Compensating for disruptions in breathing gas flow measurement
AssigneeMallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Ireland 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.
Claims15
A nitric oxide gas delivery apparatus for use with a ventilator, the apparatus comprising:
- an injector module operable to be placed in fluid communication with a breathing circuit affiliated with the ventilator, the injector module comprising:
- a breathing gas flow inlet;
- a nitric oxide (NO) flow inlet;
- and
- a combined breathing gas and NO flow outlet operable to provide a combined flow of breathing gas and NO to a patient, in need thereof;
- a breathing gas flow sensor configured to sense breathing gas flow rate;
- one or more NO flow sensors operable to measure the flow of NO;
- and
- a controller comprising:
- a memory operable to store a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates;
- and
- a controller operable to control the breathing gas flow rate based on a first mode, and to detect a disruption of breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas flow sensor,
- wherein upon detection of the disruption in breathing gas flow rate data, the controller operates in a backup mode to control a delivery flow rate of the NO based on the record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
A method for delivery of nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient, the method comprising:
- controlling, via a controller, a NO flow to a patient in a first mode;
- receiving, via a breathing gas sensor, sensed flow rate of breathing gas flow;
- receiving, via one or more NO flow sensors, a measured flow rate of NO flow;
- storing in a memory a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates;
- detecting a disruption of the sensed breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas sensor;
- and
- controlling, via the controller, the NO flow in a backup mode instead of the first mode, based on the historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.