System and process for supplying respiratory gas under pressure or volumetrically

• US 8,800,557 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Andreiux, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US12/752,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

The object of the invention is a device for supplying respiratory gas to a patient according to respiratory cycles, comprising a gaseous flow rate generator provided with a turbine with low inertia and high nominal speed, a first circuit called a supply circuit for the gaseous flow toward a respiratory mask or an intubation means of the patient, means for measuring pressure and/or measuring flow rate of the gaseous flow, computation means for parameters of pressure and/or flow rate, and means for controlling the speed of rotation of the generator, characterized in that the measuring means, the computation means and the speed control means coact automatically to control the speed of rotation of the turbine as a function of the inspiration and expiration phases and as a function of patient pressure signals and/or inspiration flow rate signals.

Claims

1. A system for providing breathing assistance to a user, the system comprising:

a housing;

an exhalation valve interface coupled to or defined in the housing;

a pressure control valve in fluid communication with the exhalation valve interface;

an exhalation flow inlet coupled to or defined in the housing and defining a portion of an exhalation flow path; and

a pressure sensor inside or coupled to the housing in pressure communication with the exhalation valve interface capable of generating a pressure signal;

wherein the exhalation valve interface, the pressure control valve, and the pressure sensor are located along an exhalation valve control path, the exhalation valve control path being separate from the exhalation flow path such that exhaled gas flows through the exhalation flow path but not though the exhalation valve control path; and

wherein the pressure sensor is located between the pressure control valve and an exhalation valve along the exhalation valve control path.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a flow sensor in the housing in flow communication with the exhalation flow inlet, the flow sensor capable of generating a flow signal indicating a flow rate through the exhalation flow path.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a blower inside or coupled to the housing;

a user inspiration flow outlet coupled to or defined in the housing and in flow communication with the blower; and

a flow sensor in the housing in flow communication with the exhalation flow inlet, the flow sensor capable of generating a flow signal indicating a flow rate through the exhalation flow path;

a second flow sensor inside or coupled to the housing in flow communication with the user inspiration flow outlet capable of generating a second flow signal;

a second pressure sensor inside or coupled to the housing in pressure communication with a proximal pressure interface capable of generating a second pressure signal;

a central processing unit in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, the flow sensor, and the second flow sensor to receive pressure and flow signals therefrom; and

a blower speed controller in electrical communication with the central processing unit and the blower, wherein the central processing unit and the speed controller cooperate to control a speed of the blower based on at least two pressure and/or flow signals from any two or more of the pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, the flow sensor, and the second flow sensor.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the central processing unit and the blower speed controller are adapted to transition from an inhalation phase to an exhalation phase during ventilation by deceleration of the blower.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a blower inside or coupled to the housing;

a user inspiration flow outlet coupled to or defined in the housing and in flow communication with the blower; and

a proximal pressure interface coupled to or defined in the housing.

6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising at least one circuit connected to at least three of the user inspiration flow outlet, the exhalation valve interface, the proximal pressure interface, and the exhalation flow inlet.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control valve comprises an electro-valve located inside or coupled to the housing.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the electro-valve is in direct fluid communication with a blower.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the exhalation valve is arranged external to the housing and in fluid communication with the exhalation valve interface, the exhalation valve being controlled by gas pressure generated by a blower and further by the pressure control valve.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a blower inside or coupled to the housing;

a user inspiration flow outlet coupled to or defined in the housing and in flow communication with the blower; and

a blower speed controller configured to control a speed of the blower.

11. A system for providing breathing assistance to a user, the system comprising:

a housing;

an exhalation valve control system defining an exhalation valve control path for controlling an exhalation valve external to the housing, the exhalation valve control system including a pressure control valve and a pressure sensor located between the pressure control valve and the exhalation valve along the exhalation valve control path; and

an exhalation flow conduit coupled to or defined in the housing and defining a portion of an exhalation flow path for communicating exhaled gas from the user;

wherein the exhalation valve control path is separate from the exhalation flow path such that exhaled gas flows through the exhalation flow path but not though the exhalation valve control path.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

an exhalation valve interface coupled to or defined in the housing and defining a portion of the exhalation valve control path; and

an exhalation flow inlet coupled to or defined in the housing and defining a portion of the exhalation flow path.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a blower inside or coupled to the housing;

a user inspiration flow outlet coupled to or defined in the housing and in flow communication with the blower; and

a proximal pressure interface coupled to or defined in the housing.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one circuit connected to at least three of the user inspiration flow outlet, the exhalation valve interface, the proximal pressure interface, and the exhalation flow inlet.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the exhalation valve control system further includes:

an exhalation valve interface coupled to or defined in the housing and defining a portion of the exhalation valve control path; and

wherein the pressure control valve comprises an electro-valve located inside or coupled to the housing.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the electro-valve is in direct fluid communication with a blower.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the exhalation valve is arranged external to the housing and in fluid communication with the exhalation valve interface, the exhalation valve being controlled by gas pressure generated by a blower and further by the pressure control valve.

18. A method for providing breathing assistance to a user, the method comprising:

measuring an exhalation flow in an exhalation flow path;

controlling a flow generator based at least on the measured exhalation flow;

measuring an exhalation valve control pressure in an exhalation valve control path at a location between a pressure control valve and an exhalation valve; and

controlling the exhalation valve by controlling the pressure control valve based at least on the measured exhalation valve control pressure;

wherein the exhalation valve control path is separate from the exhalation flow path such that exhaled gas flows through the exhalation flow path but not though the exhalation valve control path.

19. A system for providing breathing assistance to a user, the system comprising:

a gas supply system housing;

a patient circuit coupled between the gas supply system and the user;

an exhalation valve control system, including;

a exhalation valve control conduit;

a first valve coupled to the patient circuit and remote from the gas supply system; and

a second valve within or coupled to the gas supply system housing, the second valve configured to control the first valve by controlling a pressure in the exhalation valve control conduit based on signals from a pressure sensor arranged between the first valve and the second valve; and

an exhalation flow path for communicating exhaled gas from the user, the exhalation flow path separate from the exhalation valve control conduit such that exhaled gas flows through the exhalation flow path but not though the exhalation valve control conduit.