# US 10,245,406 B2 · Ventilator with integrated oxygen production

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- Number: US 10,245,406 B2
- Document ID: US10245406B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/667,451
- Filed: 2015-03-24
- Published: 2016-09-29
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-24
- Assignees: Ventec Life Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Ventec Life Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Douglas F. DeVries; David M. Good; Shan E. Gaw; Joseph Cipollone; Richard Branson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245406B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/101: {using an oxygen concentrator}
- A61M 16/0009: {with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration}
- A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices}
- A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor}
- A61M 16/0063: {Compressors}
- A61M 16/0069: {the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation}
- A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor}
- A61M 16/0808: {Condensation traps}
- A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors}
- A61M 16/0858: {Pressure sampling ports}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/0883: {Circuit type}
- A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves}
- A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated}
- A61M 16/207: {Membrane valves with pneumatic amplification stage, i.e. having leader and follower membranes}
- A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves}
- A61M 16/1055: {bacterial}
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
- A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter}
- A61M 2016/0036: {in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2016/1025: {the O2 concentration}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2205/0272: Electro-active or magneto-active materials
- A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate
- A61M 2205/3358: Measuring barometric pressure, e.g. for compensation
- A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise
- A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- B01D 53/0476: {Vacuum pressure swing adsorption}
- B01D 53/053: with storage or buffer vessel
- B01D 2256/12: Oxygen
- B01D 2257/102: Nitrogen
- B01D 2259/40009: using sensors or gas analysers
- B01D 2259/401: using a single bed
- B01D 2259/4533: for medical purposes
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

A method of providing a breath to a human patient having a patient connection connected by a patient circuit to a ventilator device. The method includes delivering both a bolus of oxygen and breathing gases including air to the patient circuit. The patient circuit conducts the bolus of oxygen and the breathing gases to the patient connection. The breathing gases are delivered before an end of the inspiratory phase of the breath. The bolus may be delivered at or before a beginning of an inspiratory phase of the breath, and the delivery of the bolus may be terminated before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath. The bolus and breathing gases are delivered to the patient circuit via different ventilator connections that isolate the bolus from the breathing gases before they enter the patient circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing a breath to a human patient using a ventilator device, a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the ventilator device and a second end spaced apart from the ventilator device, and a patent connection configured to be coupled to the human patient, the breath having an inspiratory phase with a beginning and an end, the method comprising:
detecting the beginning of the inspiratory phase of the breath has been initiated by the patient, and in response intiating delivery of a bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit, the patient circuit delivering the bolus of oxygen to the patient connection;
terminating the delivery of the bolus of oxygen before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath; and
delivering breathing gases comprising air to the patient circuit before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath, the patient circuit delivering the breathing gases to the patient connection; wherein
delivering the breathing gases to the patient circuit comprises providing the breathing gases to the patient circuit at a first input location of the patient circuit, and
delivering the bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit comprises providing the bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit at a second input location of the patient circuit closer than the first input location to the patient connection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
waiting until after the delivery of the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has been terminated before delivering the breathing gases.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein
combined the bolus of oxygen and the breathing gases delivered for the breath have a total inspiratory volume, and
the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has a volume that is less than about 75% of the total inspiratory volume.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein
combined the bolus of oxygen and the breathing gases delivered for the breath have a total inspiratory volume, and
the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has a volume that is between about 50% of the total inspiratory volume and about 75% of the total inspiratory volume.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the breath has an expiratory phase, and the method further comprises:
receiving an oxygen flow equivalent value associated with an oxygen flow rate which if applied to the patient circuit continuously from the beginning of the inspiratory phase to an end of the expiratory phase would produce a first volume of oxygen, and wherein the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has a second volume that is less than the first volume of oxygen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with an oxygen source connected to a valve, wherein
delivering the bolus of oxygen comprises opening the valve to thereby allow a flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to the patient circuit, and
terminating the delivery of the bolus of oxygen before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath comprises closing the valve to thereby discontinue the flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to the patient circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, for use with an oxygen generator connected to the oxygen source, and the oxygen source being configured to store oxygen generated by the oxygen generator, the method further comprising:
detecting a value comprising at least one of a concentration of the oxygen stored by the oxygen source and a pressure of the oxygen stored by the oxygen source;
determining if the detected value is below a threshold value;
operating the oxygen generator when the detected value is determined to be below the threshold value; and
delivering oxygen generated by the oxygen generator to the oxygen source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with a user specified total tidal volume, wherein the breathing gases delivered for the breath have a first volume,
the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has a second volume, and
combined the first and second volumes are substantially equal to the user specified total tidal volume.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with a user specified peak inspiratory pressure value, wherein a combined pressure of the breathing gases and the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath does not exceed the user specified peak inspiratory pressure value.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with a breathing gases delivery conduit having a breathing gases output located at a first end portion of the patient circuit away from the patient connection and an oxygen delivery conduit having an oxygen output located at a second end portion of the patient circuit adjacent to the patient connection, wherein delivering the breathing gases to the patient circuit comprises providing the breathing gases to the breathing gases output via the breathing gases delivery conduit and wherein delivering the bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit comprises providing the bolus of oxygen to the oxygen output via the oxygen delivery conduit, to thereby isolate the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath from the breathing gases delivered for the breath along at least a majority portion of the patient circuit prior to the patient connection.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with the patient circuit comprising a breathing gases delivery conduit and an oxygen delivery conduit, wherein
delivering the breathing gases to the patient circuit comprises providing the breathing gases to the breathing gases delivery conduit, which delivers the breathing gases to the patient connection, and
delivering the bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit comprises providing the bolus of oxygen to the oxygen delivery conduit, which delivers the bolus of oxygen to the patient connection, thereby isolating the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath from the breathing gases delivered for the breath along at least a portion of the patient circuit prior to the patient connection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the bolus of oxygen exits the oxygen delivery conduit and enters the breathing gases delivery conduit at a location adjacent to the patient connection.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the bolus of oxygen exits the oxygen delivery conduit and enters the breathing gases delivery conduit at a location within about 2 centimeters of the patient connection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a bolus volume value, and
wherein the bolus of oxygen delivered for the breath has a volume substantially equal to the bolus volume value.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for use with a compressor operable to compress breathing gases, wherein delivering breathing gases to the patient circuit comprises delivering at least a portion of the breathing gases compressed by the compressor.

### Claim 16

A ventilator device for use with an oxygen source and a patient circuit configured to receive breathing gases and oxygen to provide a breath to a human patient having a patient connection couplable to the patient circuit, the breath having an inspiratory phase with a beginning and an end, the ventilator device comprising:
a compressor configured to deliver breathing gases to the patient circuit; and
a control system configured such that:
(a) at or before a beginning of an inspiratory phase of a breath, the control system allows the oxygen to flow from the oxygen source to the patient circuit;
(b) before an end of the inspiratory phase of the breath, the control system prevents the oxygen from flowing from the oxygen source to the patient circuit; and
(c) before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath and at or after preventing the oxygen from flowing from the oxygen source, the control system causes the compressor to deliver the breathing gases to the patient circuit; and
an input component configured to receive a user specified peak inspiratory pressure value, wherein a combined pressure of the breathing gases delivered to the patient circuit and the oxygen allowed to flow to the patient circuit for the breath does not exceed the user specified peak inspiratory pressure value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The ventilator device of claim 16, further comprising:
an input component configured to receive a user specified total tidal volume,
wherein the breathing gases delivered to the patient circuit for the breath have a first volume,
the oxygen allowed to flow to the patient circuit for the breath has a second volume, and
combined the first and second volumes are substantially equal to the user specified total tidal volume.

### Claim 18

A ventilator device for use with a patient circuit configured to receive breathing gases and oxygen to provide a breath to a human patient having a patient connection couplable to the patient circuit, the breath having an inspiratory phase with a beginning and an end, the ventilator device comprising:
a compressor configured to deliver breathing gases to the patient circuit;
a patient oxygen outlet couplable to the patient circuit;
an oxygen source configured to deliver oxygen to the patient circuit; and
a control system configured such that:
(a) at or before a beginning of an inspiratory phase of a breath, the control system allows the oxygen to flow from the oxygen source to the patient circuit;
(b) before an end of the inspiratory phase of the breath, the control system prevents the oxygen from flowing from the oxygen source to the patient circuit; and
(c) before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath and at or after preventing the oxygen from flowing from the oxygen source, the control system causes the compressor to deliver the breathing gases to the patient circuit; and
an input component configured to receive a user specified peak inspiratory pressure value, wherein a combined pressure of the breathing gases delivered to the patient circuit and the oxygen allowed to flow to the patient circuit for the breath does not exceed the user specified peak inspiratory pressure value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The ventilator device of claim 18, further comprising:
an input component configured to receive a user specified total tidal volume,
wherein the breathing gases delivered to the patient circuit for the breath have a first volume,
the oxygen allowed to flow to the patient circuit for the breath has a second volume, and
combined the first and second volumes are substantially equal to the user specified total tidal volume.

### Claim 20

A ventilation system for use with a human patient having a patient connection couplable to a patient circuit, the system comprising:
an oxygen source configured to deliver oxygen to a patient oxygen outlet couplable to the patient circuit;
a compressor configured to deliver breathing gases to a ventilator connection couplable to the patient circuit, the ventilator connection being different from the patient oxygen outlet; and
a control system configured to:
identify an inspiratory phase of a breath;
instruct the oxygen source to deliver the oxygen to the patient oxygen outlet before or during the inspiratory phase, the oxygen source being configured to deliver the oxygen to the patient oxygen outlet in response to the instruction to deliver the oxygen to the patient oxygen outlet;
instruct the oxygen source to terminate the delivery of oxygen to the patient outlet;
instruct the compressor to deliver the breathing gases to the ventilator connection during the inspiratory phase, the compressor being configured to deliver the breathing gases to the ventilator connection at or after terminating the delivery of oxygen to the patient outlet in response to the instruction to deliver the breathing gases to the ventilator connection; and
a user interface having an input component configured to receive a user specified peak inspiratory pressure value, the user interface being configured to provide the user specified peak inspiratory pressure value to the control system,
wherein a combined pressure of the breathing gases and the oxygen delivered for the breath does not exceed the user specified peak inspiratory pressure value.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The ventilation system of claim 20, wherein the compressor and the ventilator connection comprise a ventilator, and the oxygen source is external to the ventilator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The ventilation system of claim 20, wherein the oxygen source comprises an internal oxygen source of a ventilator having an oxygen inlet in fluid communication with the internal oxygen source, and the ventilation system further comprises an external oxygen source in fluid communication with the oxygen inlet to deliver oxygen from the external oxygen source to the internal oxygen source.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The ventilation system of claim 20, further comprising:
an oxygen generator in fluid communication with the oxygen source, the oxygen generator delivering oxygen to the oxygen source.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The ventilation system of claim 23, wherein the compressor, the oxygen source and the oxygen generator comprise a ventilator.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The ventilation system of claim 23, wherein the compressor and the oxygen source comprise a ventilator, and the oxygen generator is external to the ventilator.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The ventilation system of claim 20, further comprising:
a user interface having an input configured to receive a user specified total tidal volume, the user interface being configured to provide the user specified total tidal volume to the control system,
wherein the control system is configured to determine a first volume and a second volume,
the breathing gases delivered for the breath have the first volume, the oxygen delivered for the breath has the second volume, and
combined the first and second volumes are substantially equal to the user specified total tidal volume.

### Claim 27

A method of providing a breath to a human patient using a ventilator device, a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the ventilator device and a second end spaced apart from the ventilator device, and a patent connection configured to be coupled to the human patient, the breath having an inspiratory phase with a beginning and an end, and the breath have a total tidal volume, the method comprising:
delivering a continuous bolus of oxygen to the patient circuit at or before the beginning of the inspiratory phase of the breath while not delivering breathing gases, the bolus of oxygen has a volume of 50%-75% of the total tidal volume, and the patient circuit delivering the bolus of oxygen to the patient connection;
terminating the delivery of the bolus of oxygen before the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath; and
delivering breathing gases comprising air continuously to the patient circuit at or after terminating the delivery of the bolus of oxygen and until the end of the inspiratory phase of the breath, the breathing gases have a volume of 25%-50% of the total tidal volume, and the patient circuit delivering the breathing gases to the patient connection.