PIEZOELECTRIC BLOWER PILOTED VALVE
First Claim
1. A pneumatic valve comprising:
- a valve housing surrounding an internal pneumatic valve chamber, the internal pneumatic valve chamber divided by a diaphragm into a plurality of chambers comprising;
an inlet chamber having a valve inlet for receiving gases, the inlet chamber having an inlet pressure exerting an inlet force on the diaphragm; and
a pilot pressure chamber coupled to a piezoelectric outlet port for receiving gases, the pilot pressure chamber having a pilot pressure exerting a pilot force on the diaphragm;
a piezoelectric blower coupled to the pneumatic valve, the piezoelectric blower having a piezoelectric inlet port for receiving gases and the piezoelectric outlet port for delivering pressurized gases to the pilot pressure chamber;
a valve seat disposed within the inlet chamber; and
the diaphragm flexibly displaced based on the pilot force and the inlet force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes systems and methods for piloting a pneumatic valve using one or more piezoelectric blowers. According to embodiments, the one or more piezoelectric blowers may be coupled to the pneumatic valve to form a small, light-weight pneumatic valve that may be placed proximal to a ventilated patient, e.g., at the patient wye or the patient interface. Due to the close coupling of the one or more piezoelectric blowers, the pneumatic valve has a substantially shorter response time than traditional pneumatically piloted valves. Moreover, when piezoelectric blowers are coupled to the pneumatic valve in parallel, response time may be further decreased. Additionally or alternatively, when piezoelectric blowers are coupled to the pneumatic valve in series, pilot pressure may be increased as a function of the number of piezoelectric blowers in the series.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pneumatic valve comprising:
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a valve housing surrounding an internal pneumatic valve chamber, the internal pneumatic valve chamber divided by a diaphragm into a plurality of chambers comprising; an inlet chamber having a valve inlet for receiving gases, the inlet chamber having an inlet pressure exerting an inlet force on the diaphragm; and a pilot pressure chamber coupled to a piezoelectric outlet port for receiving gases, the pilot pressure chamber having a pilot pressure exerting a pilot force on the diaphragm; a piezoelectric blower coupled to the pneumatic valve, the piezoelectric blower having a piezoelectric inlet port for receiving gases and the piezoelectric outlet port for delivering pressurized gases to the pilot pressure chamber; a valve seat disposed within the inlet chamber; and the diaphragm flexibly displaced based on the pilot force and the inlet force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for delivering ventilation to a patient, comprising:
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delivering inspiratory gases to a patient during an inspiratory phase; regulating a pneumatic exhalation valve during the inspiratory phase, comprising; receiving gases into an inlet chamber of the pneumatic exhalation valve, wherein an inlet pressure exerts an inlet force on the diaphragm of the pneumatic exhalation valve based on an area of a valve seat; controlling a piezoelectric blower to deliver pressurized gases to a pilot pressure chamber, wherein a pilot pressure exerts a pilot force on the diaphragm of the pneumatic exhalation valve based on an area of the diaphragm; and substantially closing the pneumatic exhalation valve when the pilot force is greater than the inlet force. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pneumatic valve means comprising:
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a valve housing means surrounding an internal pneumatic valve chamber, the internal pneumatic valve chamber divided by a diaphragm means into a plurality of chambers comprising; an inlet chamber having a valve inlet for receiving gases, the inlet chamber having an inlet pressure exerting an inlet force on the diaphragm means; and a pilot pressure chamber coupled to a piezoelectric outlet port for receiving gases, the pilot pressure chamber having a pilot pressure exerting a pilot force on the diaphragm means; a piezoelectric blower means coupled to the pneumatic valve means, the piezoelectric blower means having a piezoelectric inlet port for receiving gases and the piezoelectric outlet port for delivering pressurized gases to the pilot pressure chamber; a valve seat means disposed within the inlet pressure chamber; and the diaphragm means flexibly displaced based on the pilot force and the inlet force. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification