ANTI-ASPHYXIATION VALVES

• US 20100263669A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intersurgical Ag
• Original Assignee: Intersurgical Ag
• Inventors: Bowsher, Richard Francis
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.290
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback

Abstract

An anti-asphyxiation valve is disclosed, which is adapted for incorporation within a breathing circuit including a ventilator. The valve comprises one or more apertures for enabling passage of gas between the breathing circuit and the atmosphere, and a valve member deformable between an open configuration in which the one or more apertures are at least partially exposed and the passage of gas therethrough is enabled, and a closed configuration in which the valve member occludes the one or more apertures and the passage of gas therethrough is substantially prevented. The valve member is adapted such that the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the open configuration to the closed configuration is greater than the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

Claims

1. An anti-asphyxiation valve adapted for incorporation within a breathing circuit including a ventilator, the valve comprising:

one or more apertures for enabling passage of a gas between the breathing circuit and an atmosphere; and

a valve member deformable between an open configuration in which the one or more apertures are at least partially exposed and the passage of the gas therethrough is enabled, and a closed configuration in which the valve member occludes the one or more apertures and the passage of the gas therethrough is substantially prevented, wherein the valve member is adapted such that a pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the open configuration to the closed configuration is greater than a pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

2. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is resiliently biased into the open configuration.

3. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein deformation of the valve member away from the open configuration causes internal stresses within the valve member that act to reform the valve member back to the open configuration.

4. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve member comprises an elastomeric material, which is manufactured in the open configuration.

5. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein a force resiliently biasing the valve member into the open configuration increases as the deformation away from the open configuration increases.

6. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the force resiliently biasing the valve member into the open configuration peaks in a configuration of the valve member that is intermediate of the open and closed configurations, such that the biasing force in the closed configuration is less than the peak biasing force between the open and closed configurations.

7. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the open configuration to the closed configuration is substantially equal to, or greater than, a Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) applied to the breathing circuit.

8. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is adapted such that the anti-asphyxiation valve remains open during unaided breathing of a user, when the ventilator is not functioning.

9. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration is less than a Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) applied to the breathing circuit, so that the anti-asphyxiation valve remains closed during a normal operation of the breathing circuit and ventilator.

10. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is biased into the open configuration at all points between the open and closed configurations, such that the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration is greater than an atmospheric pressure.

11. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is resiliently biased into the open configuration until the valve member attains the closed configuration, wherein stresses within the valve member are substantially at equilibrium, such that the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration will be substantially equal to an atmospheric pressure.

12. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is resiliently biased into the open configuration during deformation until the valve member reaches a transitional configuration, beyond which the valve member becomes resiliently biased into the closed configuration, such that the pressure within the breathing circuit at which the valve member deforms from the closed configuration to the open configuration is less than an atmospheric pressure.

13. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is adapted such that deformation of the valve member between the open and closed configurations causes at least part of the valve member to become stressed under either a compression or a tension, and this compression or tension causes resilient biasing of the valve member.

14. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the valve member comprises a configuration including an arcuate or folded member that is straightened on deformation away from the open configuration.

15. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 14, wherein the valve member is adapted to be at least partially inverted in the closed configuration.

16. The anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the valve member comprises a continuous wall having a substantially conical or pyramidal configuration.

17. A non-invasive ventilation interface device comprising the anti-asphyxiation valve as claimed in claim 1.

18. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the interface device is a respiratory mask.

19. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one or more apertures of the anti-asphyxiation valve are formed in a wall of the interface device, and the valve member is mounted to an interior surface of the interface device.

20. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the anti-asphyxiation valve is entirely separate from one or more ports of the interface device through which gases flow into, and out of, the interface device from a remainder of the breathing circuit.

37. A respiratory apparatus comprising a ventilator and a non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 17.

21. A non-invasive ventilation interface device comprising:

an anti-asphyxiation valve comprising;

one or more apertures for enabling passage of a gas between a breathing circuit and an atmosphere; and

a valve member deformable between an open configuration in which the one or more apertures are at least partially exposed and the passage of the gas therethrough is enabled, and a closed configuration in which the valve member occludes the one or more apertures and the passage of the gas therethrough is substantially prevented; and

wherein the one or more apertures of the anti-asphyxiation valve are formed in a wall of the interface device, and the valve member has a continuous wall having a substantially conical or pyramidal configuration, which is mounted at a tip of the conical or pyramidal wall to an interior surface of the interface device.

22. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the interface device is a respiratory mask.

23. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the valve member comprises an opening at a tip of the substantially conical or pyramidal wall, and an open base.

24. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the anti-asphyxiation valve includes a valve seat that surrounds the one or more apertures.

25. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the valve seat is defined by a part of the interior surface of the interface device.

26. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the valve member is mounted to the interior surface of the interface device, such that deformation of the valve member into the closed configuration causes the valve member to engage the valve seat.

27. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the valve member is mounted relative to the one or more apertures by a retainer that extends through an opening at the tip of the valve member.

28. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the valve member is not bonded to the retainer.

29. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the retainer comprises an enlarged head having a greater width than a width of the valve member opening, such that the valve member engages the retainer with a snap fit.

30. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the valve member is adapted to be inverted, and the valve member further comprises an indication regarding a correct configuration for assembly of the anti-asphyxiation valve.

31. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a connection port for connection of the interface device to the breathing circuit, wherein the anti-asphyxiation valve and the connection port are entirely separate parts of the interface device, which are formed in distinct parts of the wall of the interface device.

32. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a flow deflector interposed between the connection port and the anti-asphyxiation valve.

33. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the flow deflector is adapted to shield the anti-asphyxiation valve from the connection port, thereby reducing a proportion of gas that flows directly between the connection port and the anti-asphyxiation valve when the valve member is in the open configuration.

34. The non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising one or more vent openings in the wall of the interface device, which have an area that is substantially less than an area of the one or more apertures of the anti-asphyxiation valve.

35. A respiratory apparatus comprising a ventilator and a non-invasive ventilation interface device as claimed in claim 21.

36. (canceled)