Implantable sensor for proportional assist ventilation

• US 6,357,438 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Hansen, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P.
• Application Number:
  US09/691,171
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 607/42, 600/529, 600/531, 600/532, 600/534, 600/536, 600/538
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication

Abstract

A ventilator system using an implantable respiration sensor ventilator and a method for providing a proportional respiration assist are provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The implantable respiration sensor includes a respiration sensor element capable of being implanted in a patient. The respiration sensor element generates a respiration signal related to a respiration of the patient. The implantable respiration sensor further includes a respiration signal relay device capable of being implanted in the patient and in communication with the respiration sensor element. The respiration signal relay device is capable of communicating the respiration signal to a ventilator that is external to the patient. Using the implantable respiration sensor, a predetermined gas charge may be delivered to the patient based on the respiration signal.

Claims

1. A ventilator system for providing a gas to a patient, comprising:

a ventilator;

a respiration sensor element capable of being implanted in a patient, with said respiration sensor element generating a respiration signal related to a respiration of said patient; and

a respiration signal relay device capable of being implanted in said patient and in communication with said respiration sensor element, with said respiration signal relay device being capable of communicating said respiration signal to said ventilator;

wherein a predetermined gas charge may be delivered to said patient by said ventilator based on said respiration signal.

2. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration sensor element is implanted in a thoracic cavity of said patient.

3. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

4. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein an amplitude of said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

5. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration sensor element is a pressure sensor.

6. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration sensor element is a strain gauge.

7. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration sensor element is an impedance sensor.

8. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration signal relay device is a radio frequency transmitter connected to said respiration sensor element and capable of transmitting a radio frequency respiration signal to said ventilator.

9. The ventilator system of claim 1, wherein said respiration signal relay device is a transdermal wire harness connected to said respiration sensor element and capable of transmitting said respiration signal to said ventilator.

10. A method of providing a proportional respiration assist to a patient, comprising the steps of:

generating a respiration signal related to a respiration of said patient, said respiration signal being directly generated by a respiration sensor element implanted in said patient;

relaying said respiration signal to a ventilator, said ventilator being external to said patient; and

delivering a predetermined gas charge to said patient based on said respiration signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said respiration sensor element is implanted in a thoracic cavity of said patient.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein an amplitude of said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge pressure based on said respiration signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge volume based on said respiration signal.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge duration based on said respiration signal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge frequency based on said respiration signal.

18. A method of providing a proportional respiration assist to a patient, comprising the steps of:

implanting a respiration sensor element in said patient, said respiration sensor element directly detecting a respiration of said patient and generating a respiration signal related to said respiration; and

implanting a respiration signal relay device in said patient, with said respiration signal relay device communicating with said respiration sensor element and relaying said respiration signal to a ventilator external to said patient; and

delivering a predetermined gas charge to said patient from said ventilator based on said respiration signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said respiration sensor element is implanted in a thoracic cavity of said patient.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein an amplitude of said respiration signal is related to a respiration effort of said patient.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge pressure based on said respiration signal.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge volume based on said respiration signal.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge duration based on said respiration signal.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein said ventilator regulates a predetermined gas charge frequency based on said respiration signal.

26. A ventilator apparatus for providing proportional assist ventilation to a patient having a respiration sensor with a wireless transmitter implanted therein, said apparatus comprising

a wireless receiver capable of receiving a respiration signal relayed by the wireless transmitter;

and

a ventilator capable of delivering a predetermined gas charge to the patient based on the respiration signal.

27. The ventilator apparatus of claim 26, wherein said wireless receiver is disposed within said ventilator.