Method And Apparatus For Oxygen Reprocessing Of Expiratory Gases In Mechanical Ventilation

• US 20110209707A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Terhark, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US12/714,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/11 Clays
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/11 : Noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 : Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/91 : Bacteria; Microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 : Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4533 : for medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 : Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 : Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/75 : Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for oxygen reprocessing of respiratory gases in mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein provide methods for oxygen reprocessing of expiratory gases wherein exhaled air is reprocessed using filters and adsorbers and delivered to a patient based on a clinically specified oxygen concentration. Embodiments described herein provide for graphical display of the oxygen concentration of the product gas of oxygen reprocessing. Embodiments described herein also disclose an automated ventilator functionality whereby oxygen concentration may be set by clinicians through a user interface display, or a “Oxygen Reprocessing Input” screen, from a general ventilation input screen. Embodiments described herein also disclose a ventilator system configured to undergo oxygen reprocessing of expiratory gases and to provide the product gas to the patient for inspiration.

Claims

1. A method executable on a computerized ventilator for oxygen reprocessing of expiratory gases during ventilation of a patient, comprising:

receiving filtered exhaled air at a carbon dioxide adsorber configured to selectively adsorb carbon dioxide;

adsorbing carbon dioxide at the carbon dioxide adsorber from the filtered exhaled air creating product gas with increased oxygen concentration;

receiving the product gas at an argon and nitrogen adsorber configured to selectively adsorb argon and nitrogen from the product gas;

adsorbing argon and nitrogen from the product gas creating product gas with increased oxygen concentration;

receiving the product gas at a threshold testing module, wherein the threshold testing module is configured to measure the oxygen concentration of the product gas;

receiving the product gas at a blending module, wherein the blending module is configured to blend the product gas with room air and/or pure oxygen;

receiving a specified oxygen concentration at the blending module;

blending the product gas with the room air and/or the pure oxygen based on a blending algorithm, wherein the blending algorithm is based on the specified oxygen concentration; and

providing the product gas for inspiration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving filtered exhaled air at a carbon dioxide adsorber configured to selectively adsorb carbon dioxide, utilizes at least one of an adsorbent bed packed with adsorbent molecules, an adsorbent bed containing a molecular sieve.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adsorbing carbon dioxide at the carbon dioxide adsorber from the filtered exhaled air is configured to utilize dual molecular sieves.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the product gas at an argon and nitrogen adsorber configured to selectively adsorb argon and nitrogen from the product gas utilizes at least one of:

an adsorbent bed packed with adsorbent molecules, an adsorbent bed containing a molecular sieve.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adsorbing argon and nitrogen from the product gas is configured to utilize dual molecular sieves.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified oxygen concentration can be specified by a clinician or a default concentration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide adsorber is configured to utilize at least one of:

temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the argon and nitrogen adsorber is configured to utilize at least one of:

temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the product gas for inspiration can comprise:

providing the product gas to a compressor of the ventilator, providing the product gas to an inspiratory module of the ventilator, or providing the product gas to an inspiratory limb of the ventilator

10. A reprocessing module for oxygen reprocessing of expiratory gases during ventilation of a patient, comprising:

a carbon dioxide adsorber configured to selectively adsorb carbon dioxide from filtered exhaled air creating product gas with increased oxygen concentration;

an argon and nitrogen adsorber configured to selectively adsorb argon and nitrogen from the product gas of the carbon dioxide adsorber creating product gas with increased oxygen concentration;

a threshold testing module configured to measure oxygen concentration of the product gas of the argon and nitrogen adsorber;

a blending module configured to blend the product gas with room air and/or pure oxygen based on a specified oxygen concentration and to provide the product gas for inspiration.

11. The carbon dioxide adsorber of claim 10, wherein the carbon dioxide adsorber configured utilizes at least one of:

an adsorbent bed packed with adsorbent molecules, an adsorbent bed containing a molecular sieve.

12. The carbon dioxide adsorber of claim 11, wherein the carbon dioxide adsorber is configured to utilize dual molecular sieves.

13. The argon and nitrogen adsorber of claim 10, wherein the argon and nitrogen adsorber utilizes at least one of:

an adsorbent bed packed with adsorbent molecules, an adsorbent bed containing a molecular sieve.

14. The argon and nitrogen adsorber of claim 13, wherein the argon and nitrogen adsorber is configured to utilize dual molecular sieves.

15. The blending module of claim 10, wherein the specified oxygen concentration can be specified by a clinician or a default concentration.

16. The carbon dioxide adsorber of claim 10, further configured to utilize at least one of:

temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption.

17. The argon and nitrogen adsorber of claim 10, further configured to utilize at least one of:

temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption.

18. The blending module of claim 10, wherein configured to provide product gas for inspiration can comprise:

providing the product gas to a compressor of the ventilator, providing the product gas to an inspiratory module of the ventilator, or providing the product gas to an inspiratory limb of the ventilator.

19. A graphical user interface for configuring oxygen reprocessing of expiratory gases on a ventilator, the ventilator including a computer having a user interface including the graphical user interface for inputting parameters, the graphical user interface comprising:

at least one window associated with the user interface;

one or more selection elements within the at least one window, comprising at least one of;

one or more input elements for enabling the clinician to input parameters for delivering reprocessed oxygen; and

one or more graphic elements for enabling the clinician to generate graphic displays of data collected during the oxygen reprocessing.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more input elements receives a FIO₂ selection for use when delivering reprocessed oxygen during ventilation.