General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.

Ohmeda Inc.

James Nyal Mashak

Robert Q Tham

Russell James Kuzelka

Timothy Patrick McCormick

Denise L Pernetti

Ronald L Tobia

Thomas Lane Bender, Ii

Robert E Braatz

Terrance Patrick Sullivan

Brady S Weigel

Carl H Hendrickson

Norman Rick

Brian C Michell

Scott Andrew Inman

Herbert Caloud

Mark S Blair

Ross G Garland

An anesthesia vaporizer system having a reservoir fillable with anesthetic agent from a bottle. A fill body defines a cavity that receives the anesthetic agent from the bottle via an inlet. The fill body further defines main and vent ports each communicating between the cavity of the fill body and the reservoir. A fill valve is receivable within the cavity of the fill body and moveable between open and closed positions. The anesthetic agent from the bottle flows through the inlet only when the fill valve is in the open position. A lower seal is receivable within the cavity of the fill body and moveable between open and closed positions by the fill valve. The vent port communicates between the cavity and the fill body only when the lower seal is in the open position. The lower seal is positionable in the open position when the fill valve is in the closed position.

Systems and methods for filling an anesthesia vaporizer using an ullage volume and vent

An anesthesia machine includes a gas mixer providing gas for delivery to a ventilated patient and a breathing system. The breathing system includes a reusable ventilation portion and a disposable circle portion. The reusable ventilation portion includes a mechanical ventilation section, a manual ventilation section, a ventilation port, and switch configured to switch between connection of the mechanical ventilation section and the manual ventilation section to drive patient ventilation. The disposable circle portion includes a vent connector that connects to the ventilation port, an inspiratory channel, and a gas intake port providing anesthetic gas from the gas mixer to the inspiratory channel. The disposable circle portion further includes an expiratory channel, a COabsorber, and a filter positioned in a flow path between the expiratory port and the vent connector and between the COabsorber and the vent connector. The filter is configured to prevent moisture and bacteria from entering the reusable ventilation portion of the breathing system.

Breathing system for anesthesia machine

A method of drying an anesthesia breathing system includes removing a COabsorber from the anesthesia breathing system, when the COabsorber is connected to an absorber inlet port and an absorber outlet port. The method further includes moving a bag-to-vent flow diverter to an intermediate position so as to simultaneously open both a bag channel and a ventilator channel, and connecting an inspiratory port and an expiratory port of the anesthesia breathing system together. A dry gas source is connected to an absorber outlet channel, and then a dry gas flow is provided through the bag channel and the ventilator channel so as to dry out moisture from a bag circuit and a ventilator circuit of the anesthesia breathing system.

Anesthesia breathing system and a method and kit for drying an anesthesia breathing system

A manual patient ventilation system includes a breathing bag manually compressed by a clinician to ventilate a patient via a patient interface device, a gas supply system supplying fresh gas to the breathing bag at a fresh gas flow rate, a pressure sensor measuring a patient airway pressure (PAW) throughout a compression and release cycle of the breathing bag by the clinician, a fresh gas controller comprising a processor, and a manual ventilation control module executable on the processor by the fresh gas controller. The manual ventilation control module includes instructions executable to receive the Paw measurements and determine a fresh gas flow rate based thereon. The gas supply system is then controlled to supply the fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit.

Manual ventilation method and system

A collar is provided for use with a fluid flow sensor to reduce condensation of a moist gas flowing through the fluid flow sensor. The collar comprises a body defining an interior that defines an airspace between the collar and the housing of the fluid flow sensor when the collar is positioned on the fluid flow sensor. The collar also includes a heat source secured to the body and adapted to heat air contained within the airspace to consequently heat the housing of the fluid flow sensor and the interior surfaces of the sensor to reduce condensation of the moist gas.

Flow sensor with heated air collar

A variable orifice fluid flow sensor is provided that includes a biasing member and a bending member positioned proximate the biasing member. The biasing member includes at least one biasing element extending from the biasing member into contact with a non-flapper portion of the bending member to exert a contact force on the bending member.

Variable orifice flow sensor utilizing localized contact force

Variable orifice flow sensor

A variable orifice fluid flow sensor is provided that includes a fluid flow passage therethrough formed with a first port portion adjacent to one end of said passage and a second port portion adjacent to the other end of said passage. A bending member is mounted in the fluid flow passage between the first and second port portions and having a fluid flow limiting flapper extending across the fluid flow passage for creating a fluid flow opening in the passage, the size of the opening being variable responsive to fluid flow in said fluid flow passage. A biasing member is also mounted between the first and second port portions and includes at least one biasing element extending away from the biasing member into contact with the bending member to exert a contact force on the bending member.

A gas flow valve having pneumatic vibration dampening device to reduce the vibrations created by the flow of gas through the gas valve. The gas valve includes a gas flow conduit that terminates at a discharge opening. A valve member is movably positioned relative to the discharge opening and allows gas flow in a flow condition and prevents the flow of gas in a seated position. The valve member includes a gas passage formed within the valve member. At least one flexible membrane is mounted to the valve member and surrounds an outlet opening of the gas passage. The flexible membrane is inflated as the flow of gas within the gas flow conduit increases such that the flexible membrane contacts an inner surface of a stabilizing conduit. The interaction between the flexible membrane and the stabilizing conduit reduces the vibrations created by the flow of gas past the valve member.

Pneumatic vibration dampening device

A flow sensor for a medical ventilator system is disclosed herein. The flow sensor includes a valve assembly having a valve seat, and a valve flap attached to the valve seat. The valve flap is composed of an elastomeric material configured to generate a pre-load that biases the valve flap into engagement with the valve seat such that the valve assembly remains closed in the absence of an externally applied force. The flow sensor also includes a pressure transducer configure to measure a first pressure level at an upstream position relative to the valve assembly, and a second pressure level at a downstream position relative the valve assembly. The flow sensor also includes a processor configured to estimate the flow rate of a fluid passing through a medical ventilator system based on the first and second pressure levels.

System and method for a flow sensor

A collapsible reservoir system is disclosed herein. The collapsible reservoir system includes a first tube pneumatically connected to the collapsible reservoir, and a second tube pneumatically connected to the collapsible reservoir. The second tube is configured to generally remain open in the absence of an externally applied compressive force. The second tube is positioned relative to the collapsible reservoir such that a compressive force applied to the collapsible reservoir can also compress and thereby restrict the second tube. A corresponding method for controlling the pressure of a collapsible reservoir system is also provided.

System and method for a collapsible reservoir with an auxillary fluid channel

A breathing circuit for use with a ventilated patient that includes a heat exchanger for removing water vapor from the breathing gases to prevent condensation within the breathing circuit. The heat exchanger is positioned downstream from the COabsorber and receives the breathing gases from the COabsorber prior to delivery of the breathing gases to the inspiration limb of the patient circuit. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of inflow tubes and outflow tubes that are each open to a sump removably attached to the heat exchanger. The sump collects the water vapor condensed from the breathing gases within the heat exchanger.

Room temperature heat exchanger for breathing circuit

An arrangement and method is provided for controlling operational characteristics of medical equipment. A pressure sensor associated with the caregiver is arranged to sense changes in air pressure that correspond to breathing activity of the caregiver. The pressure sensor may comprise a neckband, headset, or the like. In the arrangement shown, a headset that is worn by the caregiver includes a disposable tube connected to a pressure transducer such that the pressure sensor senses changes in air pressure in the tube. An open end of the tube is positioned near the mouth of the caregiver to receive changes in airflow from the caregiver's mouth. The pressure sensor is in communication with a controller associated with the ventilator. The controller is arranged to control at least one operational parameter of the ventilator, such as the delivery of respiratory support to the patient pr actuation of an oxygen flush valve on the ventilator, based upon the changes in air pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Sun Prairie, WI, United States of America

James Nyal Mashak