Ventilator having an oscillatory inspiratory phase and method

• US 4,592,349 A
• Filed: 07/21/1983
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The October Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Forrest M. Bird
• Inventors: Bird, Forrest M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/516,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.25, 128/204.18, 128/205.24, 128/204.26, 128/204.27, 128/204.28, 128/205.11, 137/102, 137/888, 417/183, 417/184, 417/185
• US Class Current: 128/204.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0012 by Venturi means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type

Abstract

Ventilator for use with a source of gas under pressure for supplying such gas to the airway of a patient having an inlet adapted to be connected to the source of gas, and an outlet adapted to be connected to the airway of the patient. A pneumatic oscillator is connected to the inlet for supplying pulsatile gas in the form successive small volumes of gas to the airway of the patient during a breath of the patient to cause diffusive ventilation of the airway of the patient. An exhalation valve assembly is connected to the patient airway for permitting the patient to exhale gases introduced into the patient airway.

Claims

1. In a combination venturi and exhalation valve assembly, a main body having a passageway therein extending axially thereof and providing a proximal airway port, a venturi body, means slidably mounting said venturi body in said pasageway in said main body for movement between first and second positions, means carried by the main body yieldably urging the venturi body toward said second position, said main body being formed with an expiratory port communicating with said passageway and being spaced from said proximal airway port, means forming a seal between the venturi body and the passageway of the main body between said airway port and said expiratory port when the venturi body is in the second position, said venturi body having a venturi-like passageway extending axially through the venturi body, means forming a nozzle carried by the venturi body and having a opening therein in axial alignment with the venturi-like passageway, said venturi body forming a nozzle communicating with said venturi-like passageway, said main body also being formed with an entrainment port in communication with said passageway in said main body and being located adjacent said entrainment opening, diaphragm carried by said main body and extending across the passageway in said main body, an end cap carried by the main body and having an inlet opening therein in communication with one side of the diaphragm, means forming a connection between the diaphragm and the means forming the nozzle, means for establishing communication between the inlet carried by the end cap and the means forming the nozzle and extending through the diaphragm whereby when gas is supplied to the inlet opening of the cap, gas is supplied to the means forming the nozzle to urge the diaphragm to move the venturi body from the first position to the second position thereby preventing flow between the airway port and the expiratory port, said means forming said nozzle being formed to permit the passage of air from the entrainment port through the entrainment port into the venturi-like passageway.

2. A combination venturi and exhalation valve assembly as in claim 1 wherein said means forming a seal between the venturi body and the main body includes valve means carried by the forward extremity of the venturi body.

3. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said venturi body includes a sleeve extending substantially the entire length of the venturi body.

4. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said means forming a nozzle carried by the venturi body includes a cap secured to said venturi body, said cap having openings therein and establishing communication between the passageway in the venturi body and the entrainment port.

5. A combination as in claim 1 together with an overpressure failsafe relief valve means connected to said entrainment port.

6. A combination as in claim 1 together with a failsafe pulse regulator connected to the expiratory port, said failsafe pulse regulator including a port communicating with said expiratory port to ambient and means for closing said port in response to gases being supplied to said means forming the nozzle.

7. In a combination venturi and exhalation valve assembly a main body having a passage extending axially thereof and providing a proximal airway port, a venturi body disposed in said passage in said main body and being slidably mounted in said main body for movement between first and second positions, an expiration port formed in the main body in communication with said passage and being disposed away from the proximal airway port, cooperative valve means carried by the forward extremity of the venturi body and by the main body in a region between the expiratory port and the proximal airway port whereby when the venturi body is slidably moved toward the proximal airway port to the first position a gas-tight seal is formed by the cooperative valve means between the venturi body and the main body so communication between the expiratory port and the proximal airway port is interrupted, means carried by the main body and engaging the venturi body for yieldably urging the venturi body in a direction to move the forward extremity of the venturi body to the second position out of sealing engagement with the main body, the venturi body having a venturi-like passage extending axially therethrough, a nozzle, means mounting the nozzle on the venturi body so that gases jetting therefrom are directed into the venturi-like passageway in the venturi body, an entrainment port carried by the main body and in communication with the passage in the main body, said means mounting the nozzle on the venturi body being constructed in such a manner so that the venturi-like passageway is in communication with the entrainment port, a diaphragm carried by the main body at the end remote from the proximal airway port and covering said passage in said main body, said diaphragm having an opening therein, hollow stem means connected to the nozzle and carried by the diaphragm and having a passage therein in communication with the opening in the diaphragm, means carried by the stem means and the nozzle forming a seal between the stem means and the nozzle and accommodating relative slidable movement between the stem and the nozzle, an end cap mounted on the main body over the diaphragm and closing off the end of the passage in the main body remote from the proximal airway port, and an inlet carried by the end cap for introducing gas into the passage in the main body and against the diaphragm and through the passage in the stem into the nozzle and thence into the venturi-like passageway and out through the proximal airway port, said diaphragm causing said venturi body to slidably move to the first position into sealing engagement with the main body as soon as gas under pressure is supplied to the inlet of the cap to prevent flow of gas from the proximal airway port through the expiration port, said yieldable means serving to slidably move the venturi body to the second position out of sealing engagement with the main body as soon as gas is no longer supplied to the inlet carried by the cap so that the expiratory port is in communication with the proximal airway port.

8. In a combination venturi and exhalation valve assembly, a main body having a passageway therein extending axially thereof and providing a proximal airway port, a venturi body slidably mounted in said passageway in said main body for movement between first and second positions, means carried by the body yieldably urging the venturi body towards said first position, said main body being formed with an expiratory port communicating with said passageway and being spaced from said proximal airway port, said main body also being formed with an entrainment port in communication with said passageway in said main body and being spaced from said expiratory port, said venturi body having a venturi-like passageway extending axially through the venturi body nozzle means carried by the venturi body in fixed relationship to the venturi-like passageway and means carried by the main body for supplying a jet of gas to the nozzle means and for moving the venturi body from the first position to the second position and for causing gas to be entrained from the entrainment port and to pass into the venturi-like passageway and to the proximal airway port, said movement of said venturi body from the first position to the second position interrupting the communication between the expiratory port and the proximal airway port.

9. A combination venturi and exhalation valve assembly as in claim 8 wherein said means for introducing a jet of gas into the venturi-like passageway and for moving the venturi body includes a diaphragm carried by the main body and means for coupling the inner margin of the diaphgram to the venturi body.