Ventilator respiratory variable-sized gas accumulator

• US 9,089,665 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Patel, Nirav
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US13/793,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/204.22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient with a system that includes an accumulator for storing a gas mixture. The disclosure further describes a novel approach for a fast delivery of a change in gas mixture to a patient by utilizing a variable-sized accumulator.

Claims

1. A medical ventilator system, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of sources of different gases controlled by the processor;

a gas manifold connected to an outlet to a patient circuit via a flow path, the gas manifold receiving gas from the plurality of gas sources forming a gas mixture;

an accumulator with a plurality of chambers, the accumulator is adapted to receive the gas mixture from the gas manifold;

at least one purge valve in at least one chamber of the accumulator other than a first chamber controlled by the processor, the at least one purge valve is adapted to control a release of the gas mixture from the at least one chamber other than the first chamber of the accumulator to an environment external to the patient circuit; and

at least one valve controlled by the processor, the at least one valve is adapted to change a volume of the accumulator by controlling at least one chamber flow path between the plurality of chambers of the accumulator.

2. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator is positioned away from the flow path.

3. The medical ventilator system of claim 2, wherein the accumulator is positioned within the ventilator system adjacent to the flow path and the manifold.

4. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator is maintained from about 14 PSIG to 9 PSIG during a change in volume of the accumulator.

5. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator is controlled by controlling a flow rate of the gas mixture.

6. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the volume of the accumulator based on at least one of a sensor reading, a change in gas mixture, a ventilator parameter, a breath type, and a command.

7. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the volume of the accumulator ranges from about 100 ml to about 500 ml.

8. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, further comprising a display controlled by the processor, the display is adapted to illustrate at least one of a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator and the volume of the accumulator.

9. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, further comprising an accumulator pressure sensor in communication with the processor, the accumulator pressure sensor is adapted to determine a pressure of the gas mixture inside of the accumulator.

10. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the at least one purge valve is a check valve.

11. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, further comprising a safety pressure release in the first chamber of the accumulator.

12. The medical ventilator system of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve is a solenoid valve.

13. A pressure support system comprising:

a processor;

a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas controlled by the processor;

a ventilation system including a patient circuit controlled by the processor;

a plurality of sources of different gases controlled by the processor;

a gas manifold connected to an outlet to a patient circuit via a flow path, the gas manifold receiving gas from the plurality of gas sources forming a gas mixture;

an accumulator with a plurality of chambers, the accumulator is adapted to receive the gas mixture from the gas manifold;

at least one purge valve in at least one chamber of the accumulator other than a first chamber controlled by the processor, the at least one purge valve is adapted to control a release of the gas mixture from the at least one chamber other than the first chamber of the accumulator to an environment external to the patient circuit; and

at least one valve controlled by the processor, the at least one valve is adapted to change a volume of the accumulator by controlling at least one chamber flow path between the plurality of chambers of the accumulator.

14. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein the accumulator is positioned away from the flow path.

15. The pressure support system of claim 14, wherein the accumulator is positioned within the ventilator system adjacent to the flow path and the manifold.

16. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator is maintained from about 14 PSIG to 9 PSIG during a change in volume of the accumulator.

17. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator is controlled by controlling a flow rate of the gas mixture.

18. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein the processor controls the volume of the accumulator based on at least one of a sensor reading, a change in gas mixture, a ventilator parameter, a breath type, and a command.

19. The pressure support system of claim 13, further comprising a display controlled by the processor, the display is adapted to illustrate at least one of a pressure of the gas mixture in the accumulator and the volume of the accumulator.

20. The pressure support system of claim 13, further comprising an accumulator pressure sensor in communication with the processor, the accumulator pressure sensor is adapted to determine a pressure of the gas mixture inside of the accumulator.