Intelligent gas source management
Inventors
Acker, Jaron M. • Tolmie, Craig R. • Roehl, Robin • Schmidt, Jeffrey • Milsap, Jeff
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12415049-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
Therapy gas delivery systems that provide run-time-to-empty information to a user of the system and methods for administering therapeutic gas to a patient. The therapeutic gas delivery system may include a gas pressure sensor attachable to a therapeutic gas source that communicates therapeutic gas pressure data to a therapeutic gas delivery system controller, a gas temperature sensor positioned to measure gas temperature in the therapeutic gas source that communicates therapeutic gas temperature data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, at least one flow controller that communicates therapeutic gas flow rate data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, at least one flow sensor that communicates flow rate data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, and at least one display that communicates run-time-to-empty to a user of the therapeutic gas delivery system. The therapeutic gas delivery system controller of the system includes a processor that executes an algorithm to calculate the run-time-to-empty from the data received from the gas pressure sensor, temperature sensor, flow controller and flow sensor, and directs the result to the display.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a therapeutic gas delivery system and a therapeutic gas source that incorporate gas source identifier information and structured performance verification. A therapeutic gas source includes a compressed gas cylinder of therapeutic gas and at least one gas source identifier attached to the compressed gas cylinder, and the gas source identifier contains gas source identifier information comprising at least one of gas source volume, therapeutic gas identity, therapeutic gas expiration date, and therapeutic gas concentration supplied by the therapeutic gas source.
The invention relates to an intelligent therapeutic gas delivery system that calculates and displays run-time-to-empty (RTE) for a therapeutic gas supply. The RTE is determined using controller inputs including measured gas pressure, gas temperature, and flow measurements from a flow controller and/or flow sensor, and the controller provides user-facing displays and status information tied to RTE.
The system manages multiple therapeutic gas sources by identifying a selected therapeutic gas source and performing backup operation, including a seamless or cut-over transition between sources. Safety and verification features include pre-use purge and pressure-leak checks, redundant delivery and confirmatory flow sensing with cross-verification, ratio-metric dose or concentration verification against a gas analyzing subsystem, gas routing to a gas analyzer subsystem to confirm NO concentration via gas sensor measurements, and failover to secondary delivery subsystems with safety alarms/status displays based on RTE and system faults.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims shown in the provided claim set include five inventive features focused on a therapeutic gas source with an attached gas source identifier, cylinder operating constraints, identifier-selected gas source types, and methods for administering therapeutic gas using cylinder connection/activation and gas source identifier information to open a gas source valve. The additional claim coverage also includes run-time-to-empty calculation and display, multiple therapeutic gas source management, and safety and verification functions.
Gas source identifier on a compressed gas cylinder
A compressed gas cylinder of therapeutic gas; and at least one gas source identifier attached to the compressed gas cylinder, wherein the gas source identifier contains gas source identifier information comprising at least one of gas source volume, therapeutic gas identity, therapeutic gas expiration date, and therapeutic gas concentration supplied by the therapeutic gas source.
Cylinder operating constraints for therapeutic gas delivery
The compressed gas cylinder comprises an initial gas pressure of 2000 psi to 5000 psi and a therapeutic gas concentration of 4000 ppm to 10000 ppm, and wherein the compressed gas cylinder weighs less than 10 pounds, or less than 15 pounds for the alternative independent source claim.
Gas identifier selected from RFID, QR code, and bar code
The gas source identifier is selected from the group consisting of RFID, a QR code, a bar code, or combinations thereof.
Run-time-to-empty calculation and display
Calculates and displays run-time-to-empty (RTE) for a therapeutic gas supply using controller inputs including measured gas pressure, gas temperature, and flow measurements from a flow controller and/or flow sensor.
Multiple therapeutic gas source management
Identifies a selected therapeutic gas source and performs backup operation, including a seamless or cut-over transition between sources.
Safety and verification functions
Includes pre-use purge and pressure-leak checks, redundant delivery and confirmatory flow sensing with cross-verification, ratio-metric dose or concentration verification against a gas analyzing subsystem, and failover to secondary delivery subsystems with safety alarms/status displays based on RTE and system faults.
Administer therapeutic gas by connecting and activating a cylinder
Connecting a compressed gas cylinder to a gas delivery system, wherein the compressed gas cylinder comprises an initial gas pressure of 2000 psi to 5000 psi and an NO concentration of 4000 ppm to 10000 ppm, wherein the compressed gas cylinder weighs less than 15 pounds; and activating the compressed gas cylinder.
Identifier-driven valve opening for administering therapeutic gas
Obtaining identifying information from a gas source identifier affixed to a compressed gas cylinder with an initial gas pressure of 2000 psi to 5000 psi having an NO concentration of 4000 ppm to 10000 ppm, wherein the compressed gas cylinder weighs less than 15 pounds, and wherein the compressed gas cylinder comprises a gas source valve; communicating a signal to the gas source valve to transition to an open state.
The inventive features center on a therapeutic gas source that couples a compressed gas cylinder with an attached gas source identifier containing gas metadata and specified cylinder pressure, concentration, and weight constraints, along with intelligent therapeutic gas delivery using run-time-to-empty calculation and display, source management, and safety and verification functions.
Stated Advantages
Provides run-time-to-empty (RTE) calculation and display based on controller inputs including pressure, temperature, and flow measurements.
Enables management of multiple therapeutic gas sources with backup operation and seamless cut-over between sources.
Provides safety/verification via pre-use purge and pressure-leak checks.
Provides redundant flow sensing with cross-verification between delivery flow and confirmatory flow sensors.
Provides ratio-metric dose or concentration verification using a gas analyzing subsystem.
Provides failover to secondary delivery subsystems and safety alarms/status displays tied to RTE and system faults.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic gas delivery, including intelligent delivery of inhaled nitric oxide using a therapeutic gas delivery system that calculates and displays run-time-to-empty (RTE).
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