Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for augmentation of spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully self-breathing, said system assisting the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said system comprising: a transtracheal catheter inserted into the trachea of the patient, said transtracheal catheter having an outer diameter substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the trachea so not to obstruct the spontaneous breathing of the patient, said transtracheal catheter having a first end extending into the trachea to a point in the trachea just above the carina and a second end extending outwardly from the patient; and supply means connected to said second end of said transtracheal catheter for providing an oxygen/air mixture through said transtracheal catheter at a continuous high flow rate to deliver said oxygen/air mixture evenly into the lungs of the patient to augment the spontaneous breathing of the patient, said high continuous flow of oxygen/air mixture assisting the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs through the trachea of the patient into the ambient atmosphere so as to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for augmentation of spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully self-breathing, said system assisting the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said system comprising: a transtracheal catheter inserted into the trachea of the patient, said transtracheal catheter having an outer diameter substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the trachea so not to obstruct the spontaneous breathing of the patient, said transtracheal catheter having a first end extending into the trachea to a point in the trachea just above the carina and a second end extending outwardly from the patient; and supply means connected to said second end of said transtracheal catheter for providing an oxygen/air mixture through said transtracheal catheter at a continuous high flow rate to deliver said oxygen/air mixture evenly into the lungs of the patient to augment the spontaneous breathing of the patient, said high continuous flow of oxygen/air mixture assisting the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs through the trachea of the patient into the ambient atmosphere so as to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transtracheal catheter has an outer diameter not greater than 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said supply means provide continuous flow through said transtracheal catheter at a flow rate of at least about 8 liters per minute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said supply means include: means for providing said oxygen/air mixture at a mixture of at least about twenty-one percent oxygen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said supply means include: means for regulating the pressure of said oxygen/air mixture from said supply means at a pressure range of two to twenty-five pounds per square inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said supply means include: means for maintaining the humidity of said oxygen/air mixture at a humidity of at least about eighty percent humidity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said supply means include: means for maintaining the temperature of said oxygen/air mixture in a temperature range of thirty-five to thirty-eight degrees Celsius.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for augmenting the spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully self-breathing, said system assisting in the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said system comprising: a transtracheal catheter having an outer diameter not greater than 3.5 millimeters for insertion into the trachea of the patient; said transtracheal catheter having a first end extending into the trachea of the patient and a second end extending outwardly from the trachea; a supply tube connected to said second end of said transtracheal catheter; and a blender connected to said supply tube for providing an oxygen/air mixture at a continuous high flow of said oxygen/air mixture through said transtracheal catheter into the lungs of the patient to augment the spontaneous breathing of the patient and said high continuous flow of oxygen/air mixture assists in removing carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient through the trachea and into the ambient atmosphere to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for augmenting the spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully self-breathing, said system assisting in the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said system comprising: a transtracheal catheter having an outer diameter not greater than 3.5 millimeters for insertion into the trachea of the patient; said transtracheal catheter having a first end extending into the trachea of the patient and a second end extending outwardly from the trachea; a supply tube connected to said second end of said transtracheal catheter; and a blender connected to said supply tube for providing an oxygen/air mixture at a continuous high flow of said oxygen/air mixture through said transtracheal catheter into the lungs of the patient to augment the spontaneous breathing of the patient and said high continuous flow of oxygen/air mixture assists in removing carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient through the trachea and into the ambient atmosphere to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said system further comprises a flow meter for providing said oxygen/air mixture at a continuous flow rate of at least about eight liters per minute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said blender provides said oxygen/air mixture at a mixture of at least about twenty-one percent oxygen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said system further comprises: a flow meter for regulating the pressure of said oxygen/air mixture from said supply means at a pressure range of two to twenty-five pounds per square inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said system further comprises: a humidifier for maintaining the humidity of said oxygen/air mixture at a humidity of at least about eighty percent humidity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said system further comprises: a heated tube for maintaining the temperature of said oxygen/air mixture in a temperature range of thirty-five to thirty-eight degrees Celsius.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for augmenting the spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully sustained self-breathing, said system assisting in the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said method comprising the steps of: providing means for conducting an oxygen/air mixture into the lungs of a patient without interfering with the spontaneous breathing of the patient; and providing a continuous flow of an oxygen/air mixture through said conducting means at a high continuous flow rate into the lungs of the patient to augment the breathing of the patient and said high continuous flow of said oxygen/air mixture assisting in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient through the trachea and into the ambient atmosphere to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for augmenting the spontaneous breathing of a patient having difficulty in fully sustained self-breathing, said system assisting in the relaxing of the respiratory muscles of the patient and in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient, said method comprising the steps of: providing means for conducting an oxygen/air mixture into the lungs of a patient without interfering with the spontaneous breathing of the patient; and providing a continuous flow of an oxygen/air mixture through said conducting means at a high continuous flow rate into the lungs of the patient to augment the breathing of the patient and said high continuous flow of said oxygen/air mixture assisting in the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs of the patient through the trachea and into the ambient atmosphere to relax the respiratory muscles of the patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing conducting means includes the step of: inserting a transtracheal catheter having an outside diameter of a size not to substantially obstruct the trachea of the patient into the trachea of the patient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing conducting means includes the step of: inserting a transtracheal having an outside diameter not greater than about 3.5 millimeters into the trachea of the patient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing a continuous flow of an oxygen/air mixture further includes the step of: providing said oxygen/air mixture at a mixture of at least about twenty-one percent oxygen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing a continuous flow further includes the step of: regulating the pressure of said oxygen/air mixture from said providing means at a pressure range of two to twenty-five pounds per square inch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing a continuous flow further includes the step of: maintaining the humidity of said oxygen/air mixture at a humidity of at least about eighty percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing a continuous flow further includes the step of: maintaining the temperature of said oxygen/air mixture in a temperature range of thirty-five to thirty-eight degrees Celsius.