Ventilator unit exhalation contamination control device

• US 4,653,493 A
• Filed: 02/08/1985
• Issued: 03/31/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John M. Hoppough
• Original Assignee: John M. Hoppough
• Inventors: Hoppough, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/699,924
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 128/910, 128/205.19, 128/205.29, 128/205.12, 128/205.17, 128/205.24, 128/201.28, 128/201.29, 128/205.18, 128/202.22, 128/203.28
• US Class Current: 128/202.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/009 Removing used or expired gases or anaesthetic vapours filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air in drainage systems A61M1/784; bacterial filters in the expiratory path A61M16/1065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0093 by adsorption, absorption or filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/91 Anesthesia gas scavenging system

Abstract

A ventilation contamination control device for use on the expiratory line of a ventilator unit. The device couples to a contained vacuum source to provide a closed system that does not require the continuous, direct filtration of exhalation from the patient. The device includes a housing on which a flexible exhalation containment bag and a unidirectional check valve are mounted. The check valve permits inward atmospheric air flow during low exhalation periods but prevents outward contaiminated air flow. A bacteria filter unit is mounted on the housing to provide a filtered vent to the atmosphere in the event that the vacuum source or the check valve become obstructed or fail. An audible signal responds to such a failed condition.

Claims

1. An exhalation evacuation device for use with a ventilation unit to remove exhaled gases from a patient through a vacuum source, said device comprising:

a housing defining an exhalation inlet connectable to the ventilation unit, a channel extending from said exhalation inlet through said housing to an exhalation outlet connectable to a vacuum source, an atmospheric inlet in gas flow communication with said channel, a filter port in gas flow communication with said channel and providing a filter outlet from said housing separate from said exhalation outlet;

a check valve mounted at said atmospheric inlet for permitting flow of air into said housing; and

a bacteria filter mounted at said filter port.

2. An exhalation evacuation device as defined by claim 1 wherein said bacteria filter has a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve.

3. The exhalation evacuation device of claim 1, further comprising:

an excess gas port on said housing in gas flow communication with said channel; and

an excess gas collection container mounted at said excess gas port.

4. An exhalation evacuation device as defined by claim 3, wherein said container is a bag.

5. An exhalation evacuation device for use with a ventilation unit to remove exhaled gases from a patient through a vacuum source, said device comprising:

a housing defining an exhalation inlet connectable to the ventilation unit, a channel extending from said exhalation inlet through said housing to an exhalation outlet connectable to a vacuum source, an atmospheric inlet in gas flow communication with said channel, a filter port in gas flow communication with said channel and providing a filter outlet from said housing separate from said exhalation outlet and an excess gas port in gas flow communication with said channel;

a check valve mounted at said atmospheric inlet for permitting flow of air into said housing;

a bacteria filter mounted at said filter port for filtering exhaled gases passing through said filter port in the event of failure of the vacuum source, said bacteria filter having a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve;

an excess gas collection container mounted at said excess gas port; and

an audible alarm means on said housing for generating an alarm when exhaled gases pass through said filter.

6. An exhalation evacuation device for use with a ventilation unit to remove exhaled gases from a patient through a vacuum source, said device comprising:

a housing defining an exhalation inlet connectable to the ventilation unit, a channel extending from said exhalation inlet through said housing to an exhalation outlet connectable to a vacuum source, an atmospheric inlet in gas flow communication with said channel, a filter port in gas flow communication with said channel and providing a filter outlet from said housing separate from said exhalation outlet and an excess gas port in gas flow communication with said channel;

a check valve mounted at said atmospheric inlet for permitting flow of air into said housing;

a bacteria filter mounted at said filter port for filtering exhaled gases passing through said filter port in the vent of failure of the vacuum source, said bacteria filter having a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve;

an excess gas collection container mounted at said excess gas port; and

an audible alarm means on said housing for generating an alarm when the vacuum source draws gases from the ventilation unit due to blockage of the atmospheric inlet and the filter port.

7. An exhalation evacuation device as defined by claim 6 wherein said audible alarm means generates an alarm when exhaled gases flow through said filter port.

8. A ventilation contamination control device for use in the containment of human exhalation from a respiratory ventilator unit for disposal through a contained vacuum system, comprising:

an air impermeable housing having a gas flow channel extending between an exhalation inlet and an exhalation outlet, said inlet having means for operable connection to the exhalation output of a respiratory ventilator unit;

said exhalation outlet having means for operable connection to a contained vacuum source so as to evacuate exhaled gases from said housing through said contained vacuum source;

an atmospheric inlet port on said housing in communication with said gas flow channel, said atmospheric inlet port having an unidirectional valve therein, said unidirectional valve providing gas flow from the atmosphere inwardly through said atmospheric inlet port to said housing, but preventing gas flow from said housing outwardly through said atmospheric inlet port to the atmosphere, said unidirectional valve providing less resistance to inward gas flow than the gas flow resistance of said housing in connection with a respiratory ventilator unit;

a filter outlet port on said housing in communication with said gas flow channel and with said exhalation inlet therethrough, said filter outlet port providing a filter outlet separate from said exhalation outlet; and

a bacteria filter mounted on said filter outlet port, said bacteria filter having a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said unidirectional valve, whereby said device provides a closed exhalation containment system in which gases exhaled through said respiratory ventilator unit pass through said exhalation inlet and are evacuated through said exhalation outlet to said contained vacuum source, and said unidirectional valve provides an inflow of gas when the rate of gas evacuation by said contained vacuum source exceeds exhalation so that said device does not evacuate the patient or provide a substantial back pressure against exhalation.

9. The exhalation evacuation device of claim 8, further comprising:

an overflow control port on said housing in communication with said gas flow channel and having an exhalation overflow retention bag mounted thereon.

10. A ventilation contamination control device for use in the containment of human exhalation from a respiratory ventilator unit for disposal through a contained vacuum system, comprising:

an air impermeable housing having a gas flow channel extending between an exhalation inlet and an exhalation outlet, said inlet having means for operable connection to the exhalation output of a respiratory ventilator unit;

said housing including an overflow control port in communication with said gas flow channel and having an exhalation overflow retention bag mounted thereon;

said exhalation outlet having means for operable connection to a contained vacuum source so as to evacuate exhaled gases from said housing and said retention bag through said contained vacuum source;

an atmospheric inlet port on said housing in communication with said gas flow channel, said atmospheric inlet port having an unidirectional valve therein, said unidirectional valve providing gas flow from the atmosphere inwardly through said atmospheric inlet port to said housing, but preventing gas flow from said housing outwardly through said atmospheric inlet port to the atmosphere, said unidirectional valve providing less resistance to inward gas flow than the gas flow resistance of said housing in connection with a respiratory ventilator unit;

a filter outlet port on said housing and communicating with said exhalation inlet;

a bacteria filter mounted on said filter outlet port, said bacteria filter having a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said unidirectional valve; and

means for providing an audible signal when exhaled gases pass through said bacteria filter, said audible signal means preventing substantial gas flow therethrough when not providing said audible signal, whereby said device provides a closed exhalation containment system in which gases exhaled through said respiratory ventilator unit pass through said exhalation inlet and are evacuated through said exhalation outlet to said contained vacuum source, said overflow retention bag temporarily containing exhaled gases in excess of the rate of gas evacuation of said contained vacuum source, and said unidirectional valve providing an inflow of gas when the rate of gas evacuation by said contained vacuum source exceeds exhalation so that said device does not evacuate the patient or provide a substantial back pressure against exhalation.

11. A ventilation contamination control device for use in the coupling of the expiratory circuit of a ventilator unit to a closed vacuum system, comprising:

an exhalation chamber having an inlet with means for coupling said chamber to said expiratory circuit of said ventilator unit for contained gas flow therebetween;

a flexible exhalation containment bag depending from said exhalation inlet chamber and providing for contained gas flow therebetween;

said exhalation chamber having an outlet tube extending therefrom, said outlet tube having means for communicating said tube to said closed vacuum system, and said exhalation chamber having a filter outlet separate from said tube communicating means;

a check valve on said exhalation chamber providing inward gas flow from the atmosphere into said exhalation chamber, but preventing outward gas flow from said exhalation chamber to the atmosphere, said check valve having an inward gas flow resistance less than the gas flow resistance of said exhalation chamber coupled to said expiratory circuit of said ventilator unit; and

a bacteria filter unit secured on said filter outlet of said exhalation chamber to provide gas flow therebetween and vent said exhalation chamber therethrough, said bacteria filter unit providing a greater gas flow resistance than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve, whereby said device provides a normally closed exhalation containment system, but said bacteria filter unit provides filtered emission of exhaled gases upon failure of said closed vacuum system.

12. A ventilation contamination control device for use in the coupling of the expiratory circuit of a ventilator unit to a closed vacuum system, comprising:

an exhalation chamber having an inlet with means for coupling said chamber to said expiratory circuit of said ventilator unit for contained gas flow therebetween;

a flexible exhalation containment bag depending from said exhalation inlet chamber and providing for contained gas flow therebetween;

said exhalation chamber having an outlet tube extending therefrom, said outlet tube having means for communicating said tube to said closed vacuum system;

a check valve on said exhalation chamber providing inward gas flow from the atmosphere into said exhalation chamber, but preventing outward gas flow from said exhalation chamber to the atmosphere, said check valve having an inward gas flow resistance less than the gas flow resistance of said exhalation chamber coupled to said expiratory circuit of said ventilator unit;

a bacteria filter unit secured on said exhalation chamber to provide gas flow therebetween and vent said exhalation chamber therethrough, said bacteria filter unit providing a greater gas flow resistance than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve; and

means for providing an audible signal when exhaled gases pass through said bacteria filter, said audible signal means preventing substantial gas flow therethrough when not providing said audible signal, whereby said device provides a normally closed exhalation containment system, but said bacteria filter unit provides filtered emission of exhaled gases upon failure of said closed vacuum system.

13. A ventilator unit contamination control device, comprising:

an exhalation chamber having an inlet with means for operable connection to the exhalation output of a respiratory ventilator unit, and having an outlet with means for coupling to a contained vacuum system;

an atmospheric inlet port on said exhalation chamber, said inlet port having a check valve therein that provides inward gas flow therethrough from the atmosphere into said exhalation chamber, but which prevents outward gas flow therethrough from said exhalation chamber to the atmosphere; and

said exhalation chamber including a vent to atmosphere, said vent having a bacteria filter therein, said bacteria filter providing a gas flow resistance greater than the inward gas flow resistance of said check valve, whereby respiratory gases exhaled through said ventilator unit pass through said exhalation chamber and are evacuated to said contained vacuum source, and said check valve provides an inflow of gas when the rate of gas evacuation by said contained vacuum source exceeds gas exhalation.

14. The ventilator unit contamination control device of claim 13, further comprising:

an expandable containment vessel coupled with said exhalation chamber for contained gas flow therebetween, said expandable containment vessel temporarily containing gases exhaled to said exhalation chamber in excess of the rate of gas evacuation of said contained vacuum source.