Ventilator flow valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow control device comprising:
- a high frequency source configured to generate a high frequency signal;
a low frequency source configured to generate a low frequency signal;
a fixed magnetic field;
a drive coil configured to move within the fixed magnetic field in response to the low frequency signal and configured to receive the high frequency signal;
a detection coil adjacent the drive coil and configured to detect the high frequency signal in the drive coil, the detected high frequency signal corresponding to a position of the drive coil;
a processor coupled to the high frequency source and the low frequency source and configured to receive the detected high frequency signal from the detection coil, and calculate the position of the drive coil based on a delay between the high frequency signal and the detected high frequency signal, wherein the delay is proportional to the position of the drive coil;
a seal configured to move based on the position of the drive coil; and
a valve orifice defining a valve seat and a variable opening, the variable opening being adjustable based on a position of the seal relative to the valve seat.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein is a flow control valve for a ventilator that controls gas flow through a patient 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 based on the determined position and/or velocity of the coil.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A flow control device comprising:
-
a high frequency source configured to generate a high frequency signal; a low frequency source configured to generate a low frequency signal; a fixed magnetic field; a drive coil configured to move within the fixed magnetic field in response to the low frequency signal and configured to receive the high frequency signal; a detection coil adjacent the drive coil and configured to detect the high frequency signal in the drive coil, the detected high frequency signal corresponding to a position of the drive coil; a processor coupled to the high frequency source and the low frequency source and configured to receive the detected high frequency signal from the detection coil, and calculate the position of the drive coil based on a delay between the high frequency signal and the detected high frequency signal, wherein the delay is proportional to the position of the drive coil; a seal configured to move based on the position of the drive coil; and a valve orifice defining a valve seat and a variable opening, the variable opening being adjustable based on a position of the seal relative to the valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A ventilator system comprising:
a first valve connected to a supply channel and comprising; a first high frequency source configured to generate a first high frequency signal; a first low frequency source configured to generate a first low frequency signal; a first fixed magnetic field; a first drive coil configured to move within the first fixed magnetic field in response to the first low frequency signal and configured to receive the first high frequency signal; a first detection coil adjacent the first drive coil and configured to detect the first high frequency signal in the first drive coil, the detected first high frequency signal corresponding to a position of the first drive coil; a first processor coupled to the first high frequency source and the first low frequency source and configured to receive the detected first high frequency signal from the first detection coil, the first processor including a first position circuit configured to calculate the position of the first drive coil based on a delay between the first high frequency signal and the detected first high frequency signal, the delay being proportional to the position of the first drive coil; a first seal configured to move based on the position of the first drive coil; and a variable first valve orifice defining a first valve seat, the first valve orifice being adjustable based on a position of the first seal relative to the first valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
17. A method for adjusting a valve, the method comprising:
-
sending a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal to a drive coil, the low frequency signal causing the drive coil to move within a fixed magnetic field, the drive coil causing a seal to adjust a variable valve orifice of the valve; detecting the high frequency signal in the drive coil; determining a delay between the high frequency signal and the detected high frequency signal; determining a position of the drive coil based on the delay; determining a velocity of the drive coil based on the detected high frequency signal; and modifying the low frequency signal based on the determined velocity of the drive coil. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification