Method and apparatus for maintaining a defined respiratory gas flow pattern to a subject by identifying a transfer function of the connection system

• US 5,743,253 A
• Filed: 01/19/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maquet Critical Care AB (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wernbro, Rolf, Cewers, Goran, Castor, Rolf, Nord, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/588,684
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/203.12
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/46 Resistance or compliance of the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric

Abstract

A ventilator system has different sub-systems, such as a connection system, which influence the flow of breathing gas supplied to a patient'"'"'s respiratory system. The flow pattern of the breathing gas is particularly influenced by the connection system. In order to compensate for this influence to the greatest possible extent in the generation of breathing gas, the connection system'"'"'s transfer function is determined before the system is connected to the respiratory system. A gas flow with a specific gas flow pattern is generated with high accuracy in a ventilator unit. An ensuing gas flow pattern, only influenced by the connection system, is measured with high accuracy in a measurement unit in the ventilator unit. The transfer function for the connection system can be determined in a control unit from the known, generated gas flow pattern and the measured, ensuing gas flow pattern. The corresponding determination can be made for the respiratory system after a patient has been connected.

Claims

1. A method for regulating the supply of breathing gas to and the removal of expired gas from the respiratory system of a subject in a ventilator system having a ventilator unit connectable to the respiratory system of the subject, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a connection system to said ventilator unit, said connection system having a transfer function associated therewith identifying an influence of said connecting system on gas pressure and gas flow in said connection system;

setting a test gas flow pattern in said ventilator unit and supplying gas with said test flow pattern to said connection system;

measuring a response gas flow pattern arising from said test gas flow pattern;

determining said transfer function from said test gas flow pattern and said response gas flow pattern;

selecting a therapeutic gas flow pattern; and

setting a compensated gas flow pattern at said ventilator unit, dependent on said transfer function, for producing said selected therapeutic gas flow pattern, via said connection system, at said respiratory system of said subject.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional step of connecting a lung model having known characteristics to said connection system during supply of said test gas flow pattern.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the test gas flow pattern supplied to said connection system with said lung model connected to said connection system comprises a first test gas flow pattern, and said method comprising the additional steps of:

removing said lung model and connecting said connection system to the respiratory system of the subject;

supplying a second test gas flow pattern from said ventilator unit to the respiratory system via said connection system;

measuring a second response gas flow pattern arising from said second test gas flow pattern;

determining an influence of said respiratory system on gas flow from said ventilator unit from said second test gas flow pattern, said second response gas flow pattern and said transfer function; and

further compensating said compensated settings dependent on said influence of the respiratory system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first test gas flow pattern is the same as said second test gas flow pattern.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ventilator unit is operable in a plurality of ventilation modes and wherein said second test gas flow pattern has a spectrum corresponding to different frequency spectra respectively present in said plurality of ventilation modes.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ventilator unit is operable in a plurality of ventilation modes and wherein said first test gas flow pattern has a spectrum corresponding to different frequency spectra respectively present in said plurality of ventilation modes.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of determining said transfer function comprises determining said transfer function from a plurality of pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of determining said transfer function comprises determining said transfer function from a plurality of linear and nonlinear pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.

9. An apparatus for regulating the supply of breathing gas to and the removal of expired gas from the respiratory system of a subject in a ventilator system having a ventilator unit and a connection system connectable to a subject'"'"'s respiratory system said connection system having a transfer function associated therewith identifying an influence of said connection system on gas pressure and gas flow in said connection system, said apparatus comprising:

means for setting a test gas flow pattern in said ventilator unit and for supplying gas with said test flow pattern to said connection system;

means for measuring a response gas flow pattern arising from said test gas flow pattern;

means for determining said transfer function from said test gas flow pattern and said response gas flow pattern;

means for selecting a therapeutic gas flow pattern; and

means for setting a compensated gas flow pattern at said ventilator unit, dependent on said transfer function, for producing said selected therapeutic gas flow pattern, via said connection system, at a subject'"'"'s respiratory system.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a lung model having known characteristics connectable to said connection system during supply of said test gas flow pattern.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for supplying gas with said test gas flow pattern to said connection system comprises means for supplying gas with said test gas flow pattern to said connection system with said lung model connected to said connection system as a first test gas flow pattern, and said apparatus further comprising:

means for supplying a second test gas flow pattern from said ventilator unit to a subject'"'"'s respiratory system via said connection system with said lung model removed from said connection system;

wherein said means for measuring comprises means for measuring a second response gas flow pattern arising from said second test gas flow pattern;

means for determining an influence of a subject'"'"'s respiratory system on gas flow from said ventilator unit from said second test gas flow pattern, said second response gas flow pattern and said transfer function; and

means for further compensating said compensated settings dependent on said influence of a subject'"'"'s respiratory system.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for supplying gas to said connection system comprises means for supplying gas with said first test gas flow pattern the same as said second test gas flow pattern.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for determining said transfer function comprises means for determining said transfer function from a plurality of pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and for selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for determining said transfer function comprises means for determining said transfer function from a plurality of linear and non-linear pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and for selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.

15. A method for determining at least one mechanical lung parameter of a respiratory system of a subject in a ventilator system having a ventilator unit connectable to the respiratory system of the subject, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a connection system to said ventilator unit, said connection system having a transfer function associated therewith identifying an influence of said connection system on gas pressure and gas flow in said connection system;

setting a test gas flow pattern in said ventilator unit and supplying gas with said test gas flow pattern to said connection system;

measuring a response gas flow pattern arising from said test gas flow pattern;

determining said transfer function from said test gas flow pattern and said response gas flow pattern;

connecting said connection system to the respiratory system of the subject;

supplying a second test gas flow pattern from said ventilator unit to the subject'"'"'s respiratory system via said connection system;

measuring a second response gas flow pattern arising from said second test gas flow pattern;

determining said mechanical lung parameter from said second gas flow pattern, said second response gas flow pattern and said transfer function.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first gas flow pattern is the same as the second test gas flow pattern.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the mechanical lung parameter is resistance.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the mechanical lung parameter is compliance.

19. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of determining said transfer function comprises determining said transfer function from a plurality of pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.

20. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of determining said transfer function comprises determining said transfer function from a plurality of linear and non-linear pre-programmed model structures for said connection system and selecting a model structure from said plurality of model structures having a highest correlation as said transfer function.