Nasal air jet insufflator

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for nasally delivering a supraglottic jet ventilation and methods of treating breathing disorders by utilizing the apparatus for nasally delivering a supraglottic jet ventilation.

1 . An apparatus for nasally delivering persistent supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV) to a subject, comprising:
 a. an elongated flexible tube having:
 i. an annular cylindrical wall defining at least one tube lumen extending substantially the entire length thereof, said cylindrical wall having external and internal surfaces and a proximal end adapted to be positioned away from the subject's vocal cords and a distal end adapted to be positioned above the subject's vocal cords to provide persistent supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV), 
 ii. a first catheter lumen extending lengthwise within said cylindrical wall between said external surface and said internal surface and along a dorsal region thereof, said first lumen having a first opening through the external surface of said cylindrical wall adjacent the proximal end thereof and a second opening through the internal surface of said cylindrical wall toward the distal end thereof, 
 iii. a second catheter lumen extending lengthwise within said cylindrical wall along a ventral region thereof, said second lumen having a first opening through the external surface of said cylindrical wall adjacent the proximal end thereof and a second opening through a distal face of said cylindrical wall between said internal and external surfaces at the distal end of said cylindrical wall, 
 iv. an adaptor for connecting the proximal end of the tube lumen to conventional mechanical ventilation; 
   b. a first catheter extending dorsally through said first catheter lumen, said first catheter having a proximal end extending outside of said cylindrical wall through said first opening of the first catheter lumen and having a distal end extending into said tube lumen through said second opening of the first catheter lumen; and   c. a second catheter ventrally through said second catheter lumen, said second catheter having a proximal end extending outside of said cylindrical wall through said first opening of the second catheter lumen and having a distal end extending through said second opening of the second catheter lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is adapted to accommodate a jet ventilator device or oxygen insufflation or to monitor CO 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second catheter is adapted to monitor CO 2  or to accommodate a jet ventilator device or oxygen insufflation. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is a jet catheter and an inner diameter of said jet catheter lumen is smaller than the cross-sectional area an inner diameter of said flexible tube lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is a jet catheter and wherein said jet catheter extends to a point adjacent the distal end of said flexible tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is a jet catheter and wherein said jet catheter lumen has an inner diameter of between about 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second catheter is a CO 2  monitoring catheter and wherein said CO 2  monitoring catheter lumen has an inner diameter of between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible tube lumen has an inner diameter of between 1 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a jet ventilation oxygenation and source for providing jet oxygenation and ventilation through said first catheter and/or second catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has a length of between 2 and 20 cm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the jet oxygenation and ventilation source is controlled for jet pulse frequency, pulse pressure, inspiratory/expiratory ratio (I/E) ratio, and the oxygen concentrations in the jet pulse. 
     
     
         14 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A system for ventilating a subject afflicted with a pathology resulting in compromised breathing, comprising:
 a. the apparatus of  claim 1  for nasally delivering   b. a jet ventilator device; and   c. a CO 2  monitoring device.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the jet ventilator is a device that generates jet pulses. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the jet ventilator is capable of being adjusted for jet pulse frequency, pulse pressure (driving pressure), inspiratory/expiratory ratio (I/E) and inspiratory oxygen concentrations. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the CO 2  monitoring device is capable of monitoring end-tidal CO 2 . 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a central control means. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the central control means comprises a sensor of breathing, a computer to integrate breathing signal and provide triggering signal for jet ventilator to synchronize the jet pulse from jet ventilator with spontaneous breathing of subject. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled)