Medical ventilator system

• US 6,761,165 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transfinity Corp., UAB Research Foundation (University of Alabama System)
• Original Assignee: UAB Research Foundation (University of Alabama System)
• Inventors: Strickland, James H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P
• Application Number:
  US09/791,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.23, 128/205.11, 128/204.21, 128/204.22
• US Class Current: 128/204.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)

Abstract

A medical ventilator system is disclosed which automatically controls and modifies the oxygen support provided to the patient. The system includes a source of pressurized oxygen and a fluid conduit extending between the pressurized oxygen source and a patient. A valve is fluidly connected in series with the conduit which is variably controllable to vary the oxygen support for the patient. A pulse oximeter provides an SpO₂ signal representative of the blood saturation of the patient. A controller is responsive to the magnitude of the SpO₂ signal as well as the rate of change of the SpO₂ signal for varying the oxygen support (FiO₂) to the patient by variably actuating the valve. Preferably, the controller utilizes fuzzy logic to determine the proper oxygen support for the patient.

Claims

1. A medical ventilator system comprising:

a source of pressurized oxygen,

a fluid conduit extending between said pressurized oxygen source and a patient,

valve means actuatable to control an FiO2 to the patient, said valve means fluidly connected in series with said fluid conduit,

means for measuring the blood oxygen saturation of the patient and providing an SpO2 signal representative thereof, and

means responsive to the magnitude of the SpO2 signal and rate of change of the SpO2 signal for varying the FiO2 of the patient by variably actuating said valve means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising processing means utilizing fuzzy logic for variably actuating said valve means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising a program utilizing fuzzy logic executed by said controller for variably actuating said valve means.

4. A medical ventilator system comprising:

a source of pressurized oxygen,

a fluid conduit extending between said pressurized oxygen source and a patient,

valve means actuatable to control an FiO2 to the patient, said valve means fluidly connected in series with said fluid conduit,

means for measuring the blood oxygen saturation of the patient and providing an SpO2 signal representative thereof,

processing means using fuzzy logic for varying the FiO2 of the patient by variably actuating said valve means.

5. A medical ventilator system comprising:

a source of pressurized oxygen,

a fluid conduit extending between said pressurized oxygen source and a patient,

a valve actuatable to control an FiO2 to the patient, said valve fluidly connected in series with said fluid conduit,

a pulse oximeter for measuring the blood oxygen saturation of the patient and providing an SpO2 signal representative thereof, and

a controller responsive to the magnitude of the SpO2 signal and rate of change of the SpO2 signal for varying the FiO2 of the patient by variably actuating said valve.