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US 2024/0173468 A1Published application
Pressure relief device and method for opening an airway
AssigneesSommetrics, Inc., Aerfree, LLC
InventorDavid WINTER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods for regulating vacuum levels in a chamber device having a housing that encloses an inner chamber volume through the use of one or more pressure relief valve elements which open at a predetermined levels of vacuum to create an opening through the housing and which close at a second, lower, predetermined level of vacuum within the chamber volume.
Claims26
A method of regulating vacuum levels, comprising:
- providing a chamber device having a housing that encloses an inner chamber volume comprising a gas to be evacuated from within the chamber device by application of a vacuum, wherein the housing separates the inner chamber volume from an ambient gaseous atmosphere external to the chamber device, wherein the housing comprises a valve which opens at a first predetermined level of vacuum within the inner chamber volume to create an opening through the housing through which gas from the ambient gaseous atmosphere can enter the inner chamber volume and which closes at a second predetermined level of vacuum within the inner volume, wherein the second predetermined level of vacuum is lower than the first predetermined level of vacuum,
- wherein the valve comprises
- a semi-elliptical valve head having a marginal edge, an interior side facing the inner chamber volume, an exterior side facing the ambient gaseous atmosphere,
- a resilient sleeve at the marginal edge thereof, and
- a valve aperture in the valve head which reversibly opens to permit fluid flow therethrough,
- wherein the valve head has a generally convex orientation relative to the housing when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the resilient sleeve is configured and arranged to double over and extend in a rolling manner to apply a torque to the valve head which causes the valve head to invert to a generally concave orientation that assists in opening the valve aperture at or greater than the first predetermined level of vacuum and to revert to its generally convex orientation at or less than the second predetermined level of vacuum;
- and
- operably connecting the chamber device to a vacuum source to evacuate the gas from the inner volume, wherein opening and closing of the valve regulates the level of vacuum within the inner volume to a range between the first predetermined level of vacuum and the second predetermined level of vacuum.
5 more elements
A negative pressure therapy device, comprising:
- a chamber element comprising a housing configured to mate with and cover a portion of an individual and thereby enclose an inner chamber volume over the covered portion of the individual, wherein the housing separates the inner chamber volume from an ambient gaseous atmosphere external to the chamber device,
- wherein the housing comprises
- a vacuum aperture configured to be mated to a vacuum source for evacuation of a gas from within the inner chamber volume formed upon mating of the chamber element with the individual, and
- a valve which opens at a first predetermined level of vacuum within the inner chamber volume to create an opening through the housing through which gas from the ambient gaseous atmosphere can enter the inner chamber volume and which closes at a second predetermined level of vacuum within the inner chamber volume, wherein the second predetermined level of vacuum is lower than the first predetermined level of vacuum,
- wherein the valve comprises
- a semi-elliptical valve head having a marginal edge, an interior side facing the inner chamber volume, an exterior side facing the ambient gaseous atmosphere,
- a resilient sleeve at the marginal edge thereof, and
- a valve aperture in the valve head which reversibly opens to permit fluid flow therethrough,
- wherein the valve head has a generally convex orientation relative to the housing when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the resilient sleeve is configured and arranged to double over and extend in a rolling manner to apply a torque to the valve head which causes the valve head to invert to a generally concave orientation that assists in opening the valve aperture at or greater than the first predetermined level of vacuum and to revert to its generally convex orientation at or less than the second predetermined level of vacuum.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.