Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In a respiration-assist system, a method for reducing rebreathing of gas from dead space comprising the steps of: during a final phase of expiration of a patient, artificially evacuating a flow of used gas from the patient through a first gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway, the flow rate of used gas being evacuated being greater than the flow rate of expiration gas then being exhaled by the patient; and simultaneously supplying a flow of breathable gas to the patient through a second gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a respiration-assist system, a method for reducing rebreathing of gas from dead space comprising the steps of: during a final phase of expiration of a patient, artificially evacuating a flow of used gas from the patient through a first gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway, the flow rate of used gas being evacuated being greater than the flow rate of expiration gas then being exhaled by the patient; and simultaneously supplying a flow of breathable gas to the patient through a second gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the additional steps of: monitoring the flow of expiration gas; and initiating the evacuation of used gas at a predetermined flow of expiration gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional steps of: monitoring the flow over time of the flow of used gas which has been evacuated to determine an evacuated gas volume of evacuated used gas; monitoring the flow over time of the flow of breathable gas supplied to the patient to determine a supplied gas volume of breathable gas; and controlling said evacuated gas volume and said supplied gas volume for maintaining said evacuated gas volume and said supplied gas volume in a predetermined relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional step of: heating and humidifying said flow of breathable gas before supplying said flow of breathable gas to the patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a respiration-assist system incorporating a respirator and an apparatus for reducing rebreathing of gas from dead space, comprising: a tracheal tube insertable into the airway of a patient, connected to said respirator and supplying breathing gas to and from the patient; a gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway with said tracheal tube, and receiving expired gas from the patient, the expired gas in said gas conduit constituting used gas; means for providing an underpressure in said gas conduit; means for determining a final phase of expiration of said patient; means for initiating said underpressure in said gas conduit during said final phase of expiration for evacuating said used gas from the patient through said gas conduit; and means for supplying breathable gas from said respirator to the patient through said tracheal tube during said final phase of expiration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a respiration-assist system incorporating a respirator and an apparatus for reducing rebreathing of gas from dead space, comprising: a tracheal tube insertable into the airway of a patient, connected to said respirator and supplying breathing gas to and from the patient; a gas conduit inserted into the patient's airway with said tracheal tube, and receiving expired gas from the patient, the expired gas in said gas conduit constituting used gas; means for providing an underpressure in said gas conduit; means for determining a final phase of expiration of said patient; means for initiating said underpressure in said gas conduit during said final phase of expiration for evacuating said used gas from the patient through said gas conduit; and means for supplying breathable gas from said respirator to the patient through said tracheal tube during said final phase of expiration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for determining said final phase of expiration comprises means for measuring a flow of used gas and means for comparing the measured flow of used gas with a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for measuring a flow of used gas comprises a flowmeter disposed in said gas conduit.