Humidification system with multiple humidification modes

By conducting personalized testing and control of the airway humidification system for mechanically ventilated patients, the problem of inaccurate airway humidification effect has been solved, achieving precise airway humidification and improving patient comfort.

CN116020036BActive Publication Date: 2025-11-11XUANWU HOSPITAL OF CAPITAL UNIV OF MEDICAL SCI
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310164222.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-02-24
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Estimated Expiration
2043-02-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In existing technologies, it is difficult to precisely control the airway humidification effect in mechanically ventilated patients, leading to increased risks of airway dryness, mucosal damage, and lung infection. Furthermore, healthcare workers rely on experience to adjust humidification parameters, which can result in errors.

Method used

Design a humidification system with multiple humidification modes. By detecting the temperature, humidity, and airway secretion status of the patient's respiratory airflow, a personalized humidification mode is generated using a remote control unit, including high flow and combined humidification, to provide an oxygen supply plan suitable for the patient's current condition.

Benefits of technology

It achieves precise humidification of the airway, reduces airway dryness and the risk of infection, improves patient comfort and treatment effectiveness, and reduces subjective judgment errors by medical staff.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This invention relates to a humidification system with multiple humidification modes. The device includes a temperature and humidity detection unit for the patient's tracheostomy tube, a remote control unit, and a functional unit capable of providing humidified oxygen to the patient. The detection unit can detect at least the temperature, humidity, and airway secretion status of the patient's respiratory airflow. The remote control unit can evaluate the patient's airway status based on the detection data and generate a corresponding humidification mode for that airway status. To maintain normal physiological function, intubated critically ill patients require regular or long-term oxygen therapy. Medical oxygen is pure oxygen, but it is also dry oxygen without moisture. This type of oxygen differs from gases in nature that contain some moisture. Dry oxygen can irritate the upper respiratory tract, causing discomfort. When administering oxygen, it must first be humidified. The humidification bottle is used to moisten the oxygen and reduce irritation to the respiratory tract.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a humidification system with multiple humidification methods. Background Technology

[0002] Mechanical ventilation, aided by a ventilator, aims to maintain airway patency, improve ventilation and oxygenation, prevent hypoxia and carbon dioxide buildup, and create conditions for the body to overcome respiratory failure caused by underlying diseases, thus facilitating the treatment of those diseases. Oxygen therapy, on the other hand, increases arterial blood oxygen partial pressure and saturation by administering oxygen, thereby increasing arterial blood oxygen content, correcting hypoxia caused by various factors, promoting tissue metabolism, and maintaining vital functions. It is a commonly used clinical treatment for conditions such as respiratory failure, chronic bronchitis, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease. Oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation are often used in combination for critically ill patients.

[0003] Statistics show that approximately 6%-11% of critically ill patients require tracheotomy to establish an artificial airway for continuous mechanical ventilation and airway protection. However, after the artificial airway is established, the inhaled air loses its physiological humidification, warming, and filtering functions, easily leading to dry and damaged airway mucosa, increased and viscous secretions that are difficult to expel, and even blockage of the lung lumen. Furthermore, the airway is directly connected to the outside environment, impairing lower respiratory tract immune function, increasing the risk of bacterial invasion, and coupled with invasive procedures such as suctioning, the risk of pulmonary infection increases, prolongs hospital stays, increases financial burden, and complicates subsequent treatment and care. Studies have shown that appropriate airway humidification can maintain the temperature of inhaled air, replenish lost airway moisture, reduce mucosal damage, promote airway clearance, and reduce the incidence of pulmonary infection.

[0004] Chinese patent CN109806481A discloses a temperature humidification scheme for mechanical ventilation, summarizing the current research status of mechanical ventilation humidifiers in terms of humidification type, humidification method, humidification fluid selection, humidification temperature, humidification effect, and judgment. In the prior art, patients on long-term mechanical ventilation or those with thick sputum often choose heated humidifiers with heating wires, such as servo-controlled heating humidifiers.

[0005] Meanwhile, most patients who undergo endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy will produce sputum, which can be attributed to the following reasons:

[0006] 1. Diseases caused by the disease itself, such as lung infection, pulmonary edema, etc.

[0007] 2. The artificial airway itself, along with sedation and other factors, weakens or eliminates the cough reflex and its function, leading to increased sputum accumulation. This is because the establishment of an artificial airway results in the loss of the ability to cough and expectorate.

[0008] 3. The insertion of an artificial airway into the trachea irritates the tracheal mucosa, leading to increased secretions.

[0009] Currently, there is limited research on the optimal temperature and humidity monitoring for artificial airway humidification. Further research is needed on the humidification effect of artificial airways and the monitoring of optimal temperature and humidity. Only by mastering the principles of appropriate heating and humidification can the best humidification effect be achieved, ensuring patient comfort and safety.

[0010] For example, Chinese patent CN203954409U discloses a humidification and heating system for invasive / non-invasive mechanical ventilation, comprising: a ventilator for pressurizing respiratory gas into the patient's lungs to assist and / or control the patient's breathing, the ventilator being provided with an outlet port for inlet and outlet gas and a return port; a humidification and heating device for heating and evaporating liquid and ultrasonically atomizing it to generate water vapor and atomized gas, and mixing the water vapor and atomized gas with the respiratory gas delivered by the ventilator to form a mixed gas, and adjusting the heating and evaporation temperature of the liquid, the ultrasonic atomization rate and the heating temperature of the pipeline for delivering the mixed gas accordingly based on the pre-set temperature and humidity parameters of the gas entering the patient's lungs, the humidification and heating device being provided with a side port and a central port.

[0011] However, current humidification combined with high-flow oxygen therapy still requires medical staff to rely on their own experience to select the rate and humidification level. This reliance on the subjective choices of medical staff greatly increases the burden on medical staff and patients' families, and increases the probability of patients experiencing dry mouth or other symptoms.

[0012] Based on this, the present invention provides a humidification system with multiple humidification methods.

[0013] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0014] In clinical coma patients undergoing treatment, the coma impairs their cough reflex, leading to lower respiratory tract secretion retention and impaired alveolar gas exchange, resulting in respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death. To effectively clear airway secretions and maintain airway patency, tracheotomy is often used clinically. While this can achieve some therapeutic effect, the surgery itself is invasive. The establishment of an artificial airway alters the normal physiological function of the respiratory tract, allowing air to enter directly into the lower respiratory tract, bypassing the warming and humidification process through the nasopharynx. This results in dry, cold air affecting the activity of the respiratory mucosa cilia, reducing the airway's ability to clear sputum and fight infection, increasing the risk of secondary pulmonary infections. Furthermore, comatose patients often develop the condition due to traumatic brain injury; therefore, reducing intracranial pressure can exacerbate the problem by increasing the viscosity of airway secretions. Effective airway humidification is therefore essential for comatose patients. In existing technologies, the use of Venturi combined with a humidifier for airway humidification in comatose patients has been explored and implemented. However, during the Venturi humidification process using a combined humidifier, the patient's airway condition varies in humidity due to the oxygen inflow rate and the adhesion of secretions on its surface. Different humidity levels result in different requirements for oxygen humidification. Specifically, when inflammation occurs in parts of the trachea, producing secretions adhering to the tracheal wall, the inflammation induces the mucosa and submucosal glands to fail to secrete fluid normally. Prolonged lack of fluid exudation leads to excessive dryness of the airway wall. When oxygen enters the patient's airway at high speed, the fluid on the airway wall is carried away by the high-speed oxygen flow. Conversely, when there is no inflammation in the patient's trachea or the oxygen flow rate is low, the dryness of the airway is lower. Based on these factors affecting airway dryness, this system can provide a precise humidification mode based on the real-time status of the patient's airway, thereby providing the patient with a humidified airflow suitable for their individual current condition.

[0015] This invention provides a humidification system with multiple humidification modes. The device includes a temperature and humidity detection unit for the patient's tracheostomy tube, a remote control unit, and a functional unit capable of providing humidified oxygen to the patient. The detection unit can detect at least the temperature and humidity of the patient's respiratory airflow and the state of secretions in the airway. The remote control unit can evaluate the patient's airway state based on the detection data and generate a corresponding humidification mode for the patient's airway state.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0017] For critically ill patients who have undergone endotracheal intubation, long-term reliance on oxygen supply equipment rather than the gas they inhale themselves can cause the gas entering the trachea to lose its physiological humidification, warming and filtering functions, resulting in sensitivity, dryness or even damage to the tracheal mucosa.

[0018] For critically ill patients with endotracheal intubation, on the one hand, they are unable to clearly describe their tracheal condition using cognition or language. When the tracheal mucosa is damaged and excessive secretions (sputum, pus, or blood) are produced, rescue efforts are too delayed. On the other hand, since the tracheal condition cannot be directly expressed by the patient, it is difficult for medical staff to judge the patient's tracheal condition based solely on physical examination. In current technology, medical staff mainly rely on their own experience to adjust the patient's oxygen ratio, and the oxygen ratio based on experience and subjective judgment may have errors with the patient's actual condition.

[0019] The temperature, absolute humidity, and relative humidity of the gas have a significant impact on the airway humidification effect in tracheostomy patients weaned from mechanical ventilation. This technical solution detects the patient's respiratory status, or airway status, based on the patient's respiratory airflow and temperature and humidity parameters that affect the tracheal mucosa, and generates an oxygen supply plan accordingly. Through real-time monitoring and assessment of the patient's airway status, this system can provide the patient with the appropriate supply gas for their current condition.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the remote control unit is able to generate a first weighted parameter for evaluating the patient's airway status based on the temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity in the patient's respiratory airflow.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the remote control unit is able to generate a second weighting parameter for evaluating the patient's airway status based on the state of secretions within the patient's airway.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0023] For patients requiring endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy, airway dryness is primarily affected by the state of secretions and the effectiveness of airflow humidification. This invention obtains the current airway wall condition of the patient based on the detection of respiratory airflow, and uses this as a basis to determine the patient's required oxygen supply.

[0024] The patient's respiratory airflow is monitored using three factors: temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity. Specifically, each factor has a threshold for determining whether the patient's breathing is currently in a dry state. When the result exceeds the set threshold, it indicates that the patient is in a humid state, meaning their airway is healthy, and only humidified oxygen (first mode) with humidity levels comparable to the patient's respiratory airflow is needed. Preferably, a humidity result higher than the set threshold indicates a healthy patient, and a temperature result lower than the set threshold also indicates a healthy patient.

[0025] When the result of one of the detection factors is within its set threshold, it indicates that the patient's airway is in a dry state, and the patient needs an external supply of highly humidified gas until the patient's airway returns to normal.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, when a patient's airway is dry, the system needs to provide different modes of humidification based on the distribution of secretions in the patient's airway.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the method for assessing the patient's airway status is as follows:

[0028] Substitute the first weight parameter and the second weight parameter into the following formula:

[0029] P = A ± β * B,

[0030] Wherein, P is the assessment score of the patient's airway status; β is the weight ratio of the second weighting parameter to the total assessment score; A is the first weighting parameter; and B is the second weighting parameter.

[0031] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0032] When the patient is in a dry state, this system can provide a more precise humidification gas supply plan based on the distribution of secretions in the patient's airway.

[0033] In particular, when a patient's airway is dry, based on the amount of secretions, the patient can be classified into at least two levels, namely mild dryness and severe dryness, and the patient's airway status can be confirmed based on the amount of secretions, thereby determining the airflow humidification mode required by the patient.

[0034] The system also includes an adsorption device that can adsorb patient secretions. The system can also classify the patient's condition into mild or severe dryness based on the amount of tracheal secretions adsorbed by the adsorption device. That is, the amount of airway secretions can be represented by a second weighted parameter.

[0035] When P is greater than γ, it indicates that the patient is in mild dryness, and the remote control unit provides the patient with a second mode of humidification.

[0036] When P is not greater than γ, it indicates that the patient is in severe desiccation, and the remote control unit provides the patient with a third mode of humidification. γ refers to the threshold used to determine whether the patient is in severe or mild desiccation. Preferably, γ can range from 0.1 to 5. The range of γ is the lower limit of the P value for normal patients and the upper limit of the P value for patients with severe desiccation.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, based on the fact that the detection parameters of patient exhaled temperature, relative humidity, and / or absolute humidity are in an unqualified state, A is set with three parameters at equal intervals. Preferably, if one of the detection parameters of patient exhaled airflow is in an unqualified state, the value of A is 0.99. If two of the detection parameters of patient exhaled airflow are in an unqualified state, the value of A is 0.66. If all three detection parameters of patient exhaled airflow are in an unqualified state, the value of A is 0.33. According to a preferred embodiment, the humidification method includes at least a first mode of high-flow oxygen supply and a second mode of combined humidification and high-flow oxygen supply. Preferably, the humidification method further includes a third mode of combined humidification and low-flow oxygen supply.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the value of β can be externally set by the operator. For example, when a patient has pulmonary complications or other respiratory conditions, the quantity and rate of respiratory secretions are significantly higher than in patients with other conditions. Therefore, the value of β for patients with pulmonary complications or other respiratory conditions is higher than that for patients with other conditions. Preferably, the value of β for patients with pulmonary complications or other respiratory conditions is between 0.5 and 1. The value of β for patients without pulmonary complications or other respiratory conditions is between 0 and 0.5.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the β value of severely ill patients is higher than that of mildly ill patients, thereby increasing the proportion of secretions in the overall P value. Simultaneously, patients are classified as severely ill or mildly ill based on their hospital environment, such as intensive care unit or general ward. Alternatively, the patient's status as a severely ill patient as defined in this application is determined based on changes in neutrophils and white blood cells in blood test results. When the neutrophils and / or white blood cells in a patient's blood test results exceed the normal range, the degree of inflammation is more severe, classifying the patient as severely ill. Preferably, the β value of severely ill patients can be 0.2. The β value of mildly ill patients can be 0.1. Preferably, the maximum value of A plus B is 2, where A and B are equal. When the patient is severely ill and the volume of secretions detected in the pharynx is large, the maximum upper limit of B is 1.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, pulmonary complications or other respiratory conditions can be diseases that accelerate the rate of respiratory secretions, such as acute upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung abscess. They can also be diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, encephalitis, and the pre-onset stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

[0041] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0042] To maintain normal physiological function, intubated critically ill patients require regular or long-term oxygen therapy. Medical oxygen is pure oxygen, but it is also dry oxygen without moisture. This type of oxygen differs from gases that contain some moisture in nature. Dry oxygen can irritate the upper respiratory tract and cause discomfort. Therefore, oxygen must be humidified before administration. Humidifier bottles are used to moisten the oxygen and reduce irritation to the respiratory tract.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the remote control unit can be a server, a client PC, or a handheld computer.

[0044] This technical solution uses two main factors affecting the patient's respiratory status as reference standards.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the functional unit for the humidification system can be an adsorption device for adsorbing sputum from a patient's tracheostomy tube and a humidification device for humidifying and oxygenating the patient's tracheostomy tube. The humidification device can uniformly mix air, oxygen, and water mist.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the functional unit for the humidification system can be an adsorption device for adsorbing sputum from a patient's tracheostomy tube and a humidification device for humidifying and oxygenating the patient's tracheostomy tube.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the adsorption device is provided with a first adsorption port capable of adsorbing secretions present in the patient's nasal cavity and a second adsorption port capable of adsorbing secretions present in the patient's airway.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the humidification device and the high-flow oxygen supply device are connected via a check valve. Preferably, the component for high-flow oxygen supply can be a Venturi component.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the humidification device includes an oxygen generating component, an air-oxygen mixing component, and a humidification component. The air-oxygen mixing component is connected to ambient air and the oxygen generating component. The air-oxygen mixing component can mix ambient air and oxygen from the oxygen generating component. The humidification component is connected to a horizontal atomizing pipe. The air-oxygen mixing component is connected to an exhaust pipe. The humidification component is connected to the exhaust pipe of the oxygen generating component via the horizontal atomizing pipe. The atomizing pipe and the exhaust pipe are supplied with gas through the same supply pipe. The atomizing pipe and the exhaust pipe are arranged at a perpendicular angle and supplied with gas through the same supply pipe. The axis of the supply pipe is offset by an angle α from the bisector of the axes of the atomizing pipe and the exhaust pipe, where α ranges from 0 to ±25°.

[0050] Preferably, the first end of the exhaust pipe is provided with a pipe body assembly. The pipe body assembly includes a base and a plurality of pipes evenly mounted on the base. The first end of each pipe is fixedly mounted to the base. Preferably, the second end of the pipe body assembly is configured as a plane perpendicular to the axis of the supply pipe.

[0051] Preferably, a heating component is provided on the periphery of the exhaust pipe located on the base.

[0052] Preferably, the humidification assembly includes a housing and a floating element disposed within the housing. An atomizing component is disposed on the floating element.

[0053] Preferably, a connecting pipe is longitudinally provided at the transition between the top of the housing and the atomizing pipe.

[0054] Preferably, the top of the housing is configured as a smooth, tapered structure. The connecting pipe is connected to the top of the housing.

[0055] Preferably, the humidification assembly further includes a displacement sensor. The displacement sensor is disposed between the atomizing assembly and the housing. The displacement sensor can monitor the relative distance between the floating unit and the top of the housing.

[0056] Preferably, the atomizing assembly includes a primary Venturi tube, a cavity, and an atomizing plate. The cavity is connected to a first end of the primary Venturi tube. A compressor is provided at the second end of the primary Venturi tube. A plurality of secondary Venturi tubes are arranged on the first end face of the cavity perpendicular to the axis of the primary Venturi tube. Preferably, a reflux port is provided on the second end face of the cavity. The secondary Venturi tubes are evenly distributed on the first end face of the cavity. The atomizing plate is disposed inside the connecting pipe.

[0057] Preferably, the secondary Venturi conduit is configured as a cylindrical structure with external threads on its outer periphery. The cylindrical structure of the secondary Venturi conduit engages with the threaded hole on the first end face of the cavity.

[0058] Preferably, the heating component is configured as a heating element, which is attached to the periphery of the exhaust pipe.

[0059] In this invention, the axes of the atomizing pipe of the humidification component, the exhaust pipe of the air-oxygen mixing component, and the supply pipe are reasonably offset at an angle, so that the exhaust pipe of the air-oxygen mixing component and the atomizing pipe of the humidification component form an impact convection zone at the junction with the supply pipe. This convection zone can mix the gas from the atomizing pipe and the gas from the exhaust pipe evenly. The evenly mixed gas is then sent out through the supply pipe. At the same time, the inclination angle of the supply pipe is in line with the resultant force direction of the two gases, which can prevent the mixed gas from being unable to be discharged smoothly due to resistance during flow.

[0060] Unlike existing technologies that focus solely on the state of oxygen itself or the patient's airway, this approach recognizes that the patient's specific condition also significantly impacts their respiratory health. While adjusting humidification based solely on airway conditions can influence the oxygen level directly affecting the respiratory tract and achieve some optimization, it is ineffective or weakly effective in alleviating symptoms or counteracting negative effects. This approach, however, monitors the patient's respiratory condition based on key factors influencing the rate of respiratory secretion production (temperature and humidity) and the patient's inflammatory status. This allows for highly efficient humidification adjustments tailored to individual patient conditions, providing an optimal oxygen environment, significantly improving efficiency, and promoting patient recovery. For example, for patients with high white blood cell counts, a high-humidity combined oxygen supply method can be provided when there are no obvious dryness symptoms in their respiratory tract. This is to prevent the rapid adhesion or production of secretions such as sputum in their respiratory tract, which could block the airway, cause breathing difficulties, or require additional suctioning or other procedures that could damage the respiratory mucosa. This differentiates the humidification oxygen supply plan between critically ill and mildly ill patients in terms of plan and timing, thereby increasing the promotion effect of oxygen supply and respiratory tract maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0061] Figure 1 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the module connection relationship of a preferred embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0062] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of the adsorption head provided by the present invention.

[0063] List of reference numerals

[0064] 100: Adjustment component; 200: Insertion component; 300: First suction head; 400: Second suction head; 500: Third suction head; 600: Fourth suction head; 700: First container; 800: Second container. Detailed Implementation

[0065] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] In this application, "proximal end" refers to the end closer to the operator, and "distal end" refers to the end farther from the operator.

[0067] Example 1

[0068] When a patient is in a coma or otherwise requires oxygen, medical staff can place this system over the patient's mouth.

[0069] This system can monitor the relative humidity, absolute humidity, and temperature of the patient's respiratory airflow.

[0070] When the relative humidity of the patient's exhaled airflow is above 90%, the absolute humidity is above 33.9 mg / L, and the exhaled temperature is below 37.5℃, the patient's airway is considered healthy, and the system provides the patient with the first mode of humidification. The first mode of humidification sets the oxygen flow to an oxygen content of 50%, a flow rate of 40 L / min, and a relative humidity of 50%.

[0071] When the relative humidity of the patient's exhaled airflow is below 90%, the absolute humidity is below 33.9 mg / L, or the exhaled temperature is above 37.5℃, the system determines that the patient's airway is dry and monitors the amount of secretions in the patient's airway.

[0072] The adsorption device provides secretion adsorption regardless of whether the patient's airway is healthy or dry. When the system switches from a dry to a healthy state, the secretion content is recorded for use in the next secretion removal operation.

[0073] When the system detects a secretion content of 5ml, 5ml is the second weighted parameter. If one of the patient's exhaled airflow detection parameters is unqualified, the A value is 0.99. If two of the patient's exhaled airflow detection parameters are unqualified, the A value is 0.66. If three of the patient's exhaled airflow detection parameters are unqualified, the A value is 0.33.

[0074] The second weighting parameter, β, which determines the weight of the total assessment score, is selected by healthcare professionals based on the patient's condition. When a patient is infected or severely ill, the inflammation is generally more severe; therefore, the secretions caused by inflammation have a greater impact on the trachea, and the trachea is more sensitive to humidity. Consequently, the β value of patients in this state will be higher than that of patients with mild symptoms. Preferably, the β value for severely ill patients can be 0.2, and the β value for mildly ill patients can be 0.1.

[0075] In this embodiment, if the patient is a critically ill patient and the relative humidity of their exhaled breath is below the threshold, then their P value is 1.99.

[0076] The threshold for the P-value is set to 2.

[0077] If the P-value is less than its threshold, the system will switch the humidification method in mode one, which is used to provide humidification for healthy patients with respiratory tract health, to mode two.

[0078] Preferably, the humidification method in the second mode can be configured to set the oxygen flow to an oxygen content of 60%, a flow rate of 20 L / min, and a relative humidity of 70%.

[0079] The system will switch from the second humidification mode to the first humidification mode once the patient's exhaled air temperature, absolute humidity, and relative humidity all return to normal.

[0080] Example 2

[0081] The device in this invention uses the same conduit for adsorbing airway secretions and for humidification, and can adsorb secretions and supply humidified oxygen at specific locations in the airway.

[0082] The remote control unit can activate adsorption once the amount of secretions adsorbed on the airway reaches a certain thickness. Preferably, the adsorption device can be an image color thickness gauge, an ultrasonic thickness gauge, or a magnetic thickness gauge.

[0083] Based on the thickness δ of secretions in the airway, the remote control unit can control the humidification system to provide humidified oxygen or air to the airway in a way that increases humidity. Preferably, the thickness δ can be 1–10 mm. The humidifying gas provided by the humidification system can soften the secretions adhering to the patient's airway. These secretions are generally sticky sputum, which may damage the airway mucosa through conventional adsorption methods. The humidifying gas provided by the humidification system can soften the secretions, reduce the adhesion between the secretions and the airway wall, reduce the difficulty of adsorption equipment in adsorbing secretions, and reduce the damage to the airway mucosa caused by the secretions during adsorption.

[0084] After the humidification system has been operating for a period of time t, the adsorption device adsorbs secretions from the airway. Once the secretions are adsorbed, the detection unit restarts. When conditions are met, the remote control unit can control the functional unit containing the humidification device to restart. Preferably, the humidification system operating time t is greater than 1 minute.

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment, the humidification device and the adsorption device cannot be turned on simultaneously. When there is secretion of a certain thickness in the airway, the humidification device completes its work first, and then the adsorption device is turned on. Subsequently, based on the detection data from the detection unit, the remote control unit controls whether the functional unit including the humidification device is turned on.

[0086] A functional unit that can provide humidified oxygen to patients may include a humidification device.

[0087] Example 3

[0088] This invention provides an adsorption device capable of separating airway secretions and oral secretions.

[0089] The adsorption device includes an adjustment component 100 for adsorbing oral secretions and an insertion component 200 for providing an adsorption position / area / guidance for the adjustment component 100, such as... Figure 1As shown. The distal ends of the adjustment component 100 and the insertion component 200 are connected by a tube to form a positionable adsorption cavity, so that the distal end of the adjustment component 100 can move in the same position as the distal end of the insertion component 200. Based on the source of oral secretions, the adsorption cavity includes at least a first adsorption cavity located in the parotid gland, a second adsorption cavity located in the submandibular gland, a second adsorption cavity located in the sublingual gland, and a fourth adsorption cavity located in the epiglottis. This allows the adsorption cavity to provide a corresponding adsorption program based on the characteristics of the secretions at different locations at the primary site of the secretion. Figure 2 As shown. The first adsorption chamber corresponds to the first adsorption head 300. The second adsorption chamber corresponds to the second adsorption head 400. The third adsorption chamber corresponds to the third adsorption head 500. The fourth adsorption chamber corresponds to the fourth adsorption head 600. When the patient is in a mild swallowing reflex state, the second adsorption head 400 can adsorb saliva or other secretions collected in the pharynx. The first adsorption head 300 can assess the amount of saliva produced at its location to provide a basis for setting the liquid adsorption pressure of the second adsorption head 400. When the patient is in a moderate swallowing reflex state, the first adsorption head 300 will start working when the amount of saliva in the oral cavity accumulates to α. When the patient is in a severe swallowing reflex state, the first adsorption head 300 can start working at β frequency intervals to deal with the saliva constantly produced in the patient's oral cavity. When there is more than 1 ml of secretions in the tracheal wall or the mucosal tissue near the epiglottis, the fourth adsorption head 600 can start working.

[0090] The tubing of the fourth adsorption head 600 is connected to the second container 800. The first adsorption head 300, the second adsorption head 400, and the third adsorption head 500 are connected to the first container 700.

[0091] This invention provides a secretion adsorption and regulation system. The device includes an adjustment component 100 for adsorbing oral secretions and an insertion component 200 for providing adsorption position / area / guidance for the adjustment component 100. The distal ends of the adjustment component 100 and the insertion component 200 are sleeved through a conduit to form a positionable adsorption cavity, such that the distal end of the adjustment component 100 can move in the same position as the distal end of the insertion component 200. The adsorption cavity includes at least a first adsorption head 300 capable of adsorbing saliva produced by the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, and a second adsorption head 400 disposed at the epiglottis capable of adsorbing mucus produced in the trachea. The adsorption heads can use corresponding adsorption programs based on the characteristics of secretions at different locations at the primary location of the secretions. Based on the patient's swallowing reflex, the first adsorption head 300 and the second adsorption head 400 generate corresponding adsorption programs in response to the generation of adsorbable secretions in corresponding areas within the patient's oral cavity, which they monitor. The first adsorption head 300 is disposed in the oral cavity or pharynx. The first adsorption head 300 is configured as a conduit containing multiple adsorption cavities. Multiple holes are installed at the far end of the pipeline, such as Figure 2 As shown. The adsorption cavity can extend through the opening to adsorb different areas within the oral cavity. Preferably, the patient's swallowing reflex level is graded based on the swallowing dysfunction evaluation criteria proposed by Kubota in Japan. This assessment is divided into 4 muscles based on the degree of muscle weakness, with 1 muscle representing normal muscle strength. 2 muscles are defined as mild swallowing dysfunction, 3 muscles as moderate swallowing dysfunction, and 4 muscles as severe swallowing dysfunction.

[0092] According to a preferred embodiment, when the patient is in a mild swallowing reflex state, the second adsorption head 400 can adsorb saliva or other secretions collected in the pharynx. The first adsorption head 300 can assess the amount of saliva produced at its location to provide a basis for setting the liquid adsorption pressure of the second adsorption head 400. Preferably, if the first adsorption head 300 detects that approximately 2 ml of saliva has been produced by the parotid gland, sublingual gland, and submandibular gland, the second adsorption head 400 will correspondingly generate suction capable of adsorbing 50 ml of liquid in approximately 10 seconds.

[0093] According to a preferred embodiment, when the patient is in a state of moderate swallowing reflex, the first adsorption head 300 will activate when the amount of saliva in the oral cavity accumulates to α. Preferably, α can be in the range of 1 to 10 ml.

[0094] According to a preferred embodiment, when the patient is in a state of severe swallowing reflex, the first adsorption head 300 can be activated at β frequency intervals to respond to the saliva constantly generated in the patient's mouth. Preferably, β can be in the range of 5s / time to 15s / time.

[0095] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0096] (1) The device provided by the present invention divides the adsorption area into zones based on the source of the secretion, so that the device can adsorb the secretion in the area in a timely manner when it is in the patient's mouth. At the same time, since the mouth of a comatose or myasthenic patient is in a closed state for a long time and the oral space inside and outside the teeth is not connected, dividing the oral cavity into at least four zones can ensure that secretions in any position can be adsorbed without adjusting the patient's oral state.

[0097] (2) The device provided by the present invention is equipped with a guide rod that can adjust the movement displacement and direction of the adsorption tube within a small distance. On the one hand, it can prevent the tube under negative pressure from shifting in the oral cavity. On the other hand, it can also provide specific adsorption path or adsorption position information for the tube that adsorbs secretions.

[0098] (3) Based on the patient's swallowing muscle status, selectively provide auxiliary adsorption assistance to certain areas of the patient. On the one hand, it can help patients with mild symptoms exercise their oral muscles; on the other hand, reducing the adsorption area can also reduce the mucosal damage to the oral cavity caused by adsorbed secretions.

[0099] (4) The zoned design of the adsorption device can ensure that the secretions can have the proper effect on the patient's mouth or trachea without causing the patient to cough, and can also separate tracheal secretions from oral secretions so that the system can estimate the amount of tracheal secretions produced by the patient.

[0100] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; terms such as "preferredly," "according to a preferred embodiment," or "optionally" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferredly" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A humidification system with multiple humidification modes, comprising a detection unit for detecting the temperature and humidity of a patient's tracheostomy tube, a remote control unit, and a functional unit for providing humidified oxygen to the patient, wherein the functional unit includes an adsorption device for adsorbing sputum from the patient's tracheostomy tube and a humidification device for humidifying and oxygenating the patient's tracheostomy tube, which are activated at different times, characterized in that... The detection unit monitors the temperature, humidity, and airway secretion status of the patient's respiratory airflow. Based on the amount of tracheal secretions adsorbed by the adsorption device, the system classifies the patient's condition into mild or severe dryness. The remote control unit evaluates the patient's airway status based on the detection data and generates a corresponding humidification mode, including a first mode of high-flow oxygen supply, a second mode of high-flow oxygen supply combined with humidification, and a third mode of low-flow oxygen supply combined with humidification. The patient's respiratory airflow was measured using three factors: temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity. Each factor had a threshold set to determine whether the patient's current breathing was in a dry state. When the patient's airway is dry, the remote control unit provides different humidification modes based on the distribution of secretions in the patient's airway. Based on the temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity of the patient's respiratory airflow, the remote control unit generates a first weighted parameter A for evaluating the patient's airway status. Based on the state of secretions in the patient's airway, the remote control unit generates a second weighted parameter B for evaluating the patient's airway status. Based on the first weighted parameter A and the second weighted parameter B, the remote control unit generates a score P = A ± β * B for assessing the patient's airway status, where β is the weight ratio of the second weighted parameter to the total assessment score. When P is greater than γ, the remote control unit provides the patient with a second mode of humidification. When P is not greater than γ, the remote control unit provides the patient with a third mode of humidification. γ refers to the threshold used to determine whether the patient is in severe or mild dryness, and the range of γ is between 0.1 and 5. The range of γ is the lower limit of the P value for normal patients and the upper limit of the P value for patients with severe dryness.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption device is equipped with a first adsorption port for adsorbing secretions present in the patient's nasal cavity and a second adsorption port for adsorbing secretions present in the patient's airway.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The components used for high-flow oxygen supply can be Venturi components.

Citation Information

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