Modular ventilation system

Inventors

Ahmad, Samir S. • Brambilla, Enrico • Nikkhah, Ali • Mastrovich, Lawrence A. • Berman, Gary • VAHIDI, MASOUD

Assignees

Breathe Technologies Inc

Abstract

Modular ventilatory support systems and methods are disclosed in which a user may transition the system between a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration. The modular components of the system include a compressor unit, a ventilator which may dock with the compressor unit, and a patient interface which may be connected to either the compressor unit or the ventilator unit. By rearranging these modular components into different configurations, mobility and duration of use may be optimized to fit the present needs. In the stationary configuration, mobility is most restricted, but duration of use is maximized. In the extended range configuration, mobility is enhanced, with duration of use limited by the battery power of the ventilator. In the stand-alone configuration, mobility is maximized, with duration of use limited by battery power of the ventilator and the quantity of an external gas supply.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a modular ventilatory support apparatus transitionable between a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration. The apparatus includes a compressor unit comprising a compressor for providing compressed gas, a ventilator dock with a ventilator dock compressed gas output port and a ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port, a compressor unit ventilation gas output port, and a compressor unit compressed gas output port. A ventilator is configured for removable docking at the ventilator dock and comprises a ventilator ventilation gas output port and a ventilator compressed gas inlet port.

The apparatus includes a patient interface for receiving ventilation gas and delivering ventilation gas to a patient. The patient interface has a patient interface gas inlet port transitionable between placement in fluid communication with the compressor unit ventilation gas output port and placement in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port. When transitioned to the stationary configuration, the ventilator is docked at the ventilator dock so the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the ventilator dock compressed gas output port, the ventilator ventilation gas output port is in fluid communication with the ventilator dock ventilation gas inlet port, and the patient interface gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the compressor ventilation gas output port.

In the stationary configuration, compressed gas is provided by the compressor unit to the ventilator and ventilation gas is returned to the compressor unit for subsequent output from the compressor unit to the patient interface. When transitioned to the extended range configuration, the ventilator is not docked at the ventilator dock so the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the compressor unit compressed gas output port and the patient interface gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the ventilator ventilation gas output port, such that ventilation gas is provided by the ventilator to the patient interface without being returned to the compressor unit. When transitioned to the stand-alone configuration, the ventilator is not docked and the ventilator compressed gas inlet port is placed in fluid communication with an external compressed gas source, such that compressed gas is provided by the external compressed gas source to the ventilator and ventilation gas is provided by the ventilator to the patient interface without passing through the compressor unit.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes independent claims directed to three configurations, two configurations, and a method for transitioning such an apparatus. Across these independent claims, the core inventive concept is the docking-based reconfiguration of fluid communication paths among the compressor unit, ventilator, and patient interface, and in stand-alone use the external compressed gas source.

Across the independent claims, the main inventive concept is the transitionable, docking-based fluid communication among the compressor unit, ventilator, and patient interface, with stationary operation returning ventilation gas to the compressor unit, extended-range operation providing ventilation gas without return, and stand-alone operation providing compressed gas from an external compressed gas source without passing ventilation gas through the compressor unit.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications