Pressure control systems

• US 4,333,452 A
• Filed: 08/07/1979
• Issued: 06/08/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony S. Au
• Original Assignee: Anthony S. Au
• Inventors: Au, Anthony S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/064,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/204.24, 128/205.13, 128/205.15, 128/205.16, 128/205.17, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10185 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/10 with inflatable member

Abstract

A pneumatically controlled pressure relief valve and various systems incorporating a pneumatically controlled pressure relief valve. The valve has a flexible valve closure member which is expandable to close a through passage of the valve and includes a pressure chamber disposed externally of the valve passage and isolated from the through passage by the flexible valve closure member so that the valve may open and close in response to the differential between the pressure in the pressure chamber and the pressure in the through passage of the valve. An input passage opens into the pressure chamber for admitting air and a manually operable valve is provided for opening and closing the input passage to regulate the admission of air. The systems incorporating the valve include an inflatable cuff system for a tracheal or endotracheal tube, a positive end expiratory pressure system and a suction system incorporating a suction catheter.

Claims

1. In an expiratory system having an expiratory passage, the improvement of:

means for generating a positive and expiratory pressure comprising a pneumatic valve comprising;

(a) A body,

(b) a through passage opening through said body, said through passage having a longitudinally extending first side wall which is arcuate in shape in a direction transverse to its longitudinal extent,

(c) an enclosed pressure chamber formed in said body and disposed outwardly from said through passage,

(d) a valve passage extending between said pressure chamber and said through passage, said valve passage having a first end disposed opposite and opening toward said first side wall of said through passage,

(e) a flexible valve closure member mounted in said body and extending across said first end of said valve passage to close said valve passage, said flexible closure member being disposed opposite said first side wall of said through passage in a face-to-face relationship therewith and being extendable from a first position in which it is spaced from said first side wall to permit free flow of fluid through said through passage to a second position in which it extends into engagement with said first side wall to close said through passage in response to variations in the differential pressure between the pressure in said pressure chamber and the pressure in said through passage,

(f) an input passage means opening into said pressure chamber for admitting air under pressure to and venting air from said pressure chamber,

(g) valve means in said single input passage which is operable for selectively opening and closing said input passage whereby said valve is closed it completely isolates said pressure chamber such that after pressurizing said pressure chamber, said valve may be closed and said pneumatic vent valve may operate automatically to open and close said through passage as required in use.