Apparatus and method for providing high frequency variable pressure to a patient

• US 6,708,690 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hete, Bernie F., Bobeck, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US09/652,747
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/205.24, 128/911, 128/205.18, 137/908
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation

Abstract

A high frequency pressure oscillation device and method of providing high frequency pressure oscillations to a patient. The device includes a patient circuit coupling a gas source to an airway of a patient, and a valve disposed in the patient circuit. The valve communicates the gas source with the patient'"'"'s airway when in a first position and at least partially restricts communication when in a second position. A rotating drive assembly rotates the valve in a first direction such that the valve is alternatively disposed in the first and second positions. This system is capable of delivering positive and negative pressures to the airway of a patient by including a blower as the source of breathing gas. This system is also capable of superimposing a high frequency oscillating pressure signal on another pressure signal by adding a second blower in series with the first blower.

Claims

1. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising:

a patient circuit having a first end adapted to be coupled a source of breathing gas and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient, wherein the patient circuit carries a flow of breathing gas between the source and the airway of such a patient;

a valve disposed in the patient circuit between the first end and the second end and configured so as to communicate such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient via the patient circuit responsive to the valve being in a first position within the patient circuit and to at least partially restrict communication of such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient responsive to the valve being in a second position within the patient circuit, the valve being disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the first position and in the second position; and

a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction such that the valve is alternatively disposed in the first position and in the second position;

a first blower having an inlet and outlet as the source of breathing gas; and

a second blower having an inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and an outlet, wherein the valve is adapted to communicate the outlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicates the inlet of the first blower with the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve being in the first position, and wherein the valve is adapted to communicate the inlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicates the outlet of the first blower with the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve being in the second position.

2. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 1, wherein the first blower and the second blower are driven by a common motor.

3. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 1, wherein the valve includes a generally cylindrical valve member having a first axial surface, a second axial surface, and a side surface, wherein a first hole that extends from the first axial surface to a first portion of the side surface is defined in the cylindrical member, and wherein a second hole that extends from the second axial surface to a second portion of the side surface is also defined in the cylindrical member.

4. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 3, wherein the first portion of the side surface of the cylindrical valve member and the second portion of the side surface of the cylindrical member are opposite one another.

5. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 3, wherein the patient circuit includes:

a valve housing having a valve chamber defined therein adapted to receive the cylindrical valve member for rotational movement in the valve chamber, the valve chamber having generally cylindrical side walls, a first end, and a second end;

a first conduit having a first end operatively coupled to the outlet of the first blower and a second end disposed at a first side of the valve chamber;

a second conduit having a first end operatively coupled to the inlet of the first blower and a second end disposed at a second side of the valve chamber;

a third conduit having a first end operatively coupled to the outlet of the second blower and a second end disposed at the first end of the valve chamber; and

a fourth conduit having a first end disposed at a second end of the valve chamber and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient, so that in the first position, the second end of the first conduit communicates with the first end of the fourth conduit via the first hole through the cylindrical valve member and the second end of the second conduit communicates with the second end of the third conduit via the second hole through the cylindrical valve member, and in the second position, the second end of the second conduit communicates with the first end of the fourth conduit via the first hole through the cylindrical valve member and the second end of the first conduit communicates with the second end of the third conduit via the second hole through the cylindrical valve member.

6. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising:

conduit means for communicating a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient;

valve means for alternatively communicating such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient via the conduit means responsive to the valve means being in a first position within the conduit means and for at least partially restricting communication of such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient responsive to the valve means being in a second position within the conduit means;

means for rotating the valve means in a first direction such that the valve means is alternatively disposed in the first position and in the second position within the conduit means;

a first blower having an inlet and outlet as the source of breathing gas; and

a second blower having an inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and an outlet, wherein the valve means is adapted to communicate the outlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicates the inlet of the first blower to the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve means being in the first position, and wherein the valve means is adapted to communicate the inlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicates the outlet of the first blower to the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve means being in the second position.

7. A method of providing high frequency pressure oscillation comprising:

providing a patient circuit that communicates a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient;

communicating such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient responsive to a valve in the patient circuit being in a first position within the patient circuit;

at least partially restricting communication of such a source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient responsive to the valve being in a second position within the patient circuit;

rotating the valve in a first direction such that the valve is alternatively disposed in the first position and in the second position within the patient circuit;

providing a first blower having an inlet and an outlet as such a source of breathing gas;

providing a second blower having an inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and an outlet, wherein the communicating step includes communicating the outlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicating the inlet of the first blower to the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve being in the first position; and

communicating the inlet of the first blower with an airway of a patient and communicating the outlet of the first blower to the outlet of the second blower responsive to the valve being in the second position in place of the step of at least partially restricting communication between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient responsive to the valve being in the second position.