Dilution regulation method and device for breathing apparatus
First Claim
1. / A method of regulating the flow rate of additional oxygen taken from a pressurized inlet for oxygen coming from a source and admitted into a breathing mask provided with an inlet for dilution ambient air, the method comprising:
- measuring in real time the ambient pressure and the instantaneous inhaled breathe-in flow rate in terms of volume reduced to ambient conditions (directly or by measuring the rate at which dilution air is inhaled into the mask, while making allowance for the additional oxygen);
on the basis of the ambient pressure, determining the minimum oxygen content to be achieved in the complete inhalation phase in order to comply with respiratory standards; and
controlling said instantaneous flow rate of additional oxygen in such a manner as to satisfy the requirements of the applicable standards with a safety margin that is generally a few percent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method of regulating the flow rate of additional oxygen taken from a pressurized inlet for oxygen from a source and admitted into a breathing mask provided with an inlet for dilution ambient air, the ambient pressure and the instantaneous inhaled breathe-in flow rate in terms of volume reduced to ambient conditions are measured in real time. The minimum oxygen content in the complete inhalation phase in order to comply with respiratory standards is computed from the ambient pressure and the instantaneous flow rate of additional oxygen is controlled in such a manner as to satisfy the requirements of the applicable standards with a safety margin that is generally a few percent. There is also described a regulator implementing the above method.
28 Citations
11 Claims
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1. / A method of regulating the flow rate of additional oxygen taken from a pressurized inlet for oxygen coming from a source and admitted into a breathing mask provided with an inlet for dilution ambient air, the method comprising:
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measuring in real time the ambient pressure and the instantaneous inhaled breathe-in flow rate in terms of volume reduced to ambient conditions (directly or by measuring the rate at which dilution air is inhaled into the mask, while making allowance for the additional oxygen);
on the basis of the ambient pressure, determining the minimum oxygen content to be achieved in the complete inhalation phase in order to comply with respiratory standards; and
controlling said instantaneous flow rate of additional oxygen in such a manner as to satisfy the requirements of the applicable standards with a safety margin that is generally a few percent.
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2. / A demand and dilution mask regulator comprising:
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an oxygen feed circuit connecting a pressurized inlet for oxygen coming from a source and admitted into a breathing mask via a first electrically-controlled valve for directly controlling flow rate;
a dilution circuit supplying air from the atmosphere directly to the mask;
a breathe-out circuit including a breathe-out check valve connecting the mask to the atmosphere; and
an electronic control circuit for opening the electrically-controlled valve for directly controlling flow rate as a function of signals supplied at least by a sensor of ambient atmospheric pressure and by a sensor of inhaled air flow rate or of inhaled total flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification