Inexsufflator

• US 7,096,866 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alyn Woldenberg Family Hospital
• Original Assignee: Alyn Woldenberg Family Hospital
• Inventors: Malka, Eliyahu Raphael, Be′eri, Eliezer, Shuchman, Yisrael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/211,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.13, 128/205.14, 128/205.17, 128/205.19, 482/13
• US Class Current: 128/205.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

A manual inexsufflator including a standard mechanical ventilator, a medical suction unit, and a piston-like sliding valve mechanism which connects a patient ventilation interface with either the ventilator or the suction unit. By sliding the valve mechanism in and out the user selectively connects the patient to either the ventilator, for purposes of insufflation, or the suction unit, for purposes of exsufflation. The ventilator may generate expiratory positive airway pressure between inexsufflation cycles.

Claims

1. An inexsufflator for cough simulation to remove broncho-pulmonary secretions of a patient comprising:

a patient interface unit configured to permit fluid flow therethrough at a flow rate of at least 160 liters/minute;

a source of negative fluid pressure configured to generate the flow rate of at least 160 liters/minute; and

a valve in communication with the patient interface unit, a port of the source of negative fluid pressure, and a port of a ventilator, said valve configured to selectively connect said patient interface unit with one of said port of said ventilator and said port of said source of negative fluid pressure and to selectively seal fluid flow between said patient interface unit and one of said port of the ventilator and said port of said source of negative fluid pressure,

wherein actuation of the valve from a first position to a second position at or near lung capacity of the patient initiates exsufflation of the lung to simulate a cough.

2. The inexsufflator according to claim 1, wherein said ventilator comprises one of the following:

a volume-cycled ventilator, a time-cycled ventilator, a pressure limited ventilator, or a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator.

3. The inexsufflator according to claim 1, wherein said patient interface unit comprises one of the following:

a facemask, a tracheostomy tube, or an endotracheal ventilation tube.

4. The inexsufflator according to claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a manually actuated valve.

5. The inexsufflator according to claim 1 further comprising, a pressure sensor configured to sense one of a negative fluid pressure or a positive fluid pressure.

6. The inexsufflator according to claim 1, wherein said source of negative fluid pressure comprises a medical suction unit.