Apparatus and Method for Delivering Fluids and/or Gases to the Lungs

• US 20170312123A1
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suspended Animation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Suspended Animation, Inc.
• Inventors: Coleman, Nathan John, Morello, Phillip P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0069 with return means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/37 Restraining devices for the body or for body parts , e.g. slings; Restraining shirts handcuffs E05B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0054 Liquid ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0891 Closed circuit, e.g. for anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/165 with a float actuator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• 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 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/02 : Gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 : Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 : by liquid heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 : Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 : Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing heat exchange in the lungs of the mammal during partial liquid ventilation are provided. The apparatus and method can control delivery and removal of partial liquid ventilation to the lungs of a mammal by responding to pressure change in the lungs to minimize danger of causing barotrauma to the patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing liquid to a lung, comprising:

a delivery device configured to deliver a fluid to the lung;

a liquid delivery passage, a gas delivery passage and a suction passage, the liquid delivery, the gas delivery and the suction passages in fluid communication with the delivery device,

a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid delivery passage;

a vacuum source in communication with the suction passage;

a gas source in communication with the gas delivery passage;

a pressure sensor;

one or more valves configured to control flow through the liquid delivery, the gas delivery and the suction passages when the apparatus switches between an inhale phase and an exhale phase;

a control unit operatively connected to the pressure sensor and the one or more valves, the control unit configured to, in response to a signal from the pressure sensor, switch the apparatus between an inhale phase in which a fluid is delivered to the delivery device by either a liquid from the fluid reservoir through the liquid delivery passage and to the delivery device or a gas from the gas source to the gas delivery passage to the delivery device and an exhale phase in which a delivered fluid is withdrawn from the delivery device into the suction passage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery device is an endotracheal tube.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor is operatively connected to a portion of the endotracheal tube.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the source of liquid in fluid communication with the liquid delivery passage comprises an oxygenated liquid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one or more valves configured to control flow through the liquid delivery, the gas delivery and/or the suction passages when the apparatus switches between an inhale phase and an exhale phase comprise a liquid delivery valve, a gas delivery valve, and a suction valve, wherein the liquid delivery valve, the gas delivery valve, and the suction valve comprise a two state valve having a diaphragm in a normally open configuration.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the liquid delivery valve, the gas delivery valve, and the suction valve are positioned within the liquid delivery, the gas delivery and the suction passages respectively, and the liquid delivery, the gas delivery and the suction passages are positioned within a hub that is connected to a proximal end of the delivery device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a tube assembly comprising a liquid delivery tube, a gas delivery tube, a suction tube, and a heat exchanger extending along a length of the tube assembly, the liquid delivery tube in fluid communication with the liquid delivery passage, the gas delivery tube in fluid communication with the gas delivery passage, the suction tube in fluid communication with the suction passage.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a heat reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger comprises a liquid delivery tube and a liquid recirculation tube extending along at least a length of the tube assembly, and heated or cooled fluid is recirculated through the liquid delivery tube and the liquid recirculation tube during inhale and exhale phases, and the liquid delivery tube and the liquid recirculation tube form a double helix.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the delivery line and a return line are formed from corrugated tubes.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to deliver liquid to the lungs through the delivery device only when the apparatus is in the inhale phase and to withdraw liquid from the lung through the delivery device only when the apparatus is in the exhale phase, and the inhale phase is triggered when the control unit receives a pressure signal equal to a preset vacuum and the exhale phase is triggered when the control unit receives a pressure signal equal to a threshold pressure.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a recirculation tube passage in fluid communication with the liquid delivery passage and the fluid reservoir, and the control unit is configured to recirculate liquid from the liquid delivery passage through the liquid recirculation tube while in the exhale phase.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to a pump by a pressure line and a vacuum line, and having a valve positioned in the pressure line and a valve positioned in the vacuum line, wherein the valve positioned in the pressure line and a valve positioned in the vacuum line are formed in an integrally formed manifold, and wherein in the inhale phase the valve in the pressure line is open and the valve in the vacuum line is closed and wherein in the exhale phase the valve in the pressure line is closed and the valve in the vacuum line is opened.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the inhale phase a valve in the gas delivery passage opens allowing gas to flow an adjustable amount of time prior to a delayed opening of a valve in the liquid delivery passage which in turn shuts off the valve in the gas delivery passage.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a turbine pump positioned between the fluid reservoir and the liquid delivery passage, wherein the turbine pump is configured to aerate liquid flowing between the fluid reservoir and the liquid delivery passage.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a turbine pump positioned between the fluid reservoir and the liquid delivery passage, wherein the turbine pump is configured to emulsify a second liquid into the liquid flowing between the fluid reservoir and the liquid delivery passage, wherein the second liquid cools or heats the first liquid.

16. A method for partial liquid ventilation of lungs, comprising

detecting a pressure in the lungs;

when the pressure reaches a first value, delivering gas into the lungs and subsequently delivering a liquid to the lungs during an inhale phase, the delivered gas or the liquid defining a delivered fluid;

when the pressure reaches a second value, switching to an exhale phase and withdrawing the delivered fluid from the lungs until the pressure reaches a third value.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first value is a preset vacuum and the second value is a threshold pressure.

18. The method according to claim 16, comprising changing a temperature of the delivered fluid to the lungs before the fluid is delivered to the lungs.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the changing the temperature of the fluid delivered to the lungs comprises recirculating the liquid during the exhale through a tube assembly.

20. The method according to claim 16, comprising adjusting a timing between switching to an exhale phase and delivering liquid to the lungs after the pressure reaches a first value wherein adjusting the timing between switching to an exhale phase and delivering liquid to the lungs after the pressure reaches the first value is used to control the ratio of gas and liquid delivered to the patient.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein withdrawing the fluid from the lungs until the pressure reaches a third value comprises applying a vacuum.

22. A method for ventilating a lung of a patient, comprising:

applying a band configured to limit stretching of a patient'"'"'s lungs; and

supplying ventilation to the patient.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing liquid ventilation to the patient'"'"'s lung.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein applying the band comprises limiting extension of the patient anatomy.