Ventilator exhalation flow valve

• US 9,433,743 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vyaire Medical Capital LLC
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Desilva, Adrian D., Williams, Malcolm R., Vu, Huy Thanh
• Primary Examiner(s): Murphy, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US13/931,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20150000662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/003 with a flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0679 : with more than one energising coil

Abstract

Described herein is an exhalation valve for a ventilator that controls gas flow through a patient exhalation line in response to a target pressure within the line. The valve controls gas flow by (i) providing both a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal through a coil positioned in a fixed magnetic field, (ii) determining a position of the coil by detecting the high frequency signal, and (iii) controlling a position of the coil by adjusting the low frequency signal.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a valve orifice with an adjustable opening;

a fixed magnetic field;

a force coil configured to be moved within the fixed magnetic field in response to a low frequency current;

a current amplifier configured to direct a summed current comprising the low frequency current and a high frequency current into the force coil;

a feedback coil configured to detect the high frequency current in the force coil, the detected high frequency current having a magnitude that is proportional to a force coil position within the fixed magnetic field;

a processor configured (i) to receive data relating to the position of the force coil and (ii) to send instructions to the current amplifier; and

a diaphragm configured to adjust the valve orifice opening based on the position of the force coil.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive data relating to the velocity of the force coil, and the valve further comprises:

a position circuit configured to receive a signal from the feedback coil and to direct data to the processor relating to the force coil position; and

a velocity circuit configured to determine a velocity of the force coil and to direct data to the processor relating to the velocity of the force coil.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the feedback coil is mounted outside of the fixed magnetic field.

4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the fixed magnetic field is generated by at least one permanent magnet.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein the instructions to the current amplifier are configured to adjust the low frequency current directed to the force coil.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the instructions to the current amplifier are configured to adjust the position of the force coil.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the current amplifier comprises a linear current output amplifier.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be positioned along an exhalation pathway of a ventilator to adjust pressure within the exhalation pathway.

9. The valve of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to receive data relating to the exhalation pathway pressure and to direct the current amplifier to adjust the position of the force coil based on the pressure.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to direct the current amplifier to close the valve orifice opening when the pressure drops below a threshold pressure.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the threshold pressure is above an ambient pressure.