Mechanical respirator
In alternative embodiments, provided are mechanical ventilators and methods for making and using them.
1 . A mechanical ventilator, comprising:
a fluid flow controller disposed to receive a mixed gas along at least a first line, the mixed gas including oxygen from an oxygen source and compressed air from a compressed air source/generator operably connected to the fluid flow controller, the fluid flow controller having a fluid flow controller output line operably connected to a patient line, the fluid flow controller being driven by an on-off valve to deliver the mixed gas to the patient line at appropriate intervals where a tidal volume (TV), inspiratory time, and/or peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) arise from fluid forced to a patient as dictated by the fluid flow controller;
a controller for the on-off valve;
a second line disposed to receive the mixed gas, the second line being configured to create a continuous, constantly flowing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for delivering the mixed gas along a PEEP output line to the patient line;
a junction combining the fluid flow controller output line and the PEEP output line, the patient line being operatively connected to and downstream of the junction; and
a uni-directional valve disposed within or upstream of the patient line and downstream of the fluid flow controller output line.
2 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow controller comprises a bag-valve-mask (BVM), the on/off valve, and a pneumatic actuator;
wherein the first line is operably connected to the BVM and is provided by a first compressed fluid output line for connecting to the compressed air source;
wherein a first oxygen output line for connecting to the oxygen source is operably connected to the BVM; and
wherein the on/off valve is disposed within the first compressed fluid output line.
3 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the second line is operatively connected to a second compressed fluid output line and to a second oxygen output line;
wherein the mechanical ventilator further comprises a pressure control valve and a manometer disposed within each of the second compressed fluid output line and the second oxygen output line for controlling PEEP flow of the mixed gas along the PEEP output line.
4 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the on/off valve is configured to control one or more of inspiration time or breath rate to the patient line; and
wherein the on/off valve is further configured to create a rhythmic flow of the mixed gas to the patient line.
5 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the on/off valve is triggered by a pressure sensor disposed in the patient line.
6 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure-release valve disposed within the patient line.
7 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the ventilator to deliver a selected tidal volume (TV) at one or more inspiratory rates.
8 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is incorporated within a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA); and
wherein the fluid flow controller and the controller are contained within a housing.
9 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 8 ,
wherein the ventilator further comprises an expiratory line disposed downstream of the uni-directional valve and having an output leading to environment;
wherein the uni-directional valve comprises a three-way check valve that is operably connected to the fluid flow controller output line, the patient line, and the expiratory line; and
wherein the housing includes ports for operatively connecting to the compressed air source, the oxygen source, and the three-way valve.
10 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor disposed along one or more of the patient line, the first line, and the second line, the pressure sensor(s) being coupled to the controller; and
an audible and/or visible alarm coupled to the controller for indicating an alarm condition based on values from the pressure sensor(s).
11 . The mechanical ventilator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display coupled to the controller for indicating a status of the mechanical ventilator.
12 . A method for operating a mechanical ventilator, the mechanical ventilator including a fluid flow controller disposed to receive a mixed gas along at least a first line, the mixed gas including oxygen from an oxygen source and compressed air from a compressed air source operably connected to the fluid flow controller, the fluid flow controller having a fluid flow controller output line operably connected to a patient line, the fluid flow controller being controlled by a pneumatic actuator powered by an on/off valve to deliver the mixed gas to the patient line at a tidal volume (TV), inspiratory time, and/or peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) provided by the fluid flow controller, a controller for controlling the on/off valve, a second line disposed to receive the mixed gas, the second line being configured to create a continuous positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for delivering the mixed gas along a PEEP output line to the patient line, a junction combining the fluid flow controller output line and the PEEP output line, the patient line being operatively connected to and downstream of the junction, and a three-way valve disposed within or upstream of the patient line and downstream of the fluid flow controller output line, the method comprising:
receiving an inspiratory time, a patient pressure, and a respiratory rate;
providing a model that relates the inspiratory time, the patient pressure, a system pressure, and a patient flow pressure to a tidal volume;
determining one or more ventilator parameters to achieve delivery of desired breaths to a patient along the patient line using the model; and
controlling operation of the mechanical ventilator based on the determined ventilator parameters.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the model is trained using a machine learning algorithm.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling operation occurs according to one or more of a plurality of selectable modes;
wherein the selectable modes comprises one or more of:
Continuous Machine Ventilation (CMV);
Intermediate Machine Ventilation (IMV);
Spontaneous Continuous Respiration (SCR); or
High Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT).