Pressure actuated valve systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for regulating intrathoracic pressure, the system comprising:
- a valve system that is configured to be coupled with a person'"'"'s airway, the valve system having an exhalation valve, a threshold valve, and a patient port that interfaces with the person'"'"'s airway, wherein;
the exhalation valve comprises a diaphragm and an exhalation valve seat,the exhalation valve is configured to retain an intact seal between the diaphragm and a distal end of the exhalation valve seat during inspiration and until an expiratory pressure of the person'"'"'s airway during expiration equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the exhalation valve, at which time the diaphragm separates from the distal end to create an open exhaust channel between the diaphragm and the distal end, the open exhaust channel permitting expiratory gas flow from the person'"'"'s airway therethrough,the diaphragm is configured to provide a predictable opening pressure while limiting leakage of incoming respiratory gases through the exhalation valve during inspiration or a negative intrathoracic pressure to an acceptable leakage rate of below 0.05 lpm at about −
5 cm H2O and when the diaphragm contacts the distal end, and the threshold valve is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs until an opening pressure of the threshold valve is exceeded, andthe threshold valve comprising a check valve configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve at the opening pressure of the threshold valve, and wherein;
the system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps and/or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the exhalation valve on either a surface of the diaphragm that contacts the distal end of the exhalation valve seat or the distal end of the exhalation valve seat, and/orthe system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve on a surface of the gasket facing a valve seat of the threshold valve or on the valve seat of the threshold valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for decreasing intracranial pressure and enhancing circulation, as well as for increasing the respiratory rate and encouraging spontaneous respiration. According to such methods, a valve system is coupled with a person'"'"'s airway. The valve system has an exhalation valve and an patient port that interfaces with the person'"'"'s airway. The exhalation valve includes a diaphragm having a textured surface. The diaphragm is positioned across an exhalation valve seat and contacts a distal end of the exhalation valve seat, and is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs until an expiratory pressure equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the exhalation valve, at which time the diaphragm moves away from the distal end to create an open exhaust channel.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for regulating intrathoracic pressure, the system comprising:
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a valve system that is configured to be coupled with a person'"'"'s airway, the valve system having an exhalation valve, a threshold valve, and a patient port that interfaces with the person'"'"'s airway, wherein; the exhalation valve comprises a diaphragm and an exhalation valve seat, the exhalation valve is configured to retain an intact seal between the diaphragm and a distal end of the exhalation valve seat during inspiration and until an expiratory pressure of the person'"'"'s airway during expiration equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the exhalation valve, at which time the diaphragm separates from the distal end to create an open exhaust channel between the diaphragm and the distal end, the open exhaust channel permitting expiratory gas flow from the person'"'"'s airway therethrough, the diaphragm is configured to provide a predictable opening pressure while limiting leakage of incoming respiratory gases through the exhalation valve during inspiration or a negative intrathoracic pressure to an acceptable leakage rate of below 0.05 lpm at about −
5 cm H2O and when the diaphragm contacts the distal end, and the threshold valve is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs until an opening pressure of the threshold valve is exceeded, andthe threshold valve comprising a check valve configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve at the opening pressure of the threshold valve, and wherein; the system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps and/or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the exhalation valve on either a surface of the diaphragm that contacts the distal end of the exhalation valve seat or the distal end of the exhalation valve seat, and/or the system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve on a surface of the gasket facing a valve seat of the threshold valve or on the valve seat of the threshold valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18)
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9. A pressure actuated valve for use in an intrathoracic pressure regulation system, the valve comprising:
- a conduit having a distal end that is substantially planar in geometry; and
a diaphragm that is positionable against the distal end to create an interface between at least a portion of the diaphragm and at least a portion of the distal end, wherein one of the portion of the diaphragm and the portion of the distal end comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps and/or grooves at the interface, wherein the textured surface is configured to provide a predictable opening pressure while limiting leakage of incoming respiratory gases through the exhalation valve during inspiration or a negative intrathoracic pressure to an acceptable leakage rate of below 0.05 lpm at about −
5 cm H2O and when the diaphragm contacts the distal end;
wherein the diaphragm is configured to separate from the distal end, thus breaching the interface, to allow gases to flow between the diaphragm and the distal end when an expiratory pressure within the conduit is greater than 0 cm H2O. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- a conduit having a distal end that is substantially planar in geometry; and
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11. A method of regulating intrathoracic pressure, the method comprising:
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interfacing a valve system to a person'"'"'s airway, the valve system having an exhalation valve, a threshold valve, and a patient port that interfaces with the person'"'"'s airway, wherein; the exhalation valve comprises a diaphragm and an exhalation valve seat, the exhalation valve is configured to retain an intact seal between the diaphragm and a distal end of the exhalation valve seat during inspiration and until an expiratory pressure of the person'"'"'s airway during expiration equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the exhalation valve, at which time the diaphragm separates from the distal end to create an open exhaust channel between the diaphragm and the distal end, the open exhaust channel permitting expiratory gas flow from the person'"'"'s airway therethrough, the diaphragm is configured to provide a predictable opening pressure while limiting leakage of incoming respiratory gases through the exhalation valve during inspiration or a negative intrathoracic pressure to an acceptable leakage rate of below 0.05 lpm at −
5 cm H2O and when the diaphragm contacts the distal end, and the threshold valve is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs until an opening pressure of the threshold valve is exceeded, andthe threshold valve comprising a check valve gasket configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve at the opening pressure of the threshold valve, and wherein; the system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps and/or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the exhalation valve on either a surface of the diaphragm that contacts the distal end of the exhalation valve seat or the distal end of the exhalation valve seat, and/or the system comprises a textured surface comprising a plurality of bumps and/or grooves and configured to facilitate opening of the threshold valve on a surface of the gasket facing a valve seat of the threshold valve or on the valve seat of the threshold valve. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification