Compensating for disruptions in breathing gas flow measurement
Inventors
Acker, Jaron M. • Tolmie, Craig R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12478757-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for delivery of therapeutic gas to patients, using techniques to compensate for disruptions in breathing gas flow measurement, such as when breathing gas flow measurement is unavailable or unreliable. Such techniques include using historical breathing gas flow rate data, such as moving average flow rates, moving median flow rates and/or flow waveforms. At least some of these techniques can be used to ensure that interruption in therapeutic gas delivery is minimized or eliminated.
Core Innovation
The invention is a nitric oxide (NO) gas delivery apparatus for use with a ventilator, including an injector module for providing combined breathing gas and NO to a patient in need thereof. The injector module includes a breathing gas flow inlet, a NO flow inlet, and a combined breathing gas and NO flow outlet operable to provide a combined flow to the patient. The apparatus further includes a breathing gas flow sensor configured to sense breathing gas flow rate and one or more NO flow sensors operable to measure the flow of NO.
A controller includes a memory operable to store a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates. The controller controls the breathing gas flow rate based on a first mode and detects a disruption of breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas flow sensor. Upon detection of the disruption in breathing gas flow rate data, the controller operates in a backup mode and controls a delivery flow rate of the NO based on the record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
In related aspects, a method controls NO flow in a first mode, receives sensed breathing gas flow rate data from a breathing gas sensor and measured NO flow rate data from one or more NO flow sensors, and stores a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates. The method detects a disruption of the sensed breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas sensor and controls the NO flow in a backup mode instead of the first mode based on the historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00011. Across these claims, the coverage centers on storing historical commanded or input controlled flow rates, detecting a disruption in breathing gas flow rate data from a breathing gas flow sensor, and switching to a backup mode where NO flow is controlled using the stored historical record.
Nitric oxide gas delivery apparatus with backup mode based on historical commanded or input controlled flow rates
A nitric oxide gas delivery apparatus for use with a ventilator including an injector module providing combined breathing gas and NO to a patient, breathing gas flow sensing and NO flow sensing, and a controller with memory storing a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates; the controller controls breathing gas flow rate in a first mode, detects a disruption of breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas flow sensor, and operates in a backup mode to control a delivery flow rate of the NO based on the record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
Method of delivering nitric oxide gas with backup mode based on historical commanded or input controlled flow rates
A method for delivery of nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient including controlling NO flow in a first mode, receiving sensed breathing gas flow rate of breathing gas flow via a breathing gas sensor, receiving measured flow rate of NO flow via one or more NO flow sensors, storing a record of historical commanded or input controlled flow rates in a memory, detecting a disruption of the sensed breathing gas flow rate data from the breathing gas sensor, and controlling NO flow in a backup mode instead of the first mode based on the historical commanded or input controlled flow rates.
The claim set provides apparatus and method coverage for NO delivery with a controller that detects disruption in breathing gas flow rate data and, in a backup mode, controls the NO delivery flow rate using stored historical commanded or input controlled flow-rate records. Dependent features further describe displaying historical values, returning to a first mode after disruption discontinuance, and specifying how disruption detection can be performed.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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