PATIENT CIRCUIT INTEGRITY ALARM USING EXHALED CO2

• US 20110277758A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vyaire Medical 211, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Dixon, Paul David, Blansfield, Terry Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.22
• 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 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• 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 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/103 the CO2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

A carbon dioxide sensor for use in a respiratory therapy system. The carbon dioxide sensor determines whether a patient interface is fluidly coupled to a patient.

Claims

1. A respiratory therapy system, comprising:

an inspiratory conduit;

an expiratory port;

a patient interface fluidly coupled to the inspiratory conduit and the expiratory port, the patient interface configured to be fluidly coupled to a patient; and

a carbon dioxide sensor fluidly coupled to the expiratory port and providing an indication of whether the patient interface is fluidly coupled to the patient.

2. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor measures an amount of carbon dioxide and compares the amount to a threshold.

3. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the patient interface.

4. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the expiratory port.

5. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, further comprising:

a ventilator providing gas to the inspiratory conduit and receiving exhaled gas from the expiratory port through an expiratory conduit, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the ventilator.

6. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second carbon dioxide sensor, wherein the first-mentioned carbon dioxide sensor is configured to determine a first amount of carbon dioxide in a first gas and the second carbon dioxide sensor determines a second amount of carbon dioxide in a second gas, the first-mentioned carbon dioxide sensor comparing the first amount to the second amount to provide the indication.

7. The respiratory therapy system of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm coupled to the carbon dioxide sensor and configured to be operated if the carbon dioxide sensor provides an indication that the patient interface is not fluidly coupled to the patient.

8. A respiratory therapy system, comprising:

a ventilator configured to provide inhaled gas to a patient and receive exhaled gas from the patient; and

a carbon dioxide sensor determining an amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas and compare the amount to a threshold.

9. The respiratory therapy system of claim 8, further comprising:

an inspiratory conduit;

an expiratory port;

a patient interface fluidly coupled to the inspiratory conduit and the expiratory port, the patient interface configured to be fluidly coupled to a patient; and

wherein the carbon dioxide sensor provides an indication of whether the patient interface is fluidly coupled to the patient.

10. The respiratory therapy system of claim 9, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the patient interface.

11. The respiratory therapy system of claim 9, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the expiratory port.

12. The respiratory therapy system of claim 8, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the ventilator.

13. The respiratory therapy system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second carbon dioxide sensor, wherein the first-mentioned carbon dioxide sensor is configured to determine a first amount of carbon dioxide in a first gas and the second carbon dioxide sensor determines a second amount of carbon dioxide in a second gas, the first-mentioned carbon dioxide sensor comparing the first amount to the second amount to determine a difference and compare the difference to a threshold.

14. The respiratory therapy system of claim 8, further comprising:

an alarm coupled to the carbon dioxide sensor and configured to be operated if the carbon dioxide sensor provides an indication if the amount of carbon dioxide is below the threshold.

15. A method of providing respiratory therapy to a patient, comprising:

providing a patient interface configured to be coupled to the patient;

providing gas to the patient interface;

receiving exhaled gas from the patient;

measuring an amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas; and

providing an indication of fluid coupling between the patient interface and the patient as a function of the amount of carbon dioxide.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the indication further includes comparing the amount to a threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a carbon dioxide sensor connected to the patient interface.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

measuring a second amount of carbon dioxide in a gas other than the exhaled gas;

comparing the first-mentioned amount to the second amount; and

determining if the patient interface is fluidly coupled to the patient as a function of the comparison.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating an alarm if the patient interface is not fluidly coupled to the patient.