Air leak detection device and electrically powered suction equipment provided therewith
Inventors
Yokoi, Hiroshi • ICHIKAWA, Norihisa • KATSUTA, Souichi • Kihara, Masahiro
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10124092-B2
Publication Date
2018-11-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
An air leak detection device is applied to a thoracic cavity drainage system which, by using negative pressure generated by a vacuum source, aspirates gas in the thoracic cavity of a patient via a water seal chamber in which liquid is received. The pressure between the vacuum source and the water seal chamber is measured by a pressure sensor, and the occurrence of air bubbles created in the water seal chamber is detected on the basis of fluctuations of this pressure.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an air leak detection device for a thoracic cavity drain system. The device includes a pressure measurement device configured to measure pressure between a vacuum source and a water seal chamber, and an air bubble detection device configured to detect occurrence of air bubbles created in the water seal chamber based on pressure fluctuations measured by the pressure measurement device. The vacuum source is configured to generate negative pressure and suck gas within a thoracic cavity of a patient via the water seal chamber in which liquid is received, and the air leak detection device is provided between the vacuum source and the water seal chamber.
The air bubble detection device determines that air bubbles have been created when a reduction of negative pressure within a predetermined period is greater than a fixed value, or when the negative pressure continues to decrease for a duration of time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The document further describes optional storage of detection results, including pressure-fluctuation magnitude and time information, and determining correlations between the stored detection result and the magnitude of the pressure fluctuations over time. An output control device and a display device are described to output or display a correlation between pressure/flow relationship and bubble occurrence.
The document also describes an embodiment in which the vacuum source is an electrically powered suction equipment having an electrically operated vacuum pump and a pump control section/device. In this embodiment, the pressure sensor supports pump control without a dedicated bubble-detection pressure device, and the system uses pressure measurement to control suction operation. Additionally, an alternative embodiment is described that detects air bubbles based on flow-rate sensor fluctuations from the water seal chamber toward the vacuum source, with similar storage and output of correlations.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim family includes one independent claim (clm-00001) defining the core air-bubble determination based on measured pressure fluctuations between a vacuum source and a water seal chamber, plus dependent claims (clm-00002 through clm-00004) that refine how detection criteria and system outputs are implemented. The main inventive features in the independent claim are supported by the dependent claims by adding storage/output correlations and by specifying alternative vacuum source and detection criteria.
Pressure measurement between vacuum source and water seal chamber
A pressure measurement device configured to measure a pressure between a vacuum source and a water seal chamber, the vacuum source being configured to be connected to the air leak detection device.
Air-bubble detection based on pressure fluctuations
An air bubble detection device configured to detect an occurrence of air bubbles created in the water seal chamber based on pressure fluctuations measured by the pressure measurement device.
Negative-pressure reduction or sustained decrease detection criterion
The air bubble detection device is configured to determine that air bubbles have been created when a reduction of negative pressure within a predetermined period is greater than a fixed value, or when the negative pressure continues to decrease for a duration of time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
Thoracic cavity drainage via water seal chamber under negative pressure
The vacuum source is configured to generate the negative pressure and suck gas within a thoracic cavity of a patient via the water seal chamber in which liquid is received.
Device positioned between vacuum source and water seal chamber
The air leak detection device is configured to be provided between the vacuum source and the water seal chamber.
Vacuum source as electrically powered suction equipment with pressure-based pump control
The vacuum source being an electrically powered suction equipment including an electrically operated vacuum pump and a pump control device that controls the pump using pressure measured by the pressure measurement device.
Storage and correlation output of detection results with pressure-fluctuation magnitude over time
A storage device that stores an air-bubble detection result, the magnitude of the pressure fluctuations associated with bubble occurrence, and related time information, and an output control device that outputs a correlation between the stored detection result and stored pressure-fluctuation magnitude to a predetermined output device.
Alternative detection criteria using directional fluctuations and minimum negative-pressure relationship
The air bubble detection device determines that air bubbles are created based on pressure fluctuations within a fixed time period in which negative pressure fluctuates in a decreasing direction and an increasing direction, or based on the minimum negative pressure during the fluctuations being closer to atmospheric pressure than a specified set pressure.
Overall, the claims center on detecting air-bubble occurrence in a water seal chamber by evaluating pressure fluctuations measured between a vacuum source and the water seal chamber. The refinement features include electrically powered suction with pressure-based pump control, storing detection results with pressure-fluctuation magnitude and time information and outputting correlations, and alternative detection criteria using directional fluctuations and a relationship between minimum negative pressure and atmospheric/set pressure.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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