Ventilator with integrated blower to provide negative or positive pressure in a ventilator system

Abstract

A ventilator system and method for medical use includes an integrated blower. The ventilator system may include an inspiration port for connection to an inspiratory limb of a dual-limb patient circuit, and an expiration port for connection to an expiratory limb of the dual-limb patient circuit. The system also includes a gas delivery device connected to the inspiration port to supply a pressurized flow of gas to the inspiration port to generate a positive pressure, and a blower having an inlet that is operatively connected to the expiration port and configured to be controlled to selectively supply a negative pressure level between 4 and 120 cmH 2 O to the expiration port. The system also includes an outlet to exhaust gas received from the expiration port. In another embodiment, the ventilator system includes a blower to generate positive pressure/flow to augment flow for noninvasive ventilation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilator system ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ), comprising:
 an inspiration port ( 122 ,  222 ,  322 ) configured to be connected to an inspiratory limb ( 112 ,  212 ,  312 ) of a dual-limb patient circuit ( 110 ,  210 ,  310 ), and an expiration port ( 142 ,  242 ,  342 ) configured to be connected to an expiratory limb ( 114 ,  214 ,  314 ) of the dual-limb patient circuit;   a gas delivery device ( 120 ,  220 ,  320 ) operatively connected to the inspiration port and configured to supply a pressurized flow of gas to the inspiration port to generate positive pressure; and   a blower ( 130 ,  230 ,  330 ) having an inlet ( 132 ,  232 ,  332 ) that is operatively connected to the expiration port and configured to be controlled to selectively supply a negative pressure level between 4 and 120 cmH 2 O to the expiratory limb, and further having an outlet ( 134 ,  234 ,  334 ) configured to exhaust gas received via the expiration port.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator system ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhalation valve ( 140 ,  240 ,  340 ) configured to selectively connect and disconnect the inlet of the blower from the expiration port. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator system ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a pressure transducer ( 115 ,  215 ,  315 ) configured to measure a patient airway pressure; and   a controller ( 150 ,  250 ,  350 ) configured to receive a signal indicating the measured patient airway pressure and in response thereto to control the exhalation valve to connect the blower inlet to the expiration port during at least a portion of an exhalation phase of a breathing cycle, and to disconnect the blower inlet from the expiration port during an inspiration phase of a breathing cycle.   
     
     
         4 . The ventilator system ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to control an operating speed and supply current of the blower. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator system ( 300 ) of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a ventilator exhaust port ( 370 ); and   a two-way valve ( 360 ) having a valve input and first and second valve outputs, wherein the valve input is connected to the expiration port, the first valve output is connected to the blower inlet, and the second valve output is connected to the ventilator exhaust port.   
     
     
         6 . The ventilator system ( 300 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the two-way valve to connect the blower inlet to the expiration port during an exsufflation period of the exhalation phase, and to connect the exhalation valve to the ventilator exhaust port after an exsufflation period of the exhalation phase. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator system ( 300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery device includes an inlet for receiving a pressurized flow of gas and a valve for regulating delivery of the pressurized flow of gas to the patient circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator system ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the blower comprises a rotating impeller or a fan. 
     
     
         9 . A method of ventilation, comprising:
 providing an inspiration port ( 122 ,  222 ,  322 ) configured to be connected to an inspiration limb ( 112 ,  212 ,  312 ) of a dual-limb patient circuit ( 110 ,  210 ,  310 ), and providing an expiration port ( 142 ,  242 ,  342 ) configured to be connected to an expiratory limb ( 114 ,  214 ,  314 ) of the dual-limb patient circuit;   supplying a pressurized flow of gas to the inspiration port to generate positive pressure; and   selectively connecting an inlet ( 132 ,  232 ,  332 ) of a blower ( 130 ,  230 ,  330 ) to the expiration port to selectively supply a negative pressure level between 4 and 120 cmH 2 O to the expiration port and to exhaust from an outlet ( 134 ,  234 ,  334 ) of the blower gas received from the expiration port.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 measuring a patient airway pressure in the patient circuit; and   in response to the measured patient airway pressure, controlling an exhalation valve ( 140 ,  240 ,  340 ) to connect the blower inlet to the expiration port during at least a portion of an exhalation phase of a breathing cycle, and to disconnect the blower from the expiration port during an inspiration phase of a breathing cycle.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising controlling an operating speed and current of the blower. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising connecting the blower inlet to the expiration port during an exsufflation period of an exhalation phase of a breathing cycle, and connecting a ventilator exhaust port ( 370 ) to the expiration port after an exsufflation period of the exhalation phase. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving a pressurized gas supply from a wall-outlet; and   regulating the pressurized gas to supply the pressurized flow of gas to the inspiration port.