# US 12,178,962 B2 · Automatic rescue breathing unit with keying system

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- Number: US 12,178,962 B2
- Document ID: US12178962B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/525,346
- Filed: 2023-11-30
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-07
- Applicants: Daniel A. McCarthy; Liana Al-Natour; Khang Vo; Hersh Singh; Khushi Ashish Shah; Carlos Paclibar
- Inventors: Daniel A. McCarthy; Liana Al-Natour; Khang Vo; Hersh Singh; Khushi Ashish Shah; Carlos Paclibar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178962B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/1005: {with O2 features or with parameter measurement}
- A61M 16/00: Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes
- A61M 16/08: Bellows; Connecting tubes {(having means for taking samples G01N1/22); Water traps; Patient circuits}
- A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves}
- A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors}
- A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/0883: {Circuit type}
- A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves}
- A61M 16/209: {Relief valves}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate
- A61M 2205/6009: for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
- A61M 2205/6045: having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- 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

A rescue breathing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is an automatic rescue breathing unit (ARBU) device that includes two sub-systems—an airway device keying mechanism and a ventilation unit. The keying mechanism may trigger and determine breath profile and parameters delivered by the ventilation unit. The ARBU device may connect to an air/oxygen source via a pressure regulator. The ARBU device may include a manifold, a keying chamber, an adult channel for providing breath to adult patients, a child channel for providing breath to child patients, and an infant channel for providing breath to infant patients. The ARBU device may also include a constant flow channel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rescue breath apparatus, comprising:
a ventilator device configured to be coupled to an air/oxygen source, the ventilator device comprising:
a first air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for a first patient;
a second air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for a second patient;
a third air channel configured to provide a constant flow rate of air/oxygen;
a system outlet coupled to all of the air channels, the system outlet being configured to output air/oxygen from the device;
a first keyhole assembly comprising a first valve controlling air flow through the first air channel;
a second keyhole assembly comprising a second valve controlling air flow through the second air channel; and
a third keyhole assembly comprising a third valve controlling air flow through the third air channel;
a first airway device configured to be placed on a face of the first patient;
a second airway device configured to be placed on a face of the second patient;
a third airway device configured to provide the constant flow rate of air/oxygen;
a first key assembly attached to the first airway device, wherein the first key assembly includes a first air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a first key configured to engage the first valve in the first keyhole assembly when the first air tube is coupled to the system outlet;
a second key assembly attached to the second airway device, wherein the second key assembly includes a second air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a second key configured to engage the second valve in the second keyhole assembly when the second air tube is coupled to the system outlet; and
a third key assembly attached to the third airway device, wherein the third key assembly includes a third air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a third key configured to engage the third valve in the third keyhole assembly when the third air tube is coupled to the system outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a fourth air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for a third patient;
a fourth keyhole assembly comprising a fourth valve controlling air flow through the fourth air channel;
a fourth airway device configured to be placed on a face of the third patient; and
a fourth key assembly attached to the fourth airway device, wherein the fourth key assembly includes a fourth air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a fourth key configured to engage the fourth valve in the fourth keyhole assembly when the fourth air tube is coupled to the system outlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first patient is an adult patient, the second patient is a child patient, and the third patient is an infant patient.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein engagement of a key with a valve in a keyhole assembly opens air/oxygen flow through an air channel corresponding to the keyhole assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a key engages a valve in a keyhole assembly by pushing a button on the valve to open the valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manifold dividing a flow of air/oxygen between the first, second, and third air channels in the ventilator device, wherein the manifold is connected to the first, second, and third valves.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second air channels include a pneumatic timing circuit to provide a pulsed flow of air through the channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keyhole assemblies include keyholes for receiving the keys from the key assemblies.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a key assembly has a defined distance between its air tube and its key that determines the keyhole in which said key engages the valve, the keyholes being spaced at different distances from the system outlet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the keyholes are spaced at different distances form the system outlet.

### Claim 11

A rescue breath system, comprising:
a ventilator device configured to be coupled to an air/oxygen source, the ventilator device comprising:
a first air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for an adult patient;
a second air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for a child patient;
a third air channel configured to provide a rate and volume of rescue breaths specified for an infant patient;
a fourth air channel configured to provide a constant flow rate of air/oxygen;
a system outlet coupled to all of the air channels, the system outlet being configured to output air/oxygen from the device;
a first keyhole assembly comprising a first valve controlling air flow through the first air channel;
a second keyhole assembly comprising a second valve controlling air flow through the second air channel;
a third keyhole assembly comprising a third valve controlling air flow through the third air channel; and
a fourth keyhole assembly comprising a fourth valve controlling air flow through the fourth air channel;
a first airway device configured to be placed on a face of the adult patient;
a second airway device configured to be placed on a face of the child patient;
a third airway device configured to be placed on a face of the infant patient;
a fourth airway device configured to provide the constant flow rate of air/oxygen;
a first key assembly attached to the first airway device, wherein the first key assembly includes a first air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a first key configured to engage the first valve in the first keyhole assembly when the first air tube is coupled to the system outlet;
a second key assembly attached to the second airway device, wherein the second key assembly includes a second air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a second key configured to engage the second valve in the second keyhole assembly when the second air tube is coupled to the system outlet;
a third key assembly attached to the third airway device, wherein the third key assembly includes a third air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a third key configured to engage the third valve in the third keyhole assembly when the third air tube is coupled to the system outlet; and
a fourth key assembly attached to the fourth airway device, wherein the fourth key assembly includes a fourth air tube configured to be coupled to the system outlet and a fourth key configured to engage the fourth valve in the fourth keyhole assembly when the fourth air tube is coupled to the system outlet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein engagement of a key with a valve in a keyhole assembly opens air/oxygen flow through an air channel corresponding to the keyhole assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein a key engages a valve in a keyhole assembly by pushing a button on the valve to open the valve.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third air channels include a pneumatic timing circuit to provide a pulsed flow of air through the channel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third air channels include pressure regulators to reduce the pressure of air/oxygen flowing through the air channels.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the fourth air channel includes a needle valve set to provide the constant flow of air/oxygen through the fourth air channel at a predetermined rate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the keyhole assemblies include keyholes for receiving the keys from the key assemblies.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein a key assembly has a defined distance between its air tube and its key that determines the keyhole in which said key engages the valve, the keyholes being spaced at different distances from the system outlet.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the keyholes are spaced at different distances form the system outlet.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the key assemblies have different distances between their respective air tubes and keys, the distance between an air tube and a key on a key assembly corresponding to the distance from the system outlet of the keyhole associated with the key assembly.