System and method of preventing the delivery of hypoxic gases to a patient

A low-flow ventilation system that provides repeating breaths of respiratory support to a patient while preventing the delivery of hypoxic gases to the patient, the system comprising:

• a breathing circuit including a patient connection configured to deliver the respiratory support to the patient;
• an input device operable by a clinician to input at least one ventilation parameter value;
• a fresh gas manifold pneumatically connected to the breathing circuit, the fresh gas manifold configured to provide at least oxygen and a balance gas to the breathing circuit;
• a digital signal processor communicatively connected to the input device and the fresh gas manifold, the digital signal processor receives the at least one ventilation parameter value, calculates a predicted oxygen concentration delivered to the patient with the at least one ventilation parameter value, and compares the predicted oxygen concentration to a predetermined minimum oxygen requirement threshold of the patient;
• wherein if the predicted oxygen concentration is above the predetermined minimum oxygen requirement threshold, the digital signal processor accepts the at least one ventilation parameter value;
• and
• wherein if the predicted oxygen concentration is below the predetermined minimum oxygen requirement threshold, the digital signal processor calculates at least one additional parameter value such that the predicted oxygen concentration is above the predetermined minimum oxygen requirement threshold, and the digital signal processor accepts the at least one ventilation parameter value and at least one additional parameter value.

A method of preventing the delivery of hypoxic gases to a patient receiving ventilatory support from low-flow mechanical ventilator, the method comprising:

• providing ventilatory support to the patient through a breathing circuit pneumatically connected to a mechanical ventilator in a low-flow configuration;
• receiving, with a digital signal processor, a ventilation parameter value from an input device connected to the digital signal processor;
• calculating a predicted oxygen concentration delivered to the patient with the digital signal processor based upon the ventilation parameter value;
• comparing the predicted oxygen concentration to a predetermined hypoxic concentration threshold with the digital signal processor;
• accepting, with the digital signal processor, the ventilation parameter value if the predicted oxygen concentration is above the predetermined hypoxic concentration threshold;
• rejecting, with the digital signal processor, the ventilation parameter value if the predicted oxygen concentration is below the predetermined hypoxic concentration threshold.