Exhalation Valve Assembly With Integral Flow Sensor

• US 20110126834A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sanborn, Warren G., Winter, David Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• 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 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/11 with means for preventing cross-contamination when used for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/362 : by gas flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 : thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3666 : using heat loss of a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback

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.

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;

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; and

a flow sensor contained within a flow sensor chamber in the valve body monitoring the flow of gas between the inlet port and the valve seat.

2. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the valve body is moveable to provide access to the flow sensor chamber and removal of the flow sensor.

3. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body further includes at least one pressure sensor port.

4. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve body further includes a first pressure sensor port between the inlet port and the valve seat and a second pressure sensor port between the valve seat and the exhaust port.

5. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator module is positioned vertically above the valve module.

6. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator module includes an actuator controlling displacement of or force on a poppet that engages the seal element of the valve module.

7. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal element is removably connected to the removable valve body, such that when removed the valve chamber can be accessed for cleaning.

8. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1, wherein gas flows from the inlet port through the valve seat into the valve chamber and displacement of the seal element effects the flow of gas into the valve chamber.

9. The exhalation valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a removable filter module attached to the valve module that filters gas prior to entry into the inlet port.

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 respiratory 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 exhaled gas to exit the valve chamber, the 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;

an actuator module removably connected to the valve module and, when attached to the valve module, 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; and

a flow sensor contained within a flow sensor chamber in the valve body monitoring the flow of gas between the inlet port and the valve seat.

11. The respiratory ventilation system of claim 10, wherein a portion of the valve body is moveable to provide access to the flow sensor chamber and removal of the flow sensor.

12. The respiratory ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the valve body further includes at least one pressure sensor port.

13. The respiratory ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the actuator module fixed to a housing containing the pressure delivery system such that the actuator module is positioned vertically above the removable valve module.

14. The respiratory ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the seal element is removably connected to the removable valve body, such that when removed the valve chamber can be accessed for cleaning.

15. The respiratory ventilation system of claim 10, wherein gas flows from the expiratory limb into the inlet port through the valve seat into the valve chamber based on the force on the seal element relative to the valve seat.

16. A method of controlling pressure in an expiratory limb of a ventilation system comprising:

receiving a patient'"'"'s exhaled gas from an expiratory limb through an inlet port into a removable valve body connected to the ventilation system, the removable 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 removable valve body that interfaces with the seal element on the removable valve body, thereby changing a distance between the seal element and a valve seat in the removable valve body and controlling the pressure of the exhaled gas in the expiratory limb; and

monitoring the flow of gas with a flow meter located between the inlet port and the valve seat of the removable housing.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

transmitting the monitored flow of gas to a processor of the ventilation system controlling the delivery of gas to the patient.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

monitoring a difference in pressure between the exhaled gas in the ventilation system on the expiratory limb-side of the valve seat and a gas pressure of the environment or the valve chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

calculating a first flow measurement from the difference in pressure and the distance between the seal element and the valve seat; and

performing an action related to the delivery of gas to the patient based on a comparison of the first flow measurement and the monitored flow of gas from the flow meter.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein performing an action comprises one or more of indicating an alarm condition, changing a pressure of gas delivered to the patient based on the comparison of the first flow measurement and the monitored flow of gas from the flow meter, and changing a flow of gas delivered to the patient based on the comparison of the first flow measurement and the monitored flow of gas from the flow meter.