MAINTAINING AN EXHALATION VALVE SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20140276176A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Winter, David Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/11 with means for preventing cross-contamination when used for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment

Abstract

The disclosure describes an exhalation valve sensor assembly. The disclosure describes a novel exhalation valve sensor assembly that is configured for refurbishing. Accordingly, the disclosure further describes systems and methods for maintaining an exhalation valve assembly and describes a kit for refurbishing an exhalation valve sensor assembly.

Claims

1. An exhalation valve sensor assembly comprising:

an assembly base including;

a bottom-side of the assembly base,

a top-side of the assembly base,

a passageway, wherein the passageway extends through the bottom-side of the assembly base to the top-side of the assembly base, and

a filter opening on the top-side of the assembly base;

a cylindrical well extending from the top-side of the assembly base, wherein a base of the cylindrical well encircles a portion of an opening of the passageway;

an exhalation exhaust attached to the cylindrical well;

a sensor coupled to at least one of the group selected from the passageway, the filter opening, and the exhalation exhaust;

a recessed portion of the bottom side of the assembly base, wherein the recessed portion includes an annular seat;

a circular diaphragm located within the cylindrical well;

an expiratory filter seal located within the annular seat; and

a pressure sensor filter attached to a filter grommet, wherein the filter grommet is operatively coupled to the filter opening.

2. The exhalation valve sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a hot wire anemometer and a flow meter.

3. The exhalation valve sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the circular diaphragm includes a seal bead that extends from an outer edge of the circular diaphragm and is configured to nest within an outer annular groove of the cylindrical well.

4. The exhalation valve sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor filter includes a disk shaped body having an assembly base side and opposite exterior side with an assembly base nozzle extending from the assembly base side and an exterior side nozzle extending from the exterior side, wherein the assembly base nozzle has a larger diameter than the exterior side nozzle.

5. The exhalation valve sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the exhalation valve sensor assembly is refurbishable.

6. A method of maintaining an exhalation valve sensor assembly, the method comprising:

disassembling an installed exhalation valve sensor assembly to form a disassembled exhalation valve sensor assembly, wherein disassembling includes;

removing an installed diaphragm from a well of the used exhalation valve sensor assembly;

removing an installed exhalation valve filter seal from an annular seat of a recessed portion of the used exhalation valve sensor assembly;

removing an installed pressure sensor filter from the used exhalation valve sensor assembly;

disinfecting the disassembled exhalation valve sensor assembly to form a disinfected exhalation valve sensor assembly, wherein disinfecting includes;

pre-soaking the disassembled exhalation valve sensor assembly in an enzymatic solution to form a pre-soaked exhalation valve sensor assembly;

rinsing the pre-soaked exhalation valve sensor assembly to form a rinsed exhalation valve sensor assembly;

disinfecting the rinsed exhalation valve sensor assembly in a disinfectant solution to form a sanitized exhalation valve sensor assembly;

rinsing the sanitized exhalation valve sensor assembly;

immersing the sanitized exhalation valve sensor assembly in a drying agent;

drying the disinfected exhalation valve sensor assembly; and

after the drying step, reassembling the disinfected exhalation valve sensor assembly, wherein the reassembling includes;

inserting an uncontaminated pressure sensor filter into the disinfected exhalation valve sensor assembly;

inserting an uncontaminated exhalation valve filter seal into the annular seat of the recessed portion;

inserting an uncontaminated exhalation valve diaphragm into the well.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rinsing the sanitized exhalation valve sensor assembly includes immersing the sanitized exhalation valve sensor in deionized water two or more times.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising before the disassembling step, removing the exhalation valve sensor assembly from a medical ventilator system.

9. A reprocessing kit for an exhalation valve sensor assembly, the kit comprising:

a circular diaphragm configured for placement in a cylindrical well of an exhalation valve sensor body, wherein a seal bead extends from an outer edge of the circular diaphragm and is configured to nest within an outer annular groove of the cylindrical well, and wherein the circular diaphragm includes an interior cylindrical nipple that extends in a same direction as the seal bead with a valve seat surface for engaging a valve seat of the exhalation valve sensor body;

a ring-shaped filter seal with a flat surface configured for placement into an annular seat of a recessed portion of the exhalation valve sensor body, wherein the flat surface faces outward away from the annular seat of the exhalation valve sensor body; and

a pressure sensor filter including a disk shaped body having an assembly base side and opposite exterior side with an assembly base nozzle extending from the assembly base side and an exterior side nozzle extending from the exterior side, wherein the assembly base nozzle has a larger diameter than the exterior side nozzle, and further wherein the assembly base nozzle is configured to attach to a filter grommet of the exhalation valve sensor body via rotation of the pressure sensor filter until the exhalation valve sensor body is flush with the disk shaped body.

10. The reprocessing kit of claim 9, wherein the circular diaphragm, the ring-shaped filter seal, and the pressure sensor filter replace an installed circular diaphragm, an installed ring-shaped filter seal, and an installed pressure sensor filter.

11. The reprocessing kit of claim 9, further comprising a container for holding the circular diaphragm, the ring-shaped filter seal, and the pressure sensor filter that prevents contamination of the circular diaphragm, the ring-shaped filter seal, and the pressure sensor filter.

12. The reprocessing kit of claim 11, wherein the container for holding the circular diaphragm, the ring-shaped filter seal, and the pressure sensor filter is a sterile container.

13. The reprocessing kit of claim of claim 12, where in the container is a rigid container, and further wherein the rigid container contains a lid and a bottom.

14. The reprocessing kit of claim 13, wherein the rigid bottom includes a cylindrical inner well with an outer circular wall, wherein the ring-shaped filter seal fits around the outer circular wall, and further wherein the assembly base nozzle fits within the cylindrical inner well.

15. The reprocessing kit of claim 14, wherein the cylindrical nipple, when the pressure sensor filter is installed in the container with the circular diaphragm and the filter seal, extends from a center of the circular diaphragm, and wherein the exterior side nozzle of the pressure sensor filter nests within the cylindrical nipple of the circular diaphragm.

16. The reprocessing kit of claim 9, further comprising instructions on how to perform a method of refurbishing an exhalation valve sensor assembly.

17. The reprocessing kit of claim 16, wherein the instructions detail how to insert the circular diaphragm, the pressure sensor filter, and the ring-shaped seal in an exhalation valve sensor body.

18. The reprocessing kit of claim 9, wherein the circular diaphragm includes a seal mounting hump.

19. The reprocessing kit of claim 18, wherein the ring-shaped filter, when installed in the container with the circular diaphragm and the pressure sensor filter, fits loosely on the seal mounting hump.

20. The reprocessing kit of claim 19, wherein the assembly base nozzle of the pressure sensor filter, when the pressure sensor filter is installed in the container with the circular diaphragm and the filter seal, nests within the interior cylindrical nipple.