BREATHING GAS DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080142012A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, LOMA Linda University
• Original Assignee: Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of Loma Linda University School of Medicine
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Albert W., Zhu, Yong Hua, Kirsch, Wolff M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,027,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0015 inhalation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 Rate

Abstract

A breathing gas delivery system and method provides a flow of breathing gas to a patient. The gas flow is purposely interrupted for the patient'"'"'s exhale phase in order to minimize irritation and injury to nasal tissues due to constant, uninterrupted flows. Embodiments include an oscillating ball valve that interrupts oxygen supply during the patient'"'"'s exhale phase, cannula tips that are shaped to minimize trauma, and a sleep apnea treatment system that interrupts breathing gas supply during the patient'"'"'s exhale phase.

Claims

1. A gas diverter valve, comprising:

a valve body having an input passage and a common passage, a first path defined through the valve body from the input passage to the common passage, a second path defined through the valve body from the common passage to an exhaust port, a chamber defined within the valve body and enclosing a ball adapted to oscillate between a first position and a second position;

wherein when the ball is in the first position, the ball obstructs the second path and opens the first path, and when the ball is in the second position the ball obstructs the first path and opens the second path.

2. A gas diverter valve as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second paths extend through the chamber.

3. A gas diverter valve as in claim 1, wherein the common passage is sized to accommodate a larger gas volume than the input passage.

4. A gas diverter valve as in claim 1, wherein the valve body is formed of a substantially transparent material, and the ball is formed of a colored material so that oscillation of the ball within the valve chamber is observable from outside the valve.

5. A nasal cannula system, comprising:

a valve having a supply connector, a delivery connector, and a valve body defining an internal chamber and a first and second flow path, the first path extending between the supply connector and the delivery connector and passing through the chamber, the second path extending from the delivery connector to an exhaust port and passing through the chamber, a ball enclosed within the chamber and adapted to oscillate between a first position and a second position, the ball blocking the second flow path when in the first position and blocking the first flow path when in the second position;

an inhalant gas supply connected to the valve supply connector and adapted to supply a flow of inhalant gas; and

a nasal cannula tip communicating with the delivery passage and adapted to fit in a patient'"'"'s nose;

wherein inhalant gas is delivered through the valve along the first flow path to the cannula tip and into the patient'"'"'s nose during a patient inhaling phase, and exhalation gas from the patient flows through the cannula tip and through the valve along the second flow path during a patient exhaling phase.

6. A nasal cannula system as in claim 5, wherein the inhaling gas is continuously supplied at a generally constant pressure that urges the ball toward the second position.

7. A nasal cannula system as in claim 6, wherein the valve is adapted so that during the patient exhaling phase exhalation gas urges the ball into the first position so as to interrupt flow of inhalant gas and to open the second flow path.

8. A sleep apnea treatment device, comprising:

an air flow generator adapted to create a positive flow of air at a relatively constant volumetric rate;

a supply conduit for delivering the flow of air to a patient;

a valve assembly comprising a valve adapted to selectively divert the flow of air from the conduit; and

a controller for controlling operation of the valve, the controller comprising a timer timed to a desired positive air flow delivery time and a desired positive air flow interruption time generally corresponding to the patient'"'"'s desired inhalation period and desired exhalation period;

wherein operation of the valve is controlled depending on the timer so that the positive air flow is delivered to the conduit during the positive air flow delivery time, but is diverted from the supply conduit during the positive air flow interruption time.

9. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 8, wherein the valve is adapted so that the positive air flow is substantially totally diverted from the supply conduit during the air flow interruption time.

10. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 8, wherein the valve is adapted so that the positive air flow is only partially diverted from the conduit during the air flow interruption time.

11. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 8, wherein the device is configured so that, upon a fault of the device, the valve defaults to a position at which full positive air flow is delivered to the supply conduit.

12. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 11, wherein the valve assembly comprises a solenoid adapted to actuate the valve between a flow diversion position in which positive air flow is diverted away from the supply conduit and a flow communication position in which positive air flow is not diverted from the supply conduit.

13. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 12 additionally comprising a mechanical biasing member adapted to bias the valve toward the flow communication position, wherein the solenoid is adapted to overcome the bias in order to move the valve to the flow diversion position.

14. A sleep apnea treatment device as in claim 13, wherein the mechanical biasing member comprises a spring.

15. A nasal cannula tip adapted to extend at least partially into a patient'"'"'s nasal passage, comprising

an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate body enclosing a lumen and having an outlet opening at the distal end, the outlet opening having a major axis that is generally greater than a minor axis, the major axis extending in a generally front-to-back direction and the minor axis extending in a direction generally from side-to-side;

wherein air flow through the outlet is spaced from side walls of the nasal passage.

16. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 15, wherein the body is rounded at the distal end, and the outlet opening has a generally smaller cross-sectional area than the lumen.

17. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 15, wherein the body has a front side and a rear side, and the front side is generally tapered toward the distal end so as to generally follow the curvature of a patient'"'"'s nasal passage.

18. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 15, wherein the elongate body comprises front and rear ends and opposing sides extending between the front and rear ends, and the body has a generally flattened cross-sectional shape in which the opposing sides are generally closer together than are the front and rear ends.

19. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 18, wherein the body comprises a wall having a thickness and an outer surface, and the wall curves about a radius at or adjacent the distal end of the tip.

20. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 19, wherein the outlet is defined by an outlet edge, and a distance between the outlet edge and the closest side is greater than the thickness of the wall.

21. A nasal cannula tip as in claim 15, wherein the outlet has a major axis and a minor axis, and the major axis is greater than the minor axis.

22. A breathing gas delivery system, comprising:

a first valve and a second valve, each of the valves having a first port, a second port, and an oscillating member, the first port adapted to connect to a source of pressurized breathing gas, an inlet passage defined from the first port to the second port when the oscillating member is in a first position, the inlet passage being closed when the oscillating member is in a second position, each of the second ports being generally upwardly-opening;

the first valve having a first connector, and the second valve having a second connector, the first and second connectors adapted to adjustably engage one another so as to attach the first and second valves together so that a space is defined between the first and second valve second ports;

wherein the first and second connectors are adjustable so that the space between the second ports can be selectively adjusted.

23. A breathing gas delivery system as in claim 22, wherein the first connector is a male connector and the second connector is a female connector, and the connectors are sized and adapted to engage one another in a friction-type engagement.

24. A breathing gas delivery system as in claim 22, wherein the second port has a greater cross-sectional area than the first port.