Modular ventilation system

A ventilatory support apparatus transitionable between a stationary configuration and an extended range configuration, the ventilatory support apparatus comprising:

• a compressor unit, the compressor unit comprising:
• a compressor for providing compressed gas;
• a ventilator dock having a ventilator dock compressed gas output port;
• and a ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port;
• a compressor unit ventilation gas output port;
• and
• a compressor unit compressed gas output port;
• a ventilator for providing ventilation gas, the ventilator being configured for removable docking at the ventilator dock, comprising:
• a ventilator ventilation gas output port;
• and
• a ventilator compressed gas inlet port;
• a patient interface for receiving ventilation gas and delivering ventilation gas to a patient, the patient interface having a patient interface gas inlet port transitionable between placement in fluid communication with the compressor unit ventilation gas output port and placement in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port;
• wherein, when the ventilatory support apparatus is transitioned to the stationary configuration, the ventilator is docked at the ventilator dock, the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the ventilator dock compressed gas output port, the ventilator ventilation gas output, port is in fluid communication with the ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port, and the patient interface gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the compressor ventilation gas output port, such that compressed gas is provided by the compressor unit to the ventilator and ventilation gas is returned to the compressor unit for subsequent output from the compressor unit to the patient interface;
• and
• wherein, when the ventilatory support apparatus is transitioned to the extended range configuration, the ventilator is not docked at the ventilator dock, the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the compressor unit compressed gas output port, and the patient interface gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port, such that compressed gas is provided by the compressor unit to the ventilator and ventilation gas is provided by the ventilator to the patient interface without being returned to the compressor unit.

A method for transitioning a modular ventilatory support apparatus from one to another of a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration, the method comprising:

• providing a modular ventilatory support apparatus comprising:
• a compressor unit comprising a compressor for providing compressed gas, a low flow oxygen input port, a compressor unit ventilation gas output port, a compressor unit compressed gas output port, and a ventilator dock, the ventilator dock having a ventilator dock compressed gas output port and a ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port;
• a ventilator configured for removable docking at the ventilator dock, the ventilator comprising a user interface, a ventilator ventilation gas output port, and a ventilator compressed gas inlet port;
• and
• a patient interface having a patient interface gas inlet port transitionable between placement in fluid communication with the compressor unit ventilation gas output port and placement in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port;
• and
• transitioning the modular ventilatory support apparatus from one to another of a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration;
• wherein the modular ventilatory support apparatus is transitioned to the stationary configuration when the ventilator is docked at the ventilator dock with the ventilator compressed gas inlet port placed in fluid communication with the ventilator dock compressed gas output port and with the ventilator ventilation gas output port placed in fluid communication with the ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port, and the patient interface gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the compressor ventilation gas output port, such that compressed gas is provided by the compressor unit to the ventilator and ventilation gas is returned to the compressor unit for subsequent output from the compressor unit to the patient interface;
• wherein the modular ventilatory support apparatus is transitioned to the extended range configuration when the ventilator is not docked at the ventilation dock, the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the compressor unit compressed gas output port, and the patient interface gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port, such that compressed gas is provided by the compressor unit to the ventilator and ventilation gas is provided by the ventilator to the patient interface without being returned to the compressor unit;
• and
• wherein the modular ventilatory support apparatus is transitioned to the stand-alone configuration when the ventilator is not docked at the ventilation dock, the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with an external compressed gas source, and the patient interface gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port, such that compressed gas is provided by the external compressed gas source to the ventilator and ventilation gas is provided by the ventilator to the patient interface without passing through the compressor unit.