42 results about "Work of breathing" patented technology

A breathing support system is provided. The system may include a breathing support device configured to deliver gas to a patient and a display device associated with the breathing support device. The display device may be configured to display a graphic indicating one or more measures regarding the patient's work of breathing.

A breathing support system is provided. The system may include a breathing support device configured to deliver gas to a patient and a display device associated with the breathing support device. The display device may be configured to display a graphic indicating one or more measures regarding the patient's work of breathing.

A system for providing ventilation support to a patient may include a ventilator, a control unit, a gas delivery circuit with a proximal end in fluid communication with the ventilator and a distal end in fluid communication with a nasal interface, and a nasal interface. The nasal interface may include at least one jet nozzle at the distal end of the gas delivery circuit; and at least one spontaneous respiration sensor for detecting respiration in communication with the control unit. The system may be open to ambient. The control unit may receive signals from the at least one spontaneous respiration sensor and determine gas delivery requirements. The ventilator may deliver gas at a velocity to entrain ambient air and increase lung volume or lung pressure above spontaneously breathing levels to assist in work of breathing, and deliver ventilation gas in a cyclical delivery pattern synchronized with a spontaneous breathing pattern.

A non-invasive ventilation system may include an interface. The interface may include at least one gas delivery jet nozzle adapted to be positioned in free space and aligned to directly deliver ventilation gas into an entrance of a nose. The at least one gas delivery jet nozzle may be connected to a pressurized gas supply. The ventilation gas may entrain ambient air to elevate lung pressure, elevate lung volume, decrease the work of breathing or increase airway pressure, and wherein the ventilation gas is delivered in synchrony with phases of breathing. A support for the at least one gas delivery jet nozzle may be provided. A breath sensor may be in close proximity to the entrance of the nose. A patient may spontaneous breathe ambient air through the nose without being impeded by the interface.

A method, system, apparatus, and computer program for detecting breathing pattern changes and controlling a mechanical ventilator in accordance to changes of breathing air flow thus reducing the work of breathing for the patient.

This invention can be used in three different ways for patients who are lying down in bed or on the operating table. First it facilitates the endotracheal intubation, secondly it facilitates the spontaneous breathing of obese patients and thirdly it assists the spontaneous inspiration and expiration in a non-invasive way. This invention device is positioned under the patient before he is asleep without disturbing him. It allows a gradual elevation of the lower and or upper thorax, a gradual elevation of the head giving a flexion of the neck and a gradual hyperextension of the head. After intubation the position is returned to normal without need for removing the invention device. This invention elevates the spinal column and therefore the thorax is no more compressed and the ribs can move free. Inspiration requires less force and the patient can be breathing easier even when lying down. In this invention the spinal column elevation can also be inflated in a synchronized way with the respiration of the patient. During inspiration the spinal column is elevated, facilitating the inspiration. During expiration the elevation is lowered, facilitating the expiration. The work of breathing is reduced for the patient resulting in larger minute volume ventilation or less oxygen consumption.

Methods for non-invasively and accurately estimating and monitoring resistance and work of breathing parameters from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the ventilator-dependent patient using an adaptive mathematical model are provided. These methods are based on calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors. The resistance and work of breathing parameters are important for: assessing patient status and diagnosis, appropriately selecting treatment, assessing efficacy of treatment, and properly adjusting ventilatory support.

A method of creating a noninvasive predictor of both physiologic and imposed patient effort of breathing from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the patient using an adaptive mathematical model. The patient effort is commonly measured via work of breathing, power of breathing, or pressure-time product of esophageal pressure and is important for properly adjusting ventilatory support for spontaneously breathing patients. The method of calculating this noninvasive predictor is based on linear or non-linear calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors.

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.

A swim and skin-dive snorkel for providing positive end-expiratory pressure for pressure-balanced exhalation.The snorkel may include inhalation and exhalation conduits. Air can be exhaled into a chamber and released when exhalation pressure within the chamber exceeds a threshold pressure. The threshold pressure that must be overcome to achieve exhalation may be balanced against the compressive forces of the ambient water pressure acting against the user's chest and lungs, which may greatly reduce the resting expiratory flow rate, the minute respiratory rate, and therefore the overall work of breathing. The exhalation pressure may be linearly matched to the ambient water pressure as a function of dive depth, thereby discouraging exhalation while diving. A purge valve may also be placed at the lower aspect of the snorkel.

A closed-circuit heliox delivery system and methods for alleviating symptoms of COPD and related disorders are provided. The system is self-monitoring and can be used outside of a hospital environment. The system contains a gas supply fluidly connected to a breathing circuit. The breathing circuit contains an upper airway device, such as a mask. The system contains a sensor(s) and controller. The sensors measure parameters in the system, the ambient environment, or related to the physiological state of the user. The controller can adjust the system to maintain parameters within the device, i.e. pressure, temperature, humidity, within predetermined ranges. The controller can adjust the system to maintain a target physiological state of the user, i.e. target blood oxygen levels or Work of Breathing (WOB).

Apparatus and methods are provided for applying negative pressure to tissues of a patient that are transmitted to the vertebral venous system of the patient and thereby lowering intracranial pressure. Intracranial pressure is thus lowered easily without increasing the work of breathing, without needing to be intubated, and without breathing through a valve in patients with elevated increased intracranial pressure.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the work of breathing. Heated and humidified air is delivered through a nasal cannula to the nasal passageway of a patient at a flow rate above 20 liters / min thereby reducing inspiratory work.

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube to which an adhesion-resistant material, adhesion-resistant material is applied. Several techniques are disclosed for applying the adhesion-resistant material, adhesion-resistant material, including surface treatments, co-extrusion, and compounding. The adhesion-resistant material, adhesion-resistant material helps prevent the adhesion of microbes to the surface of the endotracheal tube. In this manner the cross-sectional area through which the patient may breathe is increased, effectively decreasing the work of breathing for the patient.

A breathing apparatus has an expiratory flow sensor unit, an expiratory pressure sensor unit, an expiratory pressure regulator, and an expiratory control unit operatively connected to the expiratory pressure sensor unit for a feedback control of an expiratory pressure during an expiratory phase of a breathing cycle. The expiratory control unit is adapted to provide a real time target pressure value during the expiratory phase to the expiratory pressure regulator for adjusting a desired positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) level (PEEPset) based on an inspiratory tidal volume of an inspiratory phase of the same breathing cycle and a currently accumulated expiratory tidal volume measured by the expiratory flow sensor unit. In this manner advantageous regulation of PEEP with minimized work of breathing is obtained.

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.

Methods for non-invasively and accurately estimating and monitoring resistance and work of breathing parameters from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the ventilator-dependent patient using an adaptive mathematical model are provided. These methods are based on calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors. The resistance and work of breathing parameters are important for: assessing patient status and diagnosis, appropriately selecting treatment, assessing efficacy of treatment, and properly adjusting ventilatory support.

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.

A respiration monitoring system includes a thermoelectric generator that may be mounted within a mask enclosure or free-standing, covering all or part of the nose and / or mouth of a subject. A first temperature sensor is attached to the thermoelectric generator for measuring the subject's breath. A power controller develops a difference between a preset temperature and the subject's breath temperature that is then inserted into a feedback error signal and then into a power controller which regulates the power to the thermoelectric generator to maintain a preset temperature.

A system for providing ventilation support to a patient may include a ventilator, a control unit, a gas delivery circuit with a proximal end in fluid communication with the ventilator and a distal end in fluid communication with a nasal interface, and a nasal interface. The nasal interface may include at least one jet nozzle at the distal end of the gas delivery circuit; and at least one spontaneous respiration sensor for detecting respiration in communication with the control unit. The system may be open to ambient. The control unit may receive signals from the at least one spontaneous respiration sensor and determine gas delivery requirements. The ventilator may deliver gas at a velocity to entrain ambient air and increase lung volume or lung pressure above spontaneously breathing levels to assist in work of breathing, and deliver ventilation gas in a cyclical delivery pattern synchronized with a spontaneous breathing pattern.

A gas assisted re-breathing device is disclosed for life support of individuals venturing into harsh environments, particularly the underwater environment, which results in reduced work of breathing. Similar to prior art re-breathers, hoses connect a mouthpiece to direct the flow of breathing gas in a loop like fashion, passing in and out of a flexible gas storage container and a CO2 scrubbing device prior to re-breathing. Disclosed is a pressurized gas assisted re-breathing device, driven by pressurized gas, actuated by the breathing pressure local to the mouthpiece, that acts to move the flexible gas storage container on behalf of the individual and a loop seal valve that is forcibly shut during assisted breathing, which seals the assisted breathing loop to prevent premature venting of breathing gas to the surrounding environment, unless the assisted breathing loop is full, whereupon the loop seal valve opens to allow excess breathing gas to escape into the surrounding environment through forcible exhalation by the individual through one or more conventional one way valves that prevent backflow from the surrounding environment back into the loop. This device significantly reduces work of breathing without unwanted breathing gas loss and further facilitates additional safety features that would otherwise not be practical due to the resultant increase in work of breathing.

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.

A gas assisted re-breathing device is provided for life support of individuals venturing into harsh environments, particularly the underwater environment, which results in reduced work of breathing. In the pressurized gas assisted re-breathing device, pressurized gas, actuated by the breathing pressure local to the mouthpiece, acts to move a flexible gas storage container on behalf of the individual and a loop seal valve is forcibly shut during assisted breathing, which seals the assisted breathing loop to prevent premature venting of breathing gas to the surrounding environment, unless the assisted breathing loop is full, whereupon the loop seal valve opens to allow excess breathing gas to escape into the surrounding environment through forcible exhalation by the individual through one or more conventional one way valves that prevent backflow from the surrounding environment back into the loop.

A breathing apparatus has an expiratory flow sensor unit, an expiratory pressure sensor unit, an expiratory pressure regulator, and an expiratory control unit operatively connected to the expiratory pressure sensor unit for a feedback control of an expiratory pressure during an expiratory phase of a breathing cycle. The expiratory control unit is adapted to provide a real time target pressure value during the expiratory phase to the expiratory pressure regulator for adjusting a desired positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) level (PEEPset) based on an inspiratory tidal volume of an inspiratory phase of the same breathing cycle and a currently accumulated expiratory tidal volume measured by the expiratory flow sensor unit. In this manner advantageous regulation of PEEP with minimized work of breathing is obtained.

A method includes obtaining a first physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured airway pressure of a subject, obtaining a second physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured air flow into the lungs of the subject, and estimating a third physiological parameter indicative of an intra-pleural pressure of the subject based on the first and second physiological parameters and generating a signal indicative thereof. An other method includes obtaining a first physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively estimated intra-pleural pressure of a subject, determining a second physiological parameter indicative of a lung volume of the subject that is based on a third physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured air flow into the lungs of the subject, and determining a work of breathing based on the first and second physiological parameters and generating a signal indicative thereof.

This invention discloses a novel nasal insert which reduces the effect of upper airway resistance syndrome. The insert comprises a short, hollow, flexible tube with the central portion of one side being removed. The insert is inserted into each nostril to allow increased airflow and reduce the work of breathing. The efficiency of the insert may be increased by its impregnation with aroma-therapy essential oils.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for securing a breathing tube to a user are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is an armband including a strap sized to encircle the arm of the user, a connecting element coupled to the strap to secure the strap around the arm, and at least one loop coupled to the strap, the loop receiving the breathing tube and securing the breathing tube to the arm. In use, the armband may secure a breathing tube to a user by encircling the arm of the user with the strap, securing the strap around the arm with the connecting element, and attaching the breathing tube to the arm. The armband may be used in a system for assisting a user with the work of breathing that includes a source of breathing air, a breathing tube, and a patient interface.

Apparatus and methods are provided for applying negative pressure to tissues of a patient that are transmitted to the vertebral venous system of the patient and thereby lowering intracranial pressure. Intracranial pressure is thus lowered easily without increasing the work of breathing, without needing to be intubated, and without breathing through a valve in patients with elevated increased intracranial pressure.