Automatic collection system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
- Filing Date
- 2008-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Manually operated valves in anesthesia gas scavenging systems are prone to human error, leading to potential health hazards from anesthetic gas exposure or compressor stress, affecting reliability and lifespan.
An automatic valve control system linked to the anesthesia machine's operational state, ensuring the scavenging system is activated when the machine is on and deactivated when off, using a switch to manage valve positions.
Reduces the risk of anesthetic gas exposure to personnel and minimizes compressor stress, enhancing system reliability and longevity.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The disclosure relates generally to an automatic collection system for an anesthesia device and a method for implementing the automatic collection system. Background of the invention
[0002] Gaseous anesthesia can be administered to a patient for purposes such as blocking pain sensation, inducing unconsciousness, preventing the formation of memories, and / or preventing unwanted movement. The administered anesthetic is inhaled into the patient's lungs. The patient then absorbs a portion of the administered anesthetic and exhales the remainder. The exhaled anesthetic gas is preferably collected in such a way as to minimize the possibility of the anesthesiologist being unintentionally exposed to it. Collection systems have therefore been developed to facilitate the collection and disposal of the exhaled anesthetic gas.
[0003] Collection systems can be coupled to a compressor that generates a low-pressure area, thereby allowing the exhaled anesthetic gas to flow through. The exhaled anesthetic is typically expelled by the patient through an outlet and is then mixed with the ambient air to such an extent that it is no longer hazardous. The compressor can be optionally coupled to the collection system by means of a valve. This valve is opened manually to allow exhaled anesthetic to be drawn through the collection system and is closed manually to shut off the collection system. One problem with such a manually operated valve is that it is susceptible to human error and can, for example, lead to excessive or insufficient compressor operation.
[0004] For example, if the collection system compressor is not implemented during the administration of the anesthetic to the patient, anesthetic gas exhaled by the patient can pose a health risk to nearby personnel. Conversely, if the collection system compressor is implemented during periods when exhaled anesthetic is not being collected (for example, when the anesthesia machine is switched off), the compressor will be subjected to unnecessary stress, which can impair the reliability and lifespan of the compressor. Brief description of the invention
[0005] The disadvantages, drawbacks and difficulties mentioned above are addressed in the present case, as can be seen from the understanding of the following description.
[0006] In one embodiment, an anesthesia machine has a collection tube configured to direct the transfer of anesthetic gas exhaled by a patient and a valve that is operationally connected to the collection tube. The valve is configured to control the flow of the exhaled anesthetic agent through the collection tube. The anesthesia machine also has a switch that is operationally connected to the valve and a control unit. The switch is configured to link an operating state of the anesthesia machine to a position of the valve.
[0007] In another embodiment, an anesthesia system comprises an anesthesia machine with a collection device, a collection tube connected to the collection device, and a valve operationally connected to the collection tube. The valve has a first position in which the collection tube is at least partially open and a second position in which the collection tube is essentially closed. The anesthesia machine also has a switch operationally connected to the valve. The switch is configured to link the operating state of the anesthesia machine with the position of the valve such that the collection device is automatically activated when the anesthesia machine is switched on and that the collection device is automatically deactivated when the anesthesia machine is switched off.The anesthesia machine also has a compressor that is operationally connected to the collection tube and an exhaust line that is operationally connected to the compressor. The exhaust line is designed to direct exhaled anesthetic to an exhaust outlet.
[0008] In another embodiment, a method for implementing an anesthesia machine with an automatic collection system includes connecting a collection tube to a compressor and providing a valve that is operationally connected to the collection tube. The valve has a first position in which the collection tube is at least partially open and a second position in which the collection tube is substantially closed. The method also includes providing a switch that is operationally connected to the valve. The switch is configured to indicate the operating state of the anesthesia machine with the respective position The procedure also includes implementing the switch for selecting an operating state of the anesthesia machine by setting the valve to the corresponding valve position.
[0009] Numerous other features, functions and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the person skilled in the art from the accompanying drawing and detailed description. Brief description of the drawing
[0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an anesthesia device and a collection system according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention
[0011] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of it and illustrates specific embodiments that can be used in practice. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the art to implement them in practice. It should be noted that other embodiments can also be used and that functional, mechanical, electrical, or other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the invention.
[0012] Referring to Fig. 1, an anesthesia system 8 according to one embodiment is shown schematically. The anesthesia system 8 includes an anesthesia device 10, a number of gas storage devices 12a, 12b and 12c, a compressor 50 and an exhaust outlet 54. The anesthesia device 10 is shown for illustrative purposes only, and naturally other types of anesthesia devices can also be implemented alternatively. In a typical hospital setting, the gas storage devices 12a, 12b, 12c are centrally located storage tanks designed to supply medical gas to a plurality of anesthesia devices and several hospital rooms. The storage tanks are normally pressurized to facilitate the transfer of the medical gas to the respective anesthesia device 10.
[0013] The gas storage devices 12a, 12b, 12c are described below as including an air tank 12a, an oxygen (O2) tank 12b, and a nitrogen oxide (N2O) tank 12c. However, it should be noted that other storage devices and other gas types can also be implemented. The gas storage tanks 12a, 12b, 12c are each connected to a gas selection valve 14a, 14b, 14c. The gas selection valves 14a, 14b, 14c can be configured to shut off the flow of medical gas from the storage tanks 12a, 12b, 12c when the anesthesia machine 10 is not in operation. When one of the gas selection valves 14a , 14b , 14c is open, gas from the respective storage tank 12a , 12b , 12c is supplied under pressure to the anesthesia device 10.
[0014] The anesthesia machine 10 has a gas mixer 16 which can receive medical gas from the storage tanks 12a, 12b, 12c. The gas mixer 16 has a number of control valves 18a, 18b, 18c, each of which is connected to one of the gas selection valves 14a, 14b, 14c. The gas mixer 16 also has a number of flow sensors 20a, 20b, 20c, each of which is arranged downstream of a corresponding control valve 18a, 18b, 18c. After passing through one of the control valves 18a, 18b, 18c and past one of the flow sensors 20a, 20b, 20c, the individual gases (i.e., air, oxygen, and N2O) are combined so that they form a mixed gas at the mixed gas outlet 22.
[0015] The control valves 18a, 18b, 18c and the flow sensors 20a, 20b, 20c are each connected to a control unit 24. The control unit 24 is configured to actuate the control valves 18a, 18b, 18c depending on gas flow feedback from the sensors 20a, 20b, 20c. Accordingly, the control unit 24 can be configured to maintain a selectable flow rate for each gas (i.e., air, O2, and N2O) such that the mixed gas at the mixed gas outlet 22 contains a selectable ratio of air, O2, and N2O. The mixed gas flows to a vaporizer 26, where an anesthetic 28 is sprayed and added to the mixed gas exiting the mixed gas outlet 22. The combination of the anesthetic agent 28 and the mixed gas flows through an absorber 30, enters the respiratory circuit 32 and is supplied to the patient 34.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the anesthesia device 10 has a ventilation mode selector 36, a manually operated ventilation device 38, and an automatic ventilation device 40, which are operationally connected between the vaporizer 26 and the absorber 30. The ventilation mode selector 36 can be controlled to select either the manual ventilation device 38 or the automatic ventilation device 40. The manual ventilation device 38 generally includes a breathing bag or resuscitation bag (not shown) that can be squeezed by hand to ventilate the patient 34. Automatic ventilator 40 is a device known per se, which is set up to automatically ventilate the patient 34.
[0017] A portion of the anesthetic 28 administered to the patient 34 is absorbed, and the remainder is expelled when the patient 34 exhales. The expelled anesthetic 28 is supplied to the absorber 30 via the respiratory circuit 32. A portion of the exhaled The anesthetic agent 28 can be recycled as a cost-saving measure, while the remainder of the exhaled anesthetic agent 28 will flow from the absorber 30 through the collection device 44 and out of the outlet opening 54, as will be described in detail later.
[0018] A first valve 42 can be operationally connected to an inlet part of the collection device 44, while a second valve 46 can be connected to an outlet part of the collection device 44. A collection hose 48 connects the collection device 44 to a compressor 50. According to one embodiment, the compressor 50 is centrally located and supplies several anesthesia machines, similar to what has been described above with reference to the storage tanks 12a, 12b, 12c. When the collection hose 48 is connected to the compressor 50 and both valves 42, 46 are at least partially open, the compressor 50 generates a partial vacuum or a low-pressure area suitable for conveying the exhaled anesthetic 28 from the absorber 30 through an exhaust line 52 and out of the exhaust outlet 54.After passing through the exhaust outlet 54, the exhaled anesthetic 28 is normally released into the atmosphere, where it is diluted with the ambient air to such an extent that it is no longer dangerous.
[0019] According to one embodiment, the first valve 42 is a variably adjustable valve that can be opened to a selectable degree to control the flow of exhaled anesthetic 28 aspirated from the absorber 30. Subsequently, the first valve 42 is normally held in a fully open or partially open position to enable automatic operation of the collection device 44. It should be noted that the first valve 42 is optional and need not be included in all anesthesia devices. According to one embodiment, the second valve 46 is a pneumatically actuated valve pre-tensioned to the closed position. For the purposes of this explanation, a “pneumatically actuated valve pre-tensioned to the closed position” is a valve that is designed to remain in the closed position until it is pressurized with pneumatic pressure.It is understood, however, that the valves 42, 46 may also have any other known device capable of selectively regulating a fluid flow.
[0020] A system switch or power switch 56 is operationally connected to the control unit 24 and the second valve 46. The system switch 56 is configured to link the respective position of the second valve 46 (i.e., either open or closed) with the operating state of the anesthesia machine 10 (either ON or OFF). For the purposes of this explanation, the “state of anesthesia machine” refers to whether the anesthesia machine is ON (i.e., switched on) or OFF (i.e., turned off), and the “position of a valve” or “valve position” refers to the degree to which the valve is open or closed.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the system switch 56 can switch the anesthesia machine 10 on or off and essentially simultaneously open the second valve 46. The system switch 56 can, for example, send an electronic signal to the control unit 24 to power up the anesthesia machine 10 and essentially simultaneously supply a gas, such as oxygen or air, for pneumatically opening the second valve 46. Similarly, the system switch 56 can be configured to switch off or shut down the anesthesia machine and essentially simultaneously close the second valve 46.
[0022] Linking the position of the second valve 46 to the operating state of the anesthesia machine 10 ensures that the collection device 44 remains operational whenever the anesthesia machine 10 is switched on. This significantly reduces the possibility of a situation occurring in which hospital staff are exposed to a high concentration of exhaled anesthetic. Linking the position of the second valve 46 to the operating state of the anesthesia machine 10 also ensures that the collection device 44 remains disconnected from the compressor 50 when the anesthesia machine 10 is switched off. This minimizes the stress or strain to which the compressor is subjected during periods of inactivity of the anesthesia machine.
[0023] Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood by those skilled in the art that certain substitutions, modifications, and omissions can be made to the embodiments without departing from the concept of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be merely exemplary and not to limit the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims. 8 Anesthesia system 10 anesthesia machine 12a air tank 12b Oxygen tank 12c Nitrogen oxide tank 14a Gas selector valve 14b Gas selector valve 14c Gas selector valve 16 Gas mixer 18a Control valve 18b Control valve 18c Control valve 20a Flow sensor 20b Flow sensor 20c Flow sensor 22 Mixed gas outlet 24 Control unit 26 evaporators 28 anesthetist 30 absorber 32 Breathing circle 34 patient 36 Ventilation mode selector 38 Manual resuscitation 40 automatic ventilation 42 Valve 1 44 Collection device 46 Valve 2 48 Collection hose 50 compressor 52 Exhaust pipe 54 exhaust outlet 56 System switch
Claims
[1] Anesthesia device (10 ) which features: A collection tube (48) designed to convey anesthetic agent (28) exhaled by a patient (34); a valve (46) which is operationally connected to the collection tube (48), wherein the valve (46) is configured to selectively control the passage of the exhaled anesthetic agent (28) through the collection tube (48); and a switch (56) which is operationally connected to the valve (46) and a control device (24), wherein the switch (56) is configured to link an operating state of the anesthesia device (10) with a position of the valve (46). [2] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 1, wherein the collection tube (48 ) is coupled to a compressor (50 ). [3] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 2, wherein the compressor (50 ) is coupled to an exhaust line (52 ) which is configured to direct the exhaled anesthetic agent (28 ) to an exhaust outlet (54 ). [4] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 1, wherein the valve (46 ) is a pneumatically actuated valve pre-tensioned to the closed state. [5] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 1, which further comprises a collection device (44 ) which is operationally connected to the collection tube (48 ). [6] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 5, which further comprises an absorber (30 ) which is operationally connected to the collection device (44 ), wherein the absorber (30 ) is configured to collect the anesthetic agent (28 ) exhaled by the patient (34 ). [7] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 5, which further comprises a variably adjustable valve (42 ) which is operationally connected to the collection device (44 ). [8] Anesthesia device (10 ) according to claim 7, wherein the variably adjustable valve (42 ) can be opened to a selectable extent in order to control the flow with which the exhaled anesthetic agent (28 ) can be passed through the collection device (44 ).