University of Pennsylvania

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

Charles F Ward, Iii

C William Hanson, Iii

Eric A Hoffman

Mitchell Albert

Arvind K Venkatesh

The present invention uses a ventilator and a series of valves to deliver a special gas into a patient. The present invention finds use in the field of MRI imaging. Attached to the tube extending from the ventilator to the patient is attached a first valve. This valve alternately connects the patient to the ventilator then to a supply of the special gas. Between the first valve and the supply of gas is a second valve, which controls the pressure between the first valve and the second valve caused by the special gas. The supply of special gas is connected to the second valve. A flow regulator controls the rate at which the special gas enters the patient. A computer is also attached to the ventilator and valves to synchronize the opening and closing of the valves and the operation of the ventilator with the patient's respiratory cycles.

Method and apparatus for delivering a measured of a gas

A ventiltor for ventilating the lungs of a patient is described as including a valve member connected to a fluid source and to the patient. The valve member controls the flow of fluid to the patient in response to a control signal. A programmable controller, connected to the valve member, generates the control signal for the valve member. The programmable controller includes a memory in which fluid flow rate information has been stored and a microprocessor. The controller is operative to determine a desired fluid flow rate in relation to the flow rate information and for generating the control signal in relation to the flow rate signal. In a preferred embodiment the valve member includes a plurality of first and second valves, wherein each of the second valves are operative to allow fluid to pass therethrough at flow rates which are multiples of a master flow rate. It is especially preferred for the multiple for each second valve to be equal to the value 2.sup.M, where M is an integer from zero to one less than the number of second valves. If the memory further has stored therein pressure information it is desireable to include a first monitor for generating a heart signal, a second monitor for generating a lung flow rate and a third monitor for generating a lung pressure signal. In such a situation it is preferred for the controller to be connected to receive the heart signal, the flow rate signal and the pressure signal, and for the control signal to be generated in response to such signals.

Growing community of inventors

Ardmore, PA, United States of America

Charles F Ward, Iii