Self-contained micromechanical ventilator

• US 7,721,736 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AutoMedx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AutoMedx, Inc.
• Inventors: Pranger, Loland A., Urias, Adrian, Smith, Earl, Wiesmann, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/446,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014-20024, 128/203.12, 128/203.23, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.22, 128/204.23, 128/205.24, 12820714-20718
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• 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 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The portable ventilator of the present invention provides a hands-free ventilatory support device in critical care, emergency, and resource-limited environments. The portable ventilator utilizes ambient air and includes a two dual head compressor system to provide a consistent air supply to the patient. The ventilator device is battery operated and is capable of providing up to 60 minutes of care. In a preferred embodiment, the portable ventilator of the present invention also includes a pneumatic subsystem, a control subsystem, a power subsystem and an alarm subsystem. The portable ventilator of the preferred embodiment includes a dual head and single head compressor system that operates alternatively, to provide a consistent and continuous inhalation and exhalation cycle. A portable ventilator of a second preferred embodiment includes a sole dual-head compressor that operates to provide a consistent and continuous inhalation and exhalation cycle.

Claims

1. A portable ventilator system comprising:

a hard shell device housing having a recessed control panel, an interior portion and an exterior surface;

said interior portion including a power subsystem connected to a pneumatic subsystem, a control subsystem, and an alarm subsystem comprising a battery monitor LED, a device/system error LED, a patient error LED and an audible alarm wherein said battery monitor LED, said device/system error LED, and said patient error LED are positioned on a recessed control panel of said exterior surface;

said pneumatic subsystem comprising a dual head compressor constructed so as to provide a patient with inhalation compressed air;

said control subsystem comprising a timing circuit connected to a logic circuit, said logic circuit connected to a relay, said relay further connected to said dual head compressor so as to turn said dual head compressor on so as to deliver inhalation compressed air to a patient, and turn said dual head compressor off when said patient exhales;

said power subsystem comprising a battery source connected to a current limit device, which in turn is connected to a power jack, so as to supply regulated power to said pneumatic, control and alarm subsystems, said electronic circuit and said power jack further constructed so as to connect to an external power source;

said power subsystem further comprising a power switch connected to said battery, said power switch constructed so as to operate a buck/boost, said buck/boost constructed so as to accept a range of voltages from said power source and output a pre-set constant voltage;

said power switch further connected to a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator constructed so as to supply lower voltages to said control and alarm subsystems; and

said alarm subsystem further constructed so as to connect to said power subsystem and said battery monitor LED, said device/system error LED, said patient error LED and said audible alarm of said power subsystem so as to visually and audibly detect patient, device and battery problems in said ventilator system.

2. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic subsystem further comprises a first input port constructed so as to allow ambient inhalation air to enter said ventilator;

a first section of medical grade y-tubing constructed so as to divide said inhalation air into two flow paths;

said dual head compressor consisting of first and second input ports and first and second output ports, said input ports constructed so as to receive said ambient inhalation air from said y-tubing, said dual head compressor constructed so as to compress said inhalation air, said first and second output ports further constructed as to dispel said compressed inhalation air from said dual head compressor;

an air manifold constructed so as to receive said compressed inhalation air and dispel said compressed inhalation air to a first pressure sensor, said first pressure sensor constructed so as to detect pressure of said compressed inhalation air;

said ventilator constructed so as to dispel said compressed air to a patient breathing circuit through a ventilator output port; and

said ventilator further constructed so as to provide one-way air flow from said ventilator to said patient breathing circuit.

3. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 2 wherein a second input port is constructed so as to allow purified air to enter said ventilator;

wherein said purified air is mixed with said ambient air so as to form said inhalation air.

4. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 3, wherein said patient breathing circuit comprises

a respiratory tubing constructed so as to receive said compressed air, said respiratory tubing further constructed so as to provide a flow path to said compressed inhalation air from said ventilator output port to a breathing valve through a breathing valve input and subsequently to a breathing valve bi-directional port;

said respiratory tubing and said breathing valve input constructed so as to only receive compressed air from said ventilator and deliver it to said patient;

said patient breathing circuit further constructed so as to allow said compressed air to flow through a second respiratory tubing though an inline End-tidal CO₂ detector a third respiratory tubing and though a bi-directional port to said patient;

said patient breathing circuit further constructed so as to close off said breathing valve input port and further constructed so as to allow exhaled air to exit said breathing circuit.

5. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 4, wherein said pneumatic subsystem further comprises a End-tidal CO₂ detector, said detector constructed so as to detect the presence of exhaled CO₂,

said pneumatic subsystem further comprising a second pressure sensor, a manifold, a pressure port and tubing constructed so as to monitor both the patient inhalation and exhalation pressures.

6. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 5 wherein said relay of said control subsystem further comprises a relay switch bar constructed so as to be positioned at a first connector position when said patient is exhaling and a second connector position connecting said relay to said dual-head compressor, when said patient is inhaling;

said timing circuit of said control subsystem is constructed so as to connect to a relay control through said logic circuit;

said logic circuit further constructed so as to move said relay switch bar between said first connector position and said second connector position, based upon a breath-timing cycle generated by the timing circuit

said logic circuit is further constructed so as to connect to a secondary breathing cycle switch and an alternative breathing cycle circuit, based upon selection of a secondary breathing-timing cycle by user dependent upon patient need,

said timing circuit further constructed so as to connect to a capacitor, a first resistor and a second resistor, wherein said second resistor is connected to said power subsystem;

said relay switch further constructed so as to connect to a first current sensor so as to verify the position of said switch bar at said first connector position and a second current sensor constructed so as to verify the position at said second connector position;

said first current sensor further connected to said alarm subsystem so as to alert a user to alarm conditions should threshold current values not be met;

said second current sensor further constructed so as to determine whether there is current to said dual-head compressor during inhalation-cycle;

said second current sensor further connected to said alarm subsystem so as to alert said user to alarm conditions should threshold current values not be met;

said second current sensor, said dual-head compressor and said alarm subsystem further connected to a safety cutoff circuit constructed so as to cut off power to the dual-head compressor when said ventilatoris in an alarm state.

7. A portable ventilator system as recited in claim 6 wherein said alarm subsystem further comprises

a low voltage detect circuit connected to said battery and said power switch of said power subsystem so as to indicate when voltage is too low;

said low voltage detect circuit is further connected to a light suppression switch and an audible alarm suppression switch;

a patient/system/battery failure detect circuit is constructed so as to connect to said control subsystem, said light suppression switch, said audible alarm suppression switch and said audible alarm;

a temperature sensor constructed so as to determine said ventilator temperature, is connected to a temperature circuit constructed so as to determine whether said ventilator is operating in a temperature range outside of the specified parameters, wherein said temperature circuit is connected to light suppression switch;

said temperature circuit is further constructed so as to connect to said audible alarm suppression switch and said the audible alarm;

an exhale pressure detect circuit is further constructed so as to connect to at least one exhale event counter, and an exhale event trigger constructed so as to connect to said second pressure sensor;

said exhale event trigger constructed so as to further connect to said light suppression switch and said patient error LED indicator so as to denote an improper connection or patient distress;

said exhale circuit, said event counter and said event trigger further constructed so as to connect to said audible alarm suppression switch and said audible alarm so as to indicate a sound-based alarm to user;

an inspiration pressure detect circuit constructed so as to connect to at least one inspiration event counter and an inspiration event trigger so as to generate an alarm response when compressed air pressure is compromised;

said inspiration circuit constructed so as to connect to said first pressure sensor of said pneumatic subsystem;

said inspiration event trigger constructed so as to connect to said light suppression switch and said patient error LED indicator so as to denote a improper connection and patient distress to the user;

said inspiration pressure detect circuit, said inspiration event counter, and said inspiration event trigger further constructed so as to connect to said audible alarm suppression switch and said audible alarm so as to indicate a sound-based alarm to user;

said inspiration pressure detect circuit further constructed so as to cause said relay control switch to immediately switch from operating said dual head compressor inhalation cycle to said dual head compressor expiration cycle through a signal of said alarm subsystem to said safety cutoff circuit when a preset pressure threshold is exceeded.

8. A method of operating a portable ventilator system comprising the steps of:

(a) drawing inhalation air into a dual head compressor,

(b) compressing said air in said dual head compressor and monitoring the pressure of said compressed air;

(c) transferring said compressed inhalation air into an air manifold through a ventilator output port into a patient breathing circuit;

(d) maintaining air flow in the direction of said patient breathing circuit;

(e) transferring said compressed inhalation air to a patient through a second bi-directional port in said breathing valve;

(f) providing inhalation air to a patient through said bi-directional port to a patient;

(g) allowing exhalation air from said patient to enter bi-directional port;

(h) transferring exhalation air through said exhale port and verifying the presence exhalation air using a second pressure sensor; and

(i) removing exhalation air from said ventilator, through a patient exhale port.

9. A method of operating a portable ventilator as recited in claim 8 and further comprising the step of:

detecting presence of carbon dioxide in exhalation air using a End-tidal CO₂ detector.

10. A method of operating a portable ventilator as recited in claim 9 and further comprising the steps of

(a) obtaining said on and off cycles using a timing circuit;

(b) controlling on and off cycles for said dual head compressor using a relay switch;

(c) obtaining inhalation and exhalation cycles for the patient using said portable ventilator, said inhalation and exhalation cycles corresponding to said on and off cycles of said dual head compressor;

(d) providing visual and audible alarms corresponding to patient related problems;

(e) providing visual and audible alarms corresponding to ventilator system problems; and

(f) providing visual and audible alarms corresponding to power problems.