Automatic scavenger system and method

• US 8,757,155 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bellefeuille, Paul David
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, RACHEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/674,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 12820312-20315, 128/203.25, 12820327-20329, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/205.12, 128/205.19, 128/205.24, 128/205.27, 128/207.14, 128/205.28, 128/914
• US Class Current: 128/205.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/009 Removing used or expired gases or anaesthetic vapours filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air in drainage systems A61M1/784; bacterial filters in the expiratory path A61M16/1065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0093 by adsorption, absorption or filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/104 specially adapted for anaesthetics A61M16/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/18 Vaporising devices for anaesthetic preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/203 Proportional
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0283 Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Abstract

An anesthesia machine having an automatic scavenger system is disclosed herein. The anesthesia machine includes a scavenger hose configured to direct the transfer of an exhaled anesthetic agent from a patient, and a valve operatively connected to the scavenger hose. The valve is configured to selectively control the transmission of the exhaled anesthetic agent through the scavenger hose. The anesthesia machine also includes a switch operatively connected to the valve and to a controller. The switch is configured to link an operational status of the anesthesia machine with a position of the valve.

Claims

1. An anesthesia machine comprising:

a controller;

a scavenger hose configured to direct exhaled anesthetic agent from a patient and configured to pneumatically connect to a compressor that creates at least a partial vacuum to draw the exhaled anesthetic agent through the scavenger hose;

a valve operatively connected to the scavenger hose, said valve configured to allow the transmission of the exhaled anesthetic agent through the scavenger hose in a first position and occlude the scavenger hose in a second position;

a switch operatively connected to the valve and to said controller, said switch being configured to automatically turn on the anesthesia machine and cause the valve to operate such that the valve is in the first position when the switch is in a first state and automatically turn off the anesthesia machine and cause the valve to operate such that the valve is in the second position when the switch is in a second state; and

a scavenger assembly operatively connected between the patient and the scavenger hose, wherein movement of the valve to the first position activates the scavenger assembly;

wherein the position of the valve between the first position and second position corresponds to the state of the switch between the first state and the second state.

2. The anesthesia machine of claim 1, wherein said valve is a pneumatically actuated closed-bias valve, and the switch operates to transfer gas to the valve independently of the exhaled anesthetic agent to operate the valve between the first position and the second position.

3. The anesthesia machine of claim 1, further comprising an absorber operatively connected to the scavenger assembly, said absorber configured to collect the exhaled anesthetic agent from the patient.

4. The anesthesia machine of claim 1, further comprising a variably adjustable valve operatively connected to the scavenger assembly.

5. The anesthesia machine of claim 4, wherein the variably adjustable valve can be opened by a selectable amount to control the rate at which the exhaled anesthetic agent is transferable through the scavenger assembly.

6. An anesthesia system comprising:

a first anesthesia machine comprising;

a first scavenger assembly;

a first scavenger hose connected to the first scavenger assembly;

a first valve operatively connected to the first scavenger hose, said first valve having a first position wherein the first scavenger hose is at least partially open and a second position wherein the first scavenger hose is occluded; and

a first switch operatively connected to the first valve, said first switch transmits an electronic signal to turn on the first anesthesia machine and the first valve is moved into the first position when the first switch is in a first state and the first anesthesia machine is turned off and the first valve is in the second position when the first switch is in a second state;

a compressor operatively connected to the first scavenger assembly through the first valve, the compressor operates independently of the state of the first switch to generate at least a partial vacuum wherein when the first valve is in the first position an exhaled anesthetic agent is drawn into the first scavenger assembly by the at least partial vacuum, activating the first scavenger assembly and when the first valve is in the second position the first scavenger assembly is decoupled from the compressor, deactivating the first scavenger assembly; and

an exhaust line operatively connected to the compressor, said exhaust line configured to direct the exhaled anesthetic agent out an exhaust vent.

7. The anesthesia system of claim 6, further comprising a first absorber operatively connected to the first scavenger assembly.

8. The anesthesia system of claim 6, further comprising a first variably adjustable valve operatively connected to the first scavenger assembly.

9. The anesthesia system of claim 8, wherein said first variably adjustable valve can be opened by a selectable amount to control the rate at which the exhaled anesthetic agent is transferable through the first scavenger assembly.

14. The anesthetic system of claim 6, further comprising a second anesthesia machine comprising:

a second scavenger assembly;

a second scavenger hose connected to the second scavenger assembly and to the compressor;

a second valve operatively connected to the second scavenger hose, said second valve having a first position wherein the second scavenger hose is at least partially open and a second position wherein the second scavenger hose is occluded; and

a second switch operatively connected to the second valve, said second switch being configured to link the status of the second anesthesia machine with the position of the second valve such that the second scavenger assembly is automatically activated, the second anesthesia machine is automatically turned on, and the second valve is in the first position when the second switch is in a first state and the second scavenger assembly is automatically deactivated, the second anesthesia machine is turned off, and the second valve is in the second position when the second switch is in a second state;

wherein the compressor generates the at least partial vacuum for the first anesthesia machine and the second anesthesia machine, and the decoupling of the first scavenger assembly or the second scavenger from the compressor by the first valve or the second valve in the second position when the first switch or the second switch is in the second state reduces loading on the compressor when at least one of the first anesthesia machine or second anesthesia machine is off.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first scavenger assembly or the second scavenger assembly are activated by connection to the at least partial vacuum provided by the compressor through the first valve or the second valve operating in the first position.

10. A method for implementing an anesthesia machine having an automatic scavenger system comprising:

connecting a scavenger hose between a scavenger assembly and a compressor;

providing a valve operatively connected to the scavenger hose, said valve having a first position wherein the scavenger hose is at least partially open and a second position wherein the scavenger hose is occluded;

providing a switch operatively connected to the valve, said switch being movable between a first state to turn on the anesthesia machine and move the valve to the first position and a second state to turn off the anesthesia machine and move the valve to the second position;

selectively operating the switch to select an operational status of the anesthesia machine such that the valve is automatically set to a corresponding valve position;

automatically activating the scavenger assembly upon moving the valve into the first position; and

operating the compressor independently of a state of the switch to create at least a partial vacuum, and the partial vacuum draws exhaled anesthetic agent through the scavenger hose when the valve is in the first position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing a valve includes providing a pneumatically actuated closed-bias valve.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a variably adjustable valve operatively connected to the scavenger assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising setting the variably adjustable valve to an at least partially open position before said implementing the switch.