Inspiration oxygen saver

• US 4,938,212 A
• Filed: 10/16/1987
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Snook, James A., Nelson, Thomas W., Wyble, Marilyn S., Trimble, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US07/108,947
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/204.22, 128/204.23, 128/204.24, 128/204.25, 128/204.26, 128/205.24, 137/624.11, 137/625.21, 137/625, 137/22, 137/625.65, 137/597, 137/625.17, 137/625.18, 137/625.19
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/203 Proportional
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient'"'"'s breathing efforts and gives a variable "custom tailored" pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration.

Claims

1. A fluid flow restricting device, comprising:

a flow selector element presenting a pair of opposed faces and two sets of spaced apart orifices therethrough, the orifices of each set being of different effective dimensions respectively; and

a body disposed about said element and having a wall surface adjacent each of said element faces, said body having first and second separate fluid inlet passageways therethrough and passing through one of said body wall surfaces, said body also having corresponding first and second, separate, fluid outlet passageways therethrough and passing through the other of said body wall surfaces,

said first inlet passageway and said corresponding first outlet passageway, and said second inlet passageway and said corresponding second outlet passageway, being arranged for fluid flow communication therebetween,

the individual orifices of each set thereof being oriented in mated pairs for presenting a plurality of orifice pairs each including one orifice from each set thereof,

means mounting said element within said body for selective, sequential, noncontinuous relative shifting movement between the element and body, and for selective stopping of said shifting movement at individual relative operating positions between the element and body,

each of said orifice pairs being located and arranged for correlation with a respective one of said operating positions so that, for each of said operating positions, the orifice pair in correlation therewith establishes simultaneous fluid flow communication between said corresponding inlet and outlet passageways.

2. The device of claim 1, said selector element being noncontinuously rotatable relative to said body.

3. The device of claim 2, said element being circular, said orifices being oriented in two circularly arranged sets thereof, said sets being located at different radial distances from the center of said element.