US 5,626,151 AGranted

Transportable life support system

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army

InventorCharles Linden

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Abstract

A transportable life support system is for use in a battlefield and mass ualty situations and includes a base, a stretcher and a canopy. The base incorporates medical equipment that includes a ventilator, an oxygen source, an environmental control unit, a suction unit, a plurality of physiologic sensors, a intravenous fluid pump, a drug infusion pump, and a defibrillator. The medical equipment is controlled by a computer contained within the base. A monitor displays the vitals signs of the wounded patient. A receiver/transmitter is included in the base for transmitting information to, and receiving information from, a remote health care provider. The system can be run from internal rechargeable batteries or external power. The canopy may be a hard shell or a soft shell. With the canopy in place, the transportable life support system serves as a miniature preoperative holding area or a post operative recovery room. Furthermore, with the canopy in place, the environmental control unit provides positive overpressure to protect against chemical/biological contamination. With the canopy off, the transportable life support system serves as a self-contained operative platform for use in military or natural disaster settings.

Claims89

Dependent claims

A transportable life support system comprising:

a) a base including:
i) a ventilator having a means for supplying and maintaining delivery of air, said means constructed so as to direct air down a patient's trachea and lungs, said ventilator may or may not have a carbon dioxide scrubber constructed so as to remove carbon dioxide from expired air when rebreathing of carbon dioxide may be a hazard, a means for filtering intake and exhaust air of contaminants, said ventilator constructed so as to ventilate said patient;
ii) an oxygen source connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source constructed so as to provide oxygen to said patient;
iii) an environmental control unit having a means for providing contaminant-free air to the unit, said unit constructed so as to control said patient's temperature;
iv) a suction unit constructed so as to remove unwanted fluids from the patient;
v) a defibrillator constructed so as to provide cardioversion for correcting life threatening arrhythmias;
vi) a monitor comprising a touch screen constructed so as to display vital signs of the patient;
vii) a receiver/transmitter connected to said monitor, said receiver/transmitter constructed so as to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote location;
viii) an on-board computer connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source, and said environmental control unit, said monitor and said receiver/transmitter so as to control care administered to the patient;
and
ix) a power source constructed to operate said ventilator, said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said suction unit, said defibrillator, said on-board computer, said monitor and said receiver transmitter;
b) a stretcher removably attached to the base;
and
c) a canopy connected to the base, said canopy and base constructed so as to form a fluid impermeable seal.

11 more elements

A transportable life support system comprising:

a) a base including:
i) a ventilator having a means for supplying and maintaining delivery of air, said means constructed so as to direct air down a patient's trachea and lungs, said ventilator may or may not have a carbon dioxide scrubber constructed so as to remove carbon dioxide from expired air when rebreathing of carbon dioxide may be a hazard, a means for filtering intake and exhaust air of contaminants, said ventilator constructed so as to ventilate said patient;
ii) an oxygen source connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source constructed so as to provide oxygen to said patient;
iii) an environmental control unit having a means for providing contaminant-free air to the unit, said unit constructed so as to control said patient's temperature;
iv) a suction unit constructed so as to remove unwanted fluids from the patient;
v) a defibrillator constructed so as to provide cardioversion for correcting life threatening arrhythmias;
vi) a monitor comprising a touch screen constructed so as to display any vital signs of the patient;
vii) a receiver/transmitter connected to said monitor, said receiver/transmitter constructed so as to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote location;
viii) an on-board computer connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source, and said environmental control unit, said monitor and said receiver/transmitter so as to control care administered to the patient;
and
ix) a power source constructed to operate said ventilator, said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said suction unit, said defibrillator, said on-board computer, said monitor and said receiver transmitter;
b) a stretcher removably attached to the base;
and
c) a canopy connected to the base said canopy and base constructed so as to form a fluid impermeable seal.

11 more elements

A transportable life support system comprising:

a) a base including:
i) a ventilator having a means for supplying and maintaining delivery of air, said means constructed so as to direct air down a patient's trachea and lungs, said ventilator may or may not have a carbon dioxide scrubber constructed so as to remove carbon dioxide from expired air when rebreathing of carbon dioxide may be a hazard, a means for filtering intake and exhaust air of contaminants, said ventilator constructed so as to ventilate said patient;
ii) an oxygen source connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source constructed so as to provide oxygen to said patient;
iii) a environmental control unit having a means for providing contaminant-free air to the unit, said unit constructed so as to control said patient's temperature;
iv) a suction unit constructed so as to remove unwanted fluids from the patient;
v) a defibrillator constructed so as to provide cardioversion for life threatening arrhythmias;
vi) a monitor comprising a touch screen constructed so as to display any vital signs of the patient;
vii) a receiver/transmitter connected to said monitor, said receiver/transmitter constructed so as to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote location;
viii) a pulse-oximetry sensor constructed so as to measure the patient's hemoglobin oxygen saturation level;
ix) an electrocardiogram sensor constructed so as to monitor the patient's heart rate;
x) an oscillometric blood pressure sensor constructed so as to monitor the patient's blood pressure;
xi) an inspired/expired oxygen sensor constructed so as to measure oxygen levels with the patient's airway;
xii) a carbon dioxide sensor constructed so as to measure carbon dioxide levels within the patient's airway and further constructed so as to validate proper placement or patency of an endotracheal tube positioned in the patient's airway;
xiii) an airway pressure sensor constructed so as to measure airway pressure and provide feedback to the ventilator in order to prevent the deleterious effects of hyperinflation;
xiv) an iv infusion pump constructed to provide a resuscitation fluid to the patient;
xv) a drug infusion pump constructed to provide medications to the patient;
xvi) an on-board computer connected to said ventilator said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said monitor, said receiver/transmitter, said pulse-oximetry sensor, said electrocardiogram sensor, said oscillometric blood pressure sensor, said inspired/expired oxygen sensor, said carbon dioxide sensor, said airway pressure sensor, said iv infusion pump and said drug infusion pump so as to control care administered to the patient;
wherein said inspired/expired oxygen sensor and pulse oximetry sensor constructed so as to guide oxygen delivery to said patient;
and
xvii) a power source constructed to operate said ventilator, said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said suction unit, said defibrillator, said on-board computer, said monitor, said receiver/transmitter, said pulse oximetry sensor, said electrocardiogram sensor, said oscillometric blood pressure sensor, said inspired/expired oxygen sensor, said carbon dioxide sensor, said airway pressure sensor, said iv infusion pump and said drug infusion pump;
b) a stretcher removably attached to the base;
and
c) a canopy connected to the base said canopy and base constructed so as to form a fluid impermeable seal.

20 more elements

A transportable life support system comprising:

a) a base including:
i) a ventilator having a means for supplying and maintaining delivery of air, said means constructed so as to direct air down a patient's trachea and lungs, said ventilator may or may not have a carbon dioxide scrubber constructed so as to remove carbon dioxide from expired air when rebreathing of carbon dioxide may be a hazard, a means for filtering intake and exhaust air of contaminants, said ventilator constructed so as to ventilate said patient;
ii) an oxygen source connected to said ventilator, said oxygen source constructed so as to provide oxygen to said patient;
iii) an environmental control unit having a means for providing contaminant-free air to the unit, said unit constructed so as to control said patient's temperature;
iv) a suction unit constructed so as to remove unwanted fluids from the patient;
v) a defibrillator constructed so as to provide cardioversion to connect life threatening arrhythmias;
vi) a monitor comprising a touch screen constructed so as to display any vital signs of the patient;
vii) a receiver/transmitter connected to said monitor, said receiver/transmitter constructed so as to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote location;
viii) a pulse-oximetry sensor constructed so as to measure the patient's hemoglobin oxygen saturation level;
ix) an electrocardiogram sensor constructed so as to monitor the patient's heart rate;
x) an oscillometric blood pressure sensor constructed so as to monitor the patient's blood pressure;
xi) an inspired/expired oxygen sensor constructed so as to measure oxygen levels with the patient's airway;
xii) a carbon dioxide sensor constructed so as to measure carbon dioxide levels within the patient's airway and further constructed so as to validate proper placement or patency of an endotracheal tube positioned in the patient's airway;
xiii) an airway pressure sensor constructed so as to measure airway pressure and provide feedback to the ventilator in order to prevent the deleterious effects of hyperinflation;
xiv) an iv infusion pump constructed to provide a resuscitation fluid to the patient;
and
xv) a drug infusion pump constructed to provide medications to the patient;
xvi) an on-board computer connected to said ventilator said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said monitor, said receiver/transmitter, said pulse-oximetry sensor, said electrocardiogram sensor, said oscillometric blood pressure sensor, said inspired/expired oxygen sensor, said carbon dioxide sensor, said airway pressure sensor, said iv infusion pump and said drug infusion pump so as to control care administered to the patient;
wherein said inspired/expired oxygen sensor and pulse oximetry sensor constructed so as to guide oxygen delivery to said patient;
xvii) a power source constructed to operate said ventilator, said oxygen source, said environmental control unit, said suction unit, said defibrillator, said on-board computer, said monitor, said receiver/transmitter, said pulse oximetry sensor, said electrocardiogram sensor, said oscillometric blood pressure sensor, said inspired/expired oxygen sensor, said carbon dioxide sensor, said airway pressure sensor, said iv infusion pump and said drug infusion pump;
b) a stretcher removably attached to the base;
and
c) a canopy connected to the base said canopy and base constructed so as to form a fluid impermeable 'seal.

20 more elements

A method of operating a transportable life support system comprising administering aid to a patient by the steps of:

(a) placing the patient on a stretcher of said transportable life support system;
(b) covering the patient with canopy having a fluid impermeable seal;
(c) displaying the patient's vital signs on a monitor having a touch screen;
(d) respirating the patient using a ventilator;
(e) administering oxygen to the patient using the ventilator and an oxygen source;
(f) regulating the patient's body temperature using a environmental control unit;
(g) removing unwanted fluids from the patient using a suction unit;
(h) providing cardioversion to correct life threatening arrhythmias;
(i) continuously measuring arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation level using a pulse oximetry sensor;
j) continuously monitoring the patient's heart rate using a electrocardiogram sensor;
k) periodically measuring the patient's blood pressure, using an oscillometric blood pressure;
l) calculating a person's blood pressure based upon time difference between R-wave of monitored electrocardiogram and peak of peripheral arterial wave form detected from the pulse oximetry sensor;
m) comparing the result from step viii) with the result from step vii)
n) adjusting the patient's calculated blood pressure from step xv) to conform to the patient's measured blood pressure from step xvi);
o) continuously monitoring the patient's airway oxygen level;
p) continuously monitoring the patient's carbon dioxide level;
q) continuously monitoring airway pressure in the patient's airway;
and
r) closed loop administration of resuscitation fluids to the patient based on continuous blood pressure measurements obtained in step xiv);
and
s) closed loop administration of drug therapy to the patient based on continuous blood pressure measurements obtained in step xiv).

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.