Ventilator having an oscillatory inspiratory phase and method

• US 5,862,802 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Forrest M. Bird and Mary P. Bird Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Forrest M. Bird
• Inventors: Bird, Forrest M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US07/981,910
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.24, 128/204.29, 128/205.18
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0012 by Venturi means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter

Abstract

Ventilator for use with a source of gas under pressure for supplying such gas to the airway of a patient having an inlet adapted to be connected to the source of gas, and an outlet adapted to be connected to the airway of the patient. A pneumatic oscillator is connected to the inlet for supplying pulsatile gas in the form of successive small volumes of gas to the airway of the patient during a breath of the patient to cause diffusive ventilation of the airway to the patient. An exhalation valve assembly is connected to the patient airway for permitting the patient to exhale gases introduced into the patient airway.

Claims

1. In a method for ventilating a patient airway during the inspiratory phase and the expiratory phase from a source of gas under pressure, supplying to the patient airway during the inspiratory phase a plurality of pulses of small volumes of gas from said source of gas, adding in succession the pulses of small volumes of gas to provide successively greater volumes of gas successively increasing in pulsatile form the pressure of the gas in the airway of the patient during the inspiratory phase by adding the successively greater volumes of gas, said successive increase in pulsatile form of the pressure of the gas in the airway of the patient being caused solely by the successive addition of the small volumes of gas and serving to provide diffusive ventilation to the patient during the inspiratory phase and permitting the patient to exhale during the expiratory phase.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the pulses of gas are supplied against a constant positive airway pressure.

3. A method as in claim 1 together with the step of supplying tidal volumes of gas to the patient to provide volumetric ventilation.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the tidal volumes of gas are superimposed upon the pulses of gas.

5. A method as in claim 3 wherein diffusive ventilation is terminated during the times tidal volumes are delivered.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the diffusive ventilation is at the rate of 120 to 420 cycles per minute.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the volume of each pulse of gas ranges from 10 to 75 milliliters.