Slot valve for use in the pneumatic switching circuit of a respirator
First Claim
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1. A respiration system for a patient, the respiration system comprising:
- a breathing tube bidirectionally conveying a flow of fluid to a patient, said breathing tube having diametrically opposite first and second ends, said first end of said breathing tube being adapted to be in contact with the patient;
a slot valve arranged at said second end of said breathing tube, said slot valve opening in a first direction of flow toward the patient when a pressure in said first direction of flow is above a first pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said first direction of flow when said pressure in said first direction of flow is below said first pressure threshold, said slot valve opening in a second direction of flow away from the patient when a pressure in said second direction of flow is above a second pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said second direction of flow when said pressure in said second direction of flow is below said second pressure threshold, said second pressure threshold being higher than said first pressure threshold, said slot valve including a membrane defining a plurality of slots which intersect each other and extend completely through said membrane, said slots forming a plurality of lamellae that are pivotal about pivot lines, said lamellae contact each other to close said valve, a material thickness of said lamellae asymmetrically varying as a function of a radial position of the membrane, said material thickness varying asymmetrically to vary a value of said first and second pressure thresholds.
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Abstract
A slot valve (20) for use in the pneumatic switching circuit of a respirator, wherein said slot valve is designed to act bidirectionally and to pass over into the opened state to make possible the flow of a fluid at different pressure threshold values depending on the direction of flow of a fluid.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A respiration system for a patient, the respiration system comprising:
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a breathing tube bidirectionally conveying a flow of fluid to a patient, said breathing tube having diametrically opposite first and second ends, said first end of said breathing tube being adapted to be in contact with the patient; a slot valve arranged at said second end of said breathing tube, said slot valve opening in a first direction of flow toward the patient when a pressure in said first direction of flow is above a first pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said first direction of flow when said pressure in said first direction of flow is below said first pressure threshold, said slot valve opening in a second direction of flow away from the patient when a pressure in said second direction of flow is above a second pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said second direction of flow when said pressure in said second direction of flow is below said second pressure threshold, said second pressure threshold being higher than said first pressure threshold, said slot valve including a membrane defining a plurality of slots which intersect each other and extend completely through said membrane, said slots forming a plurality of lamellae that are pivotal about pivot lines, said lamellae contact each other to close said valve, a material thickness of said lamellae asymmetrically varying as a function of a radial position of the membrane, said material thickness varying asymmetrically to vary a value of said first and second pressure thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6)
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3. A respirator system with a pneumatic switching circuit the respirator system comprising:
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a breathing tube bidirectionally conveying a flow of fluid to a patient, said breathing tube having diametrically opposite first and second ends, the first end of the breathing tube being adapted to be in contact with the patient; a slot valve connected to said second end of said breathing tube, said slot valve opening from a closed position when fluid in said breathing tube is above different pressure threshold values depending on the direction of flow of a fluid, said slot valve including a membrane with a center lamella area, said lamella area of said membrane defining a plurality of intersecting slots forming a plurality of lamellae, said lamellae being constructed to be easier to open upon application of pressure in a first direction than in a second direction;
wherein the material thickness of the lamellae asymmetrically increases in a radial direction starting from pivot sections of the lamellae towards the middle of the membrane to vary the different pressure threshold values;a valve housing wherein said membrane is inserted into the valve housing, wherein the membrane is limited at its outer edge by a supporting ring, the membrane comprising an elastic plastic or rubber, a material thickness of the lamellae is greater in an axial direction than a material thickness of the supporting ring of the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A respiration system for a patient, the respiration system comprising:
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a breathing tube bidirectionally conveying a flow of fluid to a patient, said breathing tube having diametrically opposite first and second ends, said first end of said breathing tube being adapted to be in contact with the patient; a slot valve arranged at said second end of said breathing tube, said slot valve opening in a first direction of flow toward the patient when a pressure in said first direction of flow is above a first pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said first direction of flow when said pressure in said first direction of flow is below said first pressure threshold, said slot valve opening in a second direction of flow away from the patient when a pressure in said second direction of flow is above a second pressure threshold, said slot valve closing in said second direction of flow when said pressure in said second direction of flow is below said second pressure threshold, said second pressure threshold being higher than said first pressure threshold, said slot valve including a membrane defining a plurality of slots which intersect each other and extend completely through the membrane, said slots forming a plurality of lamellae that are pivotal about pivot lines and contact each other to close said valve, a material thickness of said membrane being greater adjacent said slot than at said pivot lines to vary a value of said first and second pressure thresholds; a valve housing arranged around said slot valve, said membrane being connected to said valve housing; a spreader movably arranged in said valve housing between a first and second position, said first position of said spreader allowing said slot valve to operate according to said first and second pressure thresholds, said material thickness of said membrane solely varies a value of said first and second pressure thresholds in said first position of said spreader, said second position of said spreader folding the membrane lamellae about said pivot lines and out of contact with each other to open said slots and said slot valve, said second position of said spreader being arranged to remove said first and second pressure thresholds, said spreader defining a central flow passage conveying the flow of fluid to the patient, said central passage being in communication with the open slots and said breathing tube when said spreader is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification