Automated drug dispensing systems with automated HME bypass for ventilator circuits

A dispensing system for a ventilator circuit, comprising:

• a ventilator flow circuit comprising a normal inhalation flow path with a heat and moisture exchanger (HME);
• a flow sensor in communication with the ventilator flow circuit;
• an automated dispensing system with an actuator and a pressurized canister residing upstream of the HME;
• a bypass inhalation flow path residing downstream of the pressurized canister;
• at least one electromechanical valve residing in the inhalation flow path to selectively open a valve which is normally closed to define a closed bypass inhalation flow path;
• and
• at least one controller in communication with the flow sensor, the actuator and the at least one electromechanical valve, wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one electromechanical valve to open the bypass inhalation flow path and close the normal inhalation flow path through the HME only when the flow sensor indicates air flow is in an inhalation direction, and wherein, once the at least one electromechanical valve is open, the at least one controller directs the at least one actuator to dispense medication in the air flow path so that the medication travels through the bypass inhalation flow path to a patient,
• wherein the ventilation flow circuit is connected to a ventilator machine of a ventilator unit, wherein the ventilation flow circuit comprises tubing with an exhalation flow path and comprises at least one Y connector held by a housing of the ventilator unit and comprises a first leg that connects to the normal inhalation flow path with the HME and comprises a second leg that connects to the bypass inhalation flow path, wherein the bypass inhalation flow path is devoid of an HME,
• wherein the flow sensor provides patient breathing flow direction data to the at least one controller,
• wherein the at least one Y connector includes a first Y connector at least partially held in the housing of the ventilator unit, a second Y connector downstream of the HME that merges the normal inhalation flow path with the bypass inhalation flow path configured to be proximate a patient in use, and a third Y connector coupled to the HME on a side opposing the second Y connector, and wherein the third Y connector has a first leg coupled to the normal inhalation flow path and a second leg coupled to the exhalation flow path.