Portable drag compressor powered mechanical ventilator

• US 6,877,511 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bird Products Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bird Products Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: DeVries, Douglas F., Graves, Warner V. Jr., Williams, Malcolm R., Cegielski, Michael J., Holmes, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/458,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/205.18
• US Class Current: 128/204.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1015 using a gas flush valve, e.g. oxygen flush valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/125 Diluting primary gas with ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 : in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 : Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 : with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 : Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 : Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 : Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 : with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/46 : Resistance or compliance of the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/40 : Details of construction of the flow constriction devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/42 : Orifices or nozzles

Abstract

A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

Claims

1. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a compressor comprising;

i) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a non-valved gas outflow passageway from said housing; and

ii) a motor-driven rotor mounted within said housing, wherein when said rotor is rotated in a first direction, gas within said housing will be compressed and expelled through said outflow passageway as lung inspiratory gas; and

b) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises a plurality of blades formed circularly therearound.

3. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a compressor comprising;

i) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a non-valved gas outflow passageway from said housing; and

ii) a motor-driven rotor mounted within said housing, wherein when said rotor is rotated in a first direction, gas within said housing is compressed and expelled through said outflow passageway as lung inspiratory gas;

b) an oxygen blending apparatus in communication with the inflow passageway for blending oxygen with ambient air entering the inflow passageway to thereby provide oxygen-enriched air within said housing for subsequent compression and expulsion through said outflow passageway; and

c) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

4. The ventilator of claim 3, wherein said rotor comprises a plurality of blades formed circularly therearound.

5. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a compressor comprising;

i) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a non-valved gas outflow passageway from said housing; and

ii) a motor-driven rotor mounted within said housing and powered by a portable battery, said rotor having a multiplicity of blades formed circularly therearound such that, when said rotor is rotated in a first direction, said blades will compress gas within said housing and expel compressed gas through said outflow passageway as lung inspiratory gas; and

b) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

6. A compressor apparatus for creating inspiratory gas flow in a mechanical ventilator, said compressor apparatus comprising:

a) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a non-valved gas outflow passageway from said housing; and

b) a rotor rotably mounted within said housing, said rotor being constructed so that rotation thereof in a first direction will cause said rotor to (a) draw gas in said inflow passageway into the housing, (b) compress said gas, and (c) expel compressed gas as lung inspiratory gas through said outflow passageway; and

c) a controller for controlling the rotation of said rotor within said housing, said controller being operative to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor to deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at a desired flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

7. A method of providing ventilation to a mammal, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a compressor comprising;

i) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a non-valved gas outflow passageway from said housing;

ii) a rotor rotably mounted within said housing such that rotation of said rotor in a first direction will draw gas into said inflow passageway, compress said gas, and expel said gas out of said outflow passageway; and

iii) a controller for controlling the rotation of said rotor within said housing, said controller being operative to cause said rotor to intermittently accelerate and decelerate in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway;

b) connecting the outflow passageway of said compressor to a conduit through which inspiratory gas may be passed into lungs of said mammal;

c) accelerating said rotor to a first rotational speed for sufficient time to deliver in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of a desired inspiratory gas flow through said conduit at said flow rate and pressure and into the lungs; and

d) reducing said rotor rotating speed sufficiently to terminate the inspiratory gas flow through said conduit and to allow an expiratory phase of a ventilation cycle to occur.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the inspiratory gas flow delivered in step c) is limited by a parameter selected from the group of limiting parameters consisting of:

i) a predetermined minimum airway pressure;

ii) a predetermined maximum airway pressure;

iii) a predetermined minimum flow rate;

iv) a predetermined maximum flow rate;

v) a predetermined minimum tidal volume; and

vi) a predetermined maximum tidal volume.

9. A compressor ventilator device for delivering inspiratory gas flow to a mammal, said device comprising:

a) a compressor having an intake port and an outflow port;

b) a non-valved inspiratory gas flow passageway for carrying gas from the outflow port of the compressor during an inspiratory phase of a ventilation cycle;

c) a motor for accelerating said compressor at the beginning of the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle to deliver inspiratory gas through said inspiratory gas flow passageway; and

d) a controller for controlling said compressor during the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle to maintain a desired inspiratory pressure and flow rate and for decelerating said compressor at the end of the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle.

10. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a compressor having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said compressor and a gas outflow passageway for delivering gas from said compressor; and

i) a motor-driven rotor mounted within said compressor, wherein when said rotor is rotated in a first direction, gas within said compressor will be compressed and expelled through said outflow passageway as lung inspiratory gas; and

b) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

11. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a compressor comprising;

i) a housing having a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a gas outflow passageway from said housing; and

ii) a motor-driven rotor mounted within said housing, wherein when said rotor is rotated in a first direction, gas within said housing is compressed and expelled through said outflow passageway as lung inspiratory gas;

b) an oxygen blending apparatus in communication with the inflow passageway for blending oxygen with ambient air entering the inflow passageway to thereby provide oxygen-enriched air within said housing for subsequent compression and expulsion through said outflow passageway; and

c) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the rotation of said rotor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

12. A compressor ventilator for ventilating lungs of a mammal, said ventilator comprising:

a) a motor driven compressor having a gas inflow passageway and a gas outflow passageway; and

b) a controller apparatus to intermittently accelerate and decelerate the motor driven compressor in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

13. A method of providing ventilation to a mammal, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a compressor having a housing, a gas inflow passageway for delivering gas into said housing and a gas outflow passageway from said housing;

i) a rotor rotably mounted within said housing such that rotation of said rotor in a first direction will draw gas into said inflow passageway, compress said gas, and expel said gas out of said outflow passageway; and

ii) a controller for controlling the rotation of said rotor within said housing, said controller being operative to cause said rotor to intermittently accelerate and decelerate in accordance with desired flow rate and pressure of inspiratory gas to thereby deliver discrete periods of inspiratory gas flow at said flow rate and pressure through said outflow passageway.

14. A compressor ventilator device for delivering inspiratory gas flow to a mammal, said device comprising:

a) a compressor having an intake port and an outflow port;

b) an inspiratory gas flow passageway for carrying gas from the outflow port of the compressor to the mammal during an inspiratory phase of a ventilation cycle;

c) a motor for accelerating said compressor at the beginning of the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle to deliver inspiratory gas through said inspiratory gas flow passageway; and

d) a controller for controlling said compressor during the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle to maintain a desired inspiratory pressure and flow rate and for decelerating said compressor at the end of the inspiratory phase of the ventilation cycle.