Ventilator filter sterilization systems and methods
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsMatthew J. Phillips, Amand Kasimatis, Julio Jenaro
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Abstract
A filter sterilization system includes an expiratory filter having filter material that collects pathogens present in the exhaled gas stream from a ventilated patient. A filter sterilizer includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source that is activated by the system to emit light towards the expiratory filter. Additionally, the system includes a ventilator coupled to a patient breathing circuit that provides a gas mixture from a gas source to the ventilated patient and transfers exhaled gases of the ventilated patient to the expiratory filter.
Claims28
A system, comprising:
- a ventilator comprising a housing having an expiratory port, and an expiratory filter located downstream of the expiratory port, wherein the expiratory filter comprises filter material that collects pathogens from expiratory gases received at the expiratory port;
- and
- a filter sterilizer coupled to the expiratory filter, wherein the filter sterilizer comprises an ultraviolet (UV) light source oriented at the filter material.
A filter sterilizer, comprising:
- a housing sized and shaped to accommodate an expiratory filter;
- a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sources coupled to the housing;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of UV light sources, wherein the controller:
- receives an indication of a presence of the expiratory filter in the housing;
- and
- activates at least one UV light source of the plurality of UV light sources based on the indication.
A system, comprising:
- an expiratory filter that receives exhalation gases from an expiratory limb of a breathing circuit of a ventilated patient, wherein the expiratory filter comprises filter material that collects contaminants present in the exhalation gases;
- and
- an ultraviolet (UV) light source oriented at the expiratory filter;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the UV light source, wherein the controller:
- activates the UV light source to emit a UV light dose to the filter material of the expiratory filter;
- and
- generates a signal indicative of completed sterilization in response to the UV light dose being emitted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.