Airway device

Abstract

An airway device comprising: a body defining an internal cavity; an inspiratory branch having an inspiratory port in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an expiratory branch having an expiratory port in fluid communication with the internal cavity; a patient branch having: a patient port for fluid connection with the patient, and sensing ports for sensing a pressure within the airway device, the patient and the sensing ports in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an auxiliary member having: an auxiliary port for a secondary gas to flow therethrough, the auxiliary port in fluid communication with the internal cavity; and a baffle spaced from the auxiliary port and disposed in a flow path of the secondary gas from the auxiliary port to the internal cavity.

Description

AIRWAY DEVICETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of respiratory care. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an airway device for use in a ventilation circuit.BACKGROUND

[0002] Ventilators are used to provide a breathing gas to a patient who is unable to breathe without assistance. Typically, a ventilator regulates the flow of the breathing gas so that air having a desired concentration of oxygen is supplied to the patient at desired pressures and rates. A ventilation circuit fluidly connects the patient to the ventilator, and includes an airway device for connecting an inspiratory limb of the ventilation circuit to an expiratory limb of the ventilation circuit. A third limb of the airway device is fluidly connectable to the patient. Such airway devices are sometimes referred to in the art as “wye pieces” as they have three limbs and a shape resembling that of the letter “Y”.

[0003] During ventilator operation, it is desirable to monitor the rate at which the breathing gas is being supplied to the patient as there is clinical utility in being able to measure the flow of air to and from a patient’s lungs. Aside from the need to maintain a known and sufficient flow of oxygen to the patient’s bloodstream, and to remove the metabolically-created carbon dioxide, there are diseases of the lungs and the connecting airways which can be revealed through study of gas flow patterns (e.g. gas volumetric composition as a function of time, etc..) during patient exhalation. In order to monitor these parameters of oxygen delivery and gas volumetric composition, it is necessary to also monitor gas flow rates of patient inhalations and exhalations.

[0004] Typically, gas flow rates in the ventilation circuit are inferred by creating a pressure differential within the airway device and deriving the airflow from the measured pressure differential based on the principal that the pressure difference is proportional to the flow rate of the gas. One or more sensors can be used to detect the pressure difference and a processor used to convert the detected pressure difference to an absolute flow rate.

[0005] Some methods for creating the pressure differential include adapting airway devices or providing a stand-alone pneumotachometer which can be connected to the airway device.

[0006] One manner of creating the pressure differential in the airway device is by using an occluding obstacle such as a mesh which is placed transversely to the airflow in the airway device and between two pressure ports. An example is described in WO201 9084660, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0007] Another manner of creating the pressure differential is through a constriction in the body of a pneumotachometer, as described in US396355, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0008] Regardless of the manner of creating the pressure differential that exist currently, flow rates which are derived from pressure differential detection have poor resolution at the flow rates observed in patients, as finite resolution of a pressure transducer and the fixed size of the occluding obstacle leads to poor sensitivity. Poor sensitivity results in inaccuracy with potentially fatal consequences to the patient.

[0009] There is therefore a need for improved methods and / or devices that permit a more accurate measurement or inference of a gas flow in a ventilation circuit.SUMMARY

[0010] According to the present disclosure, there are provided methods and / or devices that permit a more accurate measurement and / or inference of a gas flow in a ventilation circuit. The ventilation circuit may be invasive or non-invasive.

[0011] Developers have identified that the sub-optimal performance of existing flow rate determination using pneumotachometers are due, at least in part, to the input of auxiliary gas(es) to the ventilation circuit which affect the pressure differential and the flow rate inferred therefrom. Auxiliary gases include those that are considered non-life supporting such as therapeutic agents in the form of aerosols or vapors of drugs, tracing agents in the form of dry gases. Such non-life-sustaining gases are often delivered in short pulses of gas flow through a suitable auxiliary port of the airway device.

[0012] Fig. 1A shows an example airway device 10 of the prior art, which is a “wye”- type, and has a patient branch 12 configured to fluidly connect to a patient, an inspiratory branch 14 configured to fluidly connect to an inspiratory limb of a ventilation circuit, and an expiratory branch 16 configured to connect to an expiratory limb of the ventilation circuit. The airway device 10 is also configured to receive input of auxiliary gases through an auxiliary port 18. As is known in the prior art, a pneumotachometer 20 comprising two pressure ports 22 and an obstructing element 24 disposed between the two pressure ports 22, has been connected to the patient branch 12 of the airway device 10. As can be seen in Fig. 1 B, injection of the auxiliary gas into the airway devicel 0 through the auxiliary port 18 interferes with pressure difference proximate the pneumotachometer 20. When processed, such pressure differences lead to the incorrect inference of a flow far larger than that which occurred. Auxiliary gas flow rates as high as 50 slpm may be encountered depending on the application. Although those flows are short-lived, they arise from small bore ports and linear flow speeds as high as 40 m / s are commonplace.

[0013] The serious implications of this to the care of the patient are abundantly clear. If such flow rates are not accurately determined, because of auxiliary gases disturbing the measurement, then the total volume of gas that is measured as being delivered to the patient may be in error. Developers noted that this problem arises in many different designs of “wye” airway devices, and pneumotachometers and methods using the same.

[0014] Therefore, Developers of the present technology have developed an airway device which permits a more accurate determination of flow rates in the ventilation circuit by minimizing and / or avoiding auxiliary gas interference. By way of background, many existing designs involve static obstructions which result in poor sensitivity at low flow rates. A dynamic (variable) obstruction allows for greater sensitivity at low flow rates.

[0015] Broadly, there is provided an airway device comprising a body defining an internal cavity; an inspiratory branch having an inspiratory port for a primary gas to flow therethrough, the inspiratory port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an expiratory branch having an expiratory port for exhaled gas from the patient to flow therethrough, the expiratory port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; a patient branch having: a patient port for fluid connection with the patient, and sensing ports for sensing a pressure within the airway device, the patient port and the sensingports being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an auxiliary member having: at least one auxiliary port for a secondary gas to flow therethrough, the at least one auxiliary port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; and a baffle spaced from the at least one auxiliary port and disposed in a flow path of the secondary gas from the at least one auxiliary port to the internal cavity.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the baffle is disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the at least one auxiliary port.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the baffle is spaced from the at least one auxiliary port, at least in part, by a spacer.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the baffle has a flat end facing the at least one auxiliary port and a rounded end facing into the internal cavity.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the spacer comprises one or more struts with spaces defined therebetween.

[0020] In certain embodiments, a width of the head of the baffle is larger than a width of an inlet of the secondary gas into the internal cavity.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the auxiliary member comprises an auxiliary base defining at least one conduit therein, the at least one conduit in fluid communication with the at least one auxiliary port, the spacer extending from the auxiliary base.

[0022] In certain embodiments, the at least one auxiliary port comprises a plurality of auxiliary ports and the auxiliary base defines a plurality of conduits therein, the plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the plurality of auxiliary ports, each conduit having an associated spacer and baffle.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the auxiliary base and the baffle are one-piece.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the airway device further comprises a valve in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the baffle is spaced from an end of the valve and disposed in a flow path of the secondary gas from an outlet of the valve.

[0025] In certain embodiments, a spacing of the baffle from the outlet of the valve is at least 3 mm.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the valve is a one-way valve which is closed in the absence of secondary gas flow into the internal cavity.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the valve is disposed at least partially in the conduit.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the auxiliary member further comprises a spigot extending outwardly from the body and having the auxiliary port formed therein.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the auxiliary port is disposed between the inspiratory branch and the expiratory branch.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the airway device has a patient end and a ventilator end, the patient branch is disposed at the patient end, and the inspiratory branch, the expiratory branch and the at least one auxiliary port are positioned at the ventilator end.

[0031] In certain embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the patient branch, a longitudinal axis of the inspiratory branch and a longitudinal axis of the expiratory branch are substantially parallel to one another.

[0032] In certain embodiments, the airway device further comprises an obstructing member disposed in the patient branch and between the sensing ports for creating a pressure differential between the sensing ports.

[0033] In certain embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the at least one auxiliary port is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sensor port.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the body is modular and comprises multiple components that are connectable together.

[0035] The foregoing and other features will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:FIG. 1A and 1 B shows cross-sectional views of an airway device and a pneumotachometer of the prior art, before and during auxiliary gas flow, respectively.Fig. 2 is an example ventilation circuit in which embodiments of the airway device of the present technology can be used, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 3 is a perspective view from a patient end of the airway device, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 4 is the perspective view of the airway device of FIG. 3 with a portion cut-away to show an inner cavity including auxiliary ports having baffles, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the airway device, from a ventilator end, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view through one of the baffles of FIG. 4 along the line A-A’, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 6B is an orthogonal view of the cross-sectional view of the baffle of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the baffles of FIG. 4, according to embodiments of the present technology.FIG. 8A, 8B and 80 are perspective views of other embodiments of the baffles of FIG. 7, according to embodiments of the present technology.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Various aspects of the present disclosure generally address one or more of the problems associated with the detection and monitoring of gas flow, in particular for ventilated patients in which the inhaled gas includes a primary gas and an auxiliary gas.

[0038] Broadly, according to embodiments of the present technology, the present disclosure describes an airway device 100. The airway device 100 is configured to be attached to, and incorporated in, a ventilation circuit 102 connected to a patient ventilator 104. Although the description below refers to the use of the airway device 100 on mechanically ventilated patients, it may also be used on patients ventilated in any other way.

[0039] Fig. 2 illustrates an example ventilation circuit 102, or portion thereof, in whichembodiments of the airway device 100 can be utilized. The ventilation circuit 102 comprises a patient limb 106 which is fluidly connectable to a patient (not shown) via a patient breathing apparatus 108, an inhaled gas limb 110 which fluidly connects the patient limb 106 with primary inhaled gas connected to the ventilator 104 via the airway device 100, and an exhaled gas limb 112 which fluidly connects the patient limb 106 with the ventilator 104 via the airway device 100. In other words, the airway device 100 connects the inhaled gas limb 110 and the exhaled gas limb 112 to the patient limb 106.

[0040] It should be noted that reference herein to the ventilation circuit 102, may or may not include one or both of the ventilator 104 and the patient breathing apparatus 108. The patient breathing apparatus 108 may comprise any suitable patient interface such as a tracheotomy tube or an endotracheal tube (such as double lumen endotracheal tubes), or a mask such as a breathing mask, a nasal mask, an oral-nasal mask or a nasal cannula.

[0041] It will be appreciated, in certain embodiments, that the patient limb 106 may be omitted and the airway device 100 may be connected directly to the patient breathing apparatus 108 or the patient. Similarly, one or both of the exhaled gas limb 112 and the inhaled gas limb 110 may be omitted and the airway device 100 may be connected directly to the ventilator 104. In other words, the airway device 100 may define one or more of the patient limb 106, the inhaled gas limb 110 and the exhaled gas limb 112.

[0042] Referring now to Figs. 3-8, the airway device 100 comprises a body 114 defining an internal cavity 116 (Fig. 4). The body 114 has an inspiratory branch 118 having an inspiratory port 120 for a primary gas to flow therethrough, an expiratory branch 122 having an expiratory port 124 for exhaled gas to flow therethrough, a patient branch 126 having a patient port 128 for fluid connection with the patient and for inhaled and exhaled gas to flow therethrough. The inspiratory port 120, the expiratory port 124, and the patient port 128 are in fluid communication with the internal cavity 116.

[0043] The patient branch 126 is disposed at a patient end 130 of the airway device 100, and the inspiratory and expiratory branches 118, 122 are disposed at a ventilator end 132 of the airway device 100. The ventilator and patient ends 132, 130 are oppositely facing one another. A longitudinal axis 134 of the patient branch 126, a longitudinal axis136 of the inspiratory branch 118 and a longitudinal axis 138 of the expiratory branch 122 are substantially parallel to one another and in some embodiments lie on the same plane (Fig. 3). The patient, inspiratory and expiratory branches 126, 118, 122 of the body 114 of the airway device 100 define a substantially “Y” shaped configuration in certain embodiments. The patient, inspiratory and expiratory branches 126, 118, 122 each have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments, instead of circular, the cross-sectional profiles of one or more of the patient, inspiratory and expiratory branches 126, 118, 122 may be any other shape such as elliptical.

[0044] According to embodiments of the present technology, the airway device 100 is provided with sensing ports 140 through which pressure may be sensed within the airway device 100. The sensing ports 140 are defined in sensing spigots 141 extending from the body 114 at the patient branch 126. The sensing ports 140 are in fluid communication with the internal cavity 116. There are two sensing ports 140 spaced from each other along a same plane, each having respective longitudinal axes 142 which are parallel to one another and which are substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis 134 of the patient branch 126. The sensing ports 140 are disposed on a top portion of the body 114. As best seen in Fig. 4, positioned between the sensing ports 140 and disposed within the patient branch 126 is an obstructing element 144 for at least partially obstructing airflow within the patient branch 126 to create a pressure difference between the sensing ports 140, which pressure difference can be detected by sensors (not shown) through the sensing ports 140.

[0045] The obstructing element 144 is of the type described in WO2019084660, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Briefly, the obstructing element 144 is configured to partially obstruct the gas flow through the patient branch 126. The obstructing element 144 is substantially cylindrically shaped and has a central axis 146. Circular faces of the obstructing element 144 are positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis 134 of the patient branch 126. The central axis 146 of the obstructing element 144 is aligned with, or substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis 134 of the patient branch 126. Gas flow within the patient branch 126 typically will flow along the patient branch 126, and hence the obstructing element 144 disrupts the airflow between the sensing ports 140 to create the pressure differential. Optionally, there mayalso be provided meshes 148 disposed on one either side of the obstructing element 144 for reducing turbulence on the gas flow around the obstructing element 144. One of the meshes 148 is visible in Fig. 4 and the other is hidden from view. The meshes 148 may be made of any material such as metals, polymers or ceramics. Together the sensing ports 140, the obstructing element 144 and optionally the meshes 148, define a pneumotachograph for measuring gas flow rates. Instead of any one or more of the obstructing element 144, the meshes 148 and the sensing ports 140, any other type of assembly for measuring pressure can be utilized with the present technology.

[0046] As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, a drain port 147 may be provided at a bottom portion of the body 114 for draining mucus and the like.

[0047] The airway device 100 is also provided with an auxiliary member 149 having one or more auxiliary ports 150 for secondary (auxiliary) gas flow into the internal cavity 116. The secondary gas may be any suitable gas such as medication gas, a tracer gas or carbon dioxide. There are six auxiliary ports 150 in the example illustrated in the figures configured as two rows of three auxiliary ports 150 (see Fig. 5). However, more or less than six auxiliary ports 150 are possible. Different configurations of multiple auxiliary ports 150 are possible. The multiple auxiliary ports 150 may be the same or different from one another. Each auxiliary port 150 is in fluid communication with the internal cavity 116. The auxiliary ports 150 are disposed between the inspiratory and expiratory branches 118, 122 at the ventilator end 132 of the airway device 100. Longitudinal axes 152 of the auxiliary ports 150 are substantially parallel to each other and to one or more of the respective longitudinal axes 134 of the patient branch 126, the inspiratory branch 118 and the expiratory branch 122, and substantially transverse to the longitudinal axes 142 of the sensing ports 140.

[0048] As best seen in Fig. 4, the auxiliary member 149 comprises a first portion 154 disposed, at least in part, on an outside of the body 114 and a second portion 156 disposed, at least in part, on an inside of the body 114 within the internal cavity 116. The first portion 154 includes the auxiliary ports 150 which are defined within respective spigots 158, the spigots 158 extending from an external base plate 160. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, there are provided two external base plates 160, each with three spigots 158 defining three respective auxiliary ports 150. The spigots 158 may be differentto one another in terms of size and shape, enabling connection to different types of hoses or connectors (not shown).

[0049] The second portion 156 comprises an auxiliary base 161 in which conduits 162 are defined therein. Each conduit has an outer end 164 and an inner end 166, and each has an associated baffle 168 spaced from the inner end 166 of the conduit 162 by a spacer 170. Each conduit 162 is in fluid communication with a respective auxiliary port 150. In use, at least the inner end 166 of the conduit, the baffle 168 and the spacer 170 are disposed within the internal cavity 116. The baffle 18 is disposed orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 152 of the auxiliary port 150. The purpose of the baffle 168 is to deflect and diffuse the secondary gas flow as it is released into the internal cavity 116 (e.g. when it exits from the inner end 166 of the conduit 162). It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, the conduit 162 may have a different configuration or be omitted altogether. In which case, the baffle 168 can be spaced from the auxiliary port 150 in any other manner.

[0050] The auxiliary member 149 is positioned adjacent the inspiratory and expiratory branches 118, 122 so that a disturbance of the pressure differential measurements in the patient branch 126 is avoided or minimized. It will be appreciated that the auxiliary member 149 and the auxiliary ports 150 may be positioned in any other position on the airway device 100 such that they are distant enough from the pneumotachograph in the patient branch 126 to not affect the gas pressure, and not so far from the patient branch 126 that the volume of the airway device 100 is unnecessarily large.

[0051] An outer side 172 of the baffle 168 is dome shaped, and an inner side 174 is flat. The rounded outer side faces internally into the internal cavity 116 in use. Any other shape I geometry is feasible for the baffle 168 as long as it functions to diffuse a flow of the secondary gas from the conduit 162. The spacer 170 comprises struts extending from the inner end 166 of the conduit 162. The struts are spaced from one another such that the secondary gas can flow between them. Two struts are provided, although any reasonable number of struts and any other configuration of the spacer 170 are feasible. The struts can be of any suitable width to reduce or minimize the gas flow disruption. Certain other embodiments of the second portion 156 of the auxiliary port 150 can be seen in Figs. 8A-8C. In these embodiments, the baffle 168 has a flat profile, and threestruts are provided as the spacer 170.

[0052] As best seen in Fig. 5, the auxiliary member 149 is modular. The second portion 156 (the auxiliary base 161 defining the conduit 162, the spacer 170 and the baffle 168) comprises a single piece, and the first portion 154 (the spigot 158, the auxiliary port 150 and the external base plate 160) comprises a single piece. The second portion 156 and the first portion 154 are connectable to each other and the body 114 such that the conduit 162 is in fluid communication with the auxiliary port 150.

[0053] As best seen in Figs. 5, 6A and 6B, a valve 176 is disposed between the first and second portions 154, 156 of the auxiliary port 150. The valve 176 extends into the conduit 162. The valve 176 may be a one-way valve. The valve 176 may be configured to be closed in the absence of secondary gas flow through the auxiliary port 150. Functions of the valve 176 may include one or more of: to reduce or stop the auxiliary gas from diffusing with the respired gas from the patient, and to prevent cross-contamination from the device. This is not present in wye devices of the prior art. In certain embodiments, the valve 176 is made from an elastic material such as silicone. Other configurations of the valve 176 are within the scope of the present technology. The valve 176 may be omitted. A width of the baffle 168 is wider than a width of an outlet 178 of the valve. In embodiments in which the valve is omitted, a width of the baffle 168 may be wider than a width of any other inlet of the secondary gas into the internal cavity. In other embodiments, the width of the baffle 18 need not be wider than the inlet of the secondary gas into the internal cavity.

[0054] In other embodiments, the second portion 156 may include any number of conduits 162 and the first portion 154 may include any number of auxiliary ports 150. In other embodiments, instead of the first and second portions 154, 156 being separate and connectable to each other, they may be formed as a single piece.

[0055] A spacing between the baffle 168 and the valve 176 is any appropriate distance such that gas flow from the valve 176 is not substantially affected (i.e. undue obstruction is avoided). Undue obstruction can be evaluated by monitoring whether a diameter of the secondary gas flow significantly changes as the gas passes through the valve 176 to the region beyond the baffle 168.

[0056] In certain embodiments, a spacing of the baffle 168 from an end of the valve 176 is between about 3 mm and about 5 mm. In certain embodiments, the spacing may be 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.0 mm, 5.5 mm, 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm or 7.0 mm.

[0057] In other embodiments, instead of each second portion 156 having a baffle 168 associated with each conduit 162, there may be provided a common baffle shared between a plurality of the conduits 12.

[0058] As best seen in Fig. 5, notwithstanding the modularity of the auxiliary member 149, other parts of the airway device 100 are also modular. The body 114 may comprise the following connectable components: a ventilator-end component 180 including the inspiratory and expiratory branches 118, 122, a mid-body component 182 including one of the two sensing ports 140, and a patient-end component 184 including the other of the two sensing ports 140. The obstructing element 144 is separate from and connectable to the mid-body component 182 and the patient-end component 184.

[0059] The ventilator-end component 180 includes a plate-like member 186 from which the inspiratory branch 118 and the expiratory branch 122 extend. An inset portion 188 is provided in the plate-like member 186 for receiving at least a portion of the auxiliary member 149. Openings 190 in the insert 188 are provided through which the spacer 170 and the baffle 168 associated with each auxiliary port 150 extends into the internal cavity 116. In other embodiments, the modular components may be configured in a different manner. For example, the mid-body component 182 and the ventilator end component 180 may comprise a single component.

[0060] An advantage of the modularity of the auxiliary member 149 as well as the other parts of the airway device 100 is an ease of manufacture the different components, such as by injection molding. However, in other embodiments, the auxiliary port 150 and / or the other parts of the airway device 100 may comprise a single piece.

[0061] In use, when the airway device 100 is connected to the ventilation circuit 102 and forms a part of it, inspired gas will flow through the inspiratory port 120 and the inspiratory branch 118 into the internal cavity 116 and to the patient through the patient branch 126. Gas flow can be monitored using the pneumotachograph. When a secondary gas is injected through the auxiliary port 150 of the auxiliary member 149, thepneumotachograph can continue to monitor the gas flow as the relatively rapid secondary gas flow will be deflected and diffused by the baffle 168.

[0062] Advantageously, embodiments of the airway device 100 of the present technology permit improved monitoring and measurement of flow rates in the ventilation circuit, particularly in the presence of any secondary gas flowing through the airway device. Embodiments of the airway device 100 may also provide a simplified setup compared to prior art airway devices.

[0063] Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the description of the airway device 100 and the ventilation circuit 102 within which it can be used are illustrative only and are not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such persons with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the disclosed airway device 100 may be customized to offer valuable solutions to existing needs and problems related to the ventilation of a patient and detection and monitoring of gas flow rates. In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations of the system and method are shown and described. In particular, combinations of features are not limited to those presented in the foregoing description as combinations of elements listed in the appended claims form an integral part of the present disclosure. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation of the system and method numerous implementation-specific decisions may need to be made in order to achieve the developer’s specific goals, such as compliance with application-related, system-related, and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the field of respiratory care having the benefit of the present disclosure.

[0064] The present disclosure has been described in the foregoing specification by means of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments provided as examples. These illustrative embodiments may be modified at will. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:CLAIMS1 . An airway device comprising: a body defining an internal cavity; an inspiratory branch having an inspiratory port for a primary gas to flow therethrough, the inspiratory port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an expiratory branch having an expiratory port for exhaled gas from the patient to flow therethrough, the expiratory port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; a patient branch having: a patient port for fluid connection with the patient, and sensing ports for sensing a pressure within the airway device, the patient port and the sensing ports being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; an auxiliary member having: at least one auxiliary port for a secondary gas to flow therethrough, the at least one auxiliary port being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; and a baffle spaced from the at least one auxiliary port and disposed in a flow path of the secondary gas from the at least one auxiliary port to the internal cavity.

2. The airway device of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the at least one auxiliary port.

3. The airway device of any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the baffle is spaced from the at least one auxiliary port, at least in part, by a spacer.

4. The airway device of claim 3, wherein the baffle has a flat end facing the at least one auxiliary port and a rounded end facing into the internal cavity.

5. The airway device of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the spacer comprises one or more struts with spaces defined therebetween.

6. The airway device of any one of claims 3-5, wherein a width of the head of the baffle is larger than a width of an inlet of the secondary gas into the internal cavity.

7. The airway device of any one of claims 1 -6, wherein the auxiliary member comprises an auxiliary base defining at least one conduit therein, the at least one conduit in fluid communication with the at least one auxiliary port, the spacer extending from the auxiliary base.

8. The airway device of claim 7, wherein the at least one auxiliary port comprises a plurality of auxiliary ports and the auxiliary base defines a plurality of conduits therein, the plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the plurality of auxiliary ports, each conduit having an associated spacer and baffle.

9. The airway device of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the auxiliary base and the baffle are one-piece.

10. The airway device of any one of claims 1 -9, further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the baffle is spaced from an end of the valve and disposed in a flow path of the secondary gas from an outlet of the valve.11 . The airway device of claim 10, wherein a spacing of the baffle from the outlet of the valve is at least 3 mm.

12. The airway device of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the valve is a one-way valve which is closed in the absence of secondary gas flow into the internal cavity.

13. The airway device of claims 7-11 , wherein the valve is disposed at least partially in the conduit.

14. The airway device of any of claims 1 -13, wherein the auxiliary member further comprises a spigot extending outwardly from the body and having the auxiliary port formed therein.

15. The airway device of any of claims 1 -14, wherein the auxiliary port is disposed between the inspiratory branch and the expiratory branch.

16. The airway device of any of claims 1 -15, wherein the airway device has a patient end and a ventilator end, the patient branch is disposed at the patient end, and the inspiratory branch, the expiratory branch and the at least one auxiliary port are positioned at the ventilator end.

17. The airway device of any one of claims 1 -16, wherein a longitudinal axis of the patient branch, a longitudinal axis of the inspiratory branch and a longitudinal axis of the expiratory branch are substantially parallel to one another.

18. The airway device of any one of claims 1 -17, further comprising an obstructing member disposed in the patient branch and between the sensing ports for creating a pressure differential between the sensing ports.

19. The airway device of any of claims 1 -18, wherein a longitudinal axis of the at least one auxiliary port is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sensor port.

20. The airway device of any one of claims 1 -19, wherein the body is modular and comprises multiple components that are connectable together.

Images