Exhalation valve assembly

• US 4,712,580 A
• Filed: 03/21/1986
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIMS Portex Inc. (ICU Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intertech Resources Inc.
• Inventors: Gilman, Keith, Lutz, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US06/842,670
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 137/496, 137/908, 137/859, 137/906, 137/528, 137/512.15, 137/516, 137/269, 137/510, 251/61.1, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 137/512.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1402 having an integral flexible member cooperating with a plurality of seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/148 the closure elements being fixed in their centre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/906 Valves biased by fluid "springs"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/908 Respirator control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves

Abstract

An exhalation valve assembly for use in a volume ventilator circuit is disclosed that comprises a valve body defining a chamber with a gas inlet conduit and a gas outlet conduit, both in flow communication with the chamber. A diaphragm extends across the chamber and selectively closes off the gas inlet conduit. A concentric ring support structure is disposed concentrically about the gas inlet conduit and is configured so as to support a portion of the diaphragm over the chamber.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for use in a volume ventilator, said valve assembly comprising a valve body having an exterior wall in part defining a pressure chamber, a gas inlet conduit in flow communication with the pressure chamber, said gas inlet conduit forming a discharge port in said pressure chamber, a gas outlet conduit in flow communication with said pressure chamber for directing gas out of said pressure chamber, said outlet conduit being located concentrically around said discharge port, diaphragm means removably disposed in and extending across said valve body, said discharge port, said outlet conduit and said pressure chamber being on one side of said diaphragm means, said diaphragm means including a central portion engageable with said discharge port for selectively closing off said discharge port, said diaphragm means defining the remainder of said pressure chamber and further including an annular arched portion which is spaced radially from said central portion, and a cover having a gas inlet joined to the valve body and extending across the diaphragm means on the opposite side thereof from the pressure chamber, said cover engaging and clamping the outer periphery of said arched portion, said arched portion being spaced in the direction of said opposite side from said central portion and said outer periphery,

a generally tubular ring structure joined to said valve body and located concentrically between said discharge port and said exterior wall and within the pressure chamber, said ring structure being separate from said exterior wall by a predetermined distance and extending into said pressure chamber such that the ring structure engages and supports said arched portion of the diaphragm means between the exterior wall and the discharge port and thereby decreases the effective area of the diaphragm means, said ring structure being spaced in the direction of said opposite side from said discharge port and said outer periphery and normally engaging said arched portion when said diaphragm means is in its relaxed position, flow passages being formed between said ring structure and said outer wall and between said ring structure and said discharge port.

2. A valve body according to claim 1 wherein said valve body is constructed of a plastic material and wherein the ring structure is an integral portion of the valve assembly.

3. A valve body according to claim 1 wherein said ring structure extends above said exterior wall.

4. A valve body according to claim 3 wherein said exterior wall is comprised of first and second sections, said cover forming one of said sections and said outer periphery of said diaphragm means is disposed between the other of said sections and said cover.

5. A valve assembly for use in a volume ventilator, said valve assembly comprising

a valve body having an exterior wall in part defining a pressure chamber,

a gas inlet conduit in flow communication with the pressure chamber, said gas inlet conduit foring a circular discharge port in said pressure chamber,

a circular gas outlet conduit concentric with and around said discharge port and in flow communication with said pressure chamber for directing gas out of said pressure chamber,

diaphragm means removably disposed in and extending across said valve body, said discharge port, said outlet conduit and said pressure chamber being on one side of said diaphragm means, said diaphragm means including a circular center portion for selectively engaging and closing off said discharge port, said diaphragm means having a circular shape and resting along its circumference on the exterior wall of the valve body and having an annular arcuate arched section concentrically disposed between said center portion and said circumference, said diaphragm means defining the remainer of said pressure chamber, and

a cover having a gas inlet joined to the valve body and extending across the diaphragm means on the opposite side thereof from the pressure chamber, said cover clamping said circumference, and

a generally tubular ring structure disposed within the pressure chamber, said ring structure being integrally formed on the valve body and disposed concentrically about and adjacent to the discharge port and separated from the exterior wall by a predetermined distance and thereby forming a flow passage between said ring structure and said exterior wall and forming a flow passage between said discharge port and said ring structure, said flow passage communicating with said discharge port, said ring structure being spaced in the direction of said opposite side from said discharge port and from said circumference of said diaphragm means, and said ring structure being engageable with and adapted to support said arched section of said diaphragm means when said diaphragm means is in its relaxed position.

6. The valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the tubular ring structure is located on the gas outlet conduit such that the ring structure supports said arched section of the diaphragm means and thereby decreases the effective area of the diaphragm means both when said center portion engages and is out of engagement.