Integration and mode switching for respiratory apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024261523-A1
Application number	US-202118258897-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2021
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Aug 8, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and apparatus that provide for integration of different respiratory therapies into a single system, or provide for integrated switching between separate systems or apparatuses delivering different therapies such as anaesthesia and high flow therapy. Aspects of the disclosure relate to various systems, devices, apparatuses, switching mechanisms and multi-lumen lumen assemblies for integrating control of these therapies and providing flexibility in how and where a user controls switching between therapies.

First claim

1 . A multi-lumen assembly for use with a respiratory support system, the multi-lumen assembly having a plurality of conduits including:
(a) a first inspiratory conduit having a first conduit inflow end couplable with a first gas outlet of the respiratory support system; (b) a second inspiratory conduit having a second conduit inflow end couplable with a second gas outlet of the respiratory support system; and (c) an expiratory conduit having an expiratory conduit outflow end couplable with an expired gas inlet of the respiratory support system.

2 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first inspiratory conduit has a first conduit outflow end couplable with a first patient interface configured to sealingly engage with and direct flow into an airway of the patient.

3 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the second inspiratory conduit has a second conduit outflow end couplable with a second patient interface configured to direct flow into an airway of the patient and is a non-sealing interface.

4 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein at least a length of the plurality of conduits is arranged co-axially.

5 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , including a mechanism to retain at least a length of the plurality of conduits in a group.

6 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 5 wherein the mechanism includes a webbing arranged between at least pairs of the plurality of conduits at intervals or continuously along at least a length of the plurality of conduits.

7 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the webbing is frangible to facilitate separation of at least a length of one or more of the plurality of conduits from the group.

8 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the mechanism includes a sheath applied around the plurality of conduits.

9 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 8 , wherein part of the sheath is removeable.

10 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9 , wherein the sheath provides a smooth outer surface.

11 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the mechanism includes one or more retainers configured to retain two or more conduits in the plurality of conduits in a group.

12 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the retainers are slidable along a length of one of more of the conduits in the plurality of conduits.

13 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the first inspiratory conduit is configured to deliver breathing gases including an anaesthetic agent to the patient.

14 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13 , wherein the expiratory conduit is configured to return expired gases from the patient to the respiratory support system.

15 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , wherein the second inspiratory conduit is configured to deliver breathing gases to the patient at a flow rate between 20 L/min and 90 L/min.

16 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , including a flow switching mechanism operable to direct flow of breathing gas into the first inspiratory conduit or into the second inspiratory conduit.

17 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the flow switching mechanism is a flow diverter.

18 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 16 or claim 17 , wherein the flow switching mechanism is operable by a user.

19 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 16 or claim 17 , wherein the flow switching mechanism is operatively linked with a respiratory support system controller.

20 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the respiratory support system controller controls the respiratory support system to deliver breathing gases to the multi-lumen assembly according to operation of the flow switching mechanism by the user.

21 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the respiratory support system controller controls operation of the flow switching mechanism.

22 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the outflow end of the first inspiratory conduit and an inflow end of the expiratory conduit form a common gas flow pathway defined by a single gas exchange conduit which is couplable with a first patient interface.

23 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the multi-lumen assembly includes a taper to reduce the overall cross section of the assembly in a region of the single gas exchange conduit.

24 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 23 , wherein the multi-lumen assembly includes a patient-end connector for coupling:
(a) an outflow end of the first inspiratory conduit with a first patient interface; and (b) an outflow end of the second inspiratory conduit with a second patient interface.

25 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the patient end connector includes a switching element operable to switch the connector between a first mode of operation in which the connector directs breathing gas to the first patient interface, and a second mode of operation in which the connector directs breathing gas to the second patient interface.

26 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the switching element is operatively couplable with a respiratory support system controller.

27 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the switching element is operable by a user, and the controller controls operation of the respiratory support system according to operation of the switching element by the user.

28 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 26 or claim 27 , wherein the respiratory support system controller controls operation of the switching element.

29 . A multi-lumen assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 28 , further including a gas sampling conduit for monitoring one or more characteristics of gas.

30 . A multi-lumen assembly according to claim 29 , wherein said characteristics are used by a respiratory support system controller to determine if the connector is delivering breathing gas to the patient in the first inspiratory conduit or the second inspiratory conduit and wherein the controller operates the respiratory support system to automatically select a corresponding mode of operation of the respiratory support system.

31 . A system for delivering breathing gases to a patient, the system including:
(a) a flow source configured to provide gas flows through the system in a gas delivery circuit; (b) a gas delivery circuit including an inspiratory gas flow path and an expiratory gas flow path,
the system configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, wherein:
in the first mode, the system is operable to deliver the breathing gases to the patient via the inspiratory gas flow path and a first patient interface in fluid communication with the inspiratory flow path, and to deliver expiratory gases from the patient via the expiratory gas flow path and a second patient interface in fluid communication with the expiratory gas flow path, the breathing gases including a first flow parameter; and
in the second

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Burgess Aidan Robert
• Payton Matthew Jon
• Edwards Taylor James
• Steven Brittany Diana
• White Craig Karl
• Tullett Sam James
• Oxenbridge Mitchell Ryan Cammell
• Osborne Hamish Adrian
• Oldfield Samantha Dale
• Cheung Man Kit Jacky

Classifications

• A61M2209/08

  Supports for equipment · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title

• A61M2205/36

  related to heating or cooling · CPC title

• A61M2205/3379

  Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates · CPC title

• A61M2205/3334

  Measuring or controlling the flow rate · CPC title