Artificial respiration apparatus

• US 6,209,540 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration, Metran Co., Ltd., Yoshitsugu Yamada
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Corp.
• Inventors: Nitta, Kazufuku, Suzuki, Katsuyoshi, Yamada, Yoshitsugu, Kamada, Masahiro, Sugiura, Yasuhito, Takaki, Toshihisa, Yasukawa, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, VIRENDRA KUMAR
• Application Number:
  US09/280,973
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.24, 128/205.24, 601/41, 601/48, 600/523
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0081 Bag or bellow in a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

The present invention provides a small-size, small-weight, low-cost artificial respiration apparatus which can easily be used in an ordinary hospital.

The artificial respiration apparatus 10 includes: a positive blower 12p for generating a positive air pressure Ap; a negative blower 12n for generating a negative air pressure An; a rotary valve mechanism 54 for alternately selecting the positive pressure Ap generated by the positive blower 12p and the negative pressure An generated by the negative blower 12n and converting them into an oscillating air pressure Apn; and a diaphragm block 56 urged by the oscillating air pressure Apn from the rotary valve mechanism 54 to operate to supply air to a patient P. Use of the positive blower 12p and the negative blower 12n significantly reduces the load, enabling to use ones available on market, i.e., small-size, small-weight, low-consumption blowers.

Claims

1. An artificial respiration apparatus comprising:

a positive pressure generator that generates a positive air pressure;

a negative pressure generator that generates a negative air pressure;

an oscillating air pressure generation mechanism that alternately selects the positive pressure generated by said positive pressure generator and the negative pressure generated by said negative pressure generator so as to convert the positive pressure and the negative pressure into an oscillating air pressure; and

a diaphragm block urged by the oscillating air pressure from said oscillating air pressure generation mechanism and supplying air into a mouth of a patient.

2. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positive pressure generator has a discharge characteristic symmetric to a suction characteristic of said negative pressure generator.

3. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flow control valve is provided at a suction side of said positive pressure generator and at a discharge side of said negative pressure generator.

4. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a diaphragm neutral position controller that maintains a neutral position of a diaphragm of said diaphragm block.

5. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said apparatus further comprising a diaphragm neutral position controller that maintains a neutral position of a diaphragm of said diaphragm block.

6. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said diaphragm neutral position controller includes:

a diaphragm position sensor that detects a position of said diaphragm;

a pressure control mechanism that controls at least one of said positive pressure, said negative pressure, and said oscillating air pressure; and

a control block that controls said pressure control mechanism according to the position of said diaphragm detected by said diaphragm position sensor.

7. An artificial respiration apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said diaphragm neutral position controller includes:

a diaphragm position sensor that detects a position of said diaphragm;

a pressure control mechanism that controls at least one of said positive pressure, said negative pressure, and said oscillating air pressure; and

a control block that controls said pressure control mechanism according to the position of said diaphragm detected by said diaphragm position sensor.