Portable light-weight ventilator system

Abstract

A ventilator system for providing respiratory support in cases of acute respiratory failure or severe trauma is described. The ventilator system comprises a ventilator and a tubing system. The system is characterized in that the ventilator comprises a continuous bleed valve configured to be open to air flow from the blower at all times when the blower is operating during both inspiration and expiration; thereby providing a minimal amount of pressure within a patient's lungs at the end of each exhalation—positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). In an embodiment of the invention the system comprises a manifold block configured to hold the main operating elements of ventilator.

1 . A positive pressure ventilator system for providing respiratory support to a patient, the ventilator system comprised of: (a) a ventilator comprising a source of pressurized air, a manifold block, and a continuous bleed aperture; and (b) a tubing system connected to the ventilator and to the patient;
 the ventilator system characterized in that, at all times while the source of pressurized air is operating to provide pressurized air to the ventilator, the ventilator provides a continuous flow of air via the continuous bleed aperture to the tubing system.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold block holds the main operating components of the ventilator, the manifold block comprising: within its interior, a main inspiratory valve, the continuous bleed aperture, and at least most of the tubes and wires needed for fluidly connecting and operating the main operating components of the ventilator and an inspiratory valve controller and, attached to its exterior surfaces, an exhalation valve controller. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , comprising a flow meter assembly, which is located at one of the following locations in the system: within the ventilator housing between the source of pressurized air and the manifold block; within the ventilator housing between the manifold block and the tubing system; and on the tubing system. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator system of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing system includes an inhalation tube and an exhalation tube, which in a one limb ventilator are the same tube; and, in the case of two limb ventilator, a junction/connector connecting inhalation tube to exhalation tube and leading to the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator system of  claim 4 , wherein the exhalation tube comprises an exhalation valve. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , comprising a PEEP valve located at one of the following places in the system: downstream from the exhalation valve, upstream from the exhalation valve; and in a combined assembly with the exhalation valve. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilator comprises at least one of: an oxygenator; an anti-asphyxia valve; a safety valve; a bypass solenoid that rapidly decreases the pressure to the patient; a solenoid disconnecting the PEEP valve in case there is continuous high pressure in the source of pressurized air; and a solenoid connected to a nebulizer system. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator system of  claim 2 , wherein the ventilator comprises a processor. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilator system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to provide for operation of the inspiratory valve controller, the exhalation valve controller and combinations thereof based on input from a user and/or an algorithm or multiple algorithms and is also configured to set levels of oxygen enrichment, tidal volume, number of breaths per minute, maximum peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP),wherein at least one of these parameters may be fixed or adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous bleed aperture comprises one or both of a small diameter hole and a proportional solenoid bleed valve. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of air flow through the continuous bleed aperture ranges from 1% to 10% of the volume of air flow through the main inspiratory valve. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the free flow area of the continuous bleed aperture to the free flow area of the main inspiratory valve is 2 mm 2  to 400 mm 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous bleed aperture has a diameter of between 0.5 and 2.5 mm, which results in a volumetric flow rate of between 2 and 20 liters per minute under free flow conditions, based on pressures of between 5 and 50 cmH 2 O. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilator system of  claim 5 , wherein during an inspiratory cycle the exhalation valve is closed to air flow and a stream of air flowing through the main inspiratory valve combines with a stream of air flowing through the continuous bleed aperture and the combined streams flow through the inhalation tube past the junction/connector to the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilator system of  claim 5 , wherein during an expiratory cycle the main inspiratory valve is closed to air flow and a stream of air flowing through the continuous bleed aperture flows into the inhalation tube past the junction/connector and combines with a stream of exhaled air flowing from the patient into exhalation tube and the combined streams flow through the exhalation valve and the PEEP valve out into ambient air. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold block is located inside the source of pressurized air. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilator system of  claim 2 , wherein the main inspiratory valve works by activating a diaphragm to move up and down to cause opening and closing of a fluid passage. 
     
     
         18 . A manifold block for use in a positive pressure ventilator system for providing respiratory support to a patient, the manifold block comprising, within its interior, a main inspiratory valve, a continuous bleed aperture, and at least most of the tubes and wires needed for connecting and operating the main operating components of the ventilator. 
     
     
         19 . The manifold block of  claim 18 , comprising an inspiratory valve controller and an exhalation valve controller attached to its exterior surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . A method of maintaining a predetermined value of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) within the respiratory passageway of a patient connected to a positive pressure ventilator system, the ventilator system comprised of: a source of pressurized air; a main inspiratory valve; an inhalation tube; an exhalation tube; an exhalation valve; a PEEP valve; a processor; and a continuous bleed aperture;
 the method comprising activating the source of pressurized air and configuring the processor to control the valves in the ventilator system such that:   a) during an inspiratory cycle—the main inspiratory valve is opened to air flow, the exhalation valve is closed to air flow, and the continuous bleed aperture is opened to air flow, whereupon a stream of air flowing through the main inspiratory valve combines with a stream of air flowing through the continuous bleed aperture and the combined streams flow through the inhalation tube to the patient; and   b) during an expiratory cycle—the main inspiratory valve is closed to air flow, the exhalation valve is opened to air flow, and the continuous bleed aperture is opened to air flow, whereupon a stream of air flowing through the continuous bleed aperture flows into the inhalation tube and combines with a stream of exhaled air flowing from the patient into the exhalation tube and the combined streams flow through the exhalation valve and, whenever the pressure is above the predetermined value of PEEP, the combined streams flow through the PEEP valve out into ambient air.