Asynchronous cycling of mechanical ventilators

• US 5,359,999 A
• Filed: 02/24/1993
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James B. Kinsman
• Original Assignee: James B. Kinsman
• Inventors: Kinsman, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/023,131
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 128/28, 128/30.2, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/204.21, 128/204.23
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0404 with means for selective or partial lung respiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/044 External cuff pressure control or supply, e.g. synchronisation with respiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A system is disclosed for the use of two mechanical ventilators, wherein one of the ventilators is used to ventilate both lungs of a patient and the second ventilator is used to inflate a pneumobelt or similar device. Both ventilators are controlled to asynchronously cycle off and on at different times. Alternatively, the first and second ventilators are used to ventilate the first and second lung, respectively, of a patient using a double-lumen endotracheal tube, with both ventilators being controlled to asynchronously cycle off and on at different times.

Claims

1. A ventilator system comprising:

an inflatable bladder worn by a subject;

a first ventilator connected to said inflatable bladder, said first ventilator having an input signal receiver;

an endotracheal tube inserted into said subject;

a second ventilator having an input signal receiver and being connected to said endotracheal tube;

means for generating signals representative of the start of each of patient inspiration and expiration;

means for transmitting said signal representative of patient expiration start time from said first ventilator to said input signal receiver of said second ventilator;

means for starting patient expiration on said first ventilator; and

means for starting patient inspiration on said second ventilator responsive to the receipt of said signal representative of said expiration start time and following patient expiration, said first and second ventilators thereby operating asynchronously.

2. The ventilator system of claim 1 wherein said first ventilator comprises a master ventilator and said second ventilator comprises a slave ventilator.

3. The ventilator system of claim 2 wherein said master ventilator comprises a Siemens Servo Ventilator 900 C/D.

4. The ventilator system of claim 3 wherein said slave ventilator comprises a Siemens Servo Ventilator 900 C/D.

5. The ventilator system of claim 2 wherein said transmitting means comprises electrical connection of a start inspiration pin on said slave ventilator to an expiration time out pin on said master ventilator.

6. The ventilator system of claim 4 wherein said transmitting means comprises electrical connection of pin 7 on the control terminal of said slave ventilator to pin 12 on the auxiliary equipment of said master ventilator.

7. The ventilator system of claim 1 wherein said first ventilator and said second ventilator are contained in a single outer housing.

8. The ventilator system of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means comprises a cable.

9. A method for connecting a first ventilator to a second ventilator for asynchronous cycling which method comprises:

providing an inflatable bladder worn by a subject;

providing a first ventilator having an input signal receiver;

connecting said first ventilator to said inflatable bladder;

providing an endotracheal tube inserted into said subject;

providing a second ventilator having an input signal receiver;

connecting said second ventilator to said endotracheal tube;

generating signals representative of the start of each of patient inspiration and patient expiration;

transmitting said signal representative of patient expiration start time from said first ventilator to said input signal receiver of said second ventilator;

starting patient expiration on said first ventilator; and

starting patient inspiration on said second ventilator responsive to the receipt of said signal representative of said expiration start time and following patient expiration, said first and second ventilators thereby operating asynchronously.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said transmitting comprises electrical transmission through a cable means.

11. A ventilator system comprising:

a double lumen endotracheal tube inserted into a subject;

a first ventilator connected to one lung of said subject by one lumen of said double lumen endotracheal tube, said first ventilator having an input signal receiver;

a second ventilator having an input signal receiver and being connected to the other lung of said subject by the other lumen of said double lumen endotracheal tube;

means for generating signals representative of the start of each patient inspiration and patient expiration;

means for transmitting said signal representative of patient expiration start time from said first ventilator to said input signal receiver of said second ventilator;

means for starting patient expiration on said first ventilator; and

means for starting patient inspiration on said second ventilator responsive to the receipt of said signal representative of said expiration start time, said first and second ventilators thereby operating asynchronously.

12. A method for connecting a first ventilator to a second ventilator for asynchronous cycling which method comprises:

providing a double lumen endotracheal tube inserted into a subject;

providing a first ventilator having an input signal receiver;

connecting said first ventilator to one lung of said subject by one lumen of said double lumen endotracheal tube;

providing a second ventilator having an input signal receiver;

connecting said second ventilator to the other lung of said subject by the other lumen of said double lumen endotracheal tube;

generating signals representative of the start of each of patient inspiration and patient expiration;

transmitting said signal representative of patient expiration start time from said first ventilator to said input signal receiver of said second ventilator;

starting patient expiration on said first ventilator; and

starting patient inspiration on said second ventilator responsive to the receipt of said signal representative of said expiration start time, said first and second ventilators thereby operating asynchronously.