Modular pressure support system

• US 7,677,246 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Palm, William J., Chastain, David P., Vreeland, James S., Radney, Steven B., McDermott, Patrick F., Seman, Richard A. Jr., Mort, Michael E., Thompson, Roy A., DiMatteo, Mark, McCracken, Christopher J., Bobeck, Michael, Cameron, Allan, Kepler, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/234,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/202.27, 128/204.14, 128/203.12, 128/203.18, 128/203.16, 128/203.14, 128/204.13, 128/204.15
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air

Abstract

A pressure support system that comprises a patient circuit, a docking assembly, and a tank. The patient circuit delivers a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient. The docking assembly has an inlet and an outlet that is adapted to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas, and is also adapted to be connected with the patient circuit. The tank is constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the docking assembly, and enables the pressurized flow of breathable gas to pass therethrough. The tank is also adapted to contain a liquid such that a humidity level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas is elevated as the pressurized flow of breathable gas passes therethrough.

Claims

1. A pressure support system comprising:

a gas flow generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathable gas;

a patient circuit adapted to deliver a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient;

a tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid; and

a docking assembly having an inlet adapted to be coupled to the gas flow generating system to receive the flow of breathable gas, and an outlet adapted to be connected to the patient circuit, wherein the docking assembly includes a tank housing portion defining a chamber adapted to receive at least a portion of the tank responsive to the tank being coupled to the docking assembly.

2. The pressure support system of claim 1, therein the tank is constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the tank housing portion of the docking assembly such that the tank is disposed between the inlet and the outlet.

3. The pressure support system of claim 1, wherein the gas flow generating system is removably connected with the inlet of the docking assembly.

4. The pressure support system of claim 3, wherein the docking assembly comprises a first docking circuit and a second docking circuit, and the tank comprises a tank inlet and a tank outlet, and wherein the patient circuit and the tank outlet are each removably connected with the first docking circuit such that the pressurized flow of breathable gas is enabled to flow between the tank outlet and the patient circuit via the first docking circuit, and the tank inlet and the gas flow generating system are each removably connected with the second docking circuit such that the pressurized flow of breathable gas is enabled to flow between the tank inlet and the gas flow generating system via the second docking circuit.

5. The pressure support system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure sensor that measures a flow rate of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and

a pressure bypass circuit that interfaces with the docking assembly to receive a portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas flowing between the tank and the patient circuit, and delivers the portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure bypass circuit is formed separate from the tank.

6. The pressure support system of claim 1, wherein the docking assembly comprises a heating element that heats the liquid held by the tank.

7. The pressure support system of claim 6, wherein the heating element heats the liquid by heating an external surface of the tank.

8. The pressure support system of claim 3, wherein the docking assembly comprises a first connector and the gas flow generating system comprises a second connector that is detachably connected to the first connector to form a connection between the docking assembly and the gas flow generating system.

9. The pressure support system of claim 8, wherein the docking assembly comprises a heating element that heats the liquid held by the tank, and a sensor associated with the heating element, and wherein information related to the heat of the liquid held by the tank is transmitted between the docking assembly and the gas flow generating system via the connection between first connector of the docking assembly and the second connector of the gas flow generating system.

10. The pressure support system of claim 9, further comprising a control interface provided on the docking assembly, the control interface enables an individual to control one or more aspects of operation of the pressure support system.

11. A gas flow generating system that generates a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a patient, the system comprising:

a control unit that controls one or more aspects of operation of the gas flow generating system; and

an accessory interface that removably connects with a modular accessory to place the modular accessory in communication with the control unit such that information can be transferred from the modular accessory to the control unit and from the control unit to the modular accessory via the accessory interface.

12. The gas flow generating system of claim 11, wherein the information transferred from the modular accessory to the control unit comprises information related to at least one of a calibration of the gas flow generating system or a configuration of the gas flow generating system.

13. The gas flow generating system of claim 11, wherein the information transferred from the control unit to the modular accessory comprises (a) information related to the pressurized flow of breathable gas, (b) an amount of breathable gas delivered to the patient, (c) an amount of time during which the pressurized flow of breathable gas has been delivered to the patient, or (d) a combination thereof.

14. The gas flow generating system of claim 11, further comprising a housing that substantially encloses the gas flow generating system, wherein connecting the modular accessory with the accessory interface positions the modular accessory substantially within the housing.

15. A pressure support system comprising:

a patient circuit adapted to deliver a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient;

a docking assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas, the outlet adapted to be connected with the patient circuit, wherein the docking assembly includes a tank housing portion;

a pressure sensor adapted to measure a flow rate of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and

a pressure bypass circuit adapted to interface with the docking assembly to receive a portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas flowing between the tank and the patient circuit, and deliver the portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure bypass circuit is formed separate from the tank.

16. A pressure support system comprising:

a patient circuit adapted to deliver a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient;

a gas flow generating system adapted to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas; and

a docking assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the gas flow generating system, the outlet adapted to be connected with the patient circuit, wherein the docking assembly includes;

a tank housing portion,

a first connector, adapted to detachably couple to an outlet of the gas flow generating system to form a connection between the docking assembly and the gas flow generating system,

a heating element adapted to that heat liquid held by a tank responsive to the tank be provided in the tank housing portion, and

a sensor associated with the heating element, and wherein information related to heating of the liquid held by the tank is transmitted between the docking assembly and the gas flow generating system via the first connector.