Combined ventilator inexsufflator
First Claim
1. A mechanical inexsufflation device, comprising:
- a patient interface unit configured to permit a negative pressure airflow therethrough and a positive pressure airflow from a medical mechanical ventilator;
a suction unit for generating airflow under negative pressure that flows through the patient interface unit;
a first valve for selectively blocking airflow from a medical mechanical ventilator to the patient interface unit; and
a second valve separate from the first valve for selectively blocking airflow from the patient interface unit to the suction unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical inexsufflation device employs a ventilator for generating airflow under positive pressure, a first airflow channel connected to the ventilator, a first gate operative to selectively open or obstruct airflow through the first airflow channel, and a source of negative pressure airflow. The source of negative pressure gas flow may generate negative pressure simultaneously with the generation of airflow under positive pressure by the ventilator. A second gas flow channel connected to the source of negative pressure gas includes a second gate that may selectively open or obstruct gas flow through the second gas flow channel. A control unit operates to open or close the first and second gates in a mutually reciprocal and opposite manner. A patient interface unit conducts airflow to and from a patient'"'"'s lungs according to the settings of the gates.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A mechanical inexsufflation device, comprising:
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a patient interface unit configured to permit a negative pressure airflow therethrough and a positive pressure airflow from a medical mechanical ventilator;
a suction unit for generating airflow under negative pressure that flows through the patient interface unit;
a first valve for selectively blocking airflow from a medical mechanical ventilator to the patient interface unit; and
a second valve separate from the first valve for selectively blocking airflow from the patient interface unit to the suction unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for performing an exsufflation of a patient'"'"'s lungs, comprising:
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a suction unit for generating airflow under negative pressure;
an exsufflatory valve for selectively blocking airflow to the suction unit; and
a branched tubing for connecting the suction unit to a patient interface unit and for connecting the patient interface unit to a medical mechanical ventilator used to insufflate the patient'"'"'s lungs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of performing a mechanical inexsufflation to remove secretions from a patient'"'"'s lungs, comprising the steps of:
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delivering airflow under positive pressure from a medical mechanical ventilator to the patient'"'"'s lungs through an open first valve;
generating a negative suction force, wherein a closed second valve prevents exposure of the patient'"'"'s lungs to the negative suction force while continuing to deliver airflow under positive pressure to the patient'"'"'s lungs; and
simultaneously closing the first valve and opening the second valve to expose the patient'"'"'s lungs to the negative suction force, thereby effecting exsufflation of the patient'"'"'s lungs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A control unit for controlling a mechanical inexsufflation device, having a microprocessor including instructions for performing the computer-implemented steps of:
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selectively opening and closing a first valve to allow positive pressure airflow from a medical mechanical ventilator to insufflate a patient'"'"'s lungs; and
selectively opening and closing a second valve to allow negative pressure airflow to exsufflate a patient'"'"'s lungs. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A tubing for use in a mechanical inexsufflation device, comprising:
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a branched tube including a main portion for connecting to a patient interface unit, a first limb for connecting to a source of positive pressure airflow, and a second limb for connecting to a source of negative pressure airflow; and
a pneumatically-activated member disposed in a lumen in the first limb for selectively blocking the lumen in the first limb to prevent positive pressure airflow from flowing from the source of positive pressure airflow to the patient interface unit.
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39. A valve for selectively blocking an airflow passage in a mechanical inexsufflator, comprising:
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a membrane, the membrane configured to lay substantially flat in a lumen of the airflow passage connected to a medical mechanical ventilator when inactivated and bulge to fill the lumen and block the airflow passage when activated; and
a pneumatic mechanism for selectively generating an increase in pneumatic pressure behind the membrane to cause the membrane to bulge, the valve packaged for instructions for use in a mechanical inexsufflation device to perform a mechanical inexsufflation of a patient'"'"'s lungs. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A patient interface system for use in performing a mechanical inexsufflation of a patient'"'"'s lungs, comprising:
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a device for establishing an interface between a patient and another medical device; and
a branched tubing connected to the device, the branched tubing including a first limb configured to be connected to a mechanical medical ventilator for generating positive pressure airflow, a second limb configured to be connected to a source of negative pressure airflow and a main portion connecting the first and second limbs to the device for establishing an interface, the patient interface system packaged with instructions for use to perform a mechanical inexsufflation of a patient'"'"'s lungs. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification