Oxygen sensor assembly for medical ventilator

Abstract

The present invention relates to oxygen sensors for medical ventilators. A medical ventilator includes a patient circuit delivering inspiratory airflow to a patient and returning expiratory airflow from the patient back to the ventilator. A manifold includes an air flow path into the patient circuit, and a port with an opening for an oxygen sensor. When mated to the port, the oxygen sensor samples the air in the air flow path and detects the amount of oxygen in the air. When the oxygen sensor is inserted into the port, a valve is biased open, to allow airflow through the opening into the oxygen sensor during ventilation. When the oxygen sensor is removed from the port, the valve biases into a closed position covering the opening, to prevent leaks. The ventilator can then continue to operate without the oxygen sensor in place.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for replacing an oxygen sensor on a medical ventilator, comprising:
 inserting a removable oxygen sensor into a cavity of a sensor adapter to form an oxygen sensor assembly;   mating the oxygen sensor assembly to a port of a medical ventilator, the port comprising a valve biased to close the port, wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port causes the valve to open;   operating the medical ventilator with the oxygen sensor;   removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port, wherein removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port causes the value to close; and   removing the removable oxygen sensor from the sensor adapter.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 subsequent to removing the removable oxygen sensor, inserting a replacement oxygen sensor into the cavity of the sensor adapter;   mating the oxygen sensor assembly with the replacement oxygen sensor to the port, wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port causes the valve to reopen; and   operating the medical ventilator with the replacement oxygen sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 subsequent to removing the removable oxygen sensor, cleaning the removable oxygen sensor; and   inserting the cleaned removable oxygen sensor into the sensor adapter.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising securing the oxygen sensor assembly to the port with a latch of the oxygen sensor assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising disabling a setting of the medical ventilator relating to the oxygen sensor prior to removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising pausing an alarm or alert after removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port comprises making physical contact between the oxygen sensor assembly and the valve to open the valve. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port comprises triggering an actuator that opens the valve. 
     
     
         29 . A method for replacing an oxygen sensor on a medical ventilator, comprising:
 connecting a removable oxygen sensor with a sensor adapter to form an oxygen sensor assembly;   mating the oxygen sensor assembly to a port of a medical ventilator, wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port creates an electrical connection between the oxygen sensor and the medical ventilator;   operating the medical ventilator based on signals received from the removable oxygen sensor via the electrical connection;   removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port, wherein removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port causes the value to close; and   removing the removable oxygen sensor from the sensor adapter.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising, subsequent to removing the removable oxygen sensor, connecting a replacement oxygen sensor with the sensor adapter. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising, subsequent to removing the removable oxygen sensor, connecting a replacement oxygen sensor with the sensor adapter. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein mating the sensor assembly with the port forms a seal between the sensor assembly and the port. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising securing the oxygen sensor assembly to the port with a latch of the oxygen sensor assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein securing the oxygen sensor assembly to the port includes rotating the latch of the oxygen sensor assembly around a hinge of the oxygen sensor assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein connecting the removable oxygen sensor with the sensor adapter includes rotating the removable oxygen sensor such that threads of the removable oxygen sensor mate with threads of a cavity of the sensor adapter. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the port comprises a valve biased to close the port;   mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port causes the valve to open; and   removing the oxygen sensor assembly from the port causes the valve to close.   
     
     
         37 . A method for replacing an oxygen sensor on a medical ventilator, comprising:
 removing an oxygen sensor assembly from a port of a medical ventilator;   removing a removable oxygen sensor from the sensor adapter;   connecting a replacement oxygen sensor with the sensor adapter to form a replacement sensor assembly;   mating the replacement oxygen sensor assembly to the port of the medical ventilator, wherein mating the oxygen sensor assembly to the port causes at least one of: (1) the formation of an electrical connection between the oxygen sensor and the medical ventilator, and (2) a valve of the port to open; and   operating the medical ventilator based on signals received from the replacement oxygen sensor.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein removing the oxygen sensor assembly causes the valve to close. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein connecting the replacement oxygen sensor with the sensor adapter includes rotating the replacement oxygen sensor such that threads of the replacement oxygen sensor mate with threads of a cavity of the sensor adapter. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the replacement oxygen sensor is a cleaned version of the removable oxygen sensor.