BREATHING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE USE THEREOF

• US 20130118498A1
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Robitaille, Jean-Pierre, Schmidt, James, Costella, Stephen, Pevler, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0075 Bellows-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0081 Bag or bellow in a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• 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 16/207 Membrane valves with pneumatic amplification stage, i.e. having master and slave membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0015 inhalation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 : Force measuring means

Abstract

A breathing assistance apparatus includes an inner volumetric member pressurizable from a first pressure to a second pressure and an outer volumetric member surrounding at least a portion of the inner expandable volumetric member. The inner volumetric member pressurizes the outer volumetric member as the inner volumetric member is pressurized from the first pressure to the second pressure. In another embodiment, a breathing assistance apparatus includes exhalation and inhalation chambers with respective biasing members providing for the exhalation chamber to apply a pressure to the inhalation chamber and thereby provide assisted inhalation. Methods for assisting breathing are also provided.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus comprising:

an inner volumetric member pressurizable from a first pressure to a second pressure;

an outer volumetric member surrounding at least a portion of said inner volumetric member, wherein said inner volumetric member pressurizes said outer volumetric member as said inner volumetric member is pressurized from said first pressure to said second pressure;

an expiratory flow path communicating with said inner volumetric member;

a pressure relief valve communicating between said inner volumetric member and ambient air at a location spaced from said expiratory flow path member;

an inspiratory flow path communicating with said outer volumetric member; and

at least one intake portal communicating with said outer volumetric metric member.

2. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inner volumetric member is expandable between a first volume and a second volume.

3. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure relief valve is moveable from a closed position to an open position in response to a predetermined pressure.

4. The breathing apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pressure relief valve is adjustable between at least a first and second configuration, wherein said predetermined pressure is varied between at least a first and second predetermined pressure corresponding to said first and second configurations of said pressure relief valve.

5. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a one-way exhalation valve positioned in said expiratory flow path.

6. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a one-way inhalation valve positioned in said inspiratory flow path.

7. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a one-way valve positioned at a junction between said inspiratory flow path and said outer volumetric member.

8. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a choke member coupled to said inhalation flow pathway, wherein said choke member is adjustable to vary a volume of gas in said inhalation flow path.

9. The breathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a patient interface communicating with said expiratory and inspiratory flow paths.

10. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the patient interface comprises at least a one-way ambient air inhalation valve.

11. The breathing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the patient interface is one of a mask, nasal cannula, mouthpiece, or connector suitable for connecting a respiratory tube.

12-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A breathing apparatus comprising:

an exhalation chamber comprising a first biasing member dividing said chamber into first and second variable chambers, wherein said first variable chamber comprises an inlet port adapted for fluid communication with a user interface and an outlet port, wherein said second variable chambers comprises an inlet port and an outlet port; and

an inhalation chamber comprising an inlet port in fluid communication with said outlet port of said second variable chamber, an outlet port in fluid communication with said user interface, and a second biasing member;

wherein said first biasing member is moveable from a first position to a second position in response to an exhaust flow from said inlet port of said first variable chamber, and wherein a volume of said first variable chamber is increased from a first volume to a second volume and a volume of said second variable chamber is decreased from a first volume to a second volume in response to said movement of said first biasing member;

wherein said second biasing member is moveable from a first position to a second position in response to a pressurized flow from said outlet port of said second variable chamber to said inlet port of said inhalation chamber, and wherein a volume of said inhalation chamber is increased from a first volume to a second volume in response to said movement of said second biasing member.

22. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a PEEP and peak pressure valve communicating with said outlet port of said first variable chamber.

23. The breathing apparatus of claim 22 wherein said PEEP and peak pressure valve comprises at least one adjustment mechanism for adjusting a PEEP and a peak pressure.

24. The breathing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of adjustment mechanism for independently adjusting PEEP and peak pressure.

25. The breathing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of magnets, wherein said first adjustment mechanism is adjustable to vary the distance between said pair of magnets.

26. The breathing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a spring and an adjuster, wherein said adjuster is adjustable to vary a spring force applied by said spring.

27. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first biasing member comprises a piston and a spring.

28. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second biasing member comprises a piston and a spring.

29. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first biasing member comprises an elastic membrane.

30. The breathing apparatus of claim 29 wherein said elastic membrane defines one of said first or second variable chambers.

31. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second biasing member comprises an elastic membrane.

32. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a user interface comprising a first flow path in fluid communication with said inlet port of said first variable chamber, a one-way exhalation valve disposed in said first flow path, a second flow path in fluid communication with said outlet port of said inhalation chamber, a first one-way inhalation valve disposed in said second flow path, a third flow path in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and a second one-way inhalation valve disposed in said third flow path.

33. The breathing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said exhalation chamber has an overall adjustable volume, wherein said first biasing member is disposed interiorly of said adjustable volume.

34. The breathing apparatus of claim 33 wherein said exhalation chamber comprises an adjustable bellow.

35-48. -48. (canceled)