56 results about "Ventilator circuit" patented technology

A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit 100, 101, 102, 105, 106 comprises aerosolising a humidifying agent such as water or saline using an aerosol generator 2 and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to the inspiration line 101 of the ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. The aerosol generator 2 comprises a vibratable member 40 having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface. A controller 3 controls the operation of aerosol generator 2, for example in response to the flow of air in the inspiration line 101 as detected by a sensor 11.

An HME Filter is provided having with an integral housing having minimal components which eliminating components at the circuit “Y” connector. A closed circuit gas flow is maintained whether an internal filter material is or is not engaged, and with or without a nebulizer aerosolizing medications. The HME SHUTTLE continues to maintain the same closed circuit gas flow during the HME filter materials insertion into the HME SHUTTLE, throughout the course of the HME filter's use in the closed gas flow circuit and during the HME filter materials removal from the HME SHUTTLE. The placement for optimal patient care is to be located between the connection of inhalation and exhalation sides of mechanical ventilator circuit and endotracheal tube of an intubated patient. The HME SHUTTLE also accommodates the docking port for the use of an external nebulizer.

The present invention provides an improved means of treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the nosocomial patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The treatment means eliminates the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment means also concentrates the therapeutic agent specifically at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without significant systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this specialized regimen.

Various valves, adapters, ventilator circuits, and methods are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a valve includes a support that includes a plurality of apertures. The support includes a center and an outer edge. The plurality of flaps includes a flap for each aperture. Each flap has an end connected proximal to the center of the support. Each flap is capable of moving between a closed position and an opened position.

The method and system are for sealing / unsealing (regulating) airway leaks occurring between the ventilator circuit and respiratory airways during lung ventilatory support in response to myoelectrical activity of diaphragm. Myolectrical activity of a patient's respiratory-related muscle is sensed to detect respiratory effort, and to produce a myoelectrical signal representative of the sensed muscle myoelectrical activity. Respiratory flow and pressure can also be measured to produce respective respiratory pressure and respiratory flow signals. A logic trigger sealing / unsealing of airway leaks in relation to the myoelectrical signal, respiratory flow signal and / or respiratory pressure signal to assist respiration of the patient. The amplitude of the myoelectrical signal is compared to a given threshold, and airway leaks are sealed when the amplitude of the myoelectrical signal is higher than this threshold. Increment of myoelectrical signal amplitude can be also detected to trigger the airway leak regulating device to seal the airway leaks, while decrement of the myoelectrical signal amplitude can be detected to unseal the airway leaks and thus permit air evacuation from the patient's lungs.

A flexible connector couples the inlet end of a tracheotomy tube inner cannula to an outlet port of an in-line catheter. The catheter exit end of the connector is adapted to be serially coupled in pneumatic communication with the inlet end of the tracheotomy tube inner cannula and also to guide the downstream tip of the catheter into the inlet end of the inner cannula in response to pushing of the catheter upstream of the catheter outlet port. Thus, the in-line catheter can be inserted into the tracheotomy tube inner cannula with little likelihood of having to compress or “flip” the connector or disconnect the connector from the tracheotomy tube and the patient from the ventilator circuit.

Various valves, adapters, ventilator circuits, and methods are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a valve includes a support that includes a plurality of apertures. The support includes a center and an outer edge. The plurality of flaps includes a flap for each aperture. Each flap has an end connected proximal to the center of the support. Each flap is capable of moving between a closed position and an opened position.

A method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, where the method includes delivering a dose of aerosolized medicament intermittently to a ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of the patient. Also, a method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, where the method includes taking the patient off a ventilator, and administering to the patient, a nebulized aerosol comprising from about 100 μg to about 500 mg of a medicament. Also a method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, the method comprising administering an aerosolized first medicament comprising amikacin to the patient and administering, systemically a second medicament comprising an antibiotic to the patient that also treats the pulmonary disease, wherein a resulting amikacin concentration in the lung and / or pulmonary system is therapeutically-effective, and an amount of the systemically administered antibiotics is reduced.

The present invention relates to a portable apparatus for warming biocompatible fluids for use in the treatment of injured patients. The present invention may be used to warm intravenous fluids for trauma resuscitation or to warm air from a ventilator circuit. The portable nature of the present invention makes it highly suitable for field applications, such as a forward surgical hospital near a combat zone.

The present invention provides an improved method and novel devices for treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the intubated patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The devices eliminate the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment also concentrates the therapeutic agent specifically at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without significant systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this specialized regimen.

A method (199) for determining a ventilation need specific for a patient is disclosed herein. The method includes providing (200) a breath gas with a machine ventilator circuit (14) from a starting pressure to lungs (12) of a patient to start inspiration, and filling said lungs to a predetermined breath gas pressure level. The method also includes determining (202) in a control unit (21) a filling volume of the breath gas needed to achieve the predetermined breath gas pressure level from the starting pressure, and determining (203) in the control unit a lung elastic property, such as compliance or elastance, based on a relationship between the determined filling volume of the breath gas and differences in the starting pressure and the predetermined breath gas pressure level. The method also includes determining (206) in the control unit a respiration rate exploiting at least the lung elastic property. A corresponding arrangement (10) is also provided.

A method of administering an aerosolized anti-infective, such as a glycopeptide, to the respiratory system of a patient. A ratio of an amount of the glycopeptide, such as vancomycin, delivered to the pulmonary system of the patient in a 24 hour period to a minimum inhibitory amount for the target organ for the same period is about 2 or more. A system to introduce aerosolized medicament to a patient may include a humidifier coupled to an inspiratory limb of a ventilator circuit wye, where the humidifier supplies heated and humidified air to the patient, and an endotracheal tube having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the ventilator circuit wye. The system may also include a nebulizer coupled to the endotracheal tube, where the nebulizer generates the aerosolized medicament.

The invention provides a combination of a micro pump 27 or a micro valve with a vibrating mesh nebuliser 2. This is powered by a controller 3. The controller 3 may have modifications to provide the electrical drive mechanism for the pump 27 in addition to fulfilling the aerosol / nebuliser drive requirements. In one case the system is used for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit. A humidifying agent (sterile water or sterile saline) is aerosolised and then delivered to a ventilator circuit 100 coupled to the respiratory system of a patient.

An improved tracheal tube anti-disconnect device for securing a ventilator tube to an adapter that is connected to a tracheal tube. The device is comprised of a neck band that includes a pair of anchoring strips that releasably connect the neck band to a neck plate, an anti-disconnect fastening assembly that releasably secures to the neck band and which positively retains a ventilator circuit in communication with the tracheal tube. A retention system is provided on the neck band to prevent the anti-disconnect fastening assembly and the anchoring strips from disconnection with the neck band, thereby ensuring the communication between the ventilator circuit and the tracheal tube.

Gas leakage from a ventilator circuit and patient interface is estimated by a method that relies on breath-by-breath or time-to-time variability in the pattern of pressure delivery by the ventilator, comprising generating signals that correspond to pressure (PCIRCUIT) and flow rate (Flow) in the ventilator circuit, integrating flow (Integrated Flow), measuring the change in Integrated Flow (ΔV) over an INTERVAL extending from a selected point in the expiratory phase of a ventilator cycle to a selected point during the expiratory phase of a nearby ventilator cycle, repeating the measurement of ΔV for at least two said INTERVALs, processing PCIRCUIT to produce an index or indices that reflect(s) the pattern of pressure delivery by the ventilator during each of said INTERVALs, applying statistical methods to determine the relation between the differences in ΔV among 1NTERVALs and the corresponding differences in said index or indices of PCIRCUIT, and establishing from said relation the leak rate at specified PCIRCUIT values.