protrusion, and wherein, when the removable routing element is coupled to the housing of the ventilator, the first protrusion is structured to be disposed in the first aperture in order that the first probe cooperates with the first passageway, and the second protrusion is structured to be disposed in the second aperture in order that the second probe cooperates with the second passageway.

29. The porting block of claim 23, wherein the removable routing element is replaceable with another removable routing element having a different arrangement of passageways, and wherein, responsive to replacing the removable routing element, the sensors are reconfigured to another one of the predetermined configurations corresponding to a different one of the modes of operation of the ventilator.

30. The porting block of claim 22, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one fastener structured to extend through the removable routing element into the housing of the ventilator.