Improvements to Electrically Operable Resuscitators

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrically operable resuscitation device comprising a pump including a rigid cylinder including at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, a piston to travel in said cylinder, and at least one valve, the or each valve configured to allow gas to be displaced into said cylinder through said at least one gas inlet during at least one of a first stroke direction and second stroke direction of said piston in said cylinder, and for allowing gas to displaced through said at least one gas outlet during an opposite of said at least one of the first stroke direction and second stroke direction of said piston in said cylinder; a motor, selected from one of a stepper motor and feedback motor and stepper motor with feedback and linear motor, operatively connected to said piston to move said piston in said cylinder; a patient interface in ducted fluid connection with said pump to receive gas via said at least one gas outlet and to deliver said gas to said patient.

1 . An electrically operable resuscitation device comprising:
 a) a pump including   a rigid cylinder including at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet,   a piston to travel in said cylinder, and   at least one valve, the or each valve configured to allow gas to be displaced into said cylinder through said at least one gas inlet during at least one of a first stroke direction and/or a second stroke direction of said piston in said cylinder, and for allowing gas to be displaced through said at least one gas outlet during an opposite of said at least one of the first stroke direction and/or second stroke direction of said piston in said cylinder,   b) a motor, selected from one of a stepper motor and feedback motor or a stepper motor with feedback and linear motor, operatively connected to said piston to move said piston in said cylinder,   c) a patient interface in ducted fluid connection with said pump to receive gas via said at least one gas outlet and to deliver said gas to said patient.   
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said patient interface is a face mask or an endotracheal tube or a naso-tube. 
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said motor is a linear stepper motor that may also have feedback. 
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said motor is a servo motor that may also have feedback. 
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  wherein said motor is a linear stepper motor and is directly connected to said piston. 
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  wherein said motor is a linear stepper motor and is in part integrally formed with said piston. 
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said motor is controlled by controller to ensure accurate velocity control of the motor. 
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor is indirectly connected with said piston, via a linkage. 
   
   
       9 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said piston includes a connection rod with which said motor is in operative connection. 
   
   
       10 . A device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said piston is or includes one part of the two moving part linear motor. 
   
   
       11 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor and cylinder are connected together (and are preferably engaged to each other). 
   
   
       12 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein intermediate of the patient interface and the at least one outlet of the cylinder and in said ducted fluid connection therewith is a gas flow controller. 
   
   
       13 . A device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the gas flow controller includes a one way valve that allows gas to be displaced from the outlet of the cylinder towards the patient interface and prevents gas from flowing through the one way valve in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       14 . A device as claimed in  claim 12  or  13  wherein the gas flow controller includes a valved exhaust port via which gas can exhaust to relieve pressure at the patient interface. 
   
   
       15 . A device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said valved exhaust port assumes a closed condition when the piston is moving in a direction to displace gas towards the patient interface and assumes an open condition when the piston is moving in the opposite direction to allow gas due to exhalation of or by the patient to pass through the exhaust port. 
   
   
       16 . A device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted on or to or in operative association with an actuator to actively control the movement of the valve relative to the opening. 
   
   
       17 . A device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted for movement relative the opening in a passive manner under the influence of pressure differential in the gas from controller and/or between the gas flow controller and ambient gas pressure. 
   
   
       18 . A device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said valved exhaust port is moved to a closed condition when gas is to be displaced into said patient and to an open condition to allow gas due to exhalation of or by the patient to pass through the exhaust port. 
   
   
       19 . A device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted on or to or in operative association with an actuator to actively control the movement of the valve relative the opening. 
   
   
       20 . A device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted for movement relative the opening in a passive manner under the influence of pressure differential in the gas from controller and/or between the gas flow controller and ambient gas pressure. 
   
   
       21 . A device as claimed in  claims 18  to  20  wherein when the valved exhaust port is in the open condition, said motor stops or reduces the velocity of the piston. 
   
   
       22 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a controller is coupled to said motor to control at least the velocity and position of the motor. 
   
   
       23 . A device as claimed in  claim 22  when dependent on  claim 16  or  19  wherein said controller is coupled to said actuator to move said actuator preferably in a manner in synchronicity with control of said motor. 
   
   
       24 . A device as claimed in  claim 22  or  23  wherein a source of electricity is connected to said motor. 
   
   
       25 . A device as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said source of electricity is connected to said motor via said controller. 
   
   
       26 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 24  to  27  wherein via an interface, the controller can be instructed to operate the device in a suitable manner. 
   
   
       27 . A device as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the interface allows for patient-related information to be entered into the controller, the information including at least one selected from a patient's age and weight. 
   
   
       28 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  27  wherein the controller receives data from other parts of the device, including at least one of gas pressure at the patient interface and tidal volume flow rate at the patient interface. 
   
   
       29 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  28  wherein a sensor is positioned at or proximate the patient interface in the flow path to and from the patient to sense at least one of the tidal volume flow rate, breath rate and exhale breath temperature. 
   
   
       30 . A device as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said sensor (preferably a resistive hotwire sensor) provides information to at least one of a controller to control at least the motor and a recorder to record the information and a display device to display the information. 
   
   
       31 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a display is provided to display operating conditions of said device. 
   
   
       32 . A device as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the operating conditions displayed include inlet gas pressure, patient interface gas pressure, tidal volume at the patient interface, piston oscillation rate, piston stroke length, battery power, duration operation, each sensed by appropriate sensors of the device. 
   
   
       33 . A device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the operating conditions are recorded and stored for subsequent use. 
   
   
       34 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein fluid connection between said outlet of said cylinder and the patient interface is defined in part by a flexible conduit. 
   
   
       35 . A device as claimed in  34  wherein fluid connection between said outlet of said cylinder and the patient interface is defined in part by a flexible conduit and said flow controller is located more proximate said patient interface than said cylinder. 
   
   
       36 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ducted fluid connection and/or the patient interface includes a pressure relief valve to allow pressure reduction of gas in said patient interface. 
   
   
       37 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pressure relief valve becomes operative to relieve pressure when the pressure in said patient interface reaches a certain threshold. 
   
   
       38 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said pump includes an inlet volute. 
   
   
       39 . A device as claimed in  claim 38  wherein the inlet volute includes an opening to allow pressure relief of said inlet volute to occur. 
   
   
       40 . A device as claimed in  claim 38  or  39  wherein said inlet volute includes a one way valve to allow pressure relief to occur into the inlet volute. 
   
   
       41 . A device as claimed in any one of  claim 38  or  40  wherein the said inlet volute includes a pressure relief valve to allow pressure relief to occur out of said inlet volute. 
   
   
       42 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said inlet of said cylinder is in fluid connection with a supplementary gas supply to allow gas from said supplementary gas supply to pass into said cylinder for subsequent delivery to the patient, preferably the gas is oxygen. 
   
   
       43 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cylinder is split into two zones by said piston, a first zone being on one side of said piston and a second zone being on the other side of said piston and wherein said gas inlet(s) are provided to allow gas into the first zone and said gas outlet(s) are provided to allow gas out of said second zone, wherein a one way pump valve is provided to allow gas to transfer from said first zone to said second zone and that restricts flow in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       44 . A device as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the one way pump valve is carried by the piston to operate on a passage through the piston. 
   
   
       45 . A device as claimed in  claim 43  or  44  wherein said gas in said first zone, is or becomes pressurised sufficiently to, upon the movement of the piston in its first stroke direction, allow some of the gas to displace through the one way pump valve into the second zone. 
   
   
       46 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 43  to  45  wherein the one way pump valve is a passive one way valve that moves between an open and closed condition dependent on pressure differential across the one way pump valve. 
   
   
       47 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 43  to  45  wherein a one way valve (inlet one way valve) may be provided to allow gas to be drawn into the first zone upon the movement of the piston in its second stroke direction and that restricts flow of gas in the opposite direction through said inlet one way valve upon the movement of the piston in the first stroke direction. 
   
   
       48 . A device as claimed in  claim 47  wherein the inlet one way valve is a passive one way valve that moves between an open and closed condition dependent on pressure differential across the inlet one way valve. 
   
   
       49 . A device as claimed in any one of claims any one of  claims 43  to  45  wherein one or each of the one way valves mentioned are valves under active control to be in the open and closed conditions in correspondence with the direction of movement of the piston. 
   
   
       50 . A device as claimed in anyone if  claims 43  to  45  wherein the cylinder and piston stroke length are of a size to allow a sufficient volume of gas to be displaced from said cylinder through said gas outlet(s) during said second direction of movement of the piston to deliver a desired volume and flow rate of gas for a single inhalation to a neonatal patient for resuscitation purposes. 
   
   
       51 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  43  wherein said cylinder is split into two zones by said piston, a first zone being on one side of said piston and a second zone being on the other side of said piston, and wherein the pump is a double acting pump that includes:
 a) a first one way valve to
 i) allow gas to enter into the first zone via a said gas inlet (herein after “first gas inlet”) of said cylinder during movement of the piston in its second direction of movement, and 
 ii) restrict gas flow in the opposite direction through said first gas inlet during movement of the piston in the first direction of movement 
   b) a second one way valve to
 i) allow gas to exit the first zone via a said gas outlet (herein after “first gas outlet”) of said cylinder during movement of the piston in its first direction of movement, and 
 ii) restrict gas flow in the opposite direction through said first gas outlet during movement of the piston in the second direction of movement 
   c) a third one way valve to
 i) allow gas to enter into the second zone via a said gas inlet (herein after “second gas inlet”) of said cylinder during movement of the piston in its first direction of movement, and 
 ii) restrict gas flow in the opposite direction through said second gas inlet during movement of the piston in the second direction of movement 
   d) a fourth one way valve to
 i) allow gas to exit the second zone via a said gas outlet (herein after “second gas outlet”) of said cylinder during movement of the piston in its second direction of movement, and 
 ii) restrict gas flow in the opposite direction through said second gas outlet during movement of the piston in the first direction of movement 
   e) a manifold or ducting to duct gas from said first and second outlets to said patient interface.   
   
   
       52 . A device as claimed in  claim 51  wherein each of at least one of the first to fourth one way valves are either actively controlling or passive in moving between their open and closed conditions. 
   
   
       53 . A device as claimed in  claim 51  or  52  wherein the cylinder and piston stroke length are of a size, and the motor is able to move and be controlled, to allow a sufficient volume of gas to be displaced from said cylinder through said gas outlet(s) during multiple oscillations of the piston to deliver a desired volume and flow rate of gas for a single inhalation to a patient for resuscitation purposes or ventilation purposes or both. 
   
   
       54 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pump is a double acting pump and the motor is of sufficient speed to, in multiple stokes of the piston, deliver a single tidal volume of gas for a single inhalation to a patient for resuscitation purposes. 
   
   
       55 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the device is portable. 
   
   
       56 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the pump and patient interface and motor are portable and preferably unitary and preferably able to be held in one hand by a user. 
   
   
       57 . A device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein at least one of the controller and power supply and display are also portable and preferably unitary and preferably able to be held in one hand by a user. 
   
   
       58 . A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein communication to and from the controller may be wireless. 
   
   
       59 . A resuscitator to deliver gas to a patient to be resuscitated that includes a positive displacement pump that is operated by a linear motor. 
   
   
       60 . A resuscitator as claimed in  claim 59  wherein the pump is of a kind to allow continuous displacement gas to a patient to occur during operation of the pump and the velocity of linear motor is controlled to displace gas to the patient in a manner to facilitate resuscitation. 
   
   
       61 . A resuscitator as claimed in  claim 60  wherein the control of the linear motor is such as to change its velocity to provide a variation in the volume of gas delivered. 
   
   
       62 . A resuscitator as claimed in any one of  claims 59  to  61  wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump (preferably a piston and cylinder pump). 
   
   
       63 . A resuscitator as claimed in  claim 52  wherein the linear motor actuates the piston for multiple oscillations to deliver a single tidal volume of gas to the patient. 
   
   
       64 . A gas flow controller for a resuscitator that includes a pump to pressurise a gas for delivery to a patient and a patient interface, the controller interposed between said pump and interface and including a one way valve that allows gas to be displaced from the pump towards the patient interface and prevents gas from flowing through the one way valve in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       65 . A controller as claimed in  claim 64  wherein the gas flow controller includes a valved exhaust port via which gas can exhaust to relieve pressure at the patient interface. 
   
   
       66 . A controller as claimed in  claim 64  or  65  wherein said valved exhaust port assumes a closed condition when the pump is operating in a mode to displace gas towards the patient interface and assumes an open condition during exhalation of or by the patient to allow exhaled gas to pass through the exhaust port. 
   
   
       67 . A controller as claimed in claim, any one of  claims 64  to  66  wherein the valved exhaust port assumes an open condition when the pump is in a non-operative or non-operational mode. 
   
   
       68 . A controller as claimed in claim any one of  claims 64  to  66  wherein the valved exhaust port assumes an open condition when the pump is in a non-operative or non-operational mode. 
   
   
       69 . A controller as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve is mounted on or to or in operative association with an actuator to actively control the movement of the valve relative the opening. 
   
   
       70 . A controller as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted for movement relative the opening in a passive manner under the influence of pressure differential in the gas from controller and/or between the gas flow controller and ambient gas pressure. 
   
   
       71 . A controller as claimed in  claim 65  wherein said valved exhaust port is moved to a closed condition when gas is to be displaced into said patient and to an open condition to allow gas due to exhalation of or by the patient to pass through the exhaust port. 
   
   
       72 . A controller as claimed in  claim 71  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted on or to or in operative association with an actuator to actively control the movement of the valve relative to the opening. 
   
   
       73 . A controller as claimed in  claim 71  wherein said valved exhaust port includes at least one opening closable by a valve, said valve mounted for movement relative the opening in a passive manner under the influence of pressure differential in the gas from controller and/or between the gas flow controller and ambient gas pressure. 
   
   
       74 . A resuscitator device that operates to define an inhalation period during which a gas is displaced from the device to the patient and an exhalation period where no gas is displaced from the device to the patient and any gas received from the patient is exhausted from the device, wherein the device utilises an accurate positional control motor (eg a linear motor or rotary stepper motor) that controls a pump, the motor being controlled to operate the pump during the inhalation period and the motor being controlled to stop the pump during the exhalation period. 
   
   
       75 . A device as claimed in  claim 74  wherein the pump undertakes a plurality of oscillations during any one inhalation period. 
   
   
       76 . A device as claimed in  claim 74  wherein the pump undertakes no more than one oscillation during any one inhalation period. 
   
   
       77 . A resuscitator as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  63  and substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       78 . A resuscitator as claimed in any one of  claims 74  to  76  and substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       79 . A gas flow controller as claimed in any one of  claims 64  to  73  and substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       80 . A resuscitator as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       81 . A gas flow controller as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.