Passive leak valve

A ventilator with an integrated cough assist for use with a patient, the ventilator comprising:

• a passive patient circuit for fluid communication with a patient connection;
• a ventilator portion having a ventilator connection to which the patient circuit is connectable for fluid communication therewith, the ventilator portion being operable in a ventilation mode and in a cough-assist mode, the ventilator portion directing a flow of ventilation air to the ventilator connection for delivery to the patient via the patient circuit when the ventilator is in the ventilation mode, the ventilation air producing a pressure in the patient circuit above a threshold pressure;
• a user input for selecting switching operation of the ventilator from the ventilation mode to the cough-assist mode without disconnecting the ventilator from the patient;
• a controller operable in response to the user input for switching the ventilator from operation in the ventilation mode to operation in the cough-assist mode, and controlling operation of the ventilator in cough-assist mode to provide for at least one cough assist to the patient having an insufflation phase followed by an exsufflation phase;
• a cough-assist valve which is in a first state for the insufflation phase of the cough assist and then moved to a second state for the exsufflation phase of the cough assist, when the cough-assist valve is in the first state for the insufflation phase of the cough assist, the cough-assist valve communicates a positive pressure to the ventilator connection for delivery to the patient via the patient circuit at a pressure in the patient circuit above the threshold pressure, and when the cough-assist valve is in the second state for the exsufflation phase of the cough assist, the cough-assist valve communicates a negative pressure to the ventilator connection for delivery to the patient via the patient circuit at a pressure in the patient circuit below the threshold pressure;
• and
• wherein the patient circuit includes a passive valve usable as a fixed leak valve and having:
• a valve body having an internal chamber;
• a first valve body port in fluid communication with the internal chamber and configured for fluid communication with the patient connection;
• a second valve body port in fluid communication with the internal chamber and configured for fluid communication with the ventilator connection;
• a valve body passageway in communication with the internal chamber and with ambient air exterior of the valve body;
• and
• a check valve seal positioned to seal the valve body passageway to permit the flow of gas within the internal chamber through the valve body passageway to the exterior of the valve body and to prevent the flow of ambient air exterior of the valve body through the valve body passageway into the internal chamber.

A patient connection for use with a ventilator and a patient having at least one lung, comprising:

• a patient interface portion having a fluid passageway couplable to the patient in fluid communication with the at least one lung of the patient;
• and
• a passive valve portion operable as a fixed leak valve, the valve portion having:
• a valve body having an internal chamber;
• a first valve body port in fluid communication with the internal chamber and the fluid passageway of the patient interface;
• a second valve body port in fluid communication with the internal chamber and configured for fluid communication with the ventilator;
• a valve body passageway in fluid communication with the internal chamber and with ambient air exterior of the valve body, wherein the valve body passageway includes a third valve body port open to the ambient air;
• and
• a check valve seal having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the check valve seal is configured to permit the flow of gas within the internal chamber through the valve body passageway to the exterior of the valve body, and wherein in the closed position the check valve seal is configured to prevent the flow of ambient air exterior of the valve body through the valve body passageway into the internal chamber;
• wherein the check valve seal
• is in the open position when a first pressure within the internal chamber is greater than a second pressure external to the valve body,
• is in the closed position when the first pressure within the external chamber is less than the second pressure external to the valve body, and
• allows gas to flow between the first valve body port and the second valve body port when in the closed position.