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Active exhalation valve

  • US 10,576,237 B2
  • Filed: 10/22/2018
  • Issued: 03/03/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An active exhalation valve for use with a patient connection and a ventilator having a pressure source usable to control operation of the valve, comprising:

  • a valve body having an internal body chamber with gasses therein having a body chamber pressure;

    a first body port in fluid communication with the body chamber and configured for fluid communication with the patient connection;

    a second body port in fluid communication with the body chamber and configured for fluid communication with the ventilator;

    a passageway in fluid communication with the body chamber and with ambient air exterior of the valve body; and

    a valve seal movable between a closed position sealing the passageway and an open position opening the passageway, the valve seal having;

    (a) an outer member,(b) an inner member positioned within the outer member,(c) an internal seal chamber located between the outer and inner members and in fluid communication with the pressure source, and(d) a seal member extending between the inner and outer members and movable therewith, the seal member having a first surface portion inside the seal chamber configured for movement of the valve seal toward the closed position in response to pressure applied thereto by the pressure source and a second surface portion outside the seal chamber configured for movement of the valve seal toward the open position in response to pressure applied thereto by the body chamber pressure, with amount and direction of movement of the valve seal being responsive to a resultant force generated by the pressure source and the body chamber pressure on the first and second surface portions.

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