Exhalation Valve Assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An exhalation valve assembly for controlling pressure in a ventilation system comprising:
- a valve module comprising a valve body and attached seal element, the valve body defining an inlet port providing access to a valve chamber and an exhaust port allowing gas to exit the valve chamber, the valve body having a valve seat opposite the attached seal element wherein displacement of the seal element relative to the valve seat controls gas pressure within the inlet port, wherein the valve body further includes a first pressure sensor port providing access to the gas within the valve body between the inlet port and the valve seat;
an actuator module removably connectable to the valve module and, when attached to the valve module, that is operable to move the seal element relative to the valve seat to control the pressure of gas in the inlet port and the release of gas via the exhaust port;
a differential pressure sensor monitoring the pressure difference between gas from the first pressure sensor port and gas from a second pressure sensor port; and
a flow calculation module that determines the flow of gas through the valve module based on the pressure difference between the gas from first pressure sensor port and the gas from second pressure sensor port and a position of the seal element relative to the valve seat.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exhalation valve assembly that controls the pressure of exhaled gas in a ventilation system is described. The exhalation valve assembly includes an actuator module that may be fixed to the ventilation system and a valve module, removable for cleaning or disposal, through which the exhaled gas flows and that controls the pressure and release of the exhaled gas to the environment. Other components may also be incorporated into the assembly including a filter module, a flow meter and a condensate trap.
268 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An exhalation valve assembly for controlling pressure in a ventilation system comprising:
-
a valve module comprising a valve body and attached seal element, the valve body defining an inlet port providing access to a valve chamber and an exhaust port allowing gas to exit the valve chamber, the valve body having a valve seat opposite the attached seal element wherein displacement of the seal element relative to the valve seat controls gas pressure within the inlet port, wherein the valve body further includes a first pressure sensor port providing access to the gas within the valve body between the inlet port and the valve seat; an actuator module removably connectable to the valve module and, when attached to the valve module, that is operable to move the seal element relative to the valve seat to control the pressure of gas in the inlet port and the release of gas via the exhaust port; a differential pressure sensor monitoring the pressure difference between gas from the first pressure sensor port and gas from a second pressure sensor port; and a flow calculation module that determines the flow of gas through the valve module based on the pressure difference between the gas from first pressure sensor port and the gas from second pressure sensor port and a position of the seal element relative to the valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A respiratory ventilation system comprising:
-
a pressure delivery system; an inspiratory limb that receives respiratory gas from the pressure delivery system and delivers the respirator), gas to a patient interface; an expiratory limb that receives exhaled gas from the patient interface; a valve module comprising a valve body and attached seal element, the valve body defining an inlet port that receives the exhaled gas from the expiratory limb and directs it to through a valve seat to a valve chamber and an exhaust port allowing gas to exit the valve chamber, the valve body having a valve seat opposite the attached seal element wherein displacement of the seal element relative to the valve seat controls gas pressure within the expiratory limb, wherein the valve body further includes a first pressure sensor port providing access to the gas within the valve body between the inlet port and the valve seat; an actuator module removably connectable to the valve module and, when attached to the valve module, that is operable to move the seal element relative to the valve seat to control the pressure of gas in the inlet port and the release of gas via the exhaust port; a differential pressure sensor monitoring the pressure difference between gas from the first pressure sensor port and gas from a second pressure sensor port; and a flow calculation module that determines the flow of gas through the valve module based on the pressure difference between the gas from first pressure sensor port and the gas from second pressure sensor port and a position of the seal element relative to the valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of controlling pressure in and monitoring flow through an expiratory limb of a ventilation system comprising:
-
receiving a patient'"'"'s exhaled gas from the expiratory limb through an inlet port into a valve body connected to the ventilation system, the valve body having the inlet port, an exhalation port through which gas is released to the environment and a surface comprising a seal element; displacing a member external to the valve body that interfaces with the seal element on the valve body, thereby changing a distance between the seal element and a valve seat in the valve body and controlling the pressure of the exhaled gas in the expiratory limb; and monitoring the pressure difference between gas upstream of the valve seat and downstream of the valve seat; monitoring information indicative of the position of the valve seat relative to the seal element; and determining the flow through the expiratory limb based on the pressure difference and the information indicative of the position of the valve seat relative to the seal element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification