Bymixer apparatus and method for fast-response, adjustable measurement of mixed gas fractions in ventilation circuits
First Claim
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1. A bymixer device comprising:
- an inflow port connectable to a conduit such that all respiratory gas flowing through that conduit will enter the inflow port;
a flow divider which divides the flow of respiratory gas that enters the inflow port into first and second streams;
a main flow channel through which the first stream flows;
a bypass flow channel through which the second stream flows;
said bypass flow channel comprising a) a flow restrictor that restricts the flow of gas through the bypass flow channel, b) a mixing chamber positioned upstream of the flow restrictor, said mixing chamber comprising tubing that is alternately extendable and contractible so as to enable a user to alternately increase and decrease the volume of the mixing chamber; and
c) sampling apparatus for sampling respiratory gas from said mixing chamber;
a flow combiner that combines the first and second streams after they have passed through the main flow channel and bypass flow channel to form a combined outflow stream; and
an outflow port that is connectable to a conduit such that the combined outflow stream enters that conduit.
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Abstract
A bymixer device and method which provides fast-response, accurate measurements of mixed inspired and/or expired gas fractions in open or closed ventilation circuits and/or in circle circuits used in anesthesia and/or critical care. The bymixer device may include a main flow channel and a bypass flow channel. The bypass flow channel includes a flow-restrictor (e.g, an orifice) that partially blocks the flow of respiratory gas through the bypass flow channel, a mixing chamber positioned upstream of the flow restrictor and a sampling apparatus (e.g., a port for withdrawing samples of gas from said mixing chamber and/or sensor(s) positioned within the mixing chamber).
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A bymixer device comprising:
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an inflow port connectable to a conduit such that all respiratory gas flowing through that conduit will enter the inflow port; a flow divider which divides the flow of respiratory gas that enters the inflow port into first and second streams; a main flow channel through which the first stream flows; a bypass flow channel through which the second stream flows; said bypass flow channel comprising a) a flow restrictor that restricts the flow of gas through the bypass flow channel, b) a mixing chamber positioned upstream of the flow restrictor, said mixing chamber comprising tubing that is alternately extendable and contractible so as to enable a user to alternately increase and decrease the volume of the mixing chamber; and
c) sampling apparatus for sampling respiratory gas from said mixing chamber;a flow combiner that combines the first and second streams after they have passed through the main flow channel and bypass flow channel to form a combined outflow stream; and an outflow port that is connectable to a conduit such that the combined outflow stream enters that conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A ventilation circuit for use in ventilating a human or veterinary patient, said ventilation circuit comprising:
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a) an inspiratory flow conduit that carries a flow of inspiratory respiratory gas for delivery into the patient'"'"'s lungs; b) an expiratory flow conduit for carrying expired respiratory gas that has been expelled from the patient'"'"'s lungs; c) a first bymixer device connected to the inspiratory flow conduit such that samples of mixed inspiratory respiratory gas may be obtained from a sample port of the bymixer; and d) a second bymixer device connected to the expiratory flow conduit such that samples of mixed expiratory respiratory gas may be obtained from a sample port of the bymixer; wherein each of said first and second bymixer devices comprises;
i) a flow divider for dividing the flow of respiratory gas into first and second streams;
ii) a main flow channel through which the first stream flows;
iii) a bypass flow channel through which the second stream flows, said bypass flow channel comprising a flow restrictor that restricts the flow of gas through the bypass flow channel, a mixing chamber positioned upstream of the flow restrictor and sampling apparatus for sampling respiratory gas from said mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sampling mixed respiratory gas in a ventilation circuit for ventilating the lungs of a human or veterinary patient, said ventilation circuit including at least one inspiratory flow conduit through which inspiratory respiratory gas flows for delivery to the patient'"'"'s lungs and at least one expiratory flow conduit through which expired respiratory gas flows after having been expelled from the patient'"'"'s lungs, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) providing a bymixer device which comprises i) an inflow port connectable to a conduit such that all respiratory gas flowing through that conduit will enter the inflow port;
ii) a flow divider which divides the flow of respiratory gas that enters the inflow port into first and second streams;
iii) a main flow channel through which the first stream flows;
iv) a bypass flow channel through which the second stream flows, said bypass flow channel comprising a flow restrictor that restricts the flow of gas through the bypass flow channel, v) a mixing chamber upstream of the flow restrictor, said mixing chamber comprising tubing that is alternately extendable and contractible to enable a used to alternately increase and decrease the volume of the mixing chamber;
vi) sampling apparatus for sampling respiratory gas from said mixing chamber;
vii) a flow combiner that combines the first and second streams after they have passed through the main flow channel and bypass flow channel to form a combined outflow stream; and
viii) an outflow port that is connectable to a conduit such that the combined outflow stream enters that conduit;B) connecting the inflow port of the bimixer to a first respiratory gas flow conduit and the outflow port to a second respiratory gas flow conduit such that respiratory gas flows through the bypass channel and becomes mixed in the mixing chamber; and C) using the sampling apparatus to sample mixed respiratory gas from mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification