Pressure limiting valve for ventilation breathing bag apparatus

• US 5,301,667 A
• Filed: 08/03/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: McGrail, Thomas W., De Vito, Ralph J., Howard, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US07/923,468
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/205.13, 128/205.17, 128/205.24, 128/205.25, 128/205.24, 128/205.14
• US Class Current: 128/205.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10

Abstract

Pressure limiting valve for being inserted into ventilation gas apparatus which valve includes a first vent for venting ventilation gas present in the apparatus above a first pressure to provide pressurized ventilation gas delivered to a person with a peak inspiratory pressure during periods of inspiration substantially equal to the first pressure, and including a second vent for venting accumulating pressurized ventilation gas present in the apparatus from increasing above a second pressure less than the first pressure to establish a base line pressure for the pressurized breathing gas to which the person is exposed during periods between periods of inspiration.

Claims

1. An improved pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering pressurized ventilation gas to a person, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends for connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag for receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source and, upon compression of said breathing bag, said ventilation gas being further pressurized and delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus and through said delivery device for inhalation, said pressure limiting valve comprising;

valve means including first and second venting means;

said ventilation gas apparatus, in a first condition, having said first venting means for venting excess pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus due to said pressurized ventilation gas being further pressurized by compression of said breathing bag above a first predetermined pressure, and said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered to said delivery device for inhalation with a peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to said first predetermined pressure; and

in a second condition, having said breathing bag not being compressed and said delivery device in engagement with a person said ventilation gas apparatus being substantially closed, said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus accumulating and increasing in pressure and said second venting against which exhalation occurs by means of venting said accumulating pressurized ventilation gas upon the pressure thereof increasing above a second predetermined pressure less than said first predetermined pressure, said base line PEEP pressure being substantially equal to said second predetermined pressure.

2. An improved pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering pressurized ventilation gas to a person, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source and upon periods of compression of said breathing bag said pressurized ventilation gas being further pressurized and delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus and through said delivery device for inhalation, said pressure limiting valve, comprising:

valve means including combination first and second venting means, said first venting means comprised of a plurality of valve elements and said second venting means comprised of a portion of said valve elements;

said first venting means for venting excess pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus due to said pressurized ventilation gas being further pressurized above a first predetermined pressure during periods of compression of said breathing bag thereby providing said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered to said delivery device for inhalation by said person with a peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to said first predetermined pressure; and

said second venting means for venting pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag upon said pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus accumulating and increasing in pressure above a second predetermined pressure, said second predetermined pressure being lower than said first predetermined pressure and said second venting means providing said apparatus with a base line PEEP pressure substantially equal to said second predetermined pressure.

3. An improved adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering pressurized ventilation gas to a person particularly an infant, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends for connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag for receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source through at least a portion of said apparatus and during periods of compression of said breathing bag said bag producing further pressurized ventilation gas delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus and through said delivery device for inhalation, said adjustable pressure limiting valve limiting the peak inspiratory pressure of said further pressurized breathing gas delivered for inhalation from said breathing bag, and said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing a base line PEEP pressure for said pressurized ventilation gas from said source accumulating in said apparatus during periods between said periods of compression of said bag, said base line PEEP pressure providing a pressure against which exhalation occurs during said periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag, said adjustable pressure limiting valve comprising:

a valve body including a passageway provided with an inlet opening in fluid communication with said passageway and through which inlet opening said pressurized ventilation gas can be exhausted from said passageway, and said valve body further provided with a plurality of axially aligned external spiral grooves;

a disc exposed through said inlet opening to pressurized ventilation gas present in said passageway and said disc normally being forced into engagement with said valve body to cover said inlet opening to substantially prevent exhausting of said pressurized ventilation gas from said passageway;

a cap provided with a plurality of groove engaging internal members equal in number to said plurality of spiral grooves, each of said groove engaging members residing in one of said spiral grooves to mount said cap rotatably with respect to said valve body and for rotation with respect thereto in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation, said cap provided with a vent port for venting said pressurized ventilation gas, said vent port in fluid communication with the atmosphere and said inlet opening upon said disc not being in engagement with said valve body;

a spring residing intermediate and in engagement with said disc and said cap, said spring applying a first force to said disc to normally force said disc into said engagement with said valve body, upon rotation of said cap in one of said directions of rotation said spring being increasingly compressed by said cap to cause said spring to increase said first force and upon rotation of said cap in said other of said directions of rotation said cap allowing said spring to increasingly decompress to cause said spring to decrease said first force;

upon said breathing bag being compressed said further pressurized ventilation gas acting against said disc through said inlet opening to produce a second force acting on said disc in opposition to said first force, and upon said second force exceeding said first force said disc being moved out of engagement with said valve body to permit at least a portion of said further compressed ventilation gas to be exhausted through said inlet opening and said vent port to provide said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered for inhalation with a peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to the pressure of said further pressurized ventilation gas producing said second force in excess of said first force;

said disc provided with a bleed hole through which said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus can be exhausted to said cap vent port and therethrough to the atmosphere particularly between said periods of compression of said breathing bag to provide said base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs, said bleed hole being sufficiently large to prevent said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus from becoming pressurized above said base line PEEP pressure during said periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag and said bleed hole being sufficiently small to permit said further pressurized ventilation gas to act against said disc through said inlet opening to produce said second force in excess of said first force; and

said mounting of said cap rotatably to said valve body for rotation in said clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation permitting said cap to increase and decrease said first force thereby permitting said peak inspiratory pressure to be adjusted in accordance with the amount of first force with which said disc is being forced into engagement with said valve body by said spring.

4. An improved adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering said ventilation gas to a person particularly an infant, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag for receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source through at least a portion of said apparatus and during periods of compression of said breathing bag said breathing bag producing further pressurized ventilation gas which is delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus, and through said delivery device for inhalation, said adjustable pressure limit valve providing said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered for inhalation with a peak inspiratory pressure, and said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing a base line PEEP pressure for said pressurized breathing gas from said source present in said apparatus during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag, said base line PEEP pressure providing a pressure against which exhalation occurs during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag, comprising:

a valve body including a first generally cylindrical member provided with a generally centrally formed ventilation gas communication passageway extending therethrough and at least partially communicating said breathing bag with said delivery device, and said valve body further including a second generally cylindrical member generally perpendicular with respect to said first generally cylindrical member and provided with a generally centrally formed exhaust passageway extending therethrough and in fluid communication with said communication passageway through a circular inlet opening formed between and interconnecting said gas communication passageway with said exhaust passageway, said second generally cylindrical member including a generally annular valve seat provided in said exhaust passageway and generally surrounding said inlet opening, and the exterior of said second generally cylindrical member provided with a plurality of axially aligned spiral grooves, said grooves having a common angle of inclination;

a generally circular disc residing in said exhaust passageway and for being exposed to said further pressurized ventilation gas in said gas communication passageway through said inlet opening, said disc being forced into engagement with said valve seat to cover said inlet opening to substantially prevent exhausting of said further pressurized ventilation gas out of said communication passageway through said inlet opening;

a generally cylindrical cap including a circular top and an outwardly extending cylindrical wall circumscribing said top and oriented generally perpendicularly with respect thereto, a plurality of inwardly extending groove engaging tabs provided on the interior of said wall, and said tabs provided with substantially the same angle of inclination as said spiral grooves and said tabs spaced substantially equally circumferentially with respect to each other around said interior of said wall, each of said groove engaging tabs residing in one of said spiral grooves to mount said cap rotatably with respect to said second generally cylindrical member and for rotation with respect thereto in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation, said top provided with a generally centrally formed vent port in fluid communication with the atmosphere and with said exhaust passageway and venting said further pressurized ventilation gas;

a spring residing in said exhaust passageway intermediate and in engagement with said disc and the underside of said top of cap, said spring applying a first force to said disc to force said disc into engagement with said valve seat, upon rotation of said cap in one of said directions of rotation said spring being increasingly compressed by said cap to cause said spring to gradually increase said first force and upon rotation of said cap in said other direction of rotation said cap allowing said spring to increasingly decompress to cause said spring to gradually decrease said first force;

upon said breathing bag being compressed, said further pressurized ventilation gas acting against said disc through said inlet opening to produce a second force acting on said disc in opposition to said first force and upon said second force exceeding said first force said disc being moved out of engagement with said valve seat to permit at least a portion of said further pressurized ventilation gas to be exhausted through said inlet opening and into said exhaust passageway, said exhaust passageway and said vent port thereby providing said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered for inhalation with said peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to the pressure of said further pressurized ventilation gas producing said second force;

said disc provided with a bleed hole extending therethrough through which said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus can be exhausted to said exhaust passageway and therethrough to said cap vent port and therethrough to the atmosphere during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag to provide said base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs, said bleed hole being sufficiently large to prevent said pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus from said source from becoming pressurized above said base line PEEP pressure, and said bleed hole being sufficiently small to permit said further pressurized ventilation gas to act against said disc to produce said second force in excess of said first force; and

said mounting of said cap rotatably to said second generally cylindrical member for rotation in said clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation permitting said cap to increase and decrease said first force thereby permitting said peak inspiratory pressure to be adjusted in accordance with the amount of said first force with which said disc is being forced into engagement with said valve body by said spring.

5. The adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said disc is provided with a plurality of spaced apart, outwardly extending members, generally surrounding said bleed hole, said members generally engaging an end portion of said spring to at least assist in maintaining said spring generally in axial alignment with respect to said inlet opening, said exhaust passageway, said disc and said vent port formed in said cap top.

6. The adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the underside of said cap top is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending, generally arcuately shaped, members generally surrounding said vent port, said members generally engaging an end portion of said spring to at least assist in maintaining said spring generally in axial alignment with respect to said inlet opening, said exhaust passageway, said disc and said vent formed in said cap top.

7. The adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second generally cylindrical member is provided with a plurality of radially disposed members extending inwardly into said exhaust passageway and for at least assisting in maintaining said disc generally in axial alignment with respect to said inlet opening, said exhaust passageway, and said vent port formed in said cap top.

8. An improved adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering pressurized ventilation gas to a person particularly an infant, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends for connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source through at least a portion of said apparatus and during periods of compression of said breathing bag said bag producing further pressurized ventilation gas delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus and said delivery device for inhalation said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing said further pressurized breathing gas delivered for inhalation with a peak inspiratory pressure, and said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing a base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag, comprising:

a valve body including a passageway provided with an inlet opening in fluid communication with said passageway and through which inlet opening said pressurized ventilation gas can be exhausted from said passageway, and said valve body further provided with a plurality of axially aligned spiral grooves;

a disc for being exposed through said inlet opening to pressurized ventilation gas present in said passageway and said disc normally being forced into engagement with said valve body to cover said inlet opening to substantially prevent exhausting of said pressurized ventilation gas from said passageway;

a cap provided with a plurality of groove engaging members equal in number to said plurality of spiral grooves, each of said groove engaging members residing in one of said spiral grooves to mount said cap rotatably with respect to said valve body and for rotation with respect thereto in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation, said cap provided with a vent port for venting said pressurized ventilation gas, said vent port in fluid communication with said inlet opening upon said disc not being in engagement with said valve body;

a spring residing intermediate and in engagement with said disc and said cap, said spring applying a first force to said disc to normally force said disc into said engagement with said valve body, upon rotation of said cap in one of said directions of rotation said spring being increasingly compressed by said cap to cause said spring to gradually increase said first force and upon rotation of said cap in said other of said directions of rotation said cap allowing said spring to increasingly decompress to cause said spring to gradually decrease said first force;

upon said breathing bag being compressed, said further pressurized ventilation gas acting against said disc through said inlet opening to produce a second force acting on said disc in opposition to said first force, and upon said second force exceeding said first force, said disc being moved out of engagement with said valve body to permit at least a portion of said further compressed ventilation gas to be exhausted through said inlet opening, said exhaust passageway and said vent port to provide said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered for inhalation with said peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to the pressure of said further pressurized ventilation gas producing said second force in excess of said first force;

said disc provided with a bleed hole extending therethrough through which said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus can be exhausted during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag to provide said base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs, said bleed hole being sufficiently large to prevent said pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus from said source from becoming pressurized above said base line PEEP pressure, and said bleed hole being sufficiently small to permit said further pressurized ventilation gas to act against said disc to produce said second force in excess of said first force; and

said mounting of said cap rotatably to said valve body for rotation in said clockwise and counterclockwise directions permitting said cap to increase and decrease said first force thereby permitting said peak inspiratory pressure to be adjusted in accordance with the amount of said first force with which said disc is being forced into engagement with said valve body by said spring.

9. An improved adjustable pressure limiting valve in combination with ventilation gas apparatus which apparatus includes at opposite ends a compressible breathing bag and a delivery device for delivering pressurized ventilation gas to a person particularly an infant, said ventilation gas apparatus further including connecting means intermediate said opposite ends for connecting said apparatus to a source of flow-regulated pressurized ventilation gas, said breathing bag for receiving said pressurized ventilation gas from said source through at least a portion of said apparatus and during periods of compression of said breathing bag said breathing bag producing further pressurized ventilation gas which is delivered from said breathing bag, through said apparatus and through said delivery device for inhalation, said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered to said person from said breathing bag with a peak inspiratory pressure, and said adjustable pressure limiting valve providing a base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs during periods between the periods during which said breathing bag is compressed, comprising:

a valve body including a first generally cylindrical member provided with a generally centrally formed ventilation gas communication passageway extending therethrough and for at least partially communicating said breathing bag with said delivery device, and said valve body including a second generally cylindrical member generally perpendicular to said first generally cylindrical member and provided with a generally centrally formed exhaust passageway extending therethrough and in fluid communication with said communication passageway through a circular inlet opening interconnecting said gas communication passageway with said exhaust passageway, said second generally cylindrical member including a generally annular valve seat provided in said exhaust passageway and generally surrounding said inlet opening, and the exterior of said second generally cylindrical member provided with a plurality of axially aligned spiral grooves, said grooves having a common angle of inclination;

a generally circular disc residing in said exhaust passageway and for being exposed to pressurized ventilation gas in said gas communication passageway through said inlet opening, said disc for being forced into engagement with said valve seat to cover said inlet opening to substantially prevent exhausting of pressurized ventilation gas out of said communication passageway through said inlet opening;

a generally cylindrical cap including a circular top and a downwardly extending cylindrical wall circumscribing said top and oriented generally perpendicularly with respect thereto, a plurality of inwardly extending groove engaging tabs provided on the interior of said wall, and said tabs provided with substantially the same angle of inclination as said spiral grooves and said tabs spaced substantially equally circumferentially with respect to each other around said interior of said wall, each of said groove engaging members residing in one of said spiral grooves to mount said cap rotatably with respect to said second generally cylindrical member and for rotation with respect thereto in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation, said top provided with a generally centrally formed vent port in fluid communication with said exhaust passageway and for venting said pressurized ventilation gas;

a spring residing in said exhaust passageway intermediate and in engagement with said disc and the underside of said top of cap, said spring for applying a first force to said disc to force said disc into engagement with said valve seat, upon rotation of said cap in one of said directions of rotation said spring being increasingly compressed by said cap to cause said spring to gradually increase said first force and upon rotation of said cap in said other direction of rotation said cap allowing said spring to increasingly decompress to cause said spring to gradually decrease said first force;

upon said breathing bag being compressed, said further pressurized ventilation gas acting against said disc through said inlet opening to produce a second force acting on said disc in opposition to said first force and upon said second force exceeding said first force said disc being moved out of engagement with said valve seat to permit at least a portion of said further pressurized ventilation gas to be exhausted through said inlet opening, said exhaust passageway and said vent port thereby providing said further pressurized ventilation gas delivered for inhalation with said peak inspiratory pressure substantially equal to the pressure of said further pressurized ventilation gas producing said second force in excess of said first force,

said disc provided with a bleed hole extending therethrough through which said pressurized ventilation gas from said source present in said apparatus can be exhausted during periods between said periods of compression of said breathing bag to provide said base line PEEP pressure against which exhalation occurs, said bleed hole being sufficiently large to prevent said pressurized ventilation gas present in said apparatus from said source from becoming pressurized above said base line PEEP pressure, and said bleed hole being sufficiently small to permit said further pressurized ventilation gas to act against said disc to produce said second force in excess of said first force; and

said mounting of said cap rotatably to said second generally cylindrical member for rotation in said clockwise and counterclockwise directions permitting said cap to increase and decrease said first force thereby permitting said peak inspiratory pressure to be adjusted in accordance with the amount of first force with which said disc is being forced into engagement with said valve body by said spring.