RESPIRATORY DEVICE AND PROCEDURE

• US 3,827,433 A
• Filed: 03/07/1972
• Issued: 08/06/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel C. Shannon
• Original Assignee: Daniel C. Shannon
• Inventors: Shannon, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/232,428
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 128/141,142,142.2,142.3,185,1B,145,351,140,146,146.3,146.4,146.5,145.5,205
• US Class Current: 128/201.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3348 Pressure measurement using a water column

Abstract

Applying positive end expiratory pressure breathing assistance to, for example, an infant by enclosing the infant'"'"''"'"'s face in a gas-tight mask, providing inhalation air into the mask, and restricting the passage for exhaled air from the mask, such as by immersing the end of the passage in a liquid, to maintain a positive pressure above ambient pressure in the passage, and hence within the mask.

Claims

1. A device for use in applying positive end expiratory pressure to a person comprising a mask with a gas-tight enclosure capable of substantially enclosing a person'"'"''"'"'s face between forehead and chin, an inhalation tube for supplying air to the enclosure and means to supply air continuously to said enclosure through said inhalation tube, an exhalation tube for directing exhaled air at above ambient pressure out of the enclosure, means for maintaining a positive pressure in said exhalation tube, whereby a positive pressure is maintained in said mask at all times and an additional apperture for gaining access to said enclosure without interrupting the gas-tight seal of said enclosure, said additional apperture having a length of unrestricted flexible tube passing therethrough of a length suitable for insertion into a person'"'"''"'"'s stomach.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure and said tubes are formed of a translucent plastic.

3. A device according to claim 2 including a layer of soft resilient sealing material disposed about the inner periphery of the enclosure so as to be located between the enclosure and face, said material being conformable to the contours of a face in a gas-tight seal.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said resilient material is a closed-cell silicone rubber foam.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said plastic enclosure is generally shaped to conform to the contours of an infant'"'"''"'"'s face, and the sealing material is of a thickness sufficient to prevent contact of the plastic and the face when the mask is secured in gas-tight seal.

6. A device according to claim 1 including at least one adjustable fastening strap for securing the mask said strap being of sufficient length to surround a head and being detachably mounted at at least one side of said mask and secured to the other side thereof.

7. A device according to claim 6 including a first flexible sealing strap located to be secured to the mask at opposite sides of the face, and a second strap located to be secured to the mask at the forehead and chin.

8. A method of assisting spontaneous breathing of a person by applying positive end expiratory pressure to the person, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mask comprising an enclosure constructed to enclose a person'"'"''"'"'s face between forehead and chin and having a peripheral sealing region, an inhalation tube into said enclosure, an exhalation tube out of said enclosure and an additional apperture in said mask, said additional apperture having a flexible unrestricted tube of a length suitable for insertion into the person'"'"''"'"'s stomach passing through said apperture, securing said mask to the face of said person to form an air-tight seal at said peripheral sealing region sealing the person'"'"''"'"'s nose and mouth within the enclosure, maintaining a positive pressure in the lungs during the entire breathing cycle by supplying air continuously to said enclosure through the inhalation tube and maintaining a positive pressure above ambient pressure in the exhalation tube, and locating one end of said unrestricted tube in the person'"'"''"'"'s stomach and exhausting air therefrom through said apperture.

9. A device for use in applying positive end expiratory pressure to a person comprising a mask with a gas-tight enclosure capable of substantially enclosing a person'"'"''"'"'s face between the forehead and chin, an inhalation tube for supplying air to the enclosure, an exhalation tube for directing exhaled air at above ambient pressure out of the enclosure, said exhalation tube having a free end immersed in a liquid to maintain a positive pressure in said exhalation tube whereby a positive pressure is maintained in said mask at all times, and an additional apperture for gaining access to said enclosure without interrupting the gas-tight seal of said enclosure, said additional apperture having a flexible unrestricted tube passing therethrough of a length suitable for insertion into a person'"'"''"'"'s stomach to exhaust air therefrom.