Breathing assistance system with multiple pressure sensors

• US 9,649,458 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jourdain, Cedric, Andrieux, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/659,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20130042869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 12820418, 12820421-20423, 12820426, 12820429
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1015 using a gas flush valve, e.g. oxygen flush valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption

Abstract

A method for managing pressure in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient via a patient connection system is provided. The method may include receiving one or more first pressure sensor signals from a first pressure sensor, and analyzing the one or more first pressure sensor signals. Based at least on the analysis of the one or more first pressure sensor signals, either the first pressure sensor or the second pressure sensor may be selected for use in controlling the breathing assistance provided to the patient, and the breathing assistance provided to the patient may be controlled based at least on signals from the selected pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:

providing the breathing assistance system;

automatically determining whether a proximal pressure line having an associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system; and

automatically determining whether or not to use signals from the proximal pressure sensor for controlling a subsequent operation of the breathing assistance system based on the determination of whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the subsequent operation of the breathing assistance system comprises adjusting at least one of a pressure and flow rate of gas delivered toward the patient.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

based at least on the determination of whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system, selecting either the proximal pressure sensor or another pressure sensor at a different location for use in controlling the breathing assistance provided to the patient; and

controlling the breathing assistance provided to the patient based at least on signals from the selected pressure sensor.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the proximal pressure sensor is located downstream toward the patient relative to the another pressure sensor.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

the breathing assistance system includes a ventilation system, and a patient connection system between the ventilation system and the patient;

the proximal pressure sensor is configured to measure gas pressure near a first end of the patient connection system proximate the patient; and

the another pressure sensor is configured to measure gas pressure near a second end of the patient connection system generally opposite the first end.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

if the proximal pressure line is determined to be connected to the breathing assistance system, controlling the subsequent operation of the breathing assistance system, based at least on signals from a first set of one or more sensors including the proximal pressure sensor; and

if the proximal pressure line is determined to be disconnected from the breathing assistance system, controlling the subsequent operation of the breathing assistance system, based at least on signals from a second set of one or more sensors excluding the proximal pressure sensor.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first set of one or more sensors includes the proximal pressure sensor and at least one other pressure sensor; and

the second set of one or more sensors includes the at least one other pressure sensor and excludes the proximal pressure sensor.

8. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

in addition to determining whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system, determining whether the associated proximal pressure sensor is operating properly; and

automatically determining whether or not to use the signals from the proximal pressure sensor for controlling the subsequent operation of the breathing assistance system based on (a) the determination of whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system and (b) the determination of whether the proximal pressure sensor is operating properly.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

in response to determining that the proximal pressure line is not connected to the breathing assistance system, automatically determining to disallow at least one particular breathing assistance mode or setting;

selecting a breathing assistance mode or setting based at least on the determination to disallow the at least one particular breathing assistance mode or setting; and

providing the breathing assistance to the patient according to the selected breathing assistance mode or setting.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system based on the signals received from the proximal pressure sensor.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system comprises:

comparing one or more pressure sensor measurements by the proximal pressure sensor with a predefined threshold pressure; and

determining that the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system if one or more pressure sensor measurements by the proximal pressure sensor are greater than the predefined threshold pressure.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system comprises:

comparing one or more pressure sensor measurements by the proximal pressure sensor with an expected pressure value; and

determining that the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system if one or more pressure sensor measurements by the proximal pressure sensor differ from the expected pressure value by less than a predefined threshold value.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system comprises:

receiving one or more first pressure sensor signals from the proximal pressure sensor;

receiving one or more second pressure sensor signals from another pressure sensor; and

comparing the one or more first pressure sensor signals with the one or more second pressure sensor signals.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the one or more first pressure sensor signals from the proximal pressure sensor indicate a first pressure level;

the one or more second pressure sensor signals from the another pressure sensor indicate a second pressure level; and

automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system further comprises determining that the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system if the indicated first pressure level is higher than the indicated second pressure level.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the one or more first pressure sensor signals from the proximal pressure sensor indicate a first pressure level;

the one or more second pressure sensor signals from the another pressure sensor indicate a second pressure level; and

automatically determining whether the proximal pressure line having the associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system further comprises determining that the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system if the indicated first pressure level is higher than the indicated second pressure level but by an amount within a threshold pressure difference.

16. A method for controlling a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:

providing the breathing assistance system;

automatically determining whether a proximal pressure line having an associated proximal pressure sensor is connected to the breathing assistance system;

automatically determining to allow or disallow at least one particular breathing assistance mode or setting based on whether the proximal pressure line is determined to be connected to the breathing assistance system; and

selecting a particular breathing assistance mode or setting based at least on the determination to allow or disallow the at least one particular breathing assistance mode or setting; and

providing the breathing assistance to the patient according to the selected breathing assistance mode or setting.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising determination whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system while providing the breathing assistance to the patient.

18. A method according to claim 16, comprising:

providing the breathing assistance to the patient according to a first breathing assistance mode or setting;

while providing the breathing assistance to the patient according to the first breathing assistance mode or setting, performing the determination of whether the proximal pressure line is connected to the breathing assistance system;

in response to determining that the proximal pressure line is not connected to the breathing assistance system, automatically;

disallowing the first breathing assistance mode or setting; and

switching to the particular breathing assistance mode or setting.

19. A method according to claim 16, comprising:

automatically disallowing at least one breathing assistance mode or setting in response to determining that the proximal pressure line is not connected to the breathing assistance system; and

preventing user selection of the at least one disallowed breathing assistance mode or setting.

20. A method for controlling a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:

providing the breathing assistance system;

automatically identifying that a first pressure sensor of the breathing assistance system is not currently usable; and

in response to determining that the first pressure sensor is not currently usable, automatically switching from a first, currently selected breathing assistance mode to a different, second breathing assistance mode predefined for use with signals from a second pressure sensor; and

automatically implementing the second breathing assistance mode and controlling at least one parameter of the breathing assistance system based on the signals from the second pressure sensor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second pressure sensor is selected from a following group:

an outlet pressure sensor, a proximal pressure sensor, and a valve pressure sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first pressure sensor is selected from a following group:

an outlet pressure sensor, a proximal pressure sensor, and a valve pressure sensor.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first pressure sensor is not usable because the first pressure sensor is not working properly.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the second pressure sensor is capable of measuring negative flow.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first pressure sensor is capable of measuring negative flow.