Cannula gas flow meter
First Claim
1. An apparatus for metering gas flow to a facemask or cannula from a pressurized gas supply, comprising:
- a body having a first end and a second end and body sidewall communicating therebetween;
a central cavity extending axially between said body sidewall and said first and second ends, said cental cavity having a diameter;
an intake conduit communicating from a first aperture, through said first end, to a second aperture communicating with said central cavity;
an exhaust conduit communicating through said second end to said central cavity;
means for sealed communication of said intake conduit with a pressurized gas supply;
said exhaust conduit adapted for sealed engagement with a cannula or face mask;
a piston having a side surface extending between a first end and an endwall, said-endwall having a surface area;
said piston dimensioned for translatable engagement in said central cavity;
said endwall positioned closest to said intake conduit when in said translatable engagement;
means to impart a biasing force to said piston to translate said piston toward said intake conduit to a biased position;
said intake conduit having a narrowing diameter extending from a widest point at said first aperture, to a narrowest point at said second aperture;
said narrowing diameter providing a means to focus said pressurized gas supply communicated from said second aperture, in a gas stream communicating substantially with a central portion of said surface area of said endwall;
said gas stream communicating with said central portion thereby providing a translating force sufficient to overcome said biasing force and translate said piston to an operating position a distance toward said exhaust conduit from said biased position;
said piston viewable through a substantially transparent section of said sidewall of said body, when translated to said operating position; and
said piston, when viewable, providing means to visually confirm communication of said pressurized gas supply from said intake conduit, to said exhaust conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A meter for visual determination of proper oxygen or gas flow to a facemask or cannula from a pressurized gas supply. The device features a body with a central cavity extending axially therein adapted for translation of a piston biased toward an incoming gas stream from the pressurized supply. A cup-shaped endwall of the piston increases the area on which the incoming air stream acts. The incoming air stream is focused to impact a center portion of the endwall at a higher rate of speed using a narrowing incoming conduit resulting in increased force and translation of the piston even under the low pressures in which cannulas operate. The piston translates to a point where it may be viewed alone or adjacent to indica to ascertain proper oxygen flow to the user, by a caretaker from a distance.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for metering gas flow to a facemask or cannula from a pressurized gas supply, comprising:
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a body having a first end and a second end and body sidewall communicating therebetween; a central cavity extending axially between said body sidewall and said first and second ends, said cental cavity having a diameter; an intake conduit communicating from a first aperture, through said first end, to a second aperture communicating with said central cavity; an exhaust conduit communicating through said second end to said central cavity; means for sealed communication of said intake conduit with a pressurized gas supply; said exhaust conduit adapted for sealed engagement with a cannula or face mask; a piston having a side surface extending between a first end and an endwall, said-endwall having a surface area; said piston dimensioned for translatable engagement in said central cavity; said endwall positioned closest to said intake conduit when in said translatable engagement; means to impart a biasing force to said piston to translate said piston toward said intake conduit to a biased position; said intake conduit having a narrowing diameter extending from a widest point at said first aperture, to a narrowest point at said second aperture; said narrowing diameter providing a means to focus said pressurized gas supply communicated from said second aperture, in a gas stream communicating substantially with a central portion of said surface area of said endwall; said gas stream communicating with said central portion thereby providing a translating force sufficient to overcome said biasing force and translate said piston to an operating position a distance toward said exhaust conduit from said biased position; said piston viewable through a substantially transparent section of said sidewall of said body, when translated to said operating position; and said piston, when viewable, providing means to visually confirm communication of said pressurized gas supply from said intake conduit, to said exhaust conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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9. An apparatus for metering gas flow to a facemask or cannula from a pressurized gas supply, comprising:
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a body having a first end and a second end and body sidewall communicating therebetween; a central cavity extending axially between said body sidewall and said first and second ends, said cental cavity having a diameter; an intake conduit communicating from a first aperture, through said first end, to a second aperture communicating with said central cavity; an exhaust conduit communicating through said second end to said central cavity; means for sealed communication of said intake conduit with a pressurized gas supply; said exhaust conduit adapted for sealed engagement with a cannula or face mask; a piston having a side surface extending between a first end and an endwall, said endwall having a surface area; said piston dimensioned for translatable engagement in said central cavity; said endwall positioned closest to said intake conduit when in said translatable engagement; means to impart a biasing force to said piston to translate said piston toward said intake conduit to a biased position; said surface area of said endwall defining an endwall formed as a bowl shaped depression; said pressurized gas supply when communicated through said intake conduit providing a gas stream which when communicating with said endwall imparts a translating force to said piston, said translating force being in the opposite direction of said biasing force; said depression providing means to increase said surface area of said endwall thereby providing means to increase said translating force to a level sufficient to overcome said biasing force and translate said piston to an operating position a distance toward said exhaust conduit from said biased position; said piston viewable through a substantially transparent section of said sidewall of said body, when translated to said operating position; and said piston, when viewable, providing means to visually confirm communication of said pressurized gas supply from said intake conduit, to said exhaust conduit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 14)
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Specification