Therapeutic gas delivery device with pulsed and continuous flow control
Inventors
Acker, Jaron • Kohlmann, Thomas • Tolmie, Craig R.
Assignees
Mallinckrodt Pharma IP Trading DAC • Therakos Inc • INO Therapeutics LLC • Mallinckrodt Critical Care Finance Inc
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Publication Number
US-10342948-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described are methods and devices for therapeutic or medical gas delivery that utilize at least one proportional control valve and at least one binary control valve. The proportional control valve may be in series with the binary control valve to provide a valve combination capable of pulsing therapeutic gas at different flow rates, depending on the setting of the proportional control valve. Alternatively, the proportional control valve and binary control valve may be in parallel flow paths.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a therapeutic gas delivery device that includes an inlet connectable to a source of therapeutic gas and an outlet connectable to a device that introduces the therapeutic gas to a patient. The device includes at least one binary control valve in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, where the binary control valve delivers a constant flow rate of the therapeutic gas when upstream pressure is constant. The device further includes at least one variable pressure regulator in fluid communication with the binary control valve, where the variable pressure regulator comprises a proportional control valve.
The device also includes a control system that delivers the therapeutic gas through the binary control valve, where the control system is in communication with the proportional control valve and varies an opening size of the proportional control valve. During patient inspiration, the proportional control valve and the binary control valve are simultaneously open such that the proportional control valve controls the flow rate of the therapeutic gas through the binary control valve. The control system is adapted to deliver the therapeutic gas to a patient in an amount proportional to a flow of breathing gas.
The disclosed approach is applied to therapeutic gas administration by receiving a flow of therapeutic gas to a therapeutic gas delivery device having a binary control valve and a variable pressure regulator with a proportional control valve. The method measures a flow of breathing gas and delivers therapeutic gas during inspiration through the binary control valve in an amount proportional to the flow of breathing gas. The proportional control valve and binary control valve are simultaneously open during patient inspiration so the proportional control valve controls the flow rate through the binary control valve, and a control system varies an opening size of the proportional control valve.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims (a device claim and a method claim). Across these claims, there are two core inventive themes: proportional control of therapeutic gas flow through a binary constant-flow valve during inspiration, and administering therapeutic gas in an amount proportional to measured breathing gas flow.
Proportional control valve simultaneously open with binary control valve during inspiration
The proportional control valve and binary control valve are simultaneously open during patient inspiration such that the proportional control valve controls the flow rate of the therapeutic gas through the binary control valve.
Proportional dosage proportional to flow of breathing gas
The control system is adapted to deliver the therapeutic gas to a patient in an amount proportional to a flow of breathing gas.
Variable pressure regulator comprises proportional control valve
At least one variable pressure regulator in fluid communication with the binary control valve controls the pressure upstream of the binary control valve, wherein the variable pressure regulator comprises a proportional control valve.
Control system varies opening size of proportional control valve
A control system that delivers the therapeutic gas through the binary control valve, wherein the control system is in communication with the proportional control valve and varies an opening size of the proportional control valve.
Deliver during inspiration through binary control valve in amount proportional to measured breathing gas flow
Delivering therapeutic gas to the patient during inspiration through the binary control valve in an amount proportional to the flow of breathing gas, wherein the proportional control valve and binary control valve are simultaneously open during patient inspiration such that the proportional control valve controls the flow rate of the therapeutic gas through the binary control valve.
Measure flow of breathing gas to set proportional delivery
Measuring a flow of breathing gas.
The independent claims require a therapeutic gas delivery arrangement in which a proportional control valve in a variable pressure regulator is used to control the flow through a binary constant-flow valve while both valves are simultaneously open during patient inspiration. The delivered therapeutic gas amount is proportional to a measured flow of breathing gas, with the control system varying the proportional control valve opening size.
Stated Advantages
Therapeutic gas is delivered in an amount proportional to a flow of breathing gas.
Proportional control of therapeutic gas flow is achieved through simultaneously opening a proportional control valve and a binary control valve during patient inspiration.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic gas delivery to a patient during inspiration using delivery interfaces such as a ventilator, a nasal cannula, an endotracheal tube, or a face mask.
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