Emergency life support system

• US 6,848,444 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Pranger, Loland A., Wiesmann, William P., Cutchis, Protagoras N., Smith, Dexter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US09/920,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 12820421-20423, 128/204.28, 128/205.11, 128/205.13, 128/205.18, 128/205.23, 128/204.25, 128/845, 600/21, 600/22
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8225 using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

An emergency life support system including a patient ventilator for mechanical breathing assistance; a capnograph to monitor CO₂ for ventilation effectiveness; a pulse oximeter for measuring blood stream oxygen saturation; a carbon dioxide sensor; an electrocardiograph (ECG) to monitor cardiac performance; an infusion pump; and alarms and a data recorder. The preferred embodiment uses an oxygen generator to deliver oxygen, to generate electric power to run the ventilation system, and to warm IV fluids and resuscitated air. The generator has electronically controlled valves and a modified valve system that offers the ability to select the oxygen concentration in the air delivered to the patient.

Claims

1. A self-contained, portable life support system having low susceptibility to electromagnetic interference and being capable of providing autonomous or partially-attended mechanical breathing assistance, monitoring and collection of patient medical data, said life support system comprising;

a. a housing having dimensions no greater than two feet by two feet by one foot;

b. a low pressure ventilator subsystem comprising;

i. an interchangeable power supply movably mounted to said housing, said power supply having an input portion and a discharge portion;

ii. a central processing unit comprising input and output portions, said central processing unit further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply;

iii. a switchable exhalation control valve operatively interconnected to said output portion of said central processing unit, said exhalation control valve further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said exhalation valve further connected to the input end of an exhalation connector;

iv. an adjustable inspiration valve operatively interconnected to said output portion of said central processing unit, said inspiration valve further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said inspiration valve further operatively connected to the input end of an airflow sensor, said airflow sensor operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said airflow sensor further operatively interconnected to the input end of an inhalation connector, the output end of said airflow sensor further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

v. a replaceable oxygen supply source, said oxygen supply source connected to the input portion of a patient oxygen mask, said oxygen supply source being capable of providing oxygen and heat output;

vi. a pressure sensor, the input of said pressure sensor connected to the output of said oxygen supply source, said pressure sensor further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, the output of said pressure sensor further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

vii. an air compressor, said air compressor operatively interconnected to said output of said central processing unit, said air compressor further operatively interconnected to the output portion of said power supply, said air compressor further connected to the output end of said inspiration valve, the output portion of said air compressor further connected to the input end of a suction connector;

viii. a plurality of thermoelectric transducers, said transducers operatively interconnected to said power supply, an input of said thermoelectric transducers operatively interconnected to an output of said oxygen supply source;

c. a sensor subsystem comprising;

i. a capnograph movably mounted to said housing, said capnograph operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said capnograph further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

ii. a pulse oximeter movably mounted to said housing, said pulse oximeter operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said pulse oximeter further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

iii. an electrocardiograph movably mounted to said housing, said electrocardiograph operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said electrocardiograph further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

iv. a carbon dioxide sensor, said sensor operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said carbon dioxide sensor further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

d. an infusion pump means for delivering fluids to patient, said infusion pump operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said infusion pump further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

e. at least one alarm, said alarm operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said alarm further operatively interconnected to said output portion of said central processing unit;

f. a continuous data recorder, said data recorder containing input and output portions, said data recorder further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said data recorder further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit, said data recorder being capable of interfacing with an external medical care system and providing said recorded medical data to said external medical care system; and

g. a user interface means for setup and monitoring of patient system functions and diagnosis of said ventilator system faults, wherein said user interface is operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply, said user interface further operatively interconnected to said input portion of said central processing unit;

whereby the life support system can be hand-carried by a single person to the patient to be treated.

2. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said inspiration valve is adjustably capable of delivering between 28-100% oxygen.

3. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a curved support structure.

4. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a curved support structure means for attaching said housing to or lying alongside of a patient.

5. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of lateral strap attachment ports and slots.

6. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of recessed panels for attaching fluid reservoirs.

7. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of recessed panels means for attaching fluid reservoirs.

8. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises at least one battery.

9. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises an external power source and optionally contains power output and input connectors.

10. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said power supply contains power output and input connectors means for selectively switching said power supply to an external power source.

11. A life support system according to claim 1, further comprising a switchable transmitter capable of high-burst data transmission, said transmitter being capable of transmitting data in variable quantities and variable formats.

12. A life support system according to claim 1, said ventilator subsystem containing data output connectors, said data output connectors operatively connected to said output portion of said data recorder.

13. A life support system according to claim 1, said ventilator subsystem containing data output connectors means for interfacing with external data-handling facilities.

14. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply source is operatively interconnected to said output of said thermoelectric transducers, said oxygen supply source being further capable of supplying power via said thermoelectric transducers to said input portion of said power supply.

15. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply source generates heat for warming fluids and air used in patient resuscitation.

16. A life support system according to claim 1, said ventilator subsystem further comprising an infusion pump, said pump operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply.

17. A life support system according to claim 1, said ventilator subsystem further comprising an infusion pump means for delivering fluids to patient, said pump operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power supply.

18. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply source optionally is selected from one or more of the following:

a bellows;

an air compressor; and

at least one compressed air turbine pump.

19. A life support system according to claim 1, wherein said ventilator subsystem is capable of providing continuous ventilatory support for at least one hour.