Breathing assistance apparatus

• US 20030066530A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Mcauley, Alastair Edwin, Nightingale, Chris Earl, Shotbolt, Aidan Mark, Trousdell, Michael John Blood, Shahbazpour, Mehdi
• Granted Patent: US 7,063,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

A valve for use in a CPAP system or any stem at a pressure above ambient which vents the pressurised gases from the blower during expiration. Due to the pressure-flow characteristics of the blower this results in the patient having a much lower airway pressure during expiration making breathing easier. The valve includes a movable member which blocks flow from the blower to the patient during exhalation and vents externally. During inhalation gases flow normally from the blower to the patient. Also disclosed is a further application as an antiasphyxia

Claims

1. A device for controlling gas flow between a pressurised gases supply and a user, comprising:

a body portion including a first opening adapted to be in fluid communication with a pressurised gases supply, a second opening adapted to be in fluid communication with a user, and an interior fluidally communicating said first opening with said second opening

at least one auxiliary outlet in said body portion, and

a valve configured to close said outlet when said gas flow through said interior is above a predetermined threshold.

2. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve configured to fluidically communicate said outlet with said first opening and said second opening when said gas flow is below said predetermined threshold.

3. A device for controlling gas flow between a pressurised gases supply and a user, as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said valve comprises a helically or rotatably moveable member configured to substantially seal inside said body portion but in use helically or rotatably moveable therein.

4. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 3 wherein said moveable member includes at least one vane, said vane adapted to impart a helical or rotational force on said moveable member accordingly to said gas flow, biasing means restraining said rotation and at least one aperture configured to fluidally communicate said outlet with said interior when said gas flow is below said threshold and configured to close said outlet when said gas flow above said threshold.

5. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 4 wherein said biasing means and said vane configured such that said threshold is between said gas flow during inhalation and said gas flow during exhalation of said user.

6. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 4 wherein said biasing means and said vane configured such that said threshold is below said gas flow during inhalation and exhalation of said user.

7. A device for controlling the gas flow between a pressurised gases supply and a user, as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one vane comprises four angled vanes.

8. A device for controlling the gas flow between a pressurised gases supply and a user, as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least one vane comprises three angled vanes.

9. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a torsional spring connected between said moveable member and said body portion.

10. A device for controlling gas flow as claimed in claim 8 wherein said biasing means comprise at least one magnet in said movable member or said body portion magnetically interacting with a magnetic material in said body portion or said moveable member respectively.

11. A system for supplying gases to a user at a pressure above ambient comprising:

a pressurised gases supply,

gases delivery means for supplying said gases to said user in fluid communication with said pressurised gases supply and said user, and

flow control means disposed within said gases delivery means or in fluid communication therewith, said flow control means comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein a system further comprising humidification means, for humidifying said gases before delivery to said user, disposed within or in fluid communication with said gases delivery means.