Carbon dioxide-sensing airway products and technique for using the same

• US 7,992,561 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Michael P., Mecca, Roger, Baker, Clark R. Jr., Ostrowski, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louis; LaToya M
• Application Number:
  US11/526,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20080072905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.26, 128/204.22, 128/204.23, 128/205.19, 12820714-20718, 73/232, 73/232.2, 73/233, 73/310.5, 600/529, 600/532
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0415 with access means to the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/042 with separate conduits for in-and expiration gas, e.g. for limited dead volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0459 one cuff behind another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0475 having openings in the tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/103 the CO2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

An airway device is provided that may track the flow of respiratory gases through the device with sensing elements at a plurality of locations along the gas flow path of the device. Such a device may be useful for assessing a variety of clinical states, for adjusting patient ventilator settings, or for determining whether or not an airway device has been properly inserted into a patient airway.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a conduit adapted to transfer a gas to or from a patient; and

a continuous sensor disposed along the conduit from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion, the proximal end portion being configured to extend out of the patient, wherein the continuous sensor is adapted to provide an indication of a carbon dioxide gas in the conduit at any given point between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, and wherein the continuous sensor is capable of being operatively coupled to a monitor at a plurality of locations on the sensor.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises an endotracheal tube.

3. The medical device of claim 1, comprising a ventilator to which the conduit is operatively connected.

4. The medical device of claim 1, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor that is substantially impermeable to water.

5. The medical device of claim 1, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a gas temperature, a humidity sensor, or an ambient pressure sensor.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a chemical indicator.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrochemical transducer.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a non-optical transducer.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an optical transducer.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a quantum-restricted element.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an elongate borosilicate substrate;

and a carbon dioxide responsive indicator solution disposed on the elongate borosilicate substrate.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises an acrylic binder.

13. A system comprising:

a conduit adapted to transfer a gas to or from a patient, wherein the conduit comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion being configured to extend out of the patient; and

a continuous sensor disposed along the conduit from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, wherein the continuous sensor is adapted to provide a colorimetric indication of a carbon dioxide gas in the conduit at any given point between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion; and

a monitor adapted to be operatively coupled to the continuous sensor at a plurality of locations on the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the conduit comprises an endotracheal tube.

15. The system of claim 13, comprising a ventilator to which the conduit is operatively connected.

16. The system of claim 13, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor that is substantially impermeable to water.

17. The system of claim 13, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a gas temperature, a humidity sensor, or an ambient pressure sensor.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a chemical indicator.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an electrochemical transducer.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an optical transducer.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a quantum-restricted element.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an elongate borosilicate substrate;

and a carbon dioxide responsive indicator solution disposed on the elongate borosilicate substrate.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises an acrylic binder.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor component is embedded in the conduit.

25. A method of manufacturing a medical device comprising:

providing a conduit adapted to transfer a gas to or from a patient, wherein the conduit comprises a proximal end portion configured to extend out of the patient and a distal end portion configured to be placed in a patient; and

disposing a continuous sensor along the conduit from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, wherein the continuous sensor is adapted to provide an indication of a carbon dioxide gas in the conduit at any given point between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, and wherein the continuous sensor is capable of being operatively coupled to a monitor at a plurality of locations on the sensor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the conduit comprises providing an endotracheal tube.

27. The method of claim 25, comprising providing a ventilator to which the conduit is operatively connected.

28. The method of claim 25, comprising providing a selective barrier disposed on the sensor that is substantially impermeable to water.

29. The method of claim 25, comprising providing a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a gas temperature.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing a chemical indicator.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing an electrochemical transducer.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing a non-optical transducer.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing an optical transducer.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing a quantum-restricted element.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises providing an elongate borosilicate substrate;

and providing a carbon dioxide responsive indicator solution disposed on the elongate borosilicate substrate.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein providing the elongate borosilicate substrate comprises providing an acrylic binder.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the sensor comprises embedding the sensor in the conduit.

38. The method of claim 25, comprising providing a humidity sensor.

39. The method of claim 25, comprising providing an ambient pressure sensor.