Compensating for disruptions in breathing gas flow measurement
AssigneeMallinckrodt Hospital Products IP Limited
InventorsJaron M. Acker, Craig R. Tolmie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for delivery of therapeutic gas to patients, using techniques to compensate for disruptions in breathing gas flow measurement, such as when breathing gas flow measurement is unavailable or unreliable. Such techniques include using historical breathing gas flow rate data, such as moving average flow rates, moving median flow rates and/or flow waveforms. At least some of these techniques can be used to ensure that interruption in therapeutic gas delivery is minimized or eliminated.
Claims20
A therapeutic gas delivery apparatus for use with a ventilator, the apparatus comprising:
- a therapeutic gas injector module configured to be placed in fluid communication with a breathing circuit affiliated with the ventilator, the therapeutic gas injector module including a breathing gas flow inlet, a therapeutic gas flow inlet, and a combined breathing gas and therapeutic gas flow outlet for providing a combined flow of breathing gas and therapeutic gas to a patient, in need thereof;
- a first flow sensor configured to sense breathing gas flow rate data;
- and
- a controller configured to control the delivery flow rate of the therapeutic gas based on a first mode, and upon detection of a disruption of the sensed breathing gas flow rate data, configured to control delivery flow of the therapeutic gas based on the historical breathing gas flow rate data previously sensed by the first flow sensor and stored in the memory.
A method for delivery of therapeutic gas to a patient, the method comprising:
- controlling via a controller therapeutic gas flow to a patient in a first mode;
- receiving, via a sensor, sensed flow rate data of breathing gas flow;
- storing in a memory historical flow rate data related to the received breathing gas flow rate data by the sensor;
- detecting a disruption of the sensed breathing gas flow rate data from the sensor;
- and
- controlling via the controller the therapeutic gas flow in a temporary mode instead of the first mode, based on the received breathing gas flow rate data.
An apparatus for delivery of nitric oxide and therapeutic gas to a patient, comprising:
- a controller configured to control therapeutic gas flow to a patient in a first mode and to receive sensed flow rate data of breathing gas flow;
- a memory configured to store received breathing gas flow rate data related to previous sensed historical flow data;
- a detector configured to detect a disruption of received breathing gas flow rate data from the received breathing gas flow rate data;
- and
- wherein the controller is further configured to retrieve historical flow rate data, and to control therapeutic gas flow rate in a temporary mode, instead of the first mode, based on the historical flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.