MXPA06003518A - Device and method of partially separating gas - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention includes a partial gas separator, which may include a housing and a movable divider in the housing. A method according tothe invention may provide a partial gas separator and gas may be moved to or from the housing. While moving gas to or from the housing, the movable divider may be allowed to move with the flow of gas.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD TO SEPARATE PARTIALLY GAS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the priority benefit of the provisional US patent application. UU serial number 60 / 507,902, filed on September 30, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices and methods for ventilating a patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The breathing circuits make it possible to reduce the amount of fresh gas delivered to the lungs of a patient without increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. The reduction of fresh gas flow, in turn, retains therapeutic inhalation agents. An example of this is using a breathing circuit to deliver volatile anesthesia. Other potential uses of breathing circuits include: efficient delivery of pulmonary oxide, administration of turbulent airflow resistance in long airways, and reduction of fresh gas flow as a means to limit the evaporation of liquid perfluorocarbon from the lungs during partial ventilation of liquid. The breathing circuits can also be used to improve the supply of therapeutic aerosol agents. The breathing circuits are designed primarily to support anesthetic administration. In anesthesia applications, the gas in the breathing circuit is maintained separately from the gas used to mechanically pressurize the respiratory circuit and thereby move the lungs. If this separation were incomplete or only partial, mixing the gas flows could dilute the anesthetic that is being administered, which would result in the patient waking up during surgery. The prior art includes the US patent. UU No. 4,989,597, which discloses a means for directly interacting a ventilator with an anesthetic breathing circuit comprising a long tube with fins having a narrow diameter, although a large total volume. Such a device allows the mixing of the ventilator and the breathing gas flows. Under conditions of constant tidal volume, such a device causes a constant fractional mixture of gas columns. The appropriate concentration of anesthesia in the ventilator is maintained by the supply of an excess of anesthetic to the ventilator as compensation for the losses due to mixing with the ventilator's gas column. In that system, there is no divisor between the separate gas columns. Instead of that there is an "open separation" of gases resulting from the long mixing tube, which may contain two to three liters of gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a gas separator. The gas separator may include (a) a housing, having an inner surface, a first hole in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second hole in pneumatic communication with a gas supply; (b) a mobile divider in the housing, the movable divider having a first side, a second side and an edge between the first and second side, the edge being positioned proximate the inner surface of the housing to limit, but not prevent, the movement of gas from one side to the other side, and (c) a guide in the housing, the guide being associated with the movable divider to allow the movable divider to move towards the first hole during inhalation and toward the second orifice during the exhalation, and being associated with a movable divider to hold the edge close to the inner surface of the housing. A method according to the invention can provide a partial gas separator as described in the preceding paragraph above. The gas can be moved from the housing. While moving the housing gas, the movable divider may be allowed to move toward the first hole, and a limited amount of gas may be allowed to move from the second side to the first side. For non-anesthetic breathing applications, some mixture of gas flows could be inconsistent. Although the invention is not limited to devices and methods that partially separate a mechanical ventilator or source of fresh gas from a breathing circuit, the invention is illustrated from time to time by the description of such a device and / or method. The invention can be used to provide an interface, which partially separates a mechanical ventilator or source of fresh gas from a breathing circuit. The invention can be used to facilitate the administration of therapeutic inhalation agents. In this implementation of the invention, both gas flows (that of the ventilator or the supplemental source of gas, and that of the breathing circuit) can move in the same direction during aspiration, this being towards the patient. During the expiration, both gas flows can move in the same direction, this being towards the ventilator or the supplemental source of gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the subsequent description. Briefly, the drawings are: Figure 1, which is a plan view demonstrating the characteristics of a separator according to the invention; Figure 2, which is a side perspective view of a separator according to the invention with part of the housing removed to reveal the stationary splitter, the movable splitter and two shock absorbers; Figure 3, which is a plan view demonstrating a separator according to the invention connected to a fan and a circular circuit; Figure 4, which is an exploded perspective view of a separator according to the invention; Figure 5, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention; Figure 6, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention; Figure 7, which is a side perspective view of a disk having a sleeve; Figure 8, which is a side perspective view of a disk having struts; Figure 9, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention used in conjunction with a fan; Figure 10, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention used in conjunction with a source of fresh gas; Figure 11, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention used in conjunction with a metered dose inhaler; Figure 12, which is a diagram of a separator according to the invention used in conjunction with a metered dose inhaler; Figure 13, which shows the steps of a method according to the invention; and Figure 14, showing the steps of a method according to the invention.

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figures 1 to 4 show a modality of the Nvention In figures 1 to 4 a gas separator 10 is shown having a housing 13, a movable divider 16 arranged in the housing 13, and a guide 19 disposed in the housing 13. The housing 13 can have an interior surface 22, a first hole 25 in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second hole 28 in pneumatic communication with a gas supply. The movable divider 16 can have a first side 31, a second side 34 and an edge 37 between the first and second side 31, 34. The edge 37 can be positioned close to the inner surface 22 of the housing 1 0 to limit, but not preventing, the gas movement of the first side 31 to the second side 34, or of the second side 34 to the first side 31. As such, the movable divider 16 may be sized relative to the inner surface 22 to allow the movable divider 16 to move back and forth within the housing 10, but also to allow some small amounts of gas to move around the mobile divider 16. The guide 19 may be associated with the movable divider 16 to allow the movable divider 16 to move toward the first hole 25 during inhalation and toward the second orifice 28 during exhalation. The guide 1 9 may be associated with the movable divider 16 to maintain the edge 37 proximate the inner surface 22 of the housing 13. For example, the guide 19 may extend through the mobile divider 16. In one embodiment of the invention, the guide 19 can be a rigid post which is associated by a hinge with mobile divider 1 6 such that mobile divider 16 is allowed to rotate around the post, or the post can rotate within a set of contacts in housing 13. , or both. The invention may include a stationary splitter 43 extending from the inner surface 22 and positioned between the first hole 25 and the second hole 28. In such an arrangement, the guide 19 may be a post that is associated by a hinge with the movable divider 16 and the stationary divider 43 such that the mobile divider 16 rotates about one end of the stationary divider 43. In one embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the mobile divider 16 can be made of mylar. It is believed that this material can be modeled in a mobile divider 16 which provides an appropriate combination of stiffness and mass to allow proper movement of a mobile divider of appropriate size 16. Such a mobile divider 16 will have a low inertia to allow the mobile divider 16 react quickly to changes in the direction of gas flow through the housing. For example, for a housing 1 3 having an inner surface with a radius of 50 millimeters and a volume of 375 millimeters, a mobile divider of appropriate size 16 can be 48 millimeters by 49 millimeters, and 0.3 millimeters thick. In that arrangement, a gap of approximately one millimeter will exist between the edge 37 and the inner surface 22. If the housing 13 has a height of 50 millimeters, a one millimeter gap will exist between the upper surface of the housing 13 and the mobile divider 16 , as well as a one millimeter gap between the bottom surface of the housing 13 and the mobile divider 16. In total, an area of approximately 150 square millimeters will exist between the housing 13 and the mobile divider 16, which is larger than the transverse area of an adult endotracheal tube. With these features, it is believed that the separator 10 can be used to accommodate a 40-kilogram patient's ventilation. These characteristics are merely illustrative of how the invention can be configured. The invention may include one or more shock absorbers 46 in the housing 1 3. Figures 1 to 3 show a first shock absorber 46A, which may be positioned to limit further movement of the mobile splitter 16 towards the first hole 25. When the mobile splitter 16 is against the damper 46A, the slit between the mobile divider 16 and the housing 13 will allow the gas from the second orifice 28 to pass between the edge 37 and the housing 13 before reaching the first orifice 25. In this way, the gas of the second orifice 28 is not prevented from moving from the second hole 28 to the first hole 25. Figures 1 to 3 also show a second damper 46B, which can be positioned to limit the movement of a moving splitter 16 towards the second hole 28. This would force the gas from the first orifice 25 to pass between the edge 37 and the housing 13 before reaching the second orifice 28. In this manner, the gas from the first orifice 25 is not p tempered from moving from the first hole 25 to the second hole 28 when the mobile divider 16 is in contact with the damper 46B. The mobile divider 16 can contact a shock absorber 46B if there are air leaks from a patient's side of a gas circuit that is in pneumatic communication with the first orifice 25. The movable divider 16 can also be in contact with a shock absorber 46 if gas Fresh flows to the patient's side to maintain the oxygen concentration of the breathing circuit, or to deliver a therapeutic agent. Another reason why the mobile divider 16 can contact the shock absorber 46 is if there are differences between the inhaled volume and the exhaled volume in a complete breathing cycle. The inner surface 22 of the housing 1 3 can be at least partially arched. For example, the inner surface 22 may be cylindrical. As an example of the invention, if the inner surface 22 is a circular right cylinder, the movable divider 16 can be made rectangular and allowed to rotate about a post positioned along the central axis of the cylinder. In this manner, the edge 37 of the movable divider 16 will remain at the same distance from the inner surface 22, regardless of the position of the mobile divider 16. Other types of cylinders may be used, and the inner surface 22 need not be cylindrical . The housing 1 3 may have an interior surface 22 that provides an oval cross section, and thus provides a spacer 10 in which the distance between the edge 37 and the interior surface 22 varies with the position of the mobile divider 16. Figure 4 shows that the housing 13 can have a removable portion 49. A seal 52 can be provided to ensure an appropriate seal between the removable portion 49 and the rest of the housing 13. By providing a removable portion 49, a separator 10 according to the invention can be easily assembled, allowing the replacement of worn parts, and allowing the separator 10 to be cleaned more easily. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the movable divider 16 is spherical, and instead of having an edge 37, it is more appropriate to refer to the spherical movable divider 16 as having an arcuate surface 55 close to the inner surface 22. The separator 10 shown in Figure 5 shows an arrangement in which the inner surface 22 is dimensioned in relation to the movable divider 16 such that the movable divider 16 is allowed to move towards the first hole 25 during inhalation and towards the second orifice 28 during the exhalation. Since the mobile divider 16 is spherical, there may not be a need for the guide 19, and also in Figure 5 a guide 19 is also not shown. However, it should be noted that a guide 19 may be provided to extend through a hole of a spherical movable divider 16 if desired. Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the housing 13 is tubular and the surface of the movable divider 16 which is close to the inner surface 22 is an arched edge 37. The movable divider 16 is shown as a disk. The disk may include a hole 58 through which the guide 19 may extend. In Figure 6, the guide 19 is in the shape of a wire. Figure 7 shows a disc having one or more sleeves 61 to keep the disc oriented substantially perpendicular to the guide 19. For similar results, the disc may include one or more struts 64 connected to the disc and extending toward the guide 19. See Figure 8 It will be recognized that an arrangement like that shown in Figure 6 does not require the use of a tubular housing 13 - in fact the housing 13 can have any number of shapes and the movable divider 16 can have a corresponding similar edge 37. The housing 13 it may include one or more deflection lines 67. A deflection line 67 may have a first end 70 and a second end 73, the ends of the deflection line 67 being connected to the housing 13 so that when the edge 37 of the mobile divider 16 is between the first and second end 70, 73, gas is allowed to pass through a deflection line 67. In this way, when a mobile divider 16 reaches one of the dampers 46, pass through the mobile divider 16 via the bypass line 67. A check valve 76 may be provided on the bypass line 67 to ensure that the flow through the bypass line 67 is unidirectional. The deflection line 67 may be provided to allow the inhaled (or exhaled) excess of gas to pass through the mobile divider 16, mixing with the other gas flow, but only when the mobile divider 16 abuts a damper 46. In another arrangement , the ends 70, 73 of the deflection line 67 can be connected to the housing 13 in such a way that when the edge 37 of the mobile divider 16 is aligned with one of the ends 70, 73 of the diversion line 67, it is allowed to pass. gas through the deflection line 67. In this manner, the use of a deflection line 67 may begin even though the edge 37 is not between the ends 70, 73 of the deflection line 67. The invention may be employed in various contexts. For example, the invention can serve to interact between a mechanical ventilator and a breathing circuit. The breathing circuit may include a CO2 scrubber. See figure 9. Another way of using the invention can be as an interface between a source of fresh gas and a breathing circuit which includes a CO2 scavenger, during spontaneous respiration. See FIG. 1 0. A broader manner of employing the invention may be as an interface between a source of fresh gas to a patient during spontaneous respiration and a spacer for purposes of brief administration of a metered dose inhaler treatment. See figure 1 1. Another way in which the separator can be employed is to interact between a source of fresh gas and a metered dose inhaler. See figure 12. The invention can be personified as a partial gas separation method. Figure 13 shows the stages of such a method. In such a method a housing 100 can be provided, which has an inner surface, a first hole in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second hole in pneumatic communication with a gas source. A mobile divider, such as that described above, may be provided 103 in the housing. The gas may be caused to move from the housing via the first hole. While the gas moves from the housing, the movable divider can be allowed 1 09 to pass into the first hole and a little gas can be allowed to move from the second side of the movable divider to the first side of the movable divider. Such an operation can be performed during inhalation by a patient. In addition, such an operation can be performed while the gas is caused to move within the housing via the second orifice. The method can also be performed in reverse to allow exhalation by the patient. Figure 14 shows such a process. For example, the gas may be caused to move within the housing via the first hole. While the gas is moving within the housing, the movable divider may be allowed to travel to the second orifice, and little gas may be allowed 121 to move from the first side of the mobile divider to the second side of the mobile divider. In addition, such an operation can be carried out while the gas is caused to move within the housing via the second orifice.

The housing may be capable of having within it a volume of gas that exceeds the volume of gas in one breath of a patient by several bends. For example, a volume of 0.5 liters can accommodate most children between the ages of birth and 10 years. Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is only estimated by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.

Claims (26)

1. CLAIMS 1. A gas separator, comprising: a housing, having an inner surface, a first hole in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second orifice in pneumatic communication with a gas supply; a mobile divider in the housing, the mobile divider having a first side, a second side and an edge between the first and second sides, the edge being positioned proximate the inner surface of the housing to limit, but not prevent, the movement of gas from one side to the other side; a guide in the housing, the guide being associated with the movable divider in such a way as to allow the movable divider to move towards the first hole during inhalation and towards the second orifice during exhalation, and being associated with the movable divider to maintain the edge next to the inner surface of the housing.
2. 2. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a stationary splitter extending from the inner surface and located between the first hole and the second hole. The spacer of claim 2, wherein the guide is a post which is associated by a hinge with the movable splitter and the stationary splitter. 4. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the guide is a post which is associated by a hinge with the movable divider. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a damper in the housing, the damper being positioned to limit the movement of the divider and require gas from the first orifice to pass between the rim and the housing before reaching the second orifice. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a damper in the housing, the damper being positioned to limit the movement of the divider and require gas from the second orifice to pass between the rim and the housing before reaching the first hole. The spacer of claim 1, wherein at least part of the interior surface is arcuate. The spacer of claim 7, wherein the inner surface is cylindrical. The separator of claim 7, wherein the mobile divider is rectangular. The separator of claim 7, wherein the mobile divider is spherical. eleven . The spacer of claim 7, wherein the mobile divider is a disc. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the disc includes an orifice and the guide is a wire which extends through the hole. 13. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve connected to the disc and surrounding the guide. 14. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising struts connected to the disc and extending toward the guide. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a deflection line with a first end and a second end, the ends of the deflection line being connected to the housing in such a way that when the edge of the movable divider is between the first and Second, the gas is allowed to pass through the deflection line. 16. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a check valve in the deflection line. The spacer of claim 1, further comprising a deflection line with a first end and a second end, the ends of the deflection line being connected to the housing in such a way that when the edge of the movable divider is aligned with one of At the ends of the deviation line, gas is allowed to pass through the deviation line. 18. The spacer of claim 17, further comprising a check valve in the deflection line. 9. A gas separator, comprising: a housing, having an inner surface, a first hole in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second hole in pneumatic communication with a gas supply; a mobile divider in the housing, the movable divider having a surface positioned close to the inner surface of the housing to limit, but not prevent, the movement of gas beyond the movable divider, and the movable divider is dimensioned relative to the inner surface in such a way as to allow the mobile divider moving towards the first hole during inhalation and towards the second orifice during exhalation. The separator of claim 19, wherein the mobile divider is spherical. twenty-one . The spacer of claim 19, further comprises a damper in the housing, the damper being positioned to limit the movement of the divider and require gas from the first orifice to pass between the rim and the housing before reaching the second orifice. 22. The spacer of claim 19, further comprising a damper in the housing, the damper being positioned to limit the movement of the divider and require gas from the second orifice to pass between the rim and the housing before reaching the first orifice. 23. A method of partial gas separation, comprising: providing a housing, having an inner surface, a first hole in pneumatic communication with a patient, and a second hole in pneumatic communication with a gas supply; providing a movable divider in the housing, the movable divider having a first side, a second side and an edge between the first and second side, the edge being positioned proximate the inner surface of the housing to limit, but not prevent, movement of gas from one side to the other side; moving the gas from the housing, and allowing the moving divider to pass into the first hole, and allowing some gas to move from the second side to the first side. The method of claim 23, further comprising gas moving within the housing, and allowing the movable splitter to pass into the second hole, and allowing some gas to move from the first side to the second side. 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a therapeutic agent in pneumatic communication with the patient. 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the first orifice is in pneumatic communication with a supply of fresh gas.