Medical appliance driving apparatus
First Claim
1. A medical appliance driving apparatus comprising:
- positive pressure supply means for supplying a positive pressure;
negative pressure supply means for supplying a negative pressure;
switching valve means connected to both said positive and negative pressure supply means to alternately output positive and negative pressures upon operation of said switching valve means;
isolator means having an input chamber and an output chamber which are defined by a movable membrane, said input chamber being connected to said switching valve means;
output valve means having an input side connected to said output chamber of said isolator means and an output side;
a medical appliance connected to the output side of said output valve means; and
electronic control means for controlling said output valve means and for controlling said switching valve means alternately connect the input chamber of said isolator means to the positive pressure supply means and the negative pressure supply means only when said output valve means is closed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical appliance driving apparatus has a switching valve connected to both positive and negative pressure sources to output positive and negative pressures while switching them from one to the other, and an isolator having an input chamber and an output chamber which are defined by a movable membrane, the input chamber being connected to the switching valve. A solenoid valve is connected to the output chamber of the isolator, and a microcomputer is provided for switching the switching valve to the positive pressure side or the negative pressure side and controlling the operation of the solenoid valve. When the switching valve is activated to the positive pressure source side and the solenoid valve is opened, a positive pressure which is supplied to the input chamber causes the movable membrane to move in a direction in which the medical appliance is expanded. Thereafter, the solenoid valve is closed to maintain the pressure supplied to the medical appliance as it is, and the switching valve is switched to the negative pressure source side to supply a negative pressure to the input chamber of the isolator. Accordingly, the input side of the isolator can be communicated with the negative pressure source while the medical appliance is maintained in the expanded state. Thus, it is possible to quickly switch the state of the medical appliance from expansion to contraction.
123 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A medical appliance driving apparatus comprising:
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positive pressure supply means for supplying a positive pressure; negative pressure supply means for supplying a negative pressure; switching valve means connected to both said positive and negative pressure supply means to alternately output positive and negative pressures upon operation of said switching valve means; isolator means having an input chamber and an output chamber which are defined by a movable membrane, said input chamber being connected to said switching valve means; output valve means having an input side connected to said output chamber of said isolator means and an output side; a medical appliance connected to the output side of said output valve means; and electronic control means for controlling said output valve means and for controlling said switching valve means alternately connect the input chamber of said isolator means to the positive pressure supply means and the negative pressure supply means only when said output valve means is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification