Patent Application
20140190482
This invention relates to a method and system for respitory care for patients and in particular this invention relates to a controller device and method and system for improved respitory care of patients. Still, more specifically, this invention relates to a humidity controller system that enhances the effectiveness humidified vapor in the treatment of respitory patients.
A humidifier is a household appliance that increases humidity (moisture) in the air. The air can be in a single room or in the entire house. Hospitals also use humidifiers for their patients. In hospitals, patient humidification is a method of artificially conditioning respiratory vapors for the patient during therapy. This process involves generating a humidified vapor being delivered to a patient. These vapors can be warmed and in instances filtration of the vapor can occur. If these three measures are not performed to compensate for the natural conditioning of air by the respiratory system, pulmonary infections and lung tissue damage may occur.
In hospitals, many patients have tracheostomy procedures. A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure in which a cut or opening is made in the windpipe, or trachea, and a tube is inserted into the opening to bypass an obstruction. This tube is called a tracheostomy tube or trach tube. This tracheotomy procedure is performed if enough air is not getting to the lungs and if the person cannot breathe without help. In this procedure, a tube is usually placed through this opening to provide an airway and to remove secretions from the lungs. A trachea is also inserted into the patient if the patient is having problems with mucus and other secretions getting into the windpipe because of difficulty swallowing. Several reasons account for why air cannot get into a patient's lungs. First, the windpipe may be blocked by a swelling; by a severe injury to the neck, nose or mouth, by a large foreign object; by paralysis of the throat muscles; or by a tumor. Additionally, the patient may be in a coma or need a ventilator to pump air into the lungs for a long period of time. Tracheotomies are also commonly performed on infants who are born prematurely, since their lungs may not be fully developed at the time of birth.
In the human body, the nose and mouth provide warmth, moisture and filtration for the air a person breathes. Having a tracheostomy tube, however, by-passes these mechanisms so humidification must be provided to keep secretions thin and to avoid mucus plugs. In the general trach patient process, a mist collar (trach mask) with aerosol tubing over the trach with the other end of tubing is attaches to a nebulizer bottle and air compressor. Sterile water goes into the nebulizer bottle (do not overfill, note line guide). Oxygen can also be delivered via the mist collar if needed.
As a life-saving procedure, millions of tracheotomies are performed every year in the United States and all over the world. Since tracheas remain in place, in most cases, for an indeterminate amount of time, it is not uncommon for the throat and respirator area to become dried out, which can cause discomfort and possibly exacerbation of the condition for the patient. To help combat this, medical facilities typically attach a wall-mounted humidifier to the trachea tubing. However, this can prove challenging for the patient, as he/she is remanded to the bed while moisturizing the throat, unable to move until the procedure is complete. Additionally, when home, patients must use extremely cumbersome, and quite costly, humidifier devices in order to fight the trachea's dryness.
Conventional hospital treatments, for respiratory patients that have a trachea incorporate an air compressor and an air ventilator. The air compressor supplies air for the trachea patient. However, compressed air is warmer than desired for the trachea patient and would cause dryness in the trachea. The ventilator supplies cool air that mixes with the compressed air such that the air received at the patient's trachea is cooler and reduces dryness in the trachea. In to the functioning of the air compressor and the ventilator, in the conventional hospital treatments for respiratory patients, a nebulizer combines the mixed air from the compressor and ventilator with water. These components, the air compressor, ventilator and nebulizer form the conventional system used in hospitals to provide air to the patient during respiratory treatments.
Although this system is sufficient for treating patients in the hospital environment, once the hospital discharges the patient, the patient must still continue the respiratory treatments at home. Conventional home treatments for trachea patients comprise the use of the conventional humidifier device. In order to moisten the air, the humidifier device dispenses humidified air into the atmosphere of a room. Constant dispensing of humidified air into the atmosphere will eventually result in a humidified room that is conducive for the respiratory patient. As the patient breathes in the humidified air through the trachea, the moister in the humidified air will prevent dryness to the trachea.
This current system for home use implemented for the trachea patient is very inefficient. First, the humidity in the patient's room must reach a desired humidity level. This level is far less than the level of humidity in the air that a patient receives during hospital treatments. Second, the humidified air produced by the humidifier s directed to the room in general and not the patient in particular. In this current home system, a humidifier creates far more humidified air than the patient needs.
There remains a need for a respiratory method and system for a patient's use at home that provides air with sufficient moisture such that dryness does form in the patient's trachea. There also remains a need for a system that is efficient in the provision of humidified are to a trachea patient during respiratory treatments for that patient at that patient's home.
The present invention provides significant benefits over conventional home and hospital treatments for respiratory patients. The present invention is a compact, portable unit that facilitates distribution of cool, refreshing mist to tender throat and respiratory areas. This invention handily alleviates the dry, irritation the throat and lungs that typically result from extended use of tracheas. In this manner, patients who must be outfitted with these medical devices can receive their needed therapy with uninterrupted comfort. Also, this device may be used with a nebulizer for breathing treatments as well as to unstop block nasal passages simply by disconnecting the trachea mask and connecting to an aerosol mask.
This invention provides an improved respiratory care system for patients. This system uses vapor generated by a humidifier device to provide humidified air directly to a trachea patient via a tubing element. A vapor controller attaches to a conventional humidifier device and controls the flow rate of vapor from the humidifier to the patient. A tubing element attaches to the outlet of the vapor controller channels to humidified vapor directly to the patient. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubing element will attach directly to the trachea of the patient through a trachea mask.
The device and system of the present invention not only assists patients with a trachea, but also with some other respiratory conditions. As a result, this invention is multifunctional and helps promote overall health and well-being with simple application. In addition to use in the home, this invention is adaptable for application in health care facilities such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the vapor controller can facilitate the implantation of other respiratory activities such as breathing treatments. In addition, the vapor controller has an input port for the intake of oxygen. The vapor controller can facilitate the combining of the oxygen with the humidified vapor and channel the combined vapor to the patient. For some breathing treatments, an aerosol mask fit over the patient's nose and/or mouth and attaches to the tubing element.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a nebulizer device can be attached to the tubing element to facilitate a breathing treatment for the patient. These treatments can include bronchitis. The vapor controller is adaptable to function independent of the humidifier. In addition, the vapor controller is attachable to humidifiers of various sizes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a strainer is attached to the bottom chamber of the vapor controller to allow a patient to insert a vapor pad into the strainer to for a vaporizing mist that will unstop blocked nasal passage.
a and 5b show high humidity adapter plugs for the vapor controller device.
The present invention is system for improved respiratory care of a patient. The primary application of the system, controller and method of the present invention is home health care of respiratory patients. However, the present invention has applications in other health care environments such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The present invention incorporates as a primary component, a vapor mist controller. This vapor mist controller has a modular construction and is adaptable and reconfigurable which enables a patient to use this vapor mist controller for various respiratory applications. For example, the patient can use this vapor mist controller as a high humidity adapter to moisten the trachea, to connect with an oxygen machine, to use with a nebulizer for patient breathing treatments and to unstop a blocked nasal passage.
In a primary embodiment, the present invention provides an improved respiratory care system for patients.
As shown in
The multi-vent barrel 120 can be an optional component of the vapor mist controller. The multi-vent barrel is used to control the amount of vapor mist is released from the vapor mist controller to the patient. The multi-vent barrel 120 can also regulate the amount of oxygen from the oxygen diluter that is mixed with the vapor mist. A mist retainer and adjustment control locking ring 124 fits around and between the multi-vent barrel and the oxygen diluter 128 to secure the multi-vent barrel in place. The high humidity adapter 126 can have a generally circular shape with a bottom, a top, and a side opening. The bottom opening connects to the multi-vent barrel and receives the vapor mist flowing though the multi-vent barrel. The side opening is connected to the corrugate tube 130 and channels the vapor mist into the corrugated tube. The high humidity adapter 126 can have an optional top opening to facilitate the connecting of an oxygen source for via connector 128 for oxygen dilution of the vapor mist.
One end of the corrugated tube 130 attaches to the outlet of the high humidity adapter and the other end of the corrugated tube is attached to the trachea mask 132. Attached along the corrugated tubing is a drainage bag 134. This bag collects the condensation that accumulates as the vapor mist travels through the tube to the patient. Also attached to the corrugated tube 130 is a nylon tube adapter to facilitate the connection of a Tee Adapter valve connector 138 for connection of a nebulizer that a patient uses during breathing treatments. All of the attachments to the corrugated tube, the drainage bag 134, the nylon tube adapter and the Tee Adapter valve connector 138 are optional components but all do facilitate an optimal implementation of the system of the present invention. The trachea mask 132 attaches to the patient's trachea and provides humidified vapor mist from the humidifier to maintain sufficient moister in the trachea. For non-trachea applications such as breathing treatments, an aerosol-mask replaces the trachea mask at the end of the corrugated tubing. This aerosol mask fits over the patient's nose and/or mouth can be implemented instead of the trachea mask.
The above description in
Referring to the corrugated tube 130, extending downward, a vertical stem would be comprised of a plastic tee connection outfitted with a horizontal, corrugated tubing valve plug that would connect to a second tee for the unit's nebulizer connection. With an added drainage bag, this connection would extend in line with the corrugated tubing used for collecting the condensing water caused by the humidifier unit. Back on the vertical stem, a one-way flow controlled valve would be provided, and further down, threaded ports would facilitate connection of the vapor mist controller chamber. A bulbous unit, the chamber, would culminate in a handy strainer. The vapor mist controller is compact and lightweight. The entire vapor mist controller could be packaged in a kit form with instructions for easy assembly.
Inserted into the top end of the pressure line adapter 106 is male adapter 107. The bottom end of this male adapter is inserted into the top end of the pressure line adapter 106. The top end of the male adapter can have threads for engaging a flow control valve 110. This control valve 110 is a one-way flow control valve. The valve has a bottom end connected to the male adapter. Humidified vapor enters the valve from the male adapter and flows out of the valve through the upper end. An operator can use the control knob to adjust the flow of humidified vapor through the valve. A PVC pipe nipple 312 connects the flow control valve to a reducing bushing 314. The reducing bushing can be ¾ inch by ½ inch. A pressure line adapter 116 is connected to a second PVC pipe nipple 312 and reducing bushing 314. This pressure line adapter 116 can comprise a plastic/nylon material. The inner diameter is approximately 22 millimeters.
This pressure line adapter 116 also has an opening for insertion of a multi-vent barrel 320. Also connected to the pressure line adapter 116 is a pressure tube 322. The pressure tube 322 forms a loop between the two pressure line adapters 106 and 116. This loop helps regulate the pressure of the humidified vapor mist traveling through the mini-vapor mist controller.
The multi-bent barrel 320 can be an optional component of the vapor mist controller. The multi-vent barrel is used to control the amount of vapor mist released from the vapor mist controller to the patient. A mist retainer and adjustment control locking ring 324 fits around and between the multi-vent barrel and the high humidity adapter 326. The high humidity adapter 326 can have a generally circular shape with a bottom opening and a side opening. The bottom opening connects to the multi-vent barrel and receives the vapor mist flowing though the multi-vent barrel. The side opening is connected to the corrugate tube 130 and channels the vapor mist into the corrugated tube. This configuration of the mini-mist controller has a plug 344. Other configurations of the mini-mist controller can have other features such as the ability to mix oxygen with the vapor mist from the humidifier. Those configurations could have an oxygen diluter instead of a plug. However, in this configuration, there is no mixing of oxygen with the humidified vapor mist. The opening in the top of the high humidity adapter is filled with plug 344. As the vapor mist exits the high humidity adapter 326 it enters the corrugated tubing 130. Elements 134, 336 and 338 are the same as the corresponding elements in
a and 5b show high humidity adapter embodiments for the vapor controller device. As mentioned, in the present invention, the high humidity adapter 126 can have an opening in its top to receive oxygen port from an oxygen diluter to mix with the vapor mist. If the user does not want to mix oxygen with the vapor mist, as shown in
This invention provides significant advantages over the current art. The invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments. However, it is not limited thereto. Changes, variations and modifications to the basic design may be made without departing from the inventive concepts in this invention. In addition, these changes, variations and modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the foregoing teachings. All such changes, variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of this invention.
