System and method for controlling the start up of a patient ventilator

• US 6,360,745 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Butterbrodt, Jay, Sanborn, Warren G., Wallace, Charles L., Arnett, David, Ferguson, Howard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, VIRENDRA KUMAR
• Application Number:
  US09/289,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.18, 128/205.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.14
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

The invention is directed to a ventilation control system and method of powering up a patient ventilator for detecting if a patient is connected to the ventilator when the ventilator is initially powered up prior to input of ventilator settings. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status, as well as for entering values for ventilation settings to be used to control the ventilator. Values for ventilation settings entered during set up of the ventilator result in the display of only those further ventilation settings that are appropriate in accordance with the earlier entered settings.

Claims

1. A method of powering up a patient ventilator, comprising:

detecting if a patient is connected to the ventilator when the ventilator is initially powered up and prior to input of ventilator settings to the ventilator pertaining to said patient;

ventilating said patient in a safety mode in accordance with a stored set of ventilator parameter values, the stored set of ventilator parameter values having been selected to safely ventilate a majority of patients if said patient is connected to the ventilator when the ventilator is powered up; and

displaying ventilator parameter values in use prior to start up of the patient ventilator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of ventilating the patient comprises:

providing ventilator parameter values to a ventilator controller, the ventilator parameters values being selected from a range of ventilator parameters values and stored in a memory of the ventilator controller; and

providing breath support ventilation to the patient in response to the ventilator parameter values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying further comprises displaying graphics of a new patient button, a same patient button and a short self test button;

and further comprising the step of selecting and actuating either the new patient button, the same patient button or the short self test button.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

actuating the new patient button; and

displaying a new patient set up screen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying includes displaying an ideal body weight button for selecting a value for an ideal body weight of the patient on the new patient setup screen.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

actuating the ideal body weight button;

displaying a stored value for the ideal body weight; and

selecting a value for the ideal body weight of the patient, if different from the stored ideal body weight of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

accepting the value for the ideal body weight of the patient; and

displaying a ventilation settings screen having a plurality of buttons associated with ventilator parameters, the ventilator parameters having user selectable values.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying ventilator parameters determined to be appropriate for ventilating the patient as a function of the ideal body weight of the patient.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a range of values for each of the displayed ventilator parameters, the range of values being determined from the ideal body weight of the patient;

selecting one of the ventilator parameters to enable selection of a value for the selected parameter;

selecting the value for the selected parameters from the determined range of values for the selected parameter;

accepting the selected value for the selected parameter; and

controlling the ventilator in accordance with the selected value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting a value comprises actuating an override button to enable a user to select a value for the selected parameter that is not one of the values in the range of values for the selected parameter.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a range of values for each of the displayed ventilator parameters, the range of values being determined from the value of the ideal body weight of the patient;

selecting a first one of the ventilator parameters to enable selection of a value for the selected parameter;

selecting the value from the range of values for the selected parameter;

selecting a second one of the ventilator parameters;

selecting a value from the range of values for the selected second one of the ventilator parameters;

accepting the selected values of the first and second ventilator parameters; and

controlling the ventilator according to the selected values.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of selecting values comprise actuating an override button to enable a user to select a value for the selected parameter that is not one of the values in the range of values for the selected parameter.