Breathing assistance apparatus
First Claim
1. A breathing assistance apparatus capable of operating in alternating inhalation and expiratory phases, the apparatus comprising:
- a pressurized respiratory gas source,an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient,an expiratory duct for expiratory gas of the patient,an inhalation valve disposed on the inhalation duct, the inhalation valve comprising means to allow the gas from the gas source to pass to make possible proportional operationan expiratory valve on the expiratory gas duct to help establish a positive expiratory pressure,a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor associated with the inhalation duct, anda comparator configured for transmitting an operating reference value of a gas related parameter to the pressurized respiratory gas source for the control of said gas source operation between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said computer having a first input for one or more reference values of the gas related parameter, and a second input being connected to a switch configured for real time selective connection of the comparator with the pressure sensor or the flow rate sensor, allowing real time transmission of a pressure signal or flow rate signal, the position of said switch determining a barometric or volumetric mode of the apparatus between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases,said switch being controlled by an automatic control unit, distinct from the comparator, said automatic control unit controlling the inhalation valve operation and receiving measurements from the pressure sensor and the flow rate sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention concerns a breathing assistance apparatus capable of operating in alternating inhalation and expiratory phases wherein; a) the control means of the apparatus comprise selection means (152) capable of selecting a pressure parameter or a flow rate parameter to define; b) the said reference value for the gas source, the said selection means are controlled by an automatic control unit (51), the said control unit being: I) connected to pressure and flow rate sensors situated on the inhalation duct to form a direct closed regulation loop for selecting a reference value parameter, II) associated to a program allowing the selection to be made in real time from a pressure or flow rate signal, so that the association of a direct closed regulation circuit for the selection of a reference value parameter with a valve permitting proportional operation, allows real time control of barometric and volumetric operating modes of the apparatus, between the inhalation and expiratory phases and during these phases. The invention also concerns associated operating processes.
81 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A breathing assistance apparatus capable of operating in alternating inhalation and expiratory phases, the apparatus comprising:
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a pressurized respiratory gas source, an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient, an expiratory duct for expiratory gas of the patient, an inhalation valve disposed on the inhalation duct, the inhalation valve comprising means to allow the gas from the gas source to pass to make possible proportional operation an expiratory valve on the expiratory gas duct to help establish a positive expiratory pressure, a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor associated with the inhalation duct, and a comparator configured for transmitting an operating reference value of a gas related parameter to the pressurized respiratory gas source for the control of said gas source operation between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said computer having a first input for one or more reference values of the gas related parameter, and a second input being connected to a switch configured for real time selective connection of the comparator with the pressure sensor or the flow rate sensor, allowing real time transmission of a pressure signal or flow rate signal, the position of said switch determining a barometric or volumetric mode of the apparatus between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said switch being controlled by an automatic control unit, distinct from the comparator, said automatic control unit controlling the inhalation valve operation and receiving measurements from the pressure sensor and the flow rate sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An operating control process for controlling a breathing assistance apparatus comprising a pressurized respiratory gas source;
- an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient;
an expiratory duct for expiratory gas of the patient;
an inhalation valve disposed on the inhalation duct, the inhalation valve comprising means to allow the gas from the gas source to pass to make possible proportional operation;
an expiratory valve on the expiratory duct to help establish a positive expiratory pressure;
a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor associated with the inhalation duct; and
a comparator configured for transmitting an operating reference value of a gas related parameter to the pressurized respiratory gas source for the control of said gas source operation between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases,said comparator having a first input for one or more reference values of the gas related parameter, and a second input being connected to a switch configured for real time selective connection of the comparator with the pressure sensor or the flow rate sensor, allowing real time transmission of a pressure signal or flow rate signal, the position of said switch determining a barometric or volumetric mode of the apparatus between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said switch being controlled by an automatic control unit, distinct from the comparator, said automatic control unit controlling the inhalation valve operation, and receiving measurements from the pressure sensor and the flow rate sensor, the process comprising; operating a micro-turbine; and closing the expiratory valve based on the micro-turbine to regulate a positive expiratory pressure during the expiratory phases. - View Dependent Claims (13)
- an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient;
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14. A process for operating a breathing assistance apparatus in a volumetric mode, the breathing assistance apparatus comprising a pressurized respiratory gas source;
- an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient;
an expiratory duct for expiratory gas of the patient;
an inhalation valve disposed on the inhalation duct, the inhalation valve comprising means to allow the gas from the gas source to pass to make possible proportional operation;
an expiratory valve on the expiratory duct to help establish a positive expiratory pressure;
a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor associated with the inhalation duct; and
a comparator configured for transmitting an operating reference value of a gas related parameter to the pressurized respiratory gas source for the control of said gas source operation between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said comparator having a first input for one or more reference values or the gas related parameter, and a second input being connected to a switch configured for real time selective connection of the comparator with the pressure sensor of the flow rate sensor, allowing real time transmission of a pressure signal or flow rate signal,the position of said switch determining a barometric or volumetric mode of the apparatus between or during the inhalation and expiratory phases, said switch being controlled by an automatic control unit distinct from the comparator, said automatic control unit controlling the inhalation valve operation, and receiving measurements from the pressure sensor and the flow rate sensor, the process comprising; selecting the volumetric mode; and controlling the gas source on the basis of a measured flow rate parameter on the inhalation duct; wherein control of volume of the gas delivered to a patient is obtained by the control of the gas source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- an inhalation duct to supply gas from the pressurized respiratory gas source to a patient;
Specification