Detachable inspiratory relief valve
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDoron Lindner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A relief valve assembly for use with a ventilator to selectively release pressure from within a breathing tube. The relief valve assembly can be attached and removed from the ventilator as a single unit. The relief valve assembly includes a sealing member that is movable by operating components within the ventilator to either seal or open at least one relief port contained within the relief valve assembly.
Claims20
A relief valve assembly for use with a ventilator having an inspiratory port for delivering breathing gas to a patient, comprising:
- a connector housing having an attachment feature for removably attaching the connector housing to the ventilator, the connector housing including an engagement tube received in the inspiratory port to receive the breathing gas and a connector tube surrounding a distal end of the engagement tube, wherein at least one relief port is formed between the connector tube and the engagement tube;
- a one-way valve positioned at the distal end of the engagement tube to permit one-way flow of the breathing gas from the engagement tube to the connector tube;
- and
- a sealing member selectively movable into and out of contact with the at least one relief port.
The relief valve assembly of claim I wherein the relief valve assembly is installed on and removed from the ventilator as a single unit.
An interface assembly for use between an inspiratory port of a ventilator and a breathing tube for use with a patient, wherein the interface assembly provides fluid communication for a flow of breathing gas from the inspiratory port to the breathing tube, comprising:
- an adjustment collar contained within the ventilator and selectively movable between a first position and a second position;
- a connector housing having an attachment feature for removably attaching the connector housing to the ventilator, the connector housing including an engagement tube received in the inspiratory port to receive the breathing gas flow and a connector tube surrounding a distal end of the engagement tube, wherein at least one relief port is formed between the connector tube and the engagement tube;
- a one-way valve positioned at the distal end of the engagement tube to permit one-way flow of the breathing gas from the engagement tube to the connector tube;
- and
- a sealing member coupled to the adjustment collar, wherein the sealing member is in sealing engagement with the at least one relief port when the adjustment collar is in the first position and the sealing member is spaced from the at least one relief port when the adjustment collar is in the second position.
A method of relieving pressure in a breathing tube receiving a breathing gas from an inspiratory port of a ventilator comprising the steps of:
- removably attaching a relief valve assembly to the ventilator, the relief valve assembly including a connector housing including an engagement tube received in the inspiratory port and a connector tube surrounding a distal end of the engagement tube wherein at least one relief port is formed between the connector tube and the engagement tube;
- selectively moving an adjustment collar relative to the connector housing between a first position and a second position, wherein a sealing member of the relief valve assembly moves into contact with the at least one relief port to prevent the flow of gas to atmosphere when the adjustment collar is in a first position and the sealing member is moved away from the at least one relief port when the adjustment collar is in a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.