Pressure controller and leak detector for tracheal tube cuff
First Claim
1. An inflation control system for an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube connected to a ventilator having alternating inspiration and exhalation cycles, comprisingan adjustable low pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition,an adjustable high pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition requiring higher pressure to open than said exhaust port of said low pressure valve, anda cuff inflation line substantially continuously connecting the respective inlets and outlets of said low and high pressure valves in series between the cuff and a substantially continuous source of pressurized gas throughout inspiration and exhalation cycles of said ventilator.
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Abstract
An inflation control system for the cuff of a tracheal tube includes an adjustable pressure relief valve with an inlet and an outlet connected in series between the cuff and a source of pressurized gas, and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition. When the tracheal tube is connected to an exhalation valve and a volume ventilator with a pulsed exhalation valve drive line, two relief valves are preferred: a low pressure valve in series with a high pressure valve. The low pressure relief valve is controlled by the exhalation drive line, preferably by means of an inflatable balloon in communication with the exhalation drive line. A flow detector in the cuff inflation line produces an electrical output signal indicative of airflow to activate an alarm signifying a continuous airflow condition due to cuff leak. The airflow detector preferably includes a mechanical flow meter in combination with a photoelectric sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflation control system for an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube connected to a ventilator having alternating inspiration and exhalation cycles, comprising
an adjustable low pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition, an adjustable high pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition requiring higher pressure to open than said exhaust port of said low pressure valve, and a cuff inflation line substantially continuously connecting the respective inlets and outlets of said low and high pressure valves in series between the cuff and a substantially continuous source of pressurized gas throughout inspiration and exhalation cycles of said ventilator.
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6. An inflation control system for an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube connected to a exhalation valve and a volume ventilator having alternating inspiration and exhalation cycles and a pulsed exhalation valve drive line, comprising
an adjustable low pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition, means responsive to said exhalation drive line for locking the exhaust port on the low pressure valve closed, an adjustable high pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition requiring higher pressure to open than said exhaust port of said low pressure valve, and a cuff inflation line substantially continuously connecting the respective inlets and outlets of said low and high pressure valves in series between the cuff and a source of pressurized gas throughout the inspiration and exhalation cycles of said ventilator.
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13. An inflation control system for a tracheal tube cuff connected to a cuff inflation line, comprising
a flow detector in the cuff inflation line for producing an electrical output signal indicative of a cuff or cull line leak, and an alarm circuit connected to the output of said detector for producing an alarm indication when an airflow condition is continuously detected for a predetermined length of time.
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15. An inflation control system for an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube connected to a volume ventilator having alternating inspiration and exhalation cycles, comprising
an adjustable pressure relief valve having an inlet and an outlet and a valved exhaust port urged toward the closed condition, and means substantially continuously connecting the inlet and outlet of said pressure relief valve in series between the cuff and a substantially continuous source of pressurized gas throughout the inspiration and exhalation cycles of the ventilator.
Specification