APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING GAS, SUCH AS NO, TO A PATIENT, WITH COUNTING OF THE TOTAL ACTUAL TREATMENT TIME

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for supplying therapeutic gas, in particular NO/N2 mixtures, comprising an internal passage (2), valve means (5), control means (6) with microprocessor, and selection means (8), which can be actuated by a user and are configured to allow the user to start a supply of gas or stop a supply of gas. The selection means (8) supply the control means (6) with a command signal corresponding to the choice made by the user, in order to control, via the valve means (5), the flow of gas in the internal passage (2), i.e. to authorize or stop any flow of gas. The control means (6) count a total duration of actual supply of gas equal to the sum of all the time periods elapsing between a choice, made by the user, of starting a supply of gas and a choice, made by the user, of stopping a supply of gas. Installation for administering gas to a patient, which includes such a gas supply apparatus.

Claims

1. Gas supply apparatus (1) comprising: at least one internal passage (2) for supplying a flow of gas, comprising valve means (5), control means (6) with microprocessor, instructing the valve means (5) to control the supply of gas, and selection means (8) which can be actuated by a user and are configured to allow the user to start or stop a supply of gas, characterized in that the control means (6) are configured to count a total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas by the apparatus (1) corresponding to the cumulative total of all the time periods (dti) that have elapsed between a start and a stop of a supply of gas by the apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: it further comprises selection means (8) which can be actuated by a user and are configured to allow the user to choose between starting a supply of gas and stopping a supply of gas, and the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas by the apparatus (1) corresponds to the cumulative total of all the time periods (dti) that have elapsed between a choice, made by the user, of starting a supply of gas (DF) and a choice, made by the user, of stopping a supply of gas (AF), by the user actuating the selection means (8) of the apparatus (1).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a graphical display (7) controlled by the control means (6), or the selection means (8) comprise one or more selection keys (9a-9d).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the graphical display (7) comprises a touch screen (7a), and the one or more selection keys (9a-9d) are virtual keys displayed on the touch screen (7a).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (6) are configured to control a display, on the graphical display (7), of the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the selection means (8) cooperate with the control means (6) to supply them with at least one command signal corresponding to the choice made by the user, and the control means (6) instruct the valve means (5) to control the flow of gas in said at least one internal passage (2), in response to the command signal supplied by the selection means (8), so as to authorize or stop any flow of gas.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (6) comprise a time counter integrated in the control means (6), in particular in the microprocessor, in particular an algorithm acting as a time counter.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the time counter integrated in the control means (6) is configured to count all the time periods (dti) elapsing between a choice, made by the user, of starting a supply of gas (DF) and a choice, made by the user, of stopping a supply of gas (AF), excluding any period of non-supply of gas (PA, IP).

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises storage means for storing the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas and/or all the time periods (dti).

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (6) are further configured to determine an instantaneous duration (Dinst) of an ongoing treatment, and the graphical display (7) is configured to display said instantaneous duration (Dinst).

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (6) are configured to determine a short treatment (TC) or a long treatment (TL) from the instantaneous duration (Dinst) of an ongoing treatment of a given patient.

12. Installation (20) for administering gas to a patient, comprising: at least one source (21) of gas, such as an NO/N2 mixture, a gas supply apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, fed with gas by said at least one therapeutic gas source (21), and a gas feed line (22) fed with gas by the gas supply apparatus (1).

13. Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a medical ventilator (23) in fluidic communication with the gas feed line (22).

14. Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that said at least one gas source (21) contains an NO/N2 mixture.

15. Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that the gas source contains an NO/N2 mixture containing less than 2000 ppm by volume of NO, the remainder being nitrogen, preferably less than 1000 ppm by volume of NO, the remainder being nitrogen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0131] The invention will now be better understood from the following detailed description given as a non-limiting example and with reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0132] FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of an apparatus for supplying therapeutic gas, in particular NO, according to the invention,

[0133] FIG. 2 shows schematically an embodiment of a gas administration installation according to the invention including the apparatus of FIG. 1,

[0134] FIG. 3 shows schematically an embodiment of a display screen of the apparatus of FIG. 1, and

[0135] FIG. 4 is an illustrative graphical representation for visualizing the total duration (Dtot) counted according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0136] FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of an apparatus or device 1 for supplying therapeutic gas according to the invention, comprising a rigid housing 13, for example made of polymer, within which is arranged an internal gas passage 2, such as a gas conduit or the like, for conveying a flow of therapeutic gas.

[0137] In this embodiment, we consider, by way of an example of a therapeutic gas, a flow of gas based on NO, i.e. typically an NO/N2 gaseous mixture formed of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen (N2), making it possible to treat various pulmonary pathologies, in particular pulmonary vasoconstrictions and/or pulmonary hypertension, for example persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

[0138] The NO-based gaseous flow enters and flows through the internal gas passage 2 between one or more gas inlets 3 and one or more gas outlets 4. The gas inlets 3 and outlets 4 can be carried, for example, by mechanical and fluidic connectors or endpieces borne by the housing 13 to the apparatus 1, to which gas lines are attached that serve to convey gas as explained below, for example flexible tubes or the like.

[0139] Valve means 5, typically one or more solenoid valves, typically arranged in parallel, are arranged on the internal gas passage 2 and make it possible to control the flow of therapeutic gas which circulates in the internal passage 2, in the direction from the gas inlet 3 to the gas outlet 4, for example one or more proportional (solenoid) valves.

[0140] Optionally, a gas pressure-reducing device is arranged upstream of the valve means 5 in order to regulate the pressure of the NO-based gaseous flow within the internal gas passage 2, in particular to guarantee a given pressure, for example several bars.

[0141] The valve means 5 are controlled by control means 6 arranged in the housing 13, typically an electronic card comprising one or more microprocessors, typically one or more microcontrollers, implementing one or more algorithms. The control means 6 make it possible in particular to adjust or control the flow rate of gas passing through the valve means 5.

[0142] Thus, the control means 6 can control the valve means 5, such as solenoid valves arranged in parallel, that is to say can open or close all or some of these valves, in order to obtain a gas flow rate (Q) determined/calculated by the microcontroller from a value set/fixed for example by the user and as a function of the gas flow rate (Q), i.e. air, delivered by the ventilator 23 of FIG. 2, as explained below.

[0143] One or more flowmeters (not shown) are also preferably arranged on the internal gas passage 2, upstream and/or downstream of the valve means 5 in order to determine the flow rate of NO-based gas (Q). The flowmeter can be of the differential-pressure, hot-wire or some other type. It cooperates with the control means 6 in order to supply them with measurements.

[0144] Furthermore, the housing 13 comprises a graphical display 7, preferably a touch screen 7a, that is to say with a digital panel, serving to display various items of information or data, in particular various choices selectable by a user. These choices can be displayed in windows or the like displayed on the touch/digital screen 7a of the graphical display 7.

[0145] The graphical display 7 is also configured to show one or more curves, graphs, alerts, icons, etc., or any other information or data useful to the user, such as a healthcare provider.

[0146] Also provided are selection means 8 allowing the user to make a selection among the selectable choices which are displayed on the graphical display 7, namely to choose between several options proposed and displayed on the screen, or to confirm/validate or reject a choice (i.e. an option), or else to make adjustments or settings, for example to select the desired value for the flow rate.

[0147] The selection means 8 typically comprise selection keys or buttons 9a-9d that can be actuated by the user. Advantageously, the selection means 8 comprise touch-sensitive selection keys 9a-9d, that is to say touch-sensitive keys displayed on the graphical display 7, typically a touch-sensitive screen.

[0148] Advantageously, the selection means 8, typically touch-sensitive selection keys 9a-9d, make it possible to make a choice among several possible choices. For example, in the illustrated embodiment: [0149] a touch key 9a for starting a supply of gas, i.e. for starting treatment of a patient, i.e. a treatment Start key, [0150] a touch key 9b for stopping the supply of gas, that is to say for permanently stopping the treatment of a patient, i.e. treatment Stop or End key, [0151] a touch key 9c for pausing the supply of gas, i.e. for temporarily stopping the treatment of a patient, and for resuming the supply of gas after a pause, i.e. a treatment Pause and Resume key. [0152] a touch key 9d for validating a choice (optional), for example for indicating whether the start of the supply of gas concerns the same patient (in the case of resumption after a pause) or, conversely, a new patient (after the end of treatment of a first patient).

[0153] As has already been indicated, according to the embodiment considered, the touch keys 9a for starting the supply of gas and 9b for stopping the supply of gas can be merged into a single key controlling the supply of gas and stopping the supply of gas, or they can even be merged with the touch key 9c in order also to control the pauses and the resumptions after the pauses. Depending on the desired embodiment, certain different choices can therefore be controlled by a single key, i.e. a single common key, rather than by different keys.

[0154] The graphical display 7, typically a touch-panel screen, is therefore configured to allow an operator to make the various choices mentioned above, i.e. start, pause, resumption and permanent cessation of the gas supply. For example, following the example above, the keys 9a, 9b can be merged into a single key for starting/stopping the supply of gas. Similarly, the keys 9c, 9d can be merged into a single pause/restart key.

[0155] The pressure of the user's finger on one of the virtual keys 9a-9d displayed on the touch screen 7a of the display 7, in order to make one of the aforementioned choices, will be transmitted to the microprocessor(s) of the control means 6 and the latter will then control the operation of the apparatus (i.e. supplying gas or stopping the supply of gas) as a function of the selection made and, in parallel, that of the time counter, i.e. the start or stop of the time counter in order to count or not count the time of use of the apparatus 1, as explained below.

[0156] Thus, the control means 6 can be configured to control the valve means 5, in response to the pressing of one of the virtual keys 9a-9d displayed on the touch screen 7a of the display 7, and therefore to the reception of the corresponding signal by said control means 6, in order to: [0157] allow gas to flow in the internal passage 2 through the flow control solenoid valve(s) according to the flow rate (Q) set, in the direction of the patient if the key 9a has been pressed corresponding to the start of treatment by administration of the therapeutic gas to the patient, such as NO, i.e. the Start of treatment key 9a, or the key 9c for resumption after a pause; [0158] interrupt the flow of gas in the internal passage 2 towards the patient if the key corresponding to a temporary stop (pause) or permanent cessation of treatment of the patient is pressed, that is to say the End of treatment key 9b or the Pause key 9c.

[0159] The counting, by the control means 6, of the total duration of active administration of medical gas to the patient is effected by means of the time counter or timer, typically an internal (e.g. integrated) counter of the microprocessor of the control means 6 or the like.

[0160] In other words, as soon as a treatment by administration of gas, such as NO, has to begin in a patient, that is to say at the commencement of the supply of gas, the user presses the touch-sensitive Start of treatment key 9a displayed on the graphical display 7 corresponding to the initiation, i.e. the start, of this treatment, which initiates the supply of gas and the counting of the treatment time by the time counter. The counter is interrupted at each pause or stop of the supply of gas.

[0161] According to the invention, the counting of the time therefore takes place only during the actual supply of gas, such as NO, to the patients and is interrupted in all situations in which the gas is not supplied to the patient, such as pauses, inter-patient stops, etc. Maintenance/test periods are also not counted.

[0162] In general, according to the invention, the control means 6 are configured to determine the total duration (Dtot) of actual gas supply corresponding to the sum of all the time periods dt(i) between a choice, made by the user, of starting the supply of gas (e.g. start or resumption of a treatment) and a choice, made by the user, of stopping (e.g. pause or permanent cessation) the supply of gas.

[0163] The time counter is therefore incremented progressively over time as the apparatus 1 is used. The total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas can be expressed in days, hours and minutes, or even in weeks or months.

[0164] In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas is such that: (Dtot)=?dt(i) with: i?1, where i is the number of periods dt of gas use considered.

[0165] As can be seen, the start (DF) of the supply of gas to a first patient P1 commences at t0 and continues for a first duration dt1 up to t1, where a stop (AF) to the supply of gas is made due to a pause PA of the apparatus 1, during a pause time starting at t1 and continuing until t2.

[0166] At t2, the supply (DF) of gas to said first patient P1 resumes for a second duration dt2 before being permanently stopped at t3 when the healthcare staff consider that the treatment of the first patient P1 is finished or has to be stopped.

[0167] Then, the apparatus 1 is not used between t3 and t4, which is an inter-patient time period (IP), i.e. the time between the end of treatment of the first patient P1 and the start of treatment of a second patient P2.

[0168] The second patient P2 is then treated for a period of time dt3 running between t4 and t5, without a pause period in this case. The treatment of the second patient P2 is stopped at t5, which then corresponds to a new inter-patient time period (IP) preceding the treatment of a third patient.

[0169] According to the invention, the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas therefore corresponds to the sum of the time periods dt1, dt2, dt3, . . . dti.

[0170] The total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas from the first use of the apparatus, i.e. from its first start-up, is displayed on the graphical display 7, either permanently or at the user's request, for example after pressing a dedicated reminder key or other key.

[0171] According to a preferred embodiment, the counter is never re-initialized, that is to say reset to zero (RAZ). According to another embodiment, the counter can be re-initialized, that is to say reset to zero (RAZ), after a given long period of time, for example after several months or years, or after maintenance or the like.

[0172] Advantageously, the total duration (Dtot) of actual supply of gas is permanently displayed (at 10) on the screen of the graphical display 7 so that the healthcare providers can read this off at any time.

[0173] The information concerning the duration of actual supply of gas (Dtot) can also be stored in a memory 12 of the apparatus, preferably stored in a non-volatile computer memory.

[0174] According to one embodiment, the information concerning the duration of actual supply of gas (Dtot), for example a total number of hours and/or days of treatment, can be transmitted to a hospital information system (SIH) or Patient Data Management System (PDMS). The connection between the apparatus 1 and the hospital information system can be provided by a wired link (i.e. electrical cables), typically via RS232 or HL7 connections, or by an internal network of the hospital, such as an intranet or the like, for example via a local communication protocol, in particular via WiFi or Bluetooth?. This allows the hospital to recognize the actual use of the apparatus 1 and to edit reports of medical or other care.

[0175] According to another embodiment, the information concerning the duration of actual supply of gas (Dtot) can also be transmitted by 4G to a remote server, in particular of the supplier of the apparatus and/or of the medical gases, such as NO, in order to allow the supplier to follow the life of the apparatus 1 and to plan maintenance operations, to schedule the replacement of the apparatus (end of legal useful life), gas refills or similar, and also to draw up invoices, usage reports, etc.

[0176] In general, the counting of the durations dt (i.e. dt1, dt2, dt3, . . . dti) of active administration by the gas administration device 1 of the invention is managed by an algorithm acting as a time counter, i.e. timer, implemented by the microprocessor of the control means 6 of the device 1 and operating as explained above.

[0177] FIG. 2 shows schematically an embodiment of a gas administration installation 20 according to the invention, in this case comprising two cylinders 21 of therapeutic gas, namely here NO/N2 mixtures, for example containing between 200 and 1000 ppm by volume of NO (remainder N2), which feed a gaseous mixture NO/N2 to a gas supply apparatus 1 according to the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above.

[0178] The gas cylinders 21 are fluidically connected to the gas supply apparatus 1 via gas feed lines 30, such as flexible tubes or the like, which can be equipped with devices 31 for regulating and/or monitoring the gas pressure, such as a gas regulator, pressure gauges or the like. The gas feed lines 30 are connected to one or more gas inlets 3 of the gas supply device 1, which supply the internal passage 2 of said gas supply device.

[0179] It will be noted that the gas supply device 1 also comprises an oxygen inlet 33 fluidically connected, via an oxygen feed line 34 such as a flexible tube or the like, to an oxygen source (not shown), for example the hospital network, that is to say an oxygen supply duct arranged in the hospital building, or a cylinder of pressurized oxygen.

[0180] Furthermore, a medical ventilator 23 is also provided, that is to say a respiratory assistance apparatus, for supplying air or an oxygen/nitrogen mixture (N2/O2), that is to say a flow of respiratory gas containing at least 21% oxygen.

[0181] The medical ventilator 23 and the gas supply device 1 are in fluidic communication with a gas feed line 22 for conveying the gas flow to the patient.

[0182] The gas supply device 1 delivers an NO/N2 mixture, for example 800 ppmv of NO, into the gas feed line 22 via an injection conduit 37, so as to inject (at 37a) a flow of NO/N2 into the flow of air or oxygen/nitrogen mixture delivered by the medical ventilator 23 and conveyed by the gas feed line 22.

[0183] The gas feed line 22 further comprises a gas humidifier 24 arranged downstream of the site 37a where the therapeutic gas supply device 1 is fluidically connected to the feed line 22. This gas humidifier 24 humidifies the gas flow, e.g. NO/N2/air mixture, before it is inhaled by the patient by way of a patient respiratory interface, such as an endotracheal tube or the like. In FIG. 2, the patient/interface assembly is shown schematically by an artificial lung 25.

[0184] A line 27 for recovering the gases exhaled by the patient is also provided. The gas feed line 22 and the exhaled gas recovery line 27 are connected to a connection piece 28, preferably a Y-shaped piece, and thus define a patient circuit 29. The gas feed line 22 forms the inspiratory branch of the patient circuit 29, while the exhaled gas recovery line 27 forms the expiratory branch of the patient circuit 29.

[0185] The gas feed line 22 is fluidically connected to an outlet port 23a of the medical ventilator 23 so as to recover and convey the gas, typically air (or N2/O2 mixture containing about 21% O2) delivered by the medical ventilator 23, while the exhaled gas recovery line 27 is fluidically connected to an inlet port 23b of the medical ventilator 23 so as to supply the medical ventilator 23 with all or part of the flow of the gases exhaled by the patient.

[0186] The exhaled gas recovery line 27 can comprise one or more other optional components 26, such as a CO2 removal device, i.e. a CO2 trap, such as a hot container or the like, in order to remove the CO2 present in the gases exhaled by the patient, or a filter or the like. Indeed, a CO2 removal device can be useful when the gas contains N2O to be recovered after exhalation by the patient. In the case of NO, the exhaled gas recovery line 27 is used by the ventilator 23 to check whether there is a gas leak in the circuit 22, 27 for example.

[0187] There is also provided a flow sensor 36, for example of the hot wire or pressure differential type, connected to the gas supply device 1 via a flow measurement line 35 serving to measure the gas flow (Q) coming from the ventilator 23, such as air (i.e. N2/O2), within the feed line 22, upstream of the connection and NO/N2/air mixing site (at 37a). As has been explained above, this makes it possible in particular to regulate the passage of the NO through the solenoid valves 5 of the device 1.

[0188] In addition, a gas sampling line 38 can be provided which fluidically connects the gas supply device 1 to the feed line 22, close to the Y-piece 28, serving to take gas samples and to verify their compliance with the desired mixture to be administered to the patient. The sampling line 38 is connected to the conduit 22, i.e. the inspiratory branch of the patient circuit 29, downstream (at 38a) of the connection site 37a of the injection conduit 37, as seen in the direction of the gas flow from the ventilator 23 to the patient.

[0189] The final gas flow (i.e. NO/N2/O2 mixture) resulting from the mixing of the air flow from the ventilator 23 and the NO/N2 flow from the apparatus 1 is supplied to the patient via a respiratory interface, such as a breathing mask or endotracheal intubation tube, which are shown schematically here by an artificial lung 25.

[0190] FIG. 3 shows schematically an embodiment of the screen of the graphical display 7 of a gas supply apparatus 1 according to the invention, which is configured to display various items of information, such as the concentrations of NO, O2 and NO2 (at 14) in the gas, but also, according to the invention, a single touch key (e.g. a window or the like) 9a for Start and End of the supply of gas (e.g. NO), allowing the user, i.e. a member of the healthcare staff, to start or to temporarily or definitively stop a treatment by administration of gas, such as NO, to a patient.

[0191] As has been explained above, the screen of the graphical display 7 shows the total duration Dtot (at 10) of actual supply of gas to the one or more patients who have been treated with this apparatus 1.

[0192] Since the problem of recording the treatment time of patients is common in public and private hospitals, the device of the invention can be used for treatments by gas other than that by inhaled nitric oxide, i.e. iNO, for example for treatments based on an equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide, such as MEOPA, or another gas or gaseous mixture (e.g. argon/O2, He/O2O2, etc.).

[0193] According to one embodiment, the control means 6, in particular the time counter integrated into said control means 6, are also configured to determine, i.e. to measure, the instantaneous duration (Dinst) of an ongoing treatment of a given specific patient, that is to say the total treatment time of this specific patient, in particular treatment by NO, and to control a display, on the graphical display 7, of this instantaneous duration (Dinst) corresponding to the treatment time of the patient in progress, in particular during treatment by administration of NO.

[0194] This count and the display of the instantaneous duration (Dinst) relating to an ongoing treatment are reset to zero when a healthcare provider initiates a start of a new treatment, by clicking on a treatment Start key or a New Patient key acting as reset (RAZ) or re-initialization means, i.e. reset key, used to reset the display of the instantaneous duration (Dinst) on the graphical display at the end of the treatment of a given patient and before the start of treatment of a following patient.

[0195] This instantaneous duration (Dinst) of an ongoing treatment of a given specific patient can also be used to determine whether this treatment is a short treatment TC or a long treatment TL, and therefore the number of short treatments (TC) for which the total duration of treatment is less than a predetermined threshold duration and their respective durations (DTC), and/or, conversely, the number of long treatments (TL) for which the total duration of treatment is greater than the predetermined threshold duration and their respective durations (DTL), preferably a predetermined threshold duration less than or equal to 6 hours. Advantageously, a short treatment TC also has a minimum duration, i.e. low threshold, of at least 10 min.

[0196] In general, the invention also relates to the use, for treatment of a patient suffering from a pulmonary disease, of an installation 20 for administering gas to a patient, comprising one or more gas sources 21 containing an NO/N2 mixture, comprising the gas supply apparatus 1 according to the invention, fed with gas by the one or more therapeutic gas sources 21, and a medical ventilator 23 delivering a gas stream containing at least 20% oxygen, such as air or an O2/N2 mixture, which are fluidically connected to a gas feed line 22 for mixing therein the NO/N2 mixture with the gas stream containing at least 20% oxygen and for obtaining an NO/N2/O2 mixture containing mainly NO, nitrogen and oxygen, which is then administered by inhalation to the patient to be treated. The nitric oxide (NO) present in the NO/N2/O2 mixture inhaled by the patient is a gaseous medicament permitting treatment of acute pulmonary arterial hypertension, particularly pulmonary vasoconstrictions in adults or children, including the newborn, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN), or in the context of cardiac surgery with extracorporeal blood circulation (CEC) that may cause pulmonary vasoconstrictions.

[0197] An NO administration installation of this kind is mainly intended for use in a hospital environment for administering treatment by NOi and thus for treating hospital patients who need to inhale NO in order to treat their pulmonary arterial hypertension.