Pulmonary ventilator with changeable filters

Abstract

In a pulmonary ventilation system, a filter arrangement useful as an input filter arrangement and an output filter arrangement is constructed to allow for changing or cleaning of the filter without interrupting or impacting the ventilation therapy and to limit the release of pathogens to the surrounding area or atmosphere. A preferred exhaust filter is constructed to function as a water trap and filter. Methods of operating the pulmonary ventilation system are also disclosed along with kits containing materials to construct an input or an output filtration structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulmonary ventilator system for use with a patient having a trachea, said pulmonary ventilator system being configured to transmit a breathable gas into an input and output device for insertion into said trachea of said patient wherein said breathable gas upon discharge from said patient through said input and output device becomes an exhaust gas with pathogens from said patient, said pulmonary ventilator system comprising:
 a ventilator configured to supply said breathable gas through said input and output device into said trachea of said patient;   an exhaust line having a first end and a
 second end, said first end being connectable to said input and output device for receiving said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said patient; 
   an exhaust filtration assembly having
 an inlet connected to said second end of said exhaust line to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens, 
 means operable to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens into and between one of a first path and a second path, 
 a housing for receiving a first filter removably positionable in said first path to filter said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said inlet to form a first filtered exhaust gas, and for receiving a second filter removably positionable in said second path to filter said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said inlet to form second filtered exhaust gas; and 
   a system outlet connected to receive said first filtered exhaust gas and said second filtered exhaust gas to become an outlet gas and to transmit said outlet gas.   
     
     
         2 . A pulmonary ventilator system for transmitting a breathable gas into the trachea of a patient through an input and output device wherein said breathable gas is converted in said patient to an exhaust gas with pathogens obtained from said patient, said input and output device being configured for transmitting said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said trachea, said pulmonary ventilator system comprising:
 a ventilator configured to
 supply breathable gas through said input and output device to said patient; 
   an exhaust line having
 a first end connectable to said input and output device for receiving said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said patient, and 
 a second end spaced from said first end; 
   exhaust filtration structure for filtering said pathogens from said exhaust gas to form filtered exhaust gas, said exhaust filtration structure having
 an inlet connected to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said second end of said exhaust line, 
 a first conduit to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said inlet, 
 a first filter for filtering said pathogens from said exhaust gas with said pathogens to form first filtered exhaust gas, 
 a second filter for filtering said pathogens from said exhaust gas with said pathogens to form second filtered exhaust gas, 
   a valve arrangement connected to receive said exhaust gas from said first conduit and to supply said exhaust gas with said pathogens to said first filter and to said second filter, said valve arrangement being operable between a first configuration directing said exhaust gas with said pathogens in a first path to said first filter and not said second filter and a second configuration directing said exhaust gas with said pathogens in a second path to said second filter and not said first filter;   an outlet configured to receive said first filtered exhaust gas from said first path and said second filtered gas from said second path to form outlet gas;   a first check valve positioned in said first path, said first check valve being open to pass said first filtered gas to said outlet and closed to inhibit the flow of second filtered gas therethrough; and   a second check valve positioned in said second path, said second check valve being open to pass said second filtered gas to said outlet and closed to inhibit the flow of first filtered gas therethrough.   
     
     
         3 . The pulmonary ventilator system of  claim 1  wherein said exhaust gas with pathogens includes moisture from said patient and wherein said filtration structure further includes a water trap positioned to filter said moisture from said exhaust gas. 
     
     
         4 . The pulmonary ventilation system of  claim 1  further including a housing having a housing inlet connectable to said second end of said exhaust line and an housing outlet, said housing having a first chamber in communication with said inlet to receive exhaust gas with said pathogens therefrom, and wherein said valve arrangement is positioned in said first chamber, wherein said housing has a second chamber and a third chamber with said valve arrangement operable to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens in said first position to said second chamber and in said second position to said third chamber, and wherein a first filter is configured to be snuggly and removably positioned in said second chamber, and wherein a second filter is configured to be snuggly and removably positioned in said third chamber, said first filter being configured to remove pathogens from said exhaust gas with pathogens to form first filtered exhaust gas, and said second filter being configured to remove pathogens from said exhaust gas with pathogens to form second filtered exhaust gas. 
     
     
         5 . The pulmonary ventilation system of  claim 4  wherein said first chamber has a first outlet in communication with said first check valve configured to inhibit the flow and wherein said second chamber has a second outlet in communication with said second check valve. 
     
     
         6 . The pulmonary ventilation system of  claim 5  wherein said valve arrangement has a lever external to said housing sized for operation by a user to move said valve between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         7 . A method for filtering the exhaust gas in a pulmonary ventilator system configured to transmit a breathable gas to and from a patient through an input and output structure configured for introduction into the trachea of said patient, said breathable gas obtaining pathogens from said patient to form exhaust gas with said pathogens, and said input and output structure being further configured for transmitting said breathable gas with said pathogens through said input and output structure to form said exhaust gas with pathogens, said method for filtering said exhaust gas comprising:
 providing
 an exhaust line having
 a first end connectable to said input and output structure for receiving said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said input and output structure, 
 a second end spaced from said first end; 
 
 exhaust filtration structure for filtering said pathogens from said exhaust gas to form filtered exhaust gas, said exhaust filtration structure having
 an inlet connected to receive said exhaust gas from said second end of said exhaust line, 
 an outlet configured to supply said filtered exhaust gas from said exhaust filtration structure, 
 a first conduit for the movement of said exhaust gas from said inlet to filter structure, 
 a second conduit for the movement of filtered exhaust gas from said filter structure to said outlet, 
 said filter structure connectable to receive said exhaust gas from said first conduit, said filter structure being configured to filter said pathogens from said exhaust gas to form filtered exhaust gas, said filter structure having
 a filter housing having a movable filter holder for holding a first filter element and a second filter element, said movable filter holder being movable between 
 a first position in which said filter holder is positionable in said filter housing to position said first filter element to filter said exhaust gas to remove said pathogens therefrom to form said filtered exhaust gas, and 
 a second position where said movable filter holder is positioned relative to said filter housing for removal of said first filter element and to position said second filter element to filter said exhaust gas to remove said pathogens therefrom to form said filtered exhaust gas 
 
 
   providing a discharge line having a first end and a second end, said first end being connectable to said outlet of said exhaust filtration structure to receive said exhaust gas when said filter holder is in said second position and to receive said filtered exhaust gas when said filter holder is in said first position;   operating said filter means to position said filter holder in said second position;   removing said first filter element from said filter holder;   obtaining either a new first filter element or cleaning said first filter element and positioning either said new first filter element or first filter element after cleaning in said filter holder; and   operating said filter means to position said filter holder in said first position.   
     
     
         8 . In a pulmonary ventilator system configured to transmit a breathable gas to an endotracheal tube for introduction of said breathable gas into the trachea of said patient, said breathable gas obtaining pathogens from said patient, and said endotracheal tube being further configured for transmitting said breathable gas with said pathogens from said endotracheal tube through said input and output structure to form said exhaust gas with said pathogens, a method for filtering said exhaust gas with said pathogens comprising:
 providing
 an exhaust line having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, said first end being connectable to said endotracheal tube for receiving said exhaust gas with said pathogens exhaust filtration structure for filtering said pathogens from said exhaust gas to form filtered exhaust gas, 
 exhaust filtration structure for filtering the pathogens from said exhaust gas to form exhaust gas, said exhaust filtration structure having
 an inlet connectable to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said second end of said exhaust line, 
 an outlet configured to supply said filtered exhaust gas from said exhaust filtration structure, 
 filter means having
 a first leg connected to a first filter configured to filter pathogens from said exhaust gas with pathogens, 
 a second leg connected to a second filter configured to filter pathogens from said exhaust gas with said pathogens, 
 a valve connected to said inlet to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens and to said first leg and to said second leg, said valve being operable between a first position in which said exhaust gas with said pathogens is directed to said first leg and said first filter and a second position in which said exhaust gas with said pathogens is directed to said second leg, and said second filter 
 a third leg connected to receive filtered exhaust gas from said first filter, 
 a fourth leg connected to receive filtered exhaust gas from said second filter, 
 an outlet connected to said third leg and said fourth leg to receive said filtered exhaust gas and to discharge said filtered exhaust gas; 
 
 
   connecting said exhaust line to said endotracheal tube;   connecting said exhaust filtration structure to said exhaust line,   operating said valve to said first position to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens through said first leg and to said first filter to filter said pathogens to form filtered exhaust gas;   operating said valve to said second position to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens to said second leg and to said second filter to filter said pathogens to form filtered exhaust gas;   with said valve in said second position, disconnecting and removing said first filter from said first leg and said third leg and installing a replacement first filter or cleaned first filter;   operating said valve to said first position to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens through said replacement filter or cleaned first filter to form filtered exhaust gas.   
     
     
         9 . For use in a pulmonary ventilator system for transmitting a breathable gas to a patient through an input and output structure configured for introduction of said breathable gas into the trachea of said patient wherein said breathable gas in said patient becomes an exhaust gas with pathogens obtained from said patient, said input and output structure being configured for transmitting said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said trachea, a changeable filter system comprising:
 an exhaust line connected to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said input and output structure,   a first filter to remove said pathogens to form first filtered exhaust gas;   a second filter connected to remove said pathogens to form second filtered exhaust gas;   a valve connectable to said exhaust line to receive said exhaust gas with said pathogens from said input and output structure, said valve being configured and connected to direct said exhaust gas with said pathogens to flow either in a first path through said first filter device or a second path through said second filter device; and   a discharge line having a first end and a second end, said first end being connectable to receive said first filtered exhaust gas and to receive said second filtered exhaust gas, said discharge line being configured to direct the first filtered exhaust gas and the second filtered exhaust gas to said second end.