Apparatuses and methods for detecting gas contamination
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gas contamination detection apparatus comprising:
- a gas analyzer configured to receive a sample of a gas to be delivered to a patient and to analyze the sample of the gas to determine whether the gas contains a contaminant, the gas analyzer comprising;
a chamber configured to receive the sample of the gas;
a pulse generator configured to generate an electric arc within the chamber that ionizes the sample of the gas to generate a plasma discharge;
an optical spectrometer that detects an emission spectrum of the plasma discharge;
a central controller that analyzes the detected emission spectrum and determines whether the gas contains the contaminant; and
a gas shut-off valve configured to automatically prevent the gas from being delivered to the patient if the sample of the gas is determined to contain the contaminant; and
wherein the central controller is configured to automatically open the gas shut-off valve if the gas is confirmed to be free of contaminants.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a gas contamination detection apparatus includes a gas analyzer adapted to receive a sample of a gas to be delivered to a patient and to analyze the gas sample to determine whether the gas contains a contaminant, and a gas shut-off valve adapted to automatically prevent the gas from being delivered to the patient if the gas is determined to contain a contaminant.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A gas contamination detection apparatus comprising:
-
a gas analyzer configured to receive a sample of a gas to be delivered to a patient and to analyze the sample of the gas to determine whether the gas contains a contaminant, the gas analyzer comprising; a chamber configured to receive the sample of the gas; a pulse generator configured to generate an electric arc within the chamber that ionizes the sample of the gas to generate a plasma discharge; an optical spectrometer that detects an emission spectrum of the plasma discharge; a central controller that analyzes the detected emission spectrum and determines whether the gas contains the contaminant; and a gas shut-off valve configured to automatically prevent the gas from being delivered to the patient if the sample of the gas is determined to contain the contaminant; and wherein the central controller is configured to automatically open the gas shut-off valve if the gas is confirmed to be free of contaminants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
7. A gas contamination detection apparatus comprising:
-
a chamber adapted to receive a sample of a gas to be delivered to a blood vessel of a patient; a pump adapted to draw the sample of the gas into the chamber; a pulse generator adapted to generate an electric arc within the chamber that ionizes the sample of the gas to generate a plasma discharge; an optical spectrometer adapted to detect an emission spectrum of the plasma discharge; a central controller configured to analyze the detected emission spectrum and determine whether the gas is contaminated; a gas shut-off valve adapted to automatically prevent the gas from being delivered to the patient; and wherein the central controller is configured to automatically open the gas shut-off valve if the gas is confirmed to be free of contaminants. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
9. A gas delivery system comprising:
-
a catheter configured to deliver a gas from a source of gas into a blood vessel of a patient; and a gas contamination detection apparatus provided between the source of gas and the catheter, the gas contamination detection apparatus comprising; a gas analyzer configured to receive a sample of the gas to be delivered to the patient and to analyze the sample of the gas to determine whether the gas contains a contaminant; and a gas shut-off valve configured to automatically prevent the gas from being delivered from the source of gas to the catheter if the gas is determined to contain the contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for detecting contamination of a gas that is to be delivered to a patient, the method comprising:
-
obtaining a sample of the gas; analyzing the sample of the gas to determine whether the gas contains a contaminant; and automatically preventing the gas from being delivered to the patient if it is determined that the sample of the gas contains the contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification