Pressure relief in a respiratory assistance system

• US 9,968,755 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vyaire Medical 211, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Dugan, Greg J., Rustad, Andre M., Pierro, Brian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US14/838,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 12820123, 12820222, 12820419, 12820524, 13711501, 13711514, 13711515, 13711521, 1371165, 13711908, 1374848, 137505, 13750511, 13750529, 13750537, 137506, 137528, 137843, 25112916, 2513353, 251 611, 251 77, 251 80
• 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 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled 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

Abstract

A pressure relief device comprising a valve configured to resiliently deform in response to a predetermined pressure; and a sound dampener configured to dampen a sound generated by the valve when the valve resiliently deforms in response to the predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. A method of controlling fluid pressure through a pressure relief device, the method comprising:

connecting the pressure relief device to a respiratory assistance system, the pressure relief device comprising a housing having a vent, a first tube, and a second tube fluidly coupled within the housing, the vent defining a passage from within the housing to an ambient environment;

retaining a valve within the housing to obstruct the vent, the valve being retained between the vent, the first tube, and the second tube; and

resiliently deforming said valve, in response to a predetermined pressure in the respiratory assistance system, to (i) fluidly couple the vent, the first tube, and the second tube, and (ii) contact a sound dampener to dampen a sound generated by said valve when said valve resiliently deforms.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the pressure relief device between a gas source and a patient interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing the valve with the housing at a first pressure so that a flow passes through the first tube and the second tube.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said valve is an umbrella valve.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pressure is greater than the first pressure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a lid coupled to the housing, wherein said sound dampener is disposed between said lid and said valve.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising centering said sound dampener within said housing with a centering feature of said sound dampener.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising centering said sound dampener with a corresponding centering feature of a lid coupled to the housing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a shape of said sound dampener is selected from a group consisting of:

a disk shape, a ring shape, a clover-like shape, and a pinwheel-like shape.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said respiratory assistance system is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said respiratory assistance system is a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said patient interface comprises a CPAP generator.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said patient interface comprises an nCPAP generator.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first tube and said second tube are collinear.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first tube and said second tube are fluidly coupled when said valve is not deformed.

16. A method of controlling fluid pressure in a variable-flow continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system, the method comprising:

connecting a pressure relief device between a flow driver and a CPAP generator, the pressure relief device comprising a housing having a vent, a first tube, and a second tube fluidly coupled within the housing, the vent defining a passage from within the housing to an ambient environment;

retaining a valve within the housing to obstruct the vent, the valve being retained between the vent, the first tube, and the second tube; and

resiliently deforming said valve, in response to a predetermined pressure in the variable-flow CPAP system, to (i) fluidly couple the vent, the first tube, and the second tube, and (ii) contact a sound dampener to dampen a sound generated by said valve when said valve resiliently deforms.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sealing the valve with the housing at a first pressure so that a flow passes through the first tube and the second tube.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said valve is an umbrella valve.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined pressure is greater than the first pressure.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a shape of said sound dampener is selected from a group consisting of:

a disk shape, a ring shape, a clover-like shape, and a pinwheel-like shape.