Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-27
2001-09-11
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
C128S204180, C128S204230, C128S912000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286505
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable anaesthetic as well as to a portable anaesthetic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different respirators are available for specific uses in the treatment of patients. Anaesthetic machines, which are generally stationary because of their size, like the KION anaesthetic machine from Siemens-Elema AB, Solna, Sweden are used to anaesthetize patients prior to surgery. Intensive care often utilizes multifunction ventilators, capable of operating in a number of modes, such as the Servo Ventilator 300, Siemens-Elema AB. Simpler ventilators are employed for sub-acute care and the care of patients in their homes. Completely portable ventilators are being developed, as described in Swedish Patent Application 9703290-8, corresponding to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/149,023, filed Sep. 8, 1998 (“Ventilator Suitable For Miniaturization,” G. Psaros) assigned to the present assignee, Siemens-Elema AB. Special emergency equipment for lifesaving and emergency treatment at accident sites is also available.
In particular, portable equipment has limitations in its ability to administer additives, in particular anaesthetics to the patient. Many substances, which could be advantageously administered via the lungs, must either be injected, with all the associated risks found at an accident site, or the medication or substance must be administered with a separate inhaler, which means that the respiratory assistance will be interrupted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable a portable anaesthetic to a patient connected to the machine can be performed in a safe and reliable fashion with no need to interrupt respiratory assistance.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable anaesthetic emergency kit for inhalation anaesthesia. Such an emergency kit would be of tremendous benefit in the rapid treatment of or surgery on acutely injured patients.
The first of the above objects is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a portable anesthetic machine having a gas flow generator for generating a flow of gas at an adjustable pressure and/or flow rate, an inspiratory line and an expiratory line, the gas flow generator, the inspiratory line and the expiratory line forming a gas flow pathway for the anesthetic machine, and a membrane disposed in the gas flow pathway and accessible from an exterior of the anesthetic machine, the membrane being made of a self-sealing material through which a specific amount of liquid anesthetic can be dispensed into the gas flow pathway a number of times.
The above reference to dispensing of the liquid anesthetic through the membrane “a number of times” means that the membrane can be successively re-used (until it wears out). Also, as used above the term “anesthetic machine” encompasses a respirator and refers to any suitable type of respirator which, in accordance with the invention, is made capable of administering anesthetic.
Membranes, which can be punctured with a syringe needle tip and then self-seal when the needle is withdrawn, are known from e.g. implantable insulin pumps. A reservoir in these insulin pumps is replenished with insulin by inserting a syringe needle through the skin of the patient, through a membrane on the implanted insulin pump and into the pump's reservoir. The contents of the syringe are then discharged, into the reservoir and the syringe needle is withdrawn. The membrane self-seals to prevent any insulin from leaking out into body tissues.
These membranes have also been used in the ventilator field for administering drugs to a patient. In U.S. Pat. No, 5,181,508 a connector for connection between a respirator and a patient. The connector has a membrane through which drugs can be administered.
In a corresponding manner, an anaesthetic liquid can be injected into the respirator's gas flow pathways in order to dispense the anaesthetic liquid for inspiration. The membrane is advantageously arranged near the gas flow generator for maximal vaporization/atomization of the anaesthetic liquid before it reach the lungs.
The portable anaesthetic machine can have a closed breathing system, whereby the membrane can be arranged, in principle, anywhere in the gas flow pathways.
To increase usefulness, the portable anaesthetic machine can be devised with the capability of delivering an additive gas into the gas flow pathways. The additive gas can be oxygen or nitrous oxide. A gas analyzer for analyzing the gas in the gas flow pathways can be integrated into the respirator.
The second of the above objects is achieved in a portable anaesthetic emergency kit formed by a portable anaesthetic machine according to the invention described above augmented with a dispensing system to permit the dispensing of liquid anaesthetic.
The dispensing system can be a syringe, pre-filled with a specific amount of an anaesthetic, or even a syringe and a number of different bottled anaesthetics. The choice of the dispensing system depends on the intended placement of the portable anaesthetic machine. The former version is preferable for certain emergency uses.
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Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Elema AB
Srivastava V.
Weiss John G.
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