Ventilation sound detection system

• US 6,863,068 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Jamison, David Thomas, Maritch, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/202,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.23, 128/204.21, 128/205.23, 600/538, 600/532, 600/529, 600/533, 600/543
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7415 Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation A61B5/741 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

A ventilation sound detection system includes an audible display that emits a series of sounds based upon information provided by a ventilator. In particular, there are two different sound patterns emitted by the system. One sound represents inspiration and the other sound represents expiration. The inspiration sound is enunciated when monitored breathing pressure crosses a threshold level, thereby communicating to an anesthesiologist/clinician that a significant pressure has been developed in the breathing circuit (e.g., a proper inspiration breath has been taken by the patient). The exhalation sound is enunciated when the rising edge of a valid CO₂ breath has been returned to the breathing circuit (e.g., a proper exhalation breath has been made). Accordingly, the system provides the anesthesiologist/clinician with a new way of verifying that the patient is being properly ventilated. Therefore, ventilation changes or problems can be identified quickly and effectively.

Claims

1. A ventilation sound system that emits distinctive sounds for a proper inhalation by a patient and a proper exhalation by the patient by continuously monitoring the patient'"'"'s inhalation and exhalation, the system comprising:

a breathing pressure analyzer that detects and measures pressure in the system as an inhalation data indicating an inhalation by the patient;

a CO₂ analyzer that detects and measures CO₂ in the system as an exhalation data indicating an exhalation by the patient;

a processor that compares the inhalation data to an inhalation threshold and provides a first sound pattern when the inhalation data exceeds the inhalation threshold indicating the proper inhalation, said processor also comparing the exhalation data to an exhalation threshold and providing a second sound pattern different than the first sound pattern when the exhalation data exceeds the exhalation threshold indicating die proper exhalation; and

an audio output device responsive to the processor to play the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern.

2. The ventilation sound system of claim 1, said audio output device comprising

an audio amplifier that increases the magnitude of the first sound pattern into an amplified first sound pattern and that increases the magnitude of the second sound pattern into an amplified second sound pattern, and

at least one speaker that emits the amplified first sound pattern as a first sound and that emits the amplified second sound pattern as a second sound.

3. The ventilation sound system of claim 1, further comprising an input device connected to said processor and responsive to user input to adjusts the inhalation threshold based on the user input.

4. The ventilation sound system of claim 3, said input device further responsive to the user input to select a first sound pattern and a second sound pattern based on the user input.

5. The ventilation sound system of claim 3, said input device further responsive to the user input to select a volume for outputting the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern based on the user input.

6. The ventilation sound system of claim 1, said processor including a threshold manager that determines when the inhalation data indicates a proper inhalation and provides a first signal, said threshold manager further determines when the exhalation data indicates a proper exhalation and provides a second signal, and a sound manager responsive to the first signal to provide and output the first sound pattern to the audio output device, said sound manager also responsive to the second signal to provide and output the second sound pattern to the audio output device.

7. The ventilation sound system of claim 1, wherein the inhalation threshold is less than a maximum inhalation level, and the exhalation threshold is less than a maximum exhalation level.

8. The ventilation sound system of claim 1, wherein the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern are generally unrelated to bodily sounds.

9. A ventilation sound system that emits distinctive sounds for a proper inhalation by a patient and a proper exhalation by the patient by continuously monitoring the patient'"'"'s inhalation and exhalation, the system comprising:

breathing pressure analyzing means for measuring pressure in the system as an inhalation data indicating an inhalation by the patient;

CO₂ analyzing means for measuring CO₂ in the system as an exhalation data indicating an exhalation by the patient;

processing means for comparing the inhalation data to an inhalation threshold and for comparing the exhalation data to an exhalation threshold;

audio means for providing a first sound pattern when the inhalation data exceeds the inhalation threshold indicating the proper inhalation, and for providing a second sound pattern different than the first sound pattern when the exhalation data exceeds the exhalation threshold indicating the proper exhalation; and

output means responsive to said audio means for playing the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern.

10. The ventilation sound system of claim 9, said output means comprising

amplifying means for increasing the magnitude of the first sound pattern into an amplified first sound pattern and for increasing the magnitude of the second sound pattern into an amplified second sound pattern, and

audible means for emitting the amplified first sound pattern as a first sound and for emitting the amplified second sound pattern as a second sound.

11. The ventilation sound system of claim 9, further comprising input means responsive to user input for adjusting the inhalation threshold based on the user input.

12. The ventilation sound system of claim 11, said input means further responsive to the user input for selecting a first sound pattern and a second sound pattern based on the user input.

13. The ventilation sound system of claim 11, said input means further responsive to the user input for selecting a volume for emitting the amplified first sound pattern and the amplified second sound pattern based on the user input.

14. The ventilation sound system of claim 9, said processing means providing a first signal when the inhalation data indicates a proper inhalation and provides a second signal when the exhalation data indicates a proper exhalation, said audio means responsive to the first signal to output the first sound pattern to said output means, and also responsive to the second signal to output the second sound pattern to said output means.

15. The ventilation sound system of claim 9, wherein the inhalation threshold is less than a maximum inhalation level, and the exhalation threshold is less than a maximum exhalation level.

16. The ventilation sound system of claim 9, wherein the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern are generally unrelated to bodily sounds.

17. A method for playing distinctive sound patterns for a proper inhalation by a patient and a proper exhalation by the patient, the method comprising:

measuring breathing pressure as an inhalation data indicating an inhalation by the patient;

measuring CO₂ as an exhalation data indicating an exhalation by the patient;

comparing the inhalation data to an inhalation threshold;

providing a first sound pattern when the inhalation data exceeds the inhalation threshold indicating the proper inhalation;

comparing the exhalation data to an exhalation threshold;

providing a second sound pattern different than the first sound pattern when the exhalation data exceeds the exhalation threshold indicating the proper exhalation; and

playing the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein playing the first sound pattern and the second sound pattern includes increasing the magnitude of the first sound pattern into an amplified first sound pattern, increasing the magnitude of the second sound pattern into an amplified second sound pattern, emitting the amplified first sound pattern as a first sound, and emitting the amplified second sound pattern as a second sound.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting the inhalation threshold based on user input.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a first sound pattern and a second sound pattern based on user input.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a volume for emitting the amplified first sound pattern and the amplified second sound pattern based on user input.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the inhalation threshold is less than a maximum inhalation level, and the exhalation threshold is less than a maximum exhalation level.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing the first sound pattern includes providing the first sound pattern generally unrelated to bodily sounds and the step of providing the second sound pattern includes providing the second sound pattern generally unrelated to bodily sounds.