Therapeutic gas delivery device with pulsed and continuous flow control
AssigneeMallinckrodt Hospital Products IP Limited
InventorsJaron M. Acker, Thomas Kohlmann, Craig R. Tolmie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are methods and devices for therapeutic or medical gas delivery that utilize at least one proportional control valve and at least one binary control valve. The proportional control valve may be in series with the binary control valve to provide a valve combination capable of pulsing therapeutic gas at different flow rates, depending on the setting of the proportional control valve. Alternatively, the proportional control valve and binary control valve may be in parallel flow paths.
Claims16
A therapeutic gas delivery device comprising:
- an inlet to connect to a source of therapeutic gas;
- an outlet to connect to a device that introduces the therapeutic gas to a patient;
- at least one binary control valve in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet that delivers a constant flow of the therapeutic gas;
- at least one proportional control valve in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet that delivers a variable flow of the therapeutic gas, wherein the binary control valve and the proportional control valve are in parallel flow paths;
- a control system that delivers the therapeutic gas through one or more of the binary control valve and the proportional control valve;
- and
- wherein the control system is adapted to deliver the therapeutic gas to a patient in an amount proportional to a flow of breathing gas.
A method of administering a therapeutic gas to a patient, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of therapeutic gas to a therapeutic gas delivery device having at least one binary control valve that delivers a constant flow of therapeutic gas and at least one proportional control valve that delivers a variable flow of the therapeutic gas, wherein the binary control valve and the proportional control valve are in parallel flow paths;
- measuring a flow of breathing gas;
- and
- delivering therapeutic gas to the patient during inspiration through one or more of the binary control valve and the proportional control valve in an amount proportional to the flow of breathing gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.