# US 11,433,209 B2 · Modular exhalation device that transitions circuits between active and non-invasive ventilation modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,209 B2 - Document ID: US11433209B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/691,649 - Filed: 2019-11-22 - Published: 2020-05-28 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-27 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Antonio George Geraci; Katelyn Jean Stavinga; Elizabeth Hurley; Kevin Shick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433209B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/1065: {in the expiratory path} - A61M 16/206: {Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves} - A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/0858: {Pressure sampling ports} - A61M 16/12: by mixing different gases - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An exhalation device for a non-invasive ventilator, configured to reversibly convert between a passive ventilation configuration and an active ventilation configuration, comprising: (i) a housing with a first end and a second end, the housing defining a gas flow path extending between the first end and the second end; (ii) an exhalation port configured to passively release gas to the environment; (iii) an internal diaphragm positioned at an interface between the exhalation port and the housing, configured to allow release of gas exhalation; and (iv) an adapter comprising an adapter exhalation port and configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port to define a controlled exhalation flow path from the exhalation port to the adapter exhalation port, and comprising an internal air flow control configured to actively control the flow of exhalant through the controlled exhalation flow path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exhalation device for a non-invasive ventilator system, the exhalation device configured to reversibly convert between a first, passive ventilation configuration and a second, active ventilation configuration, the exhalation device comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end, the housing defining a gas flow path extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are both open ends; an exhalation port defined within the housing, the exhalation port configured to passively release gas from the gas flow path to the environment; an internal diaphragm positioned at an interface between the exhalation port and the housing, the internal diaphragm configured to allow release of gas to the exhalation port during exhalation; and an adapter comprising an adapter exhalation port, and further comprising an engagement portion configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port to define a controlled exhalation flow path from the exhalation port to the adapter exhalation port, the adapter comprising an internal air flow control configured to actively control the flow of exhalant through the controlled exhalation flow path; wherein the internal diaphragm is configured to be at least partially moved out of the gas flow path by the adapter when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port, wherein the exhalation device is in the first, passive ventilation configuration when the adapter is removed from the exhalation port, and further wherein the exhalation device is in the second, active ventilation configuration when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a pressure port configured to enable control of the internal air flow control. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a proximal pressure port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the adaptor comprises a filter or filter device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the internal air flow control of the adaptor comprises a valve, diaphragm, or plateau exhalation valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the exhalation device is configured for a single-limb patient breathing circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion is further configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The exhalation device of claim 7, wherein the engagement portion of the adapter comprises a snap fit configured to engage the exhalation port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The exhalation device of claim 7, wherein the engagement portion of the adapter is threaded to reversibly engage the exhalation port using complementary threading. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the internal diaphragm is configured to move back into the airway path when the adapter disengages the exhalation port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The exhalation device of claim 1, wherein the internal diaphragm is configured to provide a predetermined leak profile when the device is in the passive ventilation configuration. ### Claim 12 An exhalation device system for a non-invasive ventilator system, the exhalation device system configured to reversibly convert between a first, passive ventilation configuration and a second, active ventilation configuration, the exhalation device system comprising: an exhalation device comprising: (i) a housing with a first end and a second end, the housing defining a gas flow path extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are both open ends; (ii) an exhalation port defined within the housing, the exhalation port configured to passively release gas from the gas flow path to the environment; and (iii) an internal diaphragm positioned at an interface between the exhalation port and the housing, the internal diaphragm configured to allow release of gas to the exhalation port during exhalation; and an adapter comprising an adapter exhalation port, and further comprising an engagement portion configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port to define a controlled exhalation flow path from the exhalation port to the adapter exhalation port, the adapter comprising an internal air flow control configured to actively control the flow of exhalant through the controlled exhalation flow path; wherein the internal diaphragm is configured to be at least partially reversibly moved out of the gas flow path by the adapter when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port, wherein the exhalation device system comprises the first, passive ventilation configuration when the adapter is removed from the exhalation port, and further wherein the exhalation device system comprises the second, active ventilation configuration when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port to define the controlled exhalation flow path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The exhalation device system of claim 12, wherein the exhalation device further comprises a proximal pressure port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The exhalation device system of claim 12, wherein the internal air flow control of the adaptor comprises a valve, diaphragm, or plateau exhalation valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The exhalation device system of claim 12, wherein the engagement portion is further configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port. ### Claim 16 An exhalation device for a non-invasive ventilator system, the exhalation device configured to reversibly convert between a first, passive ventilation configuration and a second, active ventilation configuration, the exhalation device comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end, the housing defining a gas flow path extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are both open ends; an exhalation port defined within the housing, the exhalation port configured to passively release gas from the gas flow path to the environment; an internal diaphragm positioned at an interface between the exhalation port and the housing, the internal diaphragm configured to allow release of gas to the exhalation port during exhalation; and an adapter comprising an adapter exhalation port, and further comprising an engagement portion configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port to define a controlled exhalation flow path from the exhalation port to the adapter exhalation port, the adapter comprising an internal air flow control configured to actively control the flow of exhalant through the controlled exhalation flow path; wherein the internal diaphragm is configured to be at least partially moved out of the gas flow path by the adapter when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port, wherein the exhalation device is in the first, passive ventilation configuration when the adapter is removed from the exhalation port, and further wherein the exhalation device is in the second, active ventilation configuration when the engagement portion of the adapter engages the exhalation port wherein the engagement portion of the adaptor is further configured to reversibly engage the exhalation port via a snap fit, or wherein the engagement portion of the adapter is threaded to reversibly engage the exhalation port using complementary threading.