Pressure regulating valve for use in continuous positive airway pressure devices

• US 20040040563A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormedics Corporation (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Sensormedics Corporation (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Tran, Hung, Quinn, Tim, Murdock, Larry, Chu, Edmond
• Granted Patent: US 6,766,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87555 Having direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

A valve for use in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices includes a valve body that is disposed at or between the patient mask and the source of positive airway pressure. The valve body includes first and second exhaust paths for exhausting gas from the mask. A floating valve seat is disposed in the valve body and is moveable between first and second positions. A moveable spring-biased piston is releasably engaged with the floating valve seat. When the floating valve seat is in the first position, the moveable spring-biased piston is disengaged from the valve seat and gas travels out the first exhaust flowpath. When the floating valve seat is in the second position, the moveable spring-biased piston is engaged with the valve seat and gas travels out the second exhaust flowpath. The valve provides substantially constant positive airway pressure to the patient at pressures above the threshold pressure level of the valve. When the pressure drops below the threshold value, the valve opens a secondary flowpath in the valve.

Claims

1. A valve for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device having a source of positive airway pressure connected to a patient mask, the valve comprising:

a valve body disposed at or between the patient mask and the source of positive airway pressure, the valve body having a first exhaust flowpath and second exhaust flowpath;

a floating valve seat disposed in the valve body and moveable between first and second positions;

a moveable spring-biased piston releasably engaged with the floating valve seat; and

wherein when the floating valve seat is in the first position, the moveable spring-biased piston is disengaged from valve seat and gas travels out the first exhaust flowpath, and wherein when the floating valve seat is in the second position, the moveable spring-biased piston is engaged with the valve seat and gas travels out the second exhaust flowpath.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient mask.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein floating valve seat moves from the first position to the second position when the pressure produced by the continuous positive airway pressure device drops below a preset pressure.

4. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the preset pressure is within the range of about 3 cm H₂O to about 20 cm H₂O.

5. A mask for the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure to a patient comprising:

a mask, the mask being connectable to a source of positive airway pressure;

a valve disposed in the mask for controllably releasing gas therefrom to produce a substantially constant pressure inside the mask, the valve comprising;

a valve body, the valve body having a first exhaust flowpath and second exhaust flowpath;

a floating valve seat disposed in the valve body and moveable between first and second positions;

a moveable spring-biased piston releasably engaged with the floating valve seat; and

wherein when the floating valve seat is in the first position, the moveable spring-biased piston is disengaged from valve seat and gas travels through the first exhaust flowpath, and wherein when the floating valve seat is in the second position, the moveable spring-biased piston in engaged with the valve seat and gas travels through the second exhaust flowpath.

6. The mask according to claim 5, wherein floating valve seat moves from the first position to the second position when the pressure in the mask drops below a preset pressure.

7. The mask of claim 6, wherein the preset pressure is within the range of about 3 cm H₂O to about 20 cm H₂O.

8. A method delivering continuous positive airway pressure to a patient comprising the steps of:

providing a source of positive airway pressure;

providing a mask that connects the patient to the source of positive airway pressure, the mask including a valve therein for controllably releasing gas from the mask so as to produce a substantially constant pressure within the mask, the valve including first and second exhaust flowpaths, wherein gas is released through the first exhaust flowpath in the valve when the pressure inside the mask exceeds a threshold value, and wherein gas is released through the second exhaust flowpath when the pressure inside the mask falls below the threshold value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the threshold value is within the range of about 3 cm H₂O to about 20 cm H₂O.