Mri/nmr compatible hyperpolarized gas delivery valves for ventilators and associated gas delivery methods
First Claim
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1. A gas delivery valve for a ventilator configured to supply hyperpolarized gas to a subject, the gas delivery valve comprising:
- a valve body having at least one gas flow path extending between at least one gas inlet port and at least one gas exit port and at least one spool receptacle, one of the at least one gas inlet ports being in fluid communication with a hyperpolarized gas source;
at least one spool member disposed in a respective one of said at least one spool receptacles of said valve body, said spool member configured and sized to cooperate with said valve body to selectively open and close the at least one gas flow path; and
at least one pilot fluid port in fluid communication with said spool receptacle, wherein, in operation, a pilot fluid command pulse signal having an associated pressure and duration is transmitted into said pilot fluid port thereby forcing said spool to translate an actuation distance in a predetermined direction in said valve body receptacle to open and/or close the at least one gas flow path.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, assemblies, computer program products and devices deliver hyperpolarized gas by: (a) providing a gas delivery valve with at least one gas flow path therein, the valve comprising a valve body and at least one spool held in the valve body; (b) transmitting a pilot command fluid pulse signal to the at least one spool to introduce pressure onto the spool to force the spool to translate an actuation distance in the valve body; and (c) opening and/or closing the at least one gas flow path in response to the transmitted signal to deliver hyperpolarized gas to a subject.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A gas delivery valve for a ventilator configured to supply hyperpolarized gas to a subject, the gas delivery valve comprising:
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a valve body having at least one gas flow path extending between at least one gas inlet port and at least one gas exit port and at least one spool receptacle, one of the at least one gas inlet ports being in fluid communication with a hyperpolarized gas source;
at least one spool member disposed in a respective one of said at least one spool receptacles of said valve body, said spool member configured and sized to cooperate with said valve body to selectively open and close the at least one gas flow path; and
at least one pilot fluid port in fluid communication with said spool receptacle, wherein, in operation, a pilot fluid command pulse signal having an associated pressure and duration is transmitted into said pilot fluid port thereby forcing said spool to translate an actuation distance in a predetermined direction in said valve body receptacle to open and/or close the at least one gas flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for delivering hyperpolarized gas to a subject, comprising:
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providing a gas delivery valve with at least one gas flow path therein, the valve comprising a valve body and at least one spool held in the valve body;
transmitting a pilot command fluid pulse signal to the at least one spool to introduce pressure onto the spool to force the spool to translate an actuation distance in the valve body; and
opening and/or closing the at least one gas flow path based on the position of the spool in the valve body in response to the transmitted signal to deliver hyperpolarized gas to a subject. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A computer program product for delivering hyperpolarized gas using a ventilator and an associated gas delivery valve defining a plurality of selectable gas flow paths using a plurality of individually actuatable spools held in the valve, each spool positioned in the valve so that it is in fluid communication with at least one respective pilot gas port, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising;
computer readable program code that determines which gas formulation is to be delivered by the gas delivery valve for inhalation by the subject, the gas selection includes at least one hyperpolarized gas, at least one non-polarized gas, and a combined hyperpolarized gas and non-polarized gas mixture;
computer readable program code that determines whether to configure the gas delivery valve for inhale, exhale, or breath hold operation; and
computer readable program code that transmits a pilot command pulse signal to each spool to actuate the respective spool to a desired operative position in the valve body to thereby open and/or close the desired gas flow paths and deliver the desired gas therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An apparatus for delivering hyperpolarized gas to a ventilated subject, comprising:
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a gas delivery valve with at least one gas flow path therein, the valve comprising a valve body and at least one spool held in the valve body;
means for transmitting a pilot command fluid pulse signal to the at least one spool to introduce pressure onto the spool to force the spool to translate an actuation distance in the valve body; and
means for opening and/or closing the at least one gas flow path based on the position of the spool in the valve body in response to the transmitted signal to deliver hyperpolarized gas to a subject. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification