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Publication Number
US-12650704-B1
Publication Date
2026-06-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
An adaptive gas mixture controller system. A pulse oximeter interface receives pulse oximeter data. A gas blender interface communicates with a separate externally connected gas blender. A processor receives pulse oximeter data via the pulse oximeter interface and outputs data to the gas blender interface for adaptive feedback control of the gas mixture based upon the SpO2 level signals from the pulse oximeter interface. When the processor receives data from the gas blender indicating that the gas mixture has been manually changed, enters a manual override mode and halts sending adaptive feedback control signals to the gas blender. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
Core Innovation
The disclosed system delivers a breathing gas mixture to a patient by blending oxygen and compressed air, humidifying the mixture, heating it upstream of a nasal cannula, and delivering it through the cannula. A controller receives pulse-oximeter signals, compares the patient's blood oxygen level with a target blood oxygen level, determines an adjustment to the oxygen input, actuates a valve, and receives new signals indicating a new blood oxygen level.
The controller determines a current humidification level based on the breathing gas mixture's flow rate and the humidifier's water consumption rate. The disclosed system also includes adaptive control, with a PID controller and optional conversion between SpO2 and PaO2; manual override halts adaptive control when a manual mixture change or specified alarm occurs. The background section is not included in the provided partial content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The relevant claims identify one independent claim, claim 1. Its main inventive features are summarized in three areas: conditioned breathing-gas delivery, humidification-level determination, and pulse-oximeter-based oxygen-input control.
Blending and conditioned delivery of breathing gas
A blender forms the breathing gas mixture from oxygen flow and air flow. A humidifier humidifies the mixture, a heated wire heats it upstream of the nasal cannula, and the nasal cannula delivers the humidified mixture to the patient.
Determining the current humidification level
The controller determines a current humidification level based on the third flow rate and the water consumption rate of the humidifier.
Pulse-oximeter-based oxygen-input adjustment
The controller compares pulse-oximeter signals indicative of the patient's first blood oxygen level to a target blood oxygen level, determines an adjustment to the first input, actuates the valve based on that adjustment, and receives new signals indicative of a new blood oxygen level.
Claim 1 combines oxygen-and-air blending and conditioned nasal-cannula delivery with humidification-level determination and feedback control of the oxygen input using pulse-oximeter signals and a target blood oxygen level.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Delivery of a breathing gas mixture to a patient through a nasal cannula.
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