Abstract: A gas tank arrangement for a breathing apparatus, including: a gas tank; an inlet valve configured to control a flow of gas into said gas tank; an outlet valve configured to control a flow of gas out of said gas tank and towards a patient; and a controller configured to control said inlet and outlet valves to maintain the gas within said gas tank at an overpressure for subsequent delivery to the patient, to control the outlet valve based on a parameter that is indicative of pressure within the gas tank, and to control the inlet and outlet valves to always maintain the pressure in the gas tank between a minimum pressure threshold value and a maximum pressure threshold value, wherein the minimum or maximum pressure threshold value is determined based on preset parameters relating to the dynamics of said outlet valve, or a desired minimum or maximum flow of gas out of the gas tank.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus (1) is disclosed comprising an inspiratory channel (3), an expiratory channel (4), a patient interface (5), an oxygen valve (13) and a blower (7) comprising blower driving means (9). The blower (7) is arranged to produce a flow of air to the inspiratory channel (3). The oxygen valve (13) is configured to selectively deliver a flow of oxygen to the inspiratory channel (3). The breathing apparatus further comprises a control unit (19) configured to control the blower driving means (9) so that the blower (7) produces substantially no flow of air to the inspiratory channel (3) during a time period (tp). The present disclosure further relates to a method (100) of controlling operation of a breathing apparatus (1), a computer program and a computer program product (300) for performing a method (100) of controlling operation of a breathing apparatus (1).

Abstract: A method for non-invasive determination of a hemodynamic parameter of a mechanically ventilated subject based on a point in time (thb) of a heartbeat of the subject and an arrival point in time (tarr_pulm) at which a blood pressure pulse caused by the heartbeat reaches the lungs of the subject. The method includes the steps of measuring a respiratory pressure and/or a respiratory flow, and determining the arrival point in time (tarr_pulm) from a change in the measured respiratory pressure and/or the respiratory flow resulting from a change in lung volume caused by the arrival of the blood pressure pulse to the lungs of the subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for non-invasive determination of a hemodynamic parameter of a mechanically ventilated subject (3) based on a point in time (thb) of a heartbeat of the subject and an arrival point in time (tarr_pulm, taff_sys) at which a blood pressure pulse caused by the heartbeat reaches a point of arrival in the circulatory system of the subject. The method comprises the steps of measuring (S41) a respiratory pressure and/or a respiratory flow, and determining (S43) the point in time (thb) of the heartbeat from a change in the measured respiratory pressure and/or the respiratory flow resulting from a physical impact of the heart on the lungs of the subject (3) during the heartbeat.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus provides high frequency oscillatory ventilation [HFO] to a patient by supplying breathing gas to the patient according to an oscillating pressure profile oscillating between a positive pressure and a negative pressure. The breathing apparatus has a patient circuit including an inspiratory line for conveying breathing gas to the patient, and an expiratory line for conveying gas away from the patient, and an inspiration valve for regulating a flow of pressurised breathing gas into the inspiration line, and a control computer that controls the inspiration valve. The control computer operates to cause the oscillating pressure profile by controlling the inspiration valve to oscillate between a top flow position in which the flow of breathing gas through the inspiration valve assumes a top flow value, and a minimum flow position in which the flow through the inspiration valve assumes a minimum flow value.

Abstract: A gas tank arrangement for a breathing apparatus, including: a gas tank; an inlet valve configured to control a flow of gas into said gas tank; an outlet valve configured to control a flow of gas out of said gas tank and towards a patient; and a controller configured to control said inlet and outlet valves to maintain the gas within said gas tank at an overpressure for subsequent delivery to the patient, to control the outlet valve based on a parameter that is indicative of pressure within the gas tank, and to control the inlet and outlet valves to always maintain the pressure in the gas tank between a minimum pressure threshold value and a maximum pressure threshold value, wherein the minimum or maximum pressure threshold value is determined based on preset parameters relating to the dynamics of said outlet valve, or a desired minimum or maximum flow of gas out of the gas tank.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus (1) is disclosed comprising an inspiratory channel (3), an expiratory channel (4), a patient interface (5), an oxygen valve (13) and a blower (7) comprising blower driving means (9). The blower (7) is arranged to produce a flow of air to the inspiratory channel (3). The oxygen valve (13) is configured to selectively deliver a flow of oxygen to the inspiratory channel (3). The breathing apparatus further comprises a control unit (19) configured to control the blower driving means (9) so that the blower (7) produces substantially no flow of air to the inspiratory channel (3) during a time period (tp). The present disclosure further relates to a method (100) of controlling operation of a breathing apparatus (1), a computer program and a computer program product (300) for performing a method (100) of controlling operation of a breathing apparatus (1).

Abstract: A vaporizer arrangement for a breathing apparatus serves the double purpose of vaporizer and pressurized supply of vapor-containing gas for direct delivery to a patient. The vaporizer arrangement has at least a first gas inlet channel for conveying a flow of a carrier gas into a vaporization chamber, a vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid into the carrier gas in the vaporization chamber, and a gas outlet channel for conveying a flow of vapor-containing carrier gas out of the vaporization chamber and toward the patient. The vaporizer arrangement further has a gas flow regulator that maintains the carrier gas within the vaporization chamber at an overpressure, and that controls the flow of vapor-containing carrier gas out of the vaporization chamber in a variable manner.

Abstract: In a method and breathing apparatus for providing support ventilation to a spontaneously breathing patient a pressure and/or a flow is monitored based on pressure and/or flow measurements, and efforts to inhale or exhale by the patient are detected based on changes in the monitored pressure and/or flow. When a change in the monitored pressure and/or flow indicating an effort to inhale or exhale is detected, the rate of that change is determined and used to calculate a suitable rate of change of pressure applied to the airways of the patient. By changing the applied pressure in accordance with the so determined suitable rate of change, the pressure rise time during inspiration and/or the pressure fall time during expiration can be adjusted to the needs of the patient to ensure efficient and comfortable ventilation.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus provides high frequency oscillatory ventilation [HFO] to a patient by supplying breathing gas to the patient according to an oscillating pressure profile oscillating between a positive pressure and a negative pressure. The breathing apparatus has a patient circuit including an inspiratory line for conveying breathing gas to the patient and an expiratory line for conveying gas away from the patient, and an inspiration valve for regulating a flow of pressurised breathing gas into the inspiration line, and a control computer that controls the inspiration valve. The control computer operates to cause the oscillating pressure profile by controlling the inspiration valve to oscillate between a top flow position in which the flow of breathing gas through the inspiration valve assumes a top flow value, and a minimum flow position in which the flow through the inspiration valve assumes a minimum flow value.

Abstract: A vaporizer arrangement for a breathing apparatus serves the double purpose of vaporizer and pressurized supply of vapor-containing gas for direct delivery to a patient. The vaporizer arrangement has at least a first gas inlet channel for conveying a flow of a carrier gas into a vaporization chamber, a vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid into the carrier gas in the vaporization chamber, and a gas outlet channel for conveying a flow of vapor-containing carrier gas out of the vaporization chamber and toward the patient. The vaporizer arrangement further has a gas flow regulator that maintains the carrier gas within the vaporization chamber at an overpressure, and that controls the flow of vapor-containing carrier gas out of the vaporization chamber in a variable manner.

Abstract: A patient ventilation system has a flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement connected to an inspiratory channel of the system from which a gas mixture containing oxygen and at least a second gas is delivered to the system's proximal tubing. The proximal tubing further is connected to an expiratory channel and is connectable to a patient. The system further has at least two gas inlets connected to the flow regulating and mixing arrangement, and a gas identification unit in which the at least second gas supplied to the system via one of the gas inlets can be identified. By actively measuring a value that is dependent on the characteristics of the delivered gas, and by correcting the calibration of the flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement and/or the flow meter(s) based on this value, both safety and flow regulation in the system are enhanced.

Abstract: In a method and breathing apparatus for providing support ventilation to a spontaneously breathing patient a pressure and/or a flow is monitored based on pressure and/or flow measurements, and efforts to inhale or exhale by the patient are detected based on changes in the monitored pressure and/or flow. When a change in the monitored pressure and/or flow indicating an effort to inhale or exhale is detected, the rate of that change is determined and used to calculate a suitable rate of change of pressure applied to the airways of the patient. By changing the applied pressure in accordance with the so determined suitable rate of change, the pressure rise time during inspiration and/or the pressure fall time during expiration can be adjusted to the needs of the patient to ensure efficient and comfortable ventilation.

Abstract: A patient ventilation system has a flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement connected to an inspiratory channel of the system from which a gas mixture containing oxygen and at least a second gas is delivered to the system's proximal tubing. The proximal tubing further is connected to an expiratory channel and is connectable to a patient. The system further has at least two gas inlets connected to the flow regulating and mixing arrangement, and a gas identification unit in which the at least second gas supplied to the system via one of the gas inlets can be identified. By actively measuring a value that is dependent on the characteristics of the delivered gas, and by correcting the calibration of the flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement and/or the flow meter(s) based on this value, both safety and flow regulation in the system are enhanced.