SAFE STANDBY MODE FOR VENTILATOR

• US 20100071689A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Thiessen, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/003 with a flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches

Abstract

A ventilator with a safe standby mode is provided. The safe standby mode allows a user to disconnect a patient from the ventilator, without the ventilator generating alarms and while maintaining previously entered ventilation parameters. In addition, while in the safe standby mode, a patient connection status is monitored, and a ventilation mode is entered automatically if the ventilator determines that a patient is connected to the ventilator while the ventilator is in the safe standby mode.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a ventilator, comprising:

connecting a patient to a ventilator;

initiating ventilation of the patient using the ventilator;

after initiating ventilation of the patient using the ventilator, entering a safe standby mode;

while in the safe standby mode, detecting that the patient is connected to the ventilator;

in response to detecting that the patient is connected to the ventilator while in the safe standby mode, one of initiating and continuing ventilation of the patient using the ventilator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the safe standby mode is entered in response to a user selection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after entering the safe standby mode, starting a timer;

prior to the timer reaching a predetermined time value, continuing ventilation of the patient;

after the timer has reached the predetermined time value, determining whether the ventilator is connected to the patient;

in response to determining that the ventilator has not been disconnected from the patient after the timer has reached the predetermined count value, exiting the safe standby mode, wherein ventilation of the patient is continued.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after entering the safe standby mode, determining that the ventilator is disconnected from the patient;

after determining that the ventilator is disconnected from the patient, discontinuing ventilation.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after discontinuing ventilation, and while in the safe standby mode, providing breathing gas at a rate that is less than the rate at which breathing gas is supplied during ventilation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while in the safe standby mode, maintaining a plurality of ventilator settings for use during said one of the initiating or continuing ventilation of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ventilator settings comprises at least one parameter selected from a target tidal volume and a target pressure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the patient is connected to the ventilator includes:

delivering a flow of gas from the ventilator through an inspiratory limb of a patient circuit;

determining that a flow of gas back to the ventilator through an expiratory limb of the patient circuit is greater than a threshold amount.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

entering a disconnect mode;

while in the disconnect mode, receiving a user selection of the safe standby mode;

in response to the user selection, entering the safe standby mode, wherein breathing gas is supplied by the ventilator at a rate that is less than the rate at which breathing gas is supplied during ventilation of the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein while in the safe standby mode a disconnect alarm signal is not generated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after initiating ventilation of the patient and while in a normal ventilation mode, detecting that the patient has become disconnected from the ventilator;

in response to detecting that the patient has become disconnected from the ventilator;

1) entering a disconnect mode; and

2) while in the disconnect mode, making the safe standby mode available, entering the safe standby mode in response to receiving a selection from a user of the safe standby mode after the safe standby mode has been made available, wherein in the safe standby mode a disconnect alarm is not generated.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the safe standby mode is entered while the patient is connected to the ventilator.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before initiating ventilation of the patient, entering the safe standby mode.

14. A method for controlling a ventilator, comprising:

connecting a patient to a ventilator;

initiating ventilation of the patient using the ventilator;

after initiating ventilation of the patient using the ventilator, detecting that the patient has become disconnected from the ventilator;

after detecting that the patient has become disconnected from the ventilator, entering a disconnect mode and making a safe standby mode available for user selection;

receiving a user selection to enter the safe standby mode;

in response to the user selection, entering the safe standby mode, wherein while in the safe standby mode a disconnect alarm is not generated.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to determining that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed while in the disconnect mode, generating an alarm, wherein after receiving the user selection to enter the safe standby mode the alarm is discontinued.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

while in the safe standby mode, detecting that the patient is connected to the ventilator;

in response to detecting that the patient is connected to the ventilator while in the safe standby mode, resuming ventilation of the patient using the ventilator.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein making a safe standby mode available includes prompting a user to make a selection.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

after connecting the patient to the ventilator and after initiating ventilation of the patient using the ventilator, receiving a selection of safe standby mode;

after receiving the selection of the safe standby mode, continuing ventilation of the patient;

while continuing ventilation of the patient and after receiving the selection of the safe standby mode, detecting that the patient is disconnected from the ventilator;

after detecting that the patient is disconnected from the ventilator, providing breathing gas from the ventilator at a reduced rate.

19. A ventilation system, comprising:

a controller;

a user output interconnected to the controller;

a user input interconnected to the controller;

a breathing gas supply interconnected to and operated in response to instructions from the controller;

a patient circuit interconnected to the breathing gas supply;

a patient breathing apparatus interconnected to the patient circuit;

a return flow transducer interconnected to the patient circuit;

wherein in a safe standby mode of operation ventilator settings are maintained and a connection status of the patient breathing apparatus is monitored, and wherein after a selection of the safe standby mode and after detecting that a patient is connected to the ventilator ventilation of the patient is one of started or resumed.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein in a disconnect mode of operation a disconnect alarm is periodically provided by the user output.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein in response to a selection by a user to enter the safe standby mode a timer is started, and wherein the safe standby mode is not entered and ventilation of the patient is continued if it is determined that the ventilator is not disconnected from the patient before the timer reaches a predetermined time.