# US 5,706,830 A · Liquid ventilator system and use thereof

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- Number: US 5,706,830 A
- Document ID: US5706830A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/646,439
- Filed: 1996-05-06
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-06
- Assignees: South Alabama Medical Science Foundation
- Inventors: James C. Parker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706830A

## CPC

- A61M 16/0054: {Liquid ventilation}
- A61M 16/0404: {with means for selective or partial lung respiration}
- A61M 2202/0476: Oxygenated solutions
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

The subject invention provides a liquid ventilator system which comprises a source of oxygenated liquid, an inspiratory conduit, a bifurcated bronchial tube, and a pump. The bifurcated bronchial tube has a left lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into the left primary bronchus of a subject, and a right lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into the right primary bronchus of a subject. The invention further provides a method for liquid ventilation of a subject using the system, as well as a method of increasing ventilation efficiency by continuous isovolumetric flow of oxygenated liquid into the bronchi of the subject.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid ventilator comprising:
a source of oxygenated liquid;
an inspiratory conduit having a first end connected to said source of oxygenated liquid and a second end;
a bifurcated bronchial tube connected to the second end of said inspiratory conduit, said bifurcated bronchial tube having a left lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into a left primary bronchus of a subject and a right lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into a right primary bronchus of said subject; and
a pump for pumping said oxygenated liquid from said source through said inspiratory conduit and said bifurcated bronchial tube to said left primary bronchus and said right primary bronchus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said source of oxygenated liquid comprises a liquid reservoir connected to a membrane oxygenator for diffusing oxygen through liquid removed from said reservoir.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said liquid ventilator further comprises a heat exchanger for warming said oxygenated liquid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said liquid ventilator further comprises a computer for controlling the flow of oxygenated liquid from said source to said bifurcated bronchial tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said oxygenated liquid comprises perfluorocarbon.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said liquid ventilator further comprises a pressure transducer to sense liquid pressure at said right primary bronchi and said left primary bronchi.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The liquid ventilator of claim 6 wherein said liquid ventilator further comprises a computer, and wherein said pressure transducer sends signals to said computer based on said liquid pressure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said liquid ventilator further comprises an outflow pump for removing deoxygenated liquid from said subject.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The liquid ventilator of claim 1 wherein said bifurcated bronchial tube is a double lumen tube.

### Claim 10

A method for liquid ventilation of a subject, said method comprising:
inserting a bifurcated bronchial tube into a subject, said bifurcated bronchial tube having a left lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into a left primary bronchus of said subject and a right lumen for directing the flow of oxygenated liquid into a right primary bronchus of said subject; and
providing a flow of oxygenated liquid into said bifurcated bronchial tuber thereby ventilating said subject with said oxygenated liquid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of said flow of oxygenated liquid is provided continuously throughout said liquid ventilating in an isovolumetric manner.