Vent valve assembly

• US 6,889,692 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hollis, Shane Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US10/365,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.24, 128/207.12, 128/207.16, 128/205.13, 128/204.24, 128/204.18, 137/494, 137/115.16, 137/115.27, 137/499, 137/115.06, 137/115.12
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• 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: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/908 Respirator control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2617 Bypass or relief valve biased open
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7781 With separate connected fluid reactor surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7786 Turbine or swinging vane type reactor

Abstract

A vent valve apparatus for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal includes a gas washout vent, a vent valve adapted to progressively restrict the flow area of the washout vent, and a pressure sensitive vent valve controller. The controller is adapted to progressively cause the vent valve to restrict the flow area of the gas washout vent in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply. Thereby, the vent valve substantially regulates the flow of gas through the washout vent over a range of gas supply pressures.

Claims

1. A vent valve apparatus for use with a system for supplying, from a gas supply, breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or an animal, the apparatus including:

a gas washout vent;

a vent valve associated with the gas washout vent and being adapted to progressively restrict the flow area of the washout vent; and

a pressure sensitive control associated with the vent valve and being adapted to progressively cause said vent valve to restrict the flow area of the washout vent in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply, thereby substantially regulating the flow of gas through the washout vent over a range of gas supply pressures.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent valve is a plug connected to the pressure sensitive control such that movement of the pressure sensitive control causes a responsive movement of the plug.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a CPAP apparatus.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a conduit in communication with the gas washout vent to provide a supply of pressurized gas.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gas washout vent is fixed with respect to the conduit.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gas washout vent is an orifice in the conduit.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a branch extending from the conduit, and wherein the gas washout vent is an orifice in the branch.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vent valve is a plug movable with respect to the conduit.