VENTILATOR EXHALATION FLOW VALVE
First Claim
Patent Images
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 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.
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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.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve comprising:
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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 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A ventilator system comprising:
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a gas source configured to provide a gas to a patient via a supply channel; an exhaust channel configured to direct exhaust gas from the patient; and an exhaust valve comprising; a force coil configured to be moved within a fixed magnetic field in response to a low frequency current; a current amplifier configured to direct a summed 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; a processor configured (i) to receive data relating to the position of the force coil, (ii) to receive data relating to pressure within the exhaust channel, and (iii) to send instructions to the current amplifier based on the position of the coil and the pressure; and a diaphragm configured to adjust opening of a. a -e orifice based on the instructions from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for adjusting pressure in a ventilator line, the method comprising:
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directing a summed low frequency current and a high frequency current from a current amplifier into a force coil that is configured (i) to be moved within a fixed magnetic field in response to the low frequency current and to control a diaphragm to adjust opening of a valve orifice; detecting the high frequency current in the force coil, the detected high frequency current having a magnitude that is proportional to a position of the force coil within the fixed magnetic field; detecting the pressure in the ventilator line; and changing the low frequency current to move the force coil within the fixed magnetic field, thereby adjusting the opening of a valve orifice, in response to the detected pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification