There is described a ventilator for ventilating an airway of a patient. The ventilator is generally configured to perform a series of respiration cycles, wherein each respiration cycle includes the delivery of a main volume of fresh respiratory gas into the patient's airway, followed by the evacuation of a corresponding volume of used respiratory gas, and to further perform a series of subcycles during a corresponding one of the respiration cycles, wherein each subcycle includes the delivery of an auxiliary volume of fresh respiratory gas into the patient's airway, followed by the evacuation of a corresponding volume of used respiratory gas, the auxiliary volume being smaller than, and distinct from, the main volume.

A ventilator system, comprising: an inhalation pathway comprising an ambient air inlet, a bi-directional emergency valve, and a dynamic blower; and an exhalation pathway comprising a bi-directional exhalation valve and an exhalation port; wherein when a blockage occurs in the inhalation pathway, ambient air can be drawn from the exhalation port and through the bi-directional exhalation valve, and during exhalation exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional exhalation valve and the exhalation port; wherein when a blockage occurs in the exhalation pathway, inhalant is delivered by the dynamic blower, and during exhalation the dynamic blower lowers its speed or stops and the exhalant exits the ventilator through the bi-directional emergency valve, the dynamic blower, and the ambient air inlet.

A ventilation control unit (100), regulating a gas flow (102) within a ventilation system (105), includes a reception module (120), first and second calculation modules (130, 135) and an output module (140). The reception module has a signal interface (122) receiving inspiratory and expiratory flow signals (125, 127) at regular time intervals. The first calculation module calculates a leak flow (132) based on a difference between the current inspiratory gas flow and the current expiratory gas flow, with an external gas flow source (110) separated from a ventilation circuit of the ventilation system. The second calculation module calculates an external gas flow (136) after connecting the external gas flow source to the ventilation circuit based on the leak flow and the difference between the current inspiratory gas flow and the current expiratory gas flow. The output module outputs an output signal (142), based on the external gas flow.

Systems and methods for filtration of expiratory gases are disclosed. In an example, the technology relates to a method for replacing expiratory filters of a ventilation system without breaking a breathing circuit. The method may include opening a first channel and closing a second channel such that expiratory gases flow through a first filter coupled to the first channel; closing the first channel and opening the second channel such that the expiratory gases flow through a second filter coupled to the second channel; and while the expiratory gases are flowing through the second channel, replacing filter media of the first filter while maintaining pressure in the breathing circuit.

A respiratory ventilation apparatus configured to deliver a respiratory gas to a patient interface is provided. The apparatus may include a gas pressurization unit configured to generate a pressurized respiratory gas, a gas inlet port configured to introduce the respiratory gas into the respiratory ventilation apparatus, a gas outlet port configured to discharge the pressurized respiratory gas to a respiration tube, a detection module configured to detect the pressure of the pressurized respiratory gas, at least one non-volatile memory configured to store a plurality of parameters and a plurality of programs, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be configured to initiate the respiratory ventilation apparatus upon a boot operation, and/or initiate a program that constantly reads information from the detection module, and controls the pressure of the pressurized respiratory gas using the information read from the detection module and at least one parameter.

Apparatus for providing air at positive pressure for respiratory therapy to a patient includes a pneumatic block including at least first and second blower sub-assemblies and a common chassis assembly configured to support each of the at least first and second blower sub-assemblies. The at least first and second blower sub-assemblies are different structurally from one another in at least one aspect. Each of the at least first and second blower sub-assemblies includes a corresponding blower configured to produce a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure. The common chassis assembly and the first blower sub-assembly form a first configuration of the pneumatic block, and the common chassis assembly and the second blower sub-assembly form a second configuration of the pneumatic block. The air flow path and the chamber arrangement of the first configuration is different than the air flow path and the chamber arrangement of the second configuration.

A ventilator apparatus includes a linear electro-mechanical actuator that interfaces with a self-inflating bag including an inlet configured to receive air and an outlet configured to expend the air. A three-way valve is coupled to the outlet via a first flowmeter, an ambient environment via a second flowmeter, and a patient via an endotracheal tube. The first and/or second flowmeters are coupled to pressure transducer(s). A control unit is coupled to the linear electro-mechanical actuator and the first and second flowmeters and includes a control panel, memory including programmed instructions stored thereon, and processor(s) configured to execute the stored programmed instructions to set an inhalation time and an exhalation time. A current inspiratory pressure and a current tidal volume are obtained from the pressure transducer(s) and/or the first flowmeter. A stroke of the linear electro-mechanical actuator is then controlled to facilitate inspiratory and expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle.

This disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling pressure and/or flow during exhalation. The disclosure describes novel exhalation modes for ventilating a patient.

A method of controlling exhalation in a ventilation system for providing Positive Expiratory End Pressure, PEEP, ventilation to a lung is disclosed, the method comprising: determining a lung resistance based on conditions of the system detected during an exhalation; and causing the system to inhibit system exhalation to cause and maintain a target system pressure based on the determined lung resistance and a pressure condition in the system.

A medical breathing gas delivery system design employs a manifold delivering gas in a controlled fashion to patients which includes two inhaled gas one-way valves, at least one pressure sensor for patient airway pressure monitoring, and one controlled exhalation pressure proportional control valve which may be overridden by patient exhaled pressure or if there is a power loss. The manifold is connected to a controlled source of breathing gas which may, for example, be a variable-speed fan, or a pressure-based gas flow controller with dynamic self-calibration employing a fast-acting valve and a pressure sensor, either of which yield predictable gas flow control with a minimum of components. The manifold exhalation pressure control valve and gas flow source may, for example, be controlled with a computer system which adjusts the valve power waveforms to attain the time-varying flow and pressure curves required by clinicians, then stores and displays the waveforms to enable long-term trend monitoring and alarm generation. Accurate gas mixing using the pressure-based gas flow control yields automatically calibrated mixes which are of use for patients in, for example, intensive care ventilation and in anesthesia machines for operating rooms.