Tracheal tube and device for ventilator systems

Abstract: A device (20) in a ventilator system and, in particular, a tracheal tube (2) are described. The tracheal tube (2) is inserted into a patient's trachea (4) to carry gas to and from the lungs. A gas mixture containing endogenous NO is present in the upper respiratory tract (14). The tracheal tube (2) comprises a co-carrier device (16) which forms a connection between the interior of the tracheal tube (2) and the upper respiratory tract (14). The co-carrier device (16) is devised so an amount of gas containing endogenous NO is drawn/forced into the tracheal tube (2) and accompanies respiratory gas into the lungs during inspiration.

Description: The present invention relates to a tracheal tube according to the preamble to claim 1. In the present invention "tracheal tube" includes basically all medical appliances that are used in ventilator/respirator/anaesthetic systems for connecting a patient to the system, i. e. tubes that are inserted in the trachea through the mouth or nose of the patient as well as tracheotomy and tracheostomy tubes. The present invention also relates to a device in a ventilator system according to the preamble to claim 12. The document EP-A-0 747 077, which can be considered as the closest prior a a device with all the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 12. WO 92/10228 describes, among other things, the benefit of supplying extremely small quantities of NO to a patient's lungs for medical purposes, e.g. to counteract asthma and pulmonary vasoconstriction. Small quantities of NO are believed to possess other advantageous properties, such as counteracting bacterial and viral attacks on the lungs. Nature itself ensures that Man produces her/his own NO in e.g. the upper respiratory tract. This endogenous NO is then carried down into the lungs during inhalation and is distributed there in the most advantageous manner. On some occasions, however, people are dependent upon the respiration support provided by a ventilator or respirator. The ventilator can support or control the patient's breathing. Ventilators and their operating modes have been well-known for a long time. When respiratory support is provided with a breathing mask on the patient's face or if respiratory gas is carried to the patient's lungs in some other fashion via the mouth and nose (the upper respiratory tract), endogenous NO gas accompanies the respiratory gas in a natural way. However, problems arise when a tracheal tube is used to carry respiratory gas down into the patient's lungs. The upper respiratory tract do not then come into contact with the respiratory gas, and endogenous NO gas remains behind. This can lead to certain complications for the patient. For example, pneumonia is common in patients who have been intubated for a long time. The lack of NO in the respiratory gas is viewed as a contributory factor. However, assisted breathing is often essential to the patient's life. External sources of NO gas can be used for supplying small amounts of NO to the respiratory gas and, accordingly, to the patient's lungs. However, a plurality of problems occur in the use of external sources of NO gas. The NO concentration must be kept low, usually from 1 to 100 ppm. At higher concentrations, i.e. more than 150-200 ppm, the risk to the patient increases, since NO reacts strongly with oxygen, forming NO 2 , a highly toxic gas. A plurality of different devices and methods have been proposed for supplying NO from an external source to a patient's lungs in the safest way possible. E.g. by exact regulation of extremely small gas flows (EP-A-570 612), through the use of continuous gas flows (EP-A-640 356) and through the use of special gas mixtures containing NO (EP-A-640 357). Even if the proposed devices and methods work well, they still require the presence of an external source of NO in the treatment room and the use of special safety regulations for staff and monitoring equipment for the patient. One objective of the present invention is to achieve a tracheal tube making it possible to utilize endogenous NO for intubated patients. Another objective of the invention is to achieve a device for a ventilator system which makes it possible to utilize endogenous NO for intubated patients. A tracheal tube which meets the objective is set forth in the characterizing portion to claim 1. When the tracheal tube is devised with a co-carrier device forming a connection between the outside of the tracheal tube (i. e. the upper respiratory tract when the tracheal tube is inserted into the patient) and the flow path inside the tracheal tube, respiratory gas will be enriched during inspiration with gas containing endogenous NO. In particular, the connection formed by the co-carrier device can be passive or active in its operation. Passive when gas from the outside is drawn into the flow path by the gas flow within the flow path and active when the gas from the outside is forced to flow into the flow path. Other advantageous improvements are set forth in the dependent claims to claim 1. A device which meets the objective is achieved when devised as disclosed in the characterixing portion to claim 12. Through the use of a tubular means gas can be supplied to the upper respiratory tract through the nostrils and force gas containing endogenous NO down to the tracheal tube in which an opening has been made to pass gas containing endogenous NO into the flow path inside the tracheal tube. Advantageous improvements of the device in accordance with the invention are set forth in the dependent claims to claim 12. A tracheal tube according to the invention is particularly advantageous to use in combination with the device. Embodiments of the invention will be described below in greater detail, referring to the figures in which FIG. 1 shows an intubated patient with a tracheal tube/device according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a co-carrier device in the tracheal tube; FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a co-carrier device in the tracheal tube; FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a co-carrier device in the tracheal tube; FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a co-carrier device in the tracheal tube; FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of a co-carrier device in the tracheal tube; and FIG. 7 shows a tracheotomized patient with a tracheal tube/device according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows a tracheal tube 2 introduced into a patient's trachea 4 where it is anchored with an inflatable cuff 6. The upper part of the tracheal tube 2 is connected to a Y-piece 8, which is connected to inspiratory and expiratory lines (not shown, but functionally represented by arrows 10, 12) of a ventilator system. Respiratory gas from a ventilator 11 in the ventilator system is carried to the Y-piece 8 via the inspiration line, as the arrow 10 illustrates. The respiratory gas then flows on to the tracheal tube 2 down into the lower respiratory tract and lungs. During expiration, respiratory gas is carried from the lungs and the lower respiratory tract in the opposite direction through the tracheal tube 2 and via the Y-piece 8 and the expiration line, as the arrow 12 illustrates, back to the ventilator 11. Endogenous NO is formed/collected/enriched in the patient's upper respiratory tract 14. This endogenous NO is made by the body and for healthy persons, the endogenous NO accompanies inhaled air down into the lungs. This has earlier not been possible for patients receiving respiratory gas from a ventilator 11 via tracheal tubes (including trachetomy/tracheostomy tubes in certain cases). The tracheal tube 2 is therefore equipped with a co-carrier device 16 which is adapted to allow gas containing endogenous NO to flow into the tracheal tube during inspiration, as the arrow 18 illustrates. As a result, endogenous NO is supplied in a manner as similar to natural events as possible. NO gas is only transported a very short distance, so the risk of NO being transformed into NO 2 is minimal. Moreover, the NO concentration is regulated by the patient's own body, so no harmful concentrations ever occur. Quite the contrary! The patient receives the NO concentration to which she/he is accustomed, whether it be 0.1 ppm, 10 ppm or some other concentration. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the co-carrier device 16. A short tube 17, open at both ends, is arranged in the wall of the tracheal tube 2. When respiratory gas flows through the tracheal tube 2 from the Y-piece 8 during inspiration, as illustrated by the arrows 24, a partial vacuum forms at the tube's 17 opening into the tracheal tube 2. Gas from upper respiratory tract is accordingly sucked down through the tube 17, into the tracheal tube 2 and accompanies respiratory gas. The arrows 18 and 28 illustrate this phenomenon. It is enough if only tiny amounts of respiratory gas to be carried in the tube 17, i.e. 10 to 100 ml is desirable, but both larger and smaller quantities can be used, depending on the patient and other circumstances. To prevent respiratory gas from being carried, via the tube 17, to the upper respiratory tract during expiration, a check valve 26 is arranged in the tube 17. The check valve 26 is not necessary to achieve the function of the co-carrier device 17, but virtually all modern ventilators measure and monitor expiratory flow. Leakage of excessive volumes of gas through the tube 17 could disturb the ventilator's automatic monitoring functions. A second advantageous embodiment of the co-carrier device 16 is shown in FIG. 3. Here, the co-carrier device 16 have the shape of a funnel 30 with the large opening outside the tracheal tube 2 and the small opening inside the tracheal tube 2. This improves the effect, since a larger partial vacuum can then be generated. At the same time, any backflow through the funnel 30 becomes more difficult, since the resistance to flow at the smaller opening is relatively large. The check valve 26 is virtually unnecessary but is still retained as a safety precaution. The large mouth of the funnel 30 is located a little outside the exterior of the tracheal tube 2, i.e. somewhat elevated. This is to reduce the risk of secretions and other body fluids blocking the connection. For the same reason, the tube 17 in FIG. 2 is raised from the exterior of the tracheal tube 2. In FIGS. 2 and 3, only one co-carrier device 16 has been arranged in the tracheal tube 2. A plurality of co-carrier devices could obviously be arranged in one and the same tracheal tube to increase the amount of gas containing endogenous NO which is to be added and increase safety. If any co-carrier device becomes obstructed, the others would continue to work. A third embodiment of the co-carrier device 16 is shown in FIG. 4. A sleeve 32 is arranged in the tracheal tube 2 so the wall 34 of the sleeve 32 and the inner wall 36 of the tracheal tube 2 form a space 38. The upper part of this space connects with the exterior of the tracheal tube 2 via openings 40, and the lower part connects with the interior of the tracheal tube 2. The sleeve 32 and the space 38 do not need to be circular or constitute a continuous part of the tracheal tube 2. In the same way as described above, gas containing endogenous NO is drawn into the connection (the space 38) and accompanies respiratory gas during inspiration. A thin flap 42 serves as a check valve for the connection. The flow of respiratory gas during inspiration helps keep the flap 42 open, and the flow of respiratory gas during expiration closes the flap 42 against the wall 34 of the sleeve 32. FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the co-carrier device 16. A membrane 46 is arranged in the tracheal tube's 2 wall 3 and forms an integral part of the tracheal tube 2. The membrane 46 can be thinner or thicker than the wall 3 of the tracheal tube 2 and arranged as an integral sleeve, loops, strips or in some other fashion in the wall 3. The design of the membrane 46 depends on e.g. the choice of material. The membrane 46 is made of a material permeable to NO, such as Teflon. A material which is only permeable to NO, but not other gases, is ideal. Permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide should in any case preferably be poor. This is because most ventilator systems have gas meters and analysis systems for these gases. A fifth advantageous embodiment of the co-carrier device 16 is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the co-carrier device 16 consists of a micropump 56, an inlet 52 outside the tracheal tube 2 and an outlet 54 inside the tracheal tube 2. This improves the effect of NO inflow from the upper respiratory tract, since gas is actively pumped into the tracheal tube 2. At the same time, gas is prevented from flowing out of the tracheal tube 2, since the micropump 56 impedes backflow. Suitable micropumps are well-known in the micro-pump art and can e.g. consist of piezoelectric pumps or micro-mechanical silicon pumps. Therefore, a more detailed description of the micropump 56 is not necessary in this context. The micropump 56 can be regulated via a control line 58 which, in FIG. 6, is shown to run on the outside of the tracheal tube 2, but could just as well run inside the tracheal tube 2 or be integrated into the tracheal tube's 2 wall 3. When the micropump 56 is controlled by the ventilator in the ventilator system (designated 60 in the figure), the pumping of gas containing endogenous NO can be synchronized with the inspiration phases. This results in a system which simulates the natural supply of endogenous NO as closely as possible. A plurality of micropumps 56 can be placed next to each other in order to achieve large inflows. The pumping of only small amounts of gas by the micropump 56 is sufficient. From 10 to 100 ml are desirable, but both larger and smaller amounts are usable, depending on the patient and other circumstances. The effect of gas supplementation can be enhanced by arranging a tubular means 20 to the patient's nostril(s), as shown in FIG. 1. A small flow of gas through the nostril/nostrils then sweeps/sweep gas containing endogenous NO down to the tracheal tube 2, as illustrated by the arrows 22. A small increase in pressure in the upper respiratory tract can also enhance the flow of gas through the co-carrier device 16. In order to obtain a small increase in pressure, and avoid flushing of the endogenous NO through the patient's mouth, the latter should be at least partially blocked by using a specific mouth cuff or taping the mouth around the tracheal tube 2. Surplus gas can, however, be allowed to leak out through the lips around the tracheal tube 2 in order to avoid the build-up of unnecessarily high pressures and ensure a small flow of gas via the nostrils. In this context, gas added through the tubular means 20 is preferably supplied from a separate source of gas. Alternately, the tubular means 20 can be connected to the ventilator system's gas channels, suitably at the tracheal tube 2 or Y piece 8. Part of the respiratory gas is then diverted during inspiration from the larger gas flow passing through the tracheal tube 2. If the patient's lips and mouth are sealed, the total gas volume in the ventilator system and upper respiratory tract can be preserved. The co-carrier device 16 can then be devised in a much simpler fashion, e.g. as a plurality of openings in the tracheal tube 2. Even here, a separate gas source can be connected to the tubular means 20. Positive pressure can then be generated in the upper respiratory tract 14 causing gas containing endogenous NO to be added to the respiratory gas during inspiration. In FIG. 7 is shown a tracheotomy tube 62 inserted into the trachea 4 of a patient and secured by an inflatable cuff 6. The tracheotomy tube 62 is connected to a Y-piece 8 and via this to a ventilator system, mainly comprising inspiration and expiration lines 10, 12 and a ventilator 11. A tube 64 is inserted with a first end into a nostril of the patient and secured by a further inflatable cuff 66. The tube 64 is a part of a co-carrier device, which also comprises an ejector device 63 at the second end of the tube 64. The co-carrier device 63, 64 is in this case connected to the Y-piece 8, but could also be connected to the tracheotomy tube 62. The ejector device 63 is adapted to suck gas from the upper respiratory tract into the tube 64 and down to the Y-piece 8 by ejector effect when gas flows towards the patient. The ejector effect and ejector devices 63 are known per se and need not be described in more detail in this context. In order to ascertain that no gas flows the wrong direction, check-valves or micro-valves can be included in the co-carrier device 63, 64. Instead of the ejector device 63, a micro pump system 65 could be arranged somewhere along the tube 64 for pumping gas from the upper respiratory tract to the Y-piece. One or several micro-pumps can be used. Again, synchronisation with inspiration phases is used. The micro-pumps can be controlled as described above. All described embodiments can be combined where appropriate. For instance, the co-carrier device 63, 64 in FIG. 7 can naturally be used for an ordinary tracheal tube, inserted via the mouth or nose of the patient. Micro-valves can replace check-valves and even be used to control that an open connection between outside and inside of the tracheal tube only exists during inspiration phases.

Claims: A tracheal tube (2;62) with a proximal end and a distal end, adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea (4) with the distal end being most deeply inserted into the trachea in order to conduct, via a flow path between the proximal end and the distal end in the tracheal tube (2;62), a respiratory gas to the patient's lungs, characterized in that the tracheal tube (2;62) comprises at least one co-carrier device (16;63,64,65) arranged at a predetermined distance from the distal end of the tracheal tube, so that the outside of the tracheal tube is connectable to the flow path via the co-carrier device (16;63,64,65), and in that the co-carrier device (16;63,64,65) is devised in such a way that it causes gas to flow from the upper respiratory tract into the flow path as the respiratory gas is conducted between the proximal and the distal ends of the tracheal tube (2; 62) during inspiration. A tracheal tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the co-carrier device (16) comprises an open tube (17;30) arranged in the wall of the tracheal tube (2) so that a first tube opening is outside the tracheal tube (2), and a second tube opening is in the flow path, mainly facing the distal end of the tracheal tube. A tracheal tube according to claim 2, characterized in that the open tube (17;30) has a predetermined length inside the tracheal tube (2), which predetermined length is at least partially parallel to the flow path. A tracheal tube according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first tube opening is larger than the second tube opening, the open tube (30) preferably being funnel-shaped. A tracheal tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the co-carrier device (16) comprises a partition wall (34), arranged along at least a part of the tracheal tube's surface (36), which separates a space (38) between the wall (36) of the tracheal tube and the flow path, said space (38) having an upper connection (40) with surroundings outside the tracheal tube and a lower connection (42) to the flow path, said lower connection (42) being closer to the distal end of the tracheal tube. A tracheal tube (62) according to claim 1, characterized in that the co-carrier device comprises a nasal tube (64), adapted to be inserted into the patient's nose and connected to the flow path in the tracheal tube (62) via an ejector valve (63), the ejector valve (63) being adapted to suck gas via the nasal tube (64) into the flow path when a respiratory gas is conveyed through the tracheal tube (62). A tracheal tube according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the co-carrier device (16) comprises a means (26;42) allowing gas to flow from the outside of the tracheal tube into the flow path and which prevents gas from flowing from the flow path to the outside of the tracheal tube via the co-carrier device (16), the means preferably consisting of a check valve (26;42). A tracheal tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the co-carrier device (16) comprises a thin membrane (46), at least permeable to NO, arranged in the wall (3) of the tracheal tube (2) so it separates the outside of the tracheal tube from the flow path, NO outside the tracheal tube then being able to diffuse into the flow path through the thin membrane (46). A tracheal tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the co-carrier device (16) comprises at least one micropump (56) arranged to pump gas from outside the tracheal tube into the flow path. A tracheal tube according to claim 9, characterized in that the micropump (56) is connected to a control unit (60) for regulating the inspiratory and expiratory phases, the micropump (56) then being activated in synchrony with the respective inspiratory phase, preferably for a predetermined first period of time in each inspiratory phase. A tracheal tube according to any of the claims 9-10, characterized in that the micropump (56) is regulated so a predetermined volume of gas is pumped from the outside of the tracheal tube into the flow path. A device for use in a ventilation system (11) which, by means of a tracheal tube (2) having a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end nearest to the ventilation system (11), supplies respiratory gas to a patient's lungs, characterized by a tubular means (20) having a first end adapted to be inserted into at least one of the patient's nostrils and connected to convey a gas towards the first end during inspiration phases, the tracheal tube (2) comprising at least one gas communication path (16) arranged at a predetermined distance from the distal end of the tracheal tube which gas communication path (16) connects the outside of the tracheal tube with a flow path within the tracheal tube. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the tubular means (20) is connected to the ventilator system's gas paths (8) and preferably has an opening mainly facing the ventilator (11). A device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the tubular means (20) is connected to the proximal end of the tracheal tube (2). A device according to any of the claims 12 - 14, characterized in that the tubular means (20) comprises a check valve which prevents gas from flowing from the first end through the tubular means (20) to the ventilator system's gas paths (8). A tracheal tube according to claim 12, characterized in that the tracheal tube (2) comprises at least one micro-valve (26;42) arranged to open the gas communication path (16) during inspiration phases. A co-carrier device (63,64; 65,64) for use in a ventilation system (11) which, by means of a tracheal tube (62) having a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end nearest to the ventilation system (11), supplies respiratory gas to a patient's lungs, characterized by a tubular means (64) having a first end adapted to be inserted into at least one of the patient's nostrils and a second end connected to the gas paths (8) of the ventilator system (11), and a means (63;65) for generating a gas flow from the first end to the gas paths (8) of the ventilator system (11) during inspiration phases. A co-carrier device according to claim 17, characterized in that the means for generating a gas flow comprises an ejector device (63) arranged at the second end of the tubular means (64). A co-carrier device according to claim 17, characterized in that the means for generating a gas flow comprises at least one micro-pump (65) arranged to pump gas through the tubular means (64).

Inventors: HOEGNELID KURT, PSAROS GEORGIOS, HOEGNELID, KURT, PSAROS, GEORGIOS, Högnelid, Kurt
Applicants: SIEMENS ELEMA AB, SIEMENS-ELEMA AB
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61M16
IPC codes: A61M16