Clamping valve assembly for a ventilator

A ventilator system comprising:

• a housing;
• a clamping valve assembly connected to the housing and comprising:
• a base,
• a clamp cradle positioned on the base and having a first cradle surface and a second cradle surface,
• a clamp movably mounted relative to the base, the clamp having a first clamp surface facing the first cradle surface to define a first volume between the first clamp surface and the first cradle surface, and a second clamp surface facing the second cradle surface to define a second volume between the second clamp surface and the second cradle surface, and
• a motor operatively connected to the clamp and configured to move the clamp between a first clamp position in which the first volume has a starting first volume value and the second volume has a starting second volume value, and a second clamp position in which the first volume has a final first volume value that is different from the starting first volume value, and the second volume has a final second volume value that is different from the starting second volume value,
• a plurality of ports comprising:
• a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a second inlet port, and a second outlet port,
• a first tube extending through the first volume and fluidly connecting the first inlet port and the first outlet port, and
• a second tube extending through the second volume and fluidly connecting the second inlet port and the second outlet port;
• a blower having a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower outlet being fluidly connected to the first inlet port when the clamping valve assembly is connected to the housing;
• a controller configured to operate the blower to generate a flow of gas into the first inlet, and to operate the motor to reciprocate the clamp between the first position and the second position.

A method for assembling or servicing a ventilator, the method comprising:

• accessing an interior of a ventilator housing;
• removing and replacing at least one of a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a second inlet port, and a second outlet port of a clamping valve assembly attached within the interior of the ventilator housing while a remainder of the clamping valve assembly remains attached within the interior of the ventilator housing;
• and
• removing and replacing one or more of a first tube fluidly connecting the first inlet port and the first outlet port, and a second tube fluidly connecting the second inlet port and the second outlet port.

A service unit for a ventilator, the service unit comprising:

• one or more sealed packages each comprising a respective sterile interior volume;
• a first inlet port located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes;
• a first outlet port located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes;
• a second inlet port located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes;
• a second outlet port located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes;
• a first tube located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes;
• and
• a second tube located in one of the respective sterile interior volumes.

A method for operating a ventilator clamping valve assembly comprising a clamp cradle having a first cradle surface and a second cradle surface, a clamp having a first clamp surface facing the first cradle surface to define a first volume between the first clamp surface and the first cradle surface and a second clamp surface facing the second cradle surface to define a second volume between the second clamp surface and the second cradle surface, a first tube extending through the first volume, and a second tube extending through the second volume, the method comprising:

• (a) moving the first clamp surface towards the first cradle surface to simultaneously decrease the first volume to compress the first tube and increase the second volume to decompress the second tube;
• (b) moving the second clamp surface towards the second cradle surface to simultaneously decrease the second volume to compress the second tube and increase the first volume to decompress the first tube;
• and
• cyclically repeating steps (a) and (b) according to a respiration rate of a patient.

A ventilator valve assembly comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of ports comprising:
• a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a second inlet port, and a second outlet port;
• a first tube connecting the first inlet port and the first outlet port;
• a second tube connecting the second inlet port and the second outlet port;
• a first valve body configured to selectively change a cross-sectional area of the first tube;
• a second valve body configured to selectively change a cross-sectional area of the second tube;
• one or more motors connected to the first valve body and the second valve body and
• control electronics configured to:
• operate the one or more motors to simultaneously move the first valve body to reduce the cross-sectional area of the first tube and move the second valve body to increase the cross-sectional area of the second tube;
• and
• operate the one or more motors to simultaneously move the first valve body to increase the cross-sectional area of the first tube and move the second valve body to decrease the cross-sectional area of the second tube.