Vent valve apparatus

• US 8,997,739 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hollis, Shane Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nia, Alireza
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, RAYMOND EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US11/404,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,277 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.24, 128/204.25, 128/205.24, 128/207.12, 128/207.16, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 137/501, 137/504, 138/45, 138/46
• 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 (10) for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal. The apparatus (10) includes a gas washout vent (15), a vent valve (18) adapted to progressively restrict the flow area of the washout vent (15), and a pressure sensitive vent valve control means (20,22,23). The control means is adapted to progressively cause the vent valve (18) to restrict the flow area of the gas washout vent (15) in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply, thereby substantially regulating the volumetric flow of gas and/or CO₂ gas through the washout vent (15) over a range of gas supply pressures.

Claims

1. A method for supplying pressurized breathable gas to a patient with a CPAP apparatus including a flow generator structured to generate a supply of pressurized gas, a mask adapted to provide a seal with the patient'"'"'s face, and a conduit that interconnects the flow generator and the mask, the method comprising:

generating a supply of pressurized gas with the flow generator;

sealing the patient'"'"'s face with the mask;

interconnecting the flow generator and the mask with the conduit;

controlling gas washout by progressively moving a vent valve within a gas washout vent based on the pressure of the gas supply; and

controlling gas washout includes restricting gas washout in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the vent valve includes moving one of two complementary shaped parts.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the two complementary shapes are cones.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling gas washout includes expanding gas washout in response to decreases in the pressure of the gas supply.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply of pressurized gas is in a range of about 4-22 cmH₂O.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating the supply of pressurized gas at a constant pressure.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating the pressurized gas at two pressure levels with the flow generator; and

synchronizing the two pressure levels with patient breathing.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising continuously varying the pressure of the pressurized gas with the flow generator.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas washout vent vents from the conduit.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas washout vent vents from the mask.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the vent valve with an elastic diaphragm that responds to the pressure of the gas supply.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising rotationally displacing an aerodynamic member connected to the vent valve to move the vent valve.