Respiration therapy apparatus

• US 4,986,269 A
• Filed: 11/07/1989
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Etela-Hameen Keuhkovammayhdistys R.Y.
• Original Assignee: Etela-Hameen Keuhkovammayhdistys R.Y.
• Inventors: Hakkinen, Taisto
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiecking, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RACITI, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US07/432,540
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.21, 128/203.12, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.25, 128/204.26, 128/205.24, 128/204.19
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• 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 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter

Abstract

The invention concerns a respiration therapy apparatus used as a drug atomizer and/or a so-called respirator and/or as an oxygen dispenser. In the apparatus of the invention, administration to a patient of oxygen or air is discontinued, at the latest, when the exhalation phase begins. This has been implemented in the apparatus of the present invention by utilizing a pressure pick-up (22) observing differential pressure of the flow and which further provides control of an electromagnetic valve (23) which is disposed to close and to open a pressure line (16). At commencement of the inspiration phase, the differential pressure is transmitted over a signal connection (99) to the pressure pick-up (22). The pressure pick-up (22) further controls the electromagnetic valve (23), opening the pressure line (16). The pressure pick-up (22) measuring differential pressure has been connected, in accordance with the present invention, over a signal connection (19, 39, 59 or 99) to an oxygen mask, to oxygen whiskers (30), to an atomizer (50), or to a respirator (80).

Claims

1. Respiration therapy apparatus intended for individuals suffering from respiratory diseases, for indisposed individuals, or for unconscious individuals, said respiration therapy apparatus being used as a respirator (IPPB) or as means for atomizing a drug or for dispensing air or oxygen, and said respiratory apparatus comprising

a control unit (14),

an oxygen or air supply pressure line (16) connected to said control unit (14),

a respirator (80),

a first and a second oxygen or air line by means of which said control unit is connected to said respirator (80),

said respirator comprising a mouthpiece, an exhalation valve, a drug atomizer and an injector,

a pressure pick-up (22),

a separate connector leading from said pressure pick-up (22) to a flow of oxygen or air from said control unit (14) to said respirator (80),

valve means disposed in the flow of oxygen or air, said pressure pick-up (22) arranged to control opening and closing of said valve means,

whereby the flow of oxygen or air from said control unit (14) to said respirator (80) is controlled with the aid of said pressure pick-up (22), so that when inspiration of an individual is taking place, said pressure pick-up (22) senses change of pressure in inspirational oxygen or air caused by commencement of an inspirational phase, and said pressure pick-up is arranged to open said valve means by which a connection of said supply pressure line (16) to said control unit (14) is opened, and

at commencement of an exhalation phase, said valve means are adjusted by way of said pressure pick-up (22) to a position such that the connection to said supply pressure line (16) is closed,

said respiration therapy apparatus additionally comprising

timing means (94, 97) provided in said control unit (14) and arranged so that a signal or a control variable coming from said pressure pick-up (22) is arranged, counting from commencement of the inspirational phase, to start a count of said timing means (94, 97), with maximum time during which said valve means of said control unit (14) connected to said timing means (94, 97) is opened and admitting the air or oxygen flow from the control unit (14) to the respirator (80) being pre-set in said timing means (94, 97),

wherein said valve means comprises both a first valve (23) and a second valve (98), both of which are arranged to be controlled by said pressure pick-up (22), and

said second valve (98) is arranged to be controlled via electronics of said timing means (94, 97),

whereby connection from said pressure line (16) to said first line passing from the control unit (14) to said respirator (80) is opened and closed by way of said first valve (23), and connection from said pressure line (16) to said second line passing from said control unit (14) to said respirator (80) is opened and closed by way of said second valve (98),

so that one of the first valve or the second valve opens and closes said oxygen or air pressure line through which drug atomizing from said drug atomizer of said respirator is effected while an atomized drug is mixed with air or oxygen conducted along one of the first or the second oxygen or air lines, and

at commencement of the inspiration, said one of the first or the second oxygen or air lines is opened or controlled by said pressure pick-up (22) and, simultaneously time, said oxygen or air supply pressure line is opened or controlled by said pressure pick-up (22) via said timing means (94, 97) with a maximum time the drug is atomized being pre-set in said timing means (94, 97).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising

a signal connection with a first and second end connected, at the first end thereof, to said pressure pick-up (22) and at the second end thereof to said respirator,

said signal connection being carried out from said control unit (14).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pressure pick-up (22) is disposed or located in said control unit (14).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first valve (23) is an electromagnetic valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising

a connector connecting said pressure pick-up (22) with said respirator (80).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connector (99, 59), coming from said pressure pick-up (22) is connected at another end thereof with a part (89, 60) of said respirator (80) having a conical cross-section.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pressure pick-up (22) is disposed to be locally directed along the oxygen or air flow entering the individual, and additionally comprising

a signal connection along which said pressure pick-up (22) conducts an electrical signal to said control unit (14) and further to said electromagnetic valve (23).

8. Respiration therapy apparatus intended for individuals suffering from respiratory diseases, said respiratory apparatus comprising

a control unit (14),

an oxygen or air supply pressure line (16) connected to said control unit (14),

a respirator (50),

an oxygen or air line (52) by means of which said control unit (14) is connected to said respirator (50),

said respirator (50) comprising a mouthpiece (24), a drug atomizer (51),

said respiration therapy apparatus additionally comprising

a pressure pick-up (22),

a separate connector leading from said pressure pick-up (22) to a flow of oxygen or air from said control unit (14) to said respirator (50),

valve means (23) disposed in the flow of oxygen or air, said pressure pick-up (22) arranged to control opening and closing of said valve means (23),

whereby the flow of oxygen or air from said control unit (14) to said respirator (80) is controlled with the aid of said pressure pick-up (22), so that when inspiration of an individual is taking place, said pressure pick-up (22) senses change of pressure in inspirational oxygen or air caused by commencement of an inspirational phase, and said pressure pick-up (22) is arranged to open said valve means (23) by which a connection of said supply pressure line (16) to said control unit (14) is opened, and

at commencement of an exhalation phase, said valve means (23) are adjusted by way of said pressure pick-up (22) to a position such that the connection to said supply pressure line (16) is closed,

said respiration therapy apparatus additionally comprising

timing means (94, 97) provided in said control unit (14) and arranged so that a signal or a control variable coming from said pressure pick-up (22) is arranged, counting from commencement of the inspirational phase, to start a count of said timing means (94, 97), with maximum time during which said valve means of said control unit (14) connected to said timing means (94, 97) is opened and admitting the air or oxygen flow from the control unit (14) to the respirator (50) being pre-set in said timing means (94, 97),

wherein said valve means (23), which is arranged to be controlled by said pressure pick-up (22), is also arranged to be controlled via said timing means (94, 97),

whereby connection from said pressure line (16) to said line (52) passing from the control unit (14) to said respirator (50) is opened and closed by way of said valve (23),

so that the valve (23) opens and closes said oxygen or air pressure line (52) through which an atomized drug from said drug atomizer of said respirator is effected while the atomized drug is mixed with air conducted from atmosphere via a connector (60), and

at commencement of the inspiration, said oxygen or air supply pressure line (52) is opened or controlled by said pressure pick-up (22), via said timing means (94, 97) with a maximum time the drug is atomized being pre-set in said timing means (94, 97).