METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES USING LOX TO PROVIDE VENTILATORY SUPPORT

• US 20120118285A1
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wondka, Anthony D., Cipollone, Joseph, Allum, Todd W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/125 Diluting primary gas with ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/01 : Intermediate tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 : Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/02 : with change of state, e.g. vaporisation

Abstract

A portable liquid oxygen system may provide an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode.

Claims

1. A portable liquid oxygen system providing an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid oxygen system weighs less than 10 pounds.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a heater on the heat exchanger.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a Stirling engine passing air from a hot sink across the heat exchanger to a cold sink.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the hot sink is ambient air.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the cold sink is proximal to a liquid oxygen store.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid oxygen store, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a reduction in insulation at least partially surrounding the liquid oxygen store.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an oxygen gas store, and wherein higher peak flow rates than the average flow rate are achieved utilizing oxygen stored in the oxygen gas store.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system has multiple modes of operation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the modes of operation are a continuum of settings and not discrete modes of operation.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein flow capacity is changed when switching between modes of operation.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein oxygen gas pressure is changed when switching between modes of operation.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the system automatically switches modes of operation based on a patient'"'"'s condition.

14. A ventilation system comprising:

a portable ventilator; and

a portable liquid oxygen system providing a flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the portable ventilator and the portable liquid oxygen system are integrated into a single portable or wearable unit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the liquid oxygen system weighs less than 10 pounds.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a heat exchanger, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a heater on the heat exchanger.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a heat exchanger, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a Stirling engine passing air from a hot sink across the heat exchanger to a cold sink.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the hot sink is ambient air.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the cold sink is proximal to a liquid oxygen storage device.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising a liquid oxygen storage device, and wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a reduction in insulation at least partially surrounding the liquid oxygen storage device.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising an oxygen gas store, and wherein peak flow requirements of the portable ventilator are achieved by utilizing oxygen stored in the oxygen gas store.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising a patient interface, wherein the patient interface is a nasal interface, a mask, an endotracheal tube, a tracheostomy tube, or a trans-oral tube.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the ventilator is wearable.

25. The system of claim 14, further comprising a blender for titrating the amount of oxygen needed.

26. A liquid oxygen system comprising:

a liquid oxygen store;

a heat exchanger;

a fan;

a hot sink; and

a cold sink,

wherein the fan passes ambient air across the heat exchanger from the hot sink to the cold sink to produce a rapid gas conversion mode.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the liquid oxygen system is portable.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the hot sink is an opening to ambient.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the cold sink is a region near the liquid oxygen store or evaporative coils.

30. A portable liquid oxygen system comprising:

a liquid oxygen store;

an oxygen gas store;

a liquid oxygen to gas conversion unit, wherein the liquid oxygen to gas conversion unit further comprises a heat exchanger between the liquid oxygen store and the oxygen gas store; and

one or more controls for determining a mode of operation for the heat exchanger.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the mode of operation is switched automatically.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein a mode of the heat exchanger is rapid gas conversion mode for ventilation therapy providing an average gas flow at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more controls receive a signal from one or more respiration sensors, and wherein the one or more controls cause the heat exchanger to switch between modes.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more controls receive a signal from one or more pulse oximeters, and wherein the one or more controls causes the heat exchanger to switch between modes.

33. The system of claim 33, wherein a mode of the heat exchanger is low gas conversion mode for oxygen therapy providing an average gas flow at approximately 1-approximately 6 lpm.

36. A method of treating respiratory and breathing disorders, the method comprising:

providing a portable liquid oxygen system, wherein the liquid oxygen system comprises a liquid oxygen store, an oxygen gas store, a liquid oxygen to gas conversion unit, a heat exchanger between the liquid oxygen store and the oxygen gas store; and

providing an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving an input from one or more respiration sensors regarding ventilation needs of the patient at one or more controls;

automatically determining a mode of operation for the heat exchanger based on signals from one or more respiration sensors; and

sending a control signal to one or more of the liquid oxygen store, the oxygen gas store, the liquid oxygen to gas conversion unit, and the heat exchanger to initiate the determined mode of operation.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the liquid oxygen system weighs less than 10 pounds.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a heater on a heat exchanger.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a Stirling engine passing air from a hot sink across a heat exchanger to a cold sink.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the hot sink is ambient air.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the cold sink is proximal to the liquid oxygen storage device.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a reduction in insulation at least partially surrounding the liquid oxygen store.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein higher peak flow rates than the average flow rate are achieved utilizing oxygen stored in the oxygen gas store.