Systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of electrochemical gas sensors exposed to nitric oxide
Inventors
Tolmie, Craig R. • Milsap, Jeff • Acker, Jaron M.
Assignees
Mallinckrodt Pharma IP Trading DAC • Therakos Inc • INO Therapeutics LLC • Mallinckrodt Critical Care Finance Inc
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Publication Number
US-9956364-B2
Publication Date
2018-05-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described are systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors atypical use in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide gas to a patient. In at least some instances, the long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors can be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can be used reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline. Systems and methods described may factor in actions occurring at the delivery system and/or aspects of the surrounding environment, prior to performing a baseline calibration, and may postpone the calibration and/or rejected using the sensor's output for the calibration.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to compensating for sensor drift in a nitric oxide delivery system that uses a catalytic electrochemical gas sensor. A baseline calibration value and a calibration schedule are stored in memory associated with the nitric oxide delivery system, and the method initiates a boot-up sequence and performs a baseline calibration after initiating the boot-up sequence.
After initiating the boot-up sequence, the method receives a checkout instruction from a user, where the checkout instruction is input by the user during the boot-up sequence. The checkout is run during and in parallel with the baseline calibration, and the checkout requires access to a gas monitor associated with the nitric oxide delivery system.
During the attempt to access the gas monitor during the checkout, the method verifies whether the baseline calibration has completed or has not completed. Delivery of a predetermined dosage of nitric oxide to a patient is performed through the nitric oxide delivery system while modifying the calibration schedule based upon a change in the predetermined dosage being delivered, and calibrations occur with greater frequency as the change in the predetermined dosage is larger.
When baseline calibration has not completed, the method notifies the user that delivery must be postponed until baseline calibration has completed, and, in some instances, prevents the checkout from running until the baseline calibration has completed.
Claims Coverage
The independently claimed methods share a common workflow: store a baseline calibration value and a calibration schedule, perform baseline calibration during boot-up, run a pre-use checkout in parallel that requires access to a gas monitor, and gate nitric oxide delivery based on whether baseline calibration has completed. The independent claims also include dosage-change-dependent calibration frequency and user-notification and/or checkout-prevention tied to baseline calibration completion status.
Boot-up initiated baseline calibration with stored calibration schedule
Storing, in memory associated with the nitric oxide delivery system, a baseline calibration value and a calibration schedule; initiating a boot-up sequence of the nitric oxide delivery system; and performing a baseline calibration after initiating the boot-up sequence.
Parallel user checkout requiring gas monitor access
Receiving a checkout instruction from a user during the boot-up sequence; and running the checkout during, and in parallel with, the baseline calibration, wherein the checkout requires access to a gas monitor associated with the nitric oxide delivery system.
Calibration completion verification for gating delivery
Verifying, during an attempt to access the gas monitor during the checkout, that the baseline calibration has completed or has not completed; and notifying the user that delivery of nitric oxide to the patient must be postponed until baseline calibration has been completed.
Dosage-change dependent calibration frequency
Modifying the calibration schedule based upon a change in the predetermined dosage of nitric oxide being delivered to the patient, wherein calibration occurs with greater frequency as the change in the predetermined dosage is larger.
Checkout prevention until baseline calibration completion
Preventing the checkout from running until the baseline calibration has completed.
The claim coverage centers on compensating sensor drift in a nitric oxide delivery system by combining boot-up baseline calibration, a parallel user checkout requiring a gas monitor, and completion checks that control delivery and checkout execution. The claims further recite calibration schedule changes tied to dosage changes and, in some instances, prevention of checkout until baseline calibration is complete.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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