Abstract:
The system and method of the present application automates the integrity check of the breathing system and informs the ventilator to deliver the compensated gas volume, and alert the user if a vital component of breathing circuit is absent or not fully connected. The present application utilizes an open RFID tag on a first point of connection and a conducting ring on the second point of connection such that when a circuit connection is made, the open RFID tag becomes active and provides an RFID reader with data regarding the circuit connection.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present application is directed to the field of patient ventilators. More specifically, the present application is directed to ventilator circuit integrity detection. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is desirable that, prior to the start or restart of ventilation to a patient requiring respiration assistance, that the integrity of the circuit be validated. This includes that the circuit is intact, connected, and the right patient interface component is attached. This will assure that the ventilator delivers the appropriate set of breathing gases without gas leakage. It is also advantageous that a humidifier and bacteria filter be attached to ensure gases breathed by the patient are humidified and cross contamination is prevented. In volume controlled ventilation, some gas volumes delivered by the ventilator is absorbed in a compliant breathing circuit, or circuit component such as a humidifier, filters, HME, resulting in less tidal volume delivered to the patient. Breathing circuits come in different lengths with correspondingly different compliance values. Present methods to compensate gas volume losses is to inject a known gas volume and measure the total circuit compliance prior to the start of ventilation, or enter the type of circuit elements with their compliances or predefined compliances summing them together to obtain the total compliance. These are tedious and require additional steps by the user to enter the right information, enter the total circuit compliance and compensate for the volumes not delivered to the patient. 
         [0003]    Current solutions detect circuit disconnects by detecting gas leakage or failure to pressurize the breathing circuit during ventilation. A common approach to detect disconnects in other industries is to provide a parallel loop back connection to test the integrity of the connected circuit. Loop-back connection can be done via electrical, pneumatic or optical leads that run the length of the breathing circuit. A weakness in this solution is it does not report what is connected and where. The introduction of electrical wires, tubes or optical fiber glass running along the gas flow passage of the breathing circuit components can be costly and intrusive. Another weakness, particularly in anesthesia ventilation, is the failure to detect reconnection of the breathing circuit. A test procedure must be conducted prior to start of ventilation to compute total compliance and resistance to provide compensation for compliance and resistance losses. This is time consuming and has to be added to the user workflow. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification. 
         [0005]    The system and method of the present application automates the integrity check of the breathing system and informs the ventilator to deliver the compensated gas volume, and alert the user if a vital component of breathing circuit is absent or not fully connected. The present application utilizes an open RFID tag on a first point of connection and a conducting ring on the second point of connection such that when a circuit connection is made, the open RFID tag becomes active and provides an RFID reader with data regarding the circuit connection. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present application, a ventilator breathing circuit comprises a plurality of circuit connections, each of the plurality of circuit connections including a first conduit and a second conduit, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an open RFID tag affixed to any of the first conduits, a conducting ring affixed to the second conduit corresponding to the first conduit having the open RFID tag, such that when the first conduit and the second conduit are connected, the open RFID tag is activated and sends a set of data to the RFID reader, wherein the set of data includes information about the circuit connection. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present application, a method of monitoring the integrity of a ventilator breathing circuit, the method comprises identifying a circuit connection of a ventilator breathing circuit, fashioning a first conduit of the circuit connection with an open RFID tag, fashioning a second conduit of the circuit connection with a conducting ring, connecting the first and second conduits of the identified circuit connection, thus activating the open RFID tag, receiving a set of data from the identified circuit connection, and analyzing the set of data from the identified circuit connection, optimizing the ventilation delivery based on the analysis, and displaying the analysis and the optimization for a user. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the present application, a non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed on a computing system, cause the computing system to receive a set of data from a circuit connection wherein an open RFID tag is activated by a conducting ring when a connection is made between a first and second conduit, analyze the set of data from the circuit connection, optimize a delivery of the ventilator based on the analysis, and display the analysis and the optimization for a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1   a  and  b  are schematic illustrations of a circuit connection and network in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a breathing circuit illustrating an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a breathing circuit illustrating an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method in accordance with an embodiment of the present application; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the system of the present application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be applied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claims is intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitly recited in the respective limitation. 
         [0015]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1   a ,  1   b  and  2 , the system and method of the present application makes use of open radio frequency identification (RFID) tags  25  located at the opening of circuit components  135  to detect the connection of two breathing circuit components  135  or any circuit connection  10 . In one embodiment, an open RFID circuit tag  25  (having an open lead to the antenna wire or the RFID chip) is utilized such that the RFID chip in the open RFID tag  25  is not communicating when the circuit connection  10  is open, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 1   a . When connected, the open lead of the open RFID tag  25  connects with a conducting ring  20  to complete the electrical connection, thus resulting in an active RFID tag  27 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1   b . Once connected, the active RFID tag  27  behaves as a conventional RFID tag and may be energized by an RFID reader to send and receive signals to communicate their presence and data to an RFID reader  30  as an active connection  10  and to report properties, if any. Properties can include device type such as bacteria filter, number of connecting ports or circuit connections  10 , connecting location, physical property of the component, such as compliance and flow resistance, that are relevant to safe and optimal ventilation delivery. Simultaneous reporting of active RFID tags  27  can provide the location and sequence of the circuit connections  10 . This helps to map the topology of active portions of the breathing circuit  100  ( FIG. 2 ). Since only active circuit connections  10  are energized and can communicate with the RFID reader  30 , only active circuit connections  10  can report to the RFID reader  30 . The RFID reader  30  is typically located proximal to the ventilator  150  and/or electronically connected with the ventilator  150  computing system  300 . The RFID reader  30  detects the presence of active RFID tags  27  and reads all the circuit connections  10  that are actively connected together. It then forwards the results to the computing system  300  that confirms the breathing circuit  100  is intact, the required circuit components  135  such as a filter or HME are present, and the physical properties of the breathing circuit  100 , for example, total resistance and compliance of each component present to yield the total resistance and compliance of the breathing circuit. An alarm is raised if a critical safety component  135 , for example a bacteria filter  135  is not actively connected to the breathing circuit  100  prior to start of ventilation. The controller  300  can be programmed to deny the start of ventilation until a critical circuit component  135  is connected or the denial overridden by the user. During ventilation delivery, the ventilator  150  uses the aggregated physical makeup of the circuit components  135  to adjust tidal volume delivery to compensate for gas volumes retained in the circuit components  135  (resulting in compliant volumes losses, dead spaces and other issues) that is not delivered to the patient. Similar compensation can be provided to compensate for flow resistance in the gas passage of the breathing circuit  100 . Additional information can be gleaned from computing frequency, duration of active use of a connected circuit components  135 , such as to replace a circuit component  135 . 
         [0017]    Referring back to  FIG. 1   a , a circuit connection  10  of the present application is illustrated in an unconnected position. In other words, the two breathing circuit conduits  15  are not connected to one another, leaving the open RFID tag  25  in a non-energized state that does not allow the open RFID tag  25  to transmit a set of data to the RFID reader  30 . As discussed previously, the open RFID tag  25  includes information regarding the breathing circuit conduit  15  that it is connected to, such as but not limited to, the location of the breathing circuit conduit  15  in the breathing circuit  100  and the particular circuit component  135  that the breathing circuit conduit  15  may be associated with or connected to. The conducting ring  20  is configured on the opposite breathing circuit conduit  15 , and when the circuit connection  10  is in a connected position as shown in  FIG. 1   b , the conducting ring  20  completes the circuit so that the active RFID tag  27  is able to transmit a set of data to the RFID reader  30 . 
         [0018]    As discussed previously, the RFID reader  30  may be configured proximate to the breathing circuit  100 , and the ventilator  150 , and/or connected through a network  40  or hardwired to a computing system  300  as further illustrated in  FIG. 1   b , and further described below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a breathing circuit  100  of the present application is illustrated. Here, a ventilator  150  including an expiratory port  140  and an inspiratory port  145  are connected with breathing circuit conduits  15  to any one of a patient interface component  105  in order to provide ventilation to a patient (not shown). The ventilator  150  further includes an RFID reader  30  as discussed above, but it should be noted that not all ventilators will have such an RFID reader  30 . The breathing circuit  100  also includes various circuit components  135 , in this case a bacteria filter is illustrated but should not limit the present application to such a filter. Any other appropriate filters or devices that belong in breathing circuits  100  may be connected through the breathing circuit  100  such as, but not limited to, heat moisture exchanges, active humidifiers and nebulizers. The breathing circuit  100  also includes an expiratory limb  115  and an inspiratory limb  130 , as well as a y-piece  155 , as is well known in the art. The patient interface components  105  may include any patient interface components known in the art, and illustrated are an endotracheal tube  110 , a facemask  120 , and a laryngeal mask  125 . 
         [0020]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment the inspiratory limb  130  and expiratory limb  115  are configured with conducting rings  20  on the ends of the limbs  115 ,  130  in close proximity to the ventilator  150 . Furthermore, the y-piece  155  includes both a conducting ring  20  and an open RFID tag  25  on the breathing circuit conduit  15  portion to be connected with any of the patient interface components  105 . Each of the patient interface components  105  is configured with a conducting ring and open RFID tag  25 . The circuit component  135 , in this case a bacteria filter, includes a conducting ring  20  on the end proximate to the expiratory port  140  of the ventilator  150 , and an open RFID tag  25  on the end configured proximate to the expiratory limb  115 . The expiratory port  140  and the inspiratory port  145  both include open RFID tags  25 . 
         [0021]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , when each connection is made in this embodiment, and the open RFID tags  25  become active RFID tags  27  ( FIG. 1   b ), thus energized by the completion of the RFID tag  27  circuit with a conducting ring  20 , the active RFID tags  27  will communicate with the RFID reader  30  in order to provide a set of data to the RFID reader  30  that includes its device type, its properties, number of connecting parts, location of the active RFID tag  27 , a status that the active RFID tag  27  is indeed connected, and further whether the active RFID tag  27  is associated with any circuit component  135 . For example, when the y-piece  155  is connected to the endotracheal tube  110 , the active RFID tag  27  on the y-piece  155  will transfer a set of data to the RFID reader  30  that indicates that the y-piece  155  is connected. The endotracheal tube  110  will also send a signal from its active RFID tag  27  that it is further connected. A user will then know that the endotracheal tube  110  is connected to the y-piece  155 , and that that portion of the breathing circuit  100  has an acceptable integrity. It should first be noted that the Applicant has illustrated the breathing circuit  100  in  FIG. 2  (and in  FIG. 3 ) to show all of the open RFID tags  25  and conducting rings  20  in an unconnected state for clarity. Again for clarity, these connections have only been shown in  FIG. 1   b . It should be assumed that the breathing circuit  100  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when connected, will include circuit connections  10  in every location where circuit connections  10  are to be made. Of course, some circuit connections  10  in the breathing circuit  100  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  will include two conducting rings  20  and two active RFID tags  27  in the instances where each breathing circuit conduit  15  includes an open RFID tag  25  and a conducting ring  20 . 
         [0022]    It should be further noted that in this embodiment, the ends of the expiratory and inspiratory limbs  115 ,  130  proximate to the ventilator  150  do not include open RFID tags  25 , and only conducting rings  20 . In this case, only the position and connectivity of the circuit component  135  (bacteria filter), expiratory port  140  and inspiratory port  145  will be transmitted to the RFID reader  30  when all of these circuit connections  10  are made. When the number of available open RFID tags  25  before connection of the breathing circuit  100  matches the number of active RFID tags  27  after the breathing circuit  100  is connected, then the breathing circuit  100  is completed and connected. After connection, the active RFID tags  27  continue to communicate with the RFID reader  30 . Any subsequent circuit connection  10  disconnect may be recognized by the RFID reader  30  when a previously active RFID tag  27  fails to continue to report and deliver a set of data to the RFID reader  30  during any given read cycle. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  of the present application, an additional embodiment showing both open RFID tags  25  and conducting rings  20  on each and every connection point  16  of the breathing circuit  100  is illustrated. For ease of description, only the pertinent portions of  FIG. 3  have been labeled with numerals, and it can be assumed that those components not labeled in  FIG. 3  have the same number as its corresponding component in  FIG. 2 . Here, as an example, the inspiratory limb  130  includes an open RFID tag  25  and a conducting ring  20 , as does the inspiratory port  145 . When this circuit connection  10  is made, both the inspiratory limb  130  RFID tag  25  and the inspiratory port  145  open RFID tag  25  will become active RFID tags  27  and send a set of data reflecting the conduit  15 , conduit location of the circuit component  135 , and location and connectivity of each of the inspiratory limb  130  and inspiratory port  145  to the RFID reader  30 . This embodiment, by way of including an open RFID tag  25  and conducting ring  20 , at each and every connection point in the breathing circuit  100 , ensures the highest level of integrity and tracking of the breathing circuit  100  that is possible. Of course, a user may be able to customize the breathing circuit  100  solution by including open RFID tags  25  and conducting rings  20  on those connection points. One advantage of knowing the pairing of all of the circuit component  135  conduits  15  and the location for each circuit component  135  conduit  15 , the arrangement of the entire breathing circuit  100  can be mapped out via the connected sequence of the circuit connections  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a method  200  of the present application is illustrated in the flowchart. In step  205 , a user identifies a circuit connection of a breathing circuit, and in step  210  a first conduit of the identified circuit connection is fashioned with an open RFID tag. In step  215 , a second conduit of the identified circuit connection is fashioned with a conducting ring. If there are additional circuit connections to be identified in step  220 , then the method  200  returns to step  205  and such circuit connections are identified. If all of the circuit connections are identified at step  220 , then the first and second conduits of each of the identified circuit connections are connected at step  225 . Once these circuit connections are made, the open RFID tags become active, and a set of data is received from each of the identified circuit connections from the active RFID tags in step  230 . This is achieved by the conducting ring completing the open RFID tag as described above, and allowing the now active RFID tag to energize and send the set of data to the RFID reader. In step  235 , the set of data from each of the identified circuit connections is analyzed, optimizing the ventilator  150  delivery based on the analysis, and the data is displayed along with the analysis and the optimization for a user. During step  235 , alerts and/or reports may be provided to the user, and the user may manipulate the analysis such as with an override or turning off alarms, amending or closing the analysis accordingly. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computing system  300  as may be used to implement embodiments of the method  200 , or in carrying out embodiments of portions of the breathing circuit  100 . The computing system  300  includes a processing system  306 , storage system  304 , software  302 , communication interface  308 , and a user interface  310 . The processing system  306  loads and executes software  302  from the storage system  304 , including a software module  330 . When executed by the computing system  300 , software module  330  directs the processing system to operate as described herein in further detail in accordance with the method  200 , or a portion thereof. It should be noted that the computing system  300  may be configured in a number of locations proximate or remote from the breathing circuit  100 . For example, the computing system  300  may be included in the ventilator  150  in the RFID reader  30 , and/or in any user workstation proximate to the ventilator  150  or remote in a practitioner&#39;s station, care station, or other computer station. 
         [0026]    Although the computing system  300  as depicted in  FIG. 5  includes one application module  330  in the present example, it is to be understood that one or more modules could provide the same operations or that exemplary embodiments of the method  200  may be carried out by a plurality of modules  330 . Similarly, while the description as provided herein refers to a computing system  300  and a processing system  306 , it is to be recognized that implementations of such system can be performed by using one or more processors  306 , which may be communicatively connected, and such implementations are considered with be within the scope of the description. Exemplarily, such implementations may be used in carrying out embodiments of the system  100  depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the processing system  306  can comprise a microprocessor or other circuitry that retrieves and executes software  302  from storage system  304 . Processing system  306  can be implemented within a single processing device but can also be distributed across multiple processing devices or sub-systems that cooperate in executing programming instructions. Examples of processing system  306  includes general purpose central processing units, application specific processor, and logic devices, as well as any other type of processing device, combinations of processing device, or variations thereof. The storage system  304  can include any storage media readable by the processing system  306  and capable of storing the software  302 . The storage system  304  can include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method of technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Storage system  304  can be implemented as a single storage device but may also be implemented across multiple storage devices or sub-systems. Storage system  304  can further include additional elements, such as a controller capable of communicating with the processing system  306 . 
         [0028]    Examples of storage media include random access memory, read only memory, magnetic disc, optical discs, flash memory, virtual and non-virtual memory, magnetic sets, magnetic tape, magnetic disc storage or other magnetic storage devices or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and that may be accessed by an instruction execution system, as well as any combination or variation thereof, or any other type of storage medium. In some implementations, the storage media can be a non-transitory storage media. It should be understood that in no case is the storage media propagated signal. 
         [0029]    User interface  310  can include a mouse, a keyboard, a voice input device, a touch input device for receiving a gesture from a user, a motion input device for detecting non-touch gestures, and other motions by a user, and other comparable input devices and associated processing elements capable of receiving user input from a user. User interface  310  can also include output devices such as a video display or a graphical display that can display an interface associated with embodiments of the systems and methods as disclosed herein. Speakers, printers, haptic devices, and other types of output devices may also be included in the user interface  310 . The user interface  310  is configured to receive user inputs  340  which in non-limiting embodiments may be irregularity user preferences as disclosed in further detail herein. It is also understood that embodiments of the user interface  310  can include a graphical display that presents the reports or alerts as described in further detail herein. 
         [0030]    As has been described in further detail herein, the communication interface  308  is configured to receive RFID data  320 . The RFID data  320 , as described previously, may include the location of the circuit connection  10 , the confirmation that a connection has indeed occurred, and any circuit component  135  that the corresponding active RFID tag  27  may be associated with. The computing system  300  processes the RFID data  320  according to the software  302  and as described in detail herein to produce reports and alerts  350  which may be pushed to one or more users through the user interface  310 . The reports  250  may include any analysis conducted by the computing system including reports  350  on optimizing the ventilation delivery as described above. Further as described herein, the computing system  300  can output alerts, and/or report  350  to the user, and may further accept user input  340 , such as but not limited to, setting off of alerts, modifications of the reports, and other administration of the alerts and data. It is the user interface  310 , including the alert and reports  350  provided to the user and the user input  340  that allows response to a detection of a lapse in integrity of the breathing circuit  100  and may provide an alarm if a critical component is absence, or denies start of patient ventilation until a critical component is added or the denial is overridden by a user. 
         [0031]    As described earlier, knowing the pairing of all the circuit components  135  and circuit connections  10  and the circuit connection  10  location of each circuit component  135 , the arrangement of the entire breathing circuit  100  and circuit connections  10  can map out via the connected sequence of the paired active RFID tags  27  and rings  20 . Along with the property of the circuit components  135 , the fluid property of the breathing circuit  100  arrangement can be derived. For example, reading that the expiratory port  140  is connected to filter  135 , that in turn is connected to the expiratory limb  115  and connected to an endotracheal tube  120 , and knowing the flow resistance of each of the segments of the circuit elements  135 , fluid resistance in the expiration limb  115  of the breathing circuit  100  can be computed and compensate the work of expired breathing by appropriately adjusting the ventilator  150  pressure during expiration in the control of the ventilation delivery. Likewise, in another example, knowing that an LMA  125  and filter  135  is connected to the common limb of the Y-piece  155  will help to determine the dead space ventilation contributed by the breathing circuit  100 . The computing system  300  can therefore instruct the ventilator  150  to then compensate the increased dead space by correspondingly increasing the delivered tidal volume. In yet another compensation, the compliance of the connected circuit components  135  can be summed according to its serial or parallel connection to the gas flow path to compute the gas volume loss in the breathing circuit  100  and not delivered to the patient. To clarify, the computing system, in executing the method  200 , may be able to instruct the ventilator  150  to correct integrity issues in the breathing circuit  100  found by the method  200 . 
         [0032]    While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should not limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
         [0033]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.