Tracheal catheter and prosthesis and method of respiratory support of a patient

An open system ventilation apparatus for supplementing respiration of a spontaneously breathing patient, comprising:

• a) a gas delivery mechanism connected to an oxygen source;
• b) a transtracheal catheter having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the gas delivery mechanism and the second end adapted and configured for transtracheal insertion into the patient airway without obstructing the patient's spontaneous respiration phases such that the second end terminates in the trachea of the patient;
• c) at least one respiration sensor in communication with the transtracheal catheter and adapted to sense the spontaneous respiration phases of the patient;
• and
• d) a control unit in communication with the at least one respiration sensor, the control unit adapted and configured to control the gas delivery mechanism to deliver a supplemental volume of gas to the transtracheal catheter in synchrony with a portion of the patient's spontaneous breathing pattern.

A tracheal prosthesis comprising:

• a tubular support body having a first end and a second end and a lumen therebetween, wherein the tubular support body is sized and configured to terminate within and along a portion of the trachea without occluding the tracheal airway while permitting the spontaneous breathing of a patient through the lumen;
• a connector on the tubular support body between the first end and the second end, the connector configured to attach to a catheter;
• a catheter having a first end and a second end and a lumen therebetween wherein the first end is connected to the connector so that the lumen of the catheter is aligned along the tubular support body lumen and toward the second end of the tubular support body;
• and
• at least one respiration detection sensor coupled to the tubular support body, wherein the at least one respiration detection sensor is in communication with the lumen of the tubular support structure without being in line with the lumen of the catheter.

A catheter for delivering ventilation to a patient comprising:

• an elongate body having a first end, a second end and a lumen therebetween wherein the first end is adapted and configured for connection to an outlet so that gas flowing from the outlet moves through the lumen;
• the second end of the elongate body is adapted and configured for insertion transtracheally into a trachea of a patient so that the second end may be inserted into the trachea without occluding the tracheal airway of the patient such that the second end terminates in the trachea of the patient;
• and
• at least one respiratory sensor positioned on the elongate body without being in the path of the gas flow through the lumen.

A method of supplementing a patient's spontaneous breathing using a wearable ventilation system, the method comprising:

• determining the patient's spontaneous breathing by a respiration sensor which measures intra-tracheal airflow;
• delivering a supplemental volume to the patient via a transtracheal catheter having a first end and a second end that does not substantially obstruct the patient's airway and the second end is adapted to terminate in the trachea of the patient wherein the supplemental volume is delivered in synchrony with a portion of the patient's inspiratory and/or expiratory spontaneous breath phase;
• and
• providing mobility to the patient byperforming the delivering step with the wearable ventilation system that is configured to be worn by the patient.