Breathing assistance system with multiple pressure sensors

#The present disclosure is related to breathing assistance systems, and more particularly to a breathing assistance system with multiple pressure sensors.

#Breathing assistance systems are used to provide various types of breathing assistance to patients. For example, a ventilator provides mechanical ventilation to a patient by delivering pressurized gas (e.g., air and/or supplemental oxygen) to the patient through a breathing circuit connected to the patient by a connection device, e.g., an endotracheal tube or a nose or face mask. A ventilator may provide ventilation according to any of a variety of well-known ventilation modes, e.g., assist/control (A/C) ventilation, volume controlled ventilation, pressure controlled ventilation, and synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) ventilation. Each of such modes may provide or allow for one or more types of breaths, including mandatory breaths, assisted breaths, and/or spontaneous breaths.

#Another example breathing assistance system is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system. CPAP therapy has become a common prescription for individuals suffering from sleep apnea and/or other breathing ailments. Such therapy may involve placement of a nose or face mask on the subject during sleeping, while positive pressure air is continuously delivered from a CPAP box to the patient through a breathing circuit connected to the patient by a connection device, e.g., a nose or face mask. In this manner, positive pressure air may be delivered to the patient's upper airway in order to prevent the upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep, thus reducing the occurrence and/or severity of sleep apnea.

#Some embodiments of the disclosure may be understood by referring, in part, to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to the same or like parts and wherein:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example breathing assistance system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an example ventilation system including an over-pressure security system, exhalation valve detection system, proximal pressure detection system, and an O2 safety system, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

#Selected embodiments of the disclosure may be understood by reference, in part, to FIGS. 1-13B, wherein like numbers refer to same and like parts.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example breathing assistance system 10 for providing breathing assistance to a patient, according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Breathing assistance system 10 may be generally configured to provide one or more types of ventilation to the patient. As used herein, “ventilation” means communicating gas to and/or from a patient 11 to provide any type of breathing assistance to the patient 11, including, e.g., mechanically ventilating the patient and/or treating an apnea or other breathing condition of the patient. “Ventilation” includes breathing assistance typically provided by a ventilator, as well as breathing assistance typically provided by CPAP device. Thus, as discussed below, breathing assistance system 10 may provide any or all of the following: Positive Pressure ventilation; Assist/Control, SIMV, and/or CPAP modes of ventilation; Breath types including Volume, Pressure Control, and Pressure Support; Other types or modes of ventilation and/or other breath types.

#In example embodiments, breathing assistance system 10 may provide some or all of the following user-selectable ventilation modes: Assisted Controlled Volume (VOLUME A/C); Assisted Controlled Pressure (PRESSURE A/C); Synchronous Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation Volume (V SIMV); Synchronous Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation Pressure (P SIMV); Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP); and Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV).