Ventilator for Rapid Response to Respiratory Disease Conditions

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of ventilators, and, more specifically, to a ventilator system that addresses respiratory distress due to the onset of an epidemic or pandemic disease state. In particular, the present invention is a ventilator system that can be manufactured quickly with minimal skill requirements and employed rapidly in response to epidemic respiratory disease conditions. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a ventilator having a gas input, an inhalation conduit connected to the gas input, a patient flow control valve, operably connected to the gas input via the inhalation conduit, a patient interface, separated from the inhalation conduit by the flow control valve, and a gas shut-off mechanism that senses a pressure state in the inhalation conduit.

1 . A ventilator wherein said ventilator comprises: 
 a gas input;    an inhalation conduit connected to said gas input;    a patient flow control valve, operably connected to said gas input via said inhalation conduit;    a patient interface, separated from said inhalation conduit by said flow control valve; and    a gas shut-off mechanism that senses a pressure state in said inhalation conduit.    
     
     
         2 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein said gas input comprises a gas interface, a gas inlet conduit, a gas reservoir, and a valve.  
     
     
         3 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein said inhalation conduit is connected to the valve of said gas input.  
     
     
         4 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein said ventilator further comprises a humidifying filter for trapping moisture and heat.  
     
     
         5 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein said ventilator is manufactured from sterilizable material.  
     
     
         6 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein said patient flow control valve is adjustable to provide for a specific gas flow rate.  
     
     
         7 . The ventilator of  claim 6 , wherein said gas flow rate can be tailored to at least one of adult, pediatric, and infant modes.  
     
     
         8 . The ventilator of  claim 6 , wherein the gas flow rate is in the range of 20 cm H 2O to  35 cm H 2O.    
     
     
         9 . The ventilator of  claim 2 , wherein the gas interface is connected to a pressurized gas source.  
     
     
         10 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the patient interface further comprises a patient interface for accepting exhaled gas from the patient and a patient interface for delivering gas to the patient.  
     
     
         11 . The ventilator of  claim 10 , wherein the patient interface is a breathing mask assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The ventilator of  claim 10 , wherein the patient interface is an endotracheal tube.  
     
     
         13 . The ventilator of  claim 10 , wherein the patient interface is a laryngeal mask airway device.  
     
     
         14 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the patient flow control valve is a knob, capable of being physically manipulated to control breath rate.  
     
     
         15 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the patient flow control valve is a fixed jet, wherein said fixed jet delivers a gas flow rate proportional to patient size.  
     
     
         16 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising an expiratory conduit connected to said patient interface and an expiratory valve separating said expiratory conduit from a first conduit.  
     
     
         17 . The ventilator of  claim 16 , further comprising alarm circuit operably connected to said first conduit via an actuator.  
     
     
         18 . The ventilator of  claim 17  wherein said alarm circuit generates an alarm signal based upon a change in pressure detected by said actuator.  
     
     
         19 . A ventilator wherein said ventilator comprises: 
 a gas input having a gas interface, a gas inlet conduit, a gas reservoir, and a valve;    an inhalation conduit connected to said valve;    a patient flow control valve, operably connected to said gas input via said inhalation conduit;    a patient interface, separated from said inhalation conduit by said flow control valve; and    a gas shut-off mechanism that senses a pressure state in said inhalation conduit.    
     
     
         20 . A ventilator wherein said ventilator comprises: 
 a gas input having a gas interface, a gas inlet conduit, a gas reservoir, and a valve;    an inhalation conduit connected to said valve;    a patient flow control valve, operably connected to said gas input via said inhalation conduit;    a patient interface, separated from said inhalation conduit by said flow control valve;    a gas shut-off mechanism that senses a pressure state in said inhalation conduit;    an expiratory conduit connected to said patient interface and an expiratory valve separating said expiratory conduit from a first conduit; and    an alarm circuit operably connected to said first conduit via an actuator, wherein said alarm circuit generates an alarm signal based upon a change in pressure detected by said actuator.