Lung-venting apparatus

In a manually operated lung-venting apparatus including a self-expanding bladder having a bladder inlet through which treating gas is drawn into the bladder during expansion thereof;

• a bladder outlet through which treating gas is driven out of the bladder during compression thereof and a three-way breathing valve having an inlet in communication with the bladder outlet and an outlet to be connected to the respiratory system of a patient;
• the improvement comprising, in combination, a valve device having
• a. a housing having first, second and third housing portions;
• b. a first mounting means for releasably securing said first and second housing portions to one another;
• said first mounting means being formed of cooperating first and second ridges carried, respectively, by said first and second housing portions for providing a snap-in engagement between said first and second housing portions, by engagement of said first and second ridges behind one another;
• c. a second mounting means for sealingly securing said third housing portion to said bladder in the zone of said bladder outlet;
• d. a third mounting means for sealingly and releasably securing said first and second housing portions to said third housing portion;
• said third mounting means including an inner thread formed on said third housing portion and an outer thread complemental with said inner thread and formed on said second housing portion;
• e. means defining an inlet chamber in said first housing portion;
• f. means defining a valve inlet in said first housing portion;
• said valve inlet being connected to said bladder outlet for establishing communication between said bladder and said inlet chamber;
• g. means defining a valve outlet in said first housing portion;
• and means defining an outlet chamber in said second housing portion;
• said valve outlet being in continuous communication with said outlet chamber;
• said outlet chamber being connected to the inlet of said three-way breathing valve;
• h. a movable valve member supported in said first housing portion adjacent said valve inlet for opening and closing said valve inlet;
• said movable valve member having an open position in which communication is maintained between said bladder and said inlet chamber and a closed position in which gas flow is blocked from said bladder to said inlet chamber;
• and
• i. control means arranged in said first housing portion and connected to said movable valve member for moving and maintaining said movable valve member in said closed position when the pressure in said inlet chamber exceeds a predetermined value above the ambient pressure and for moving and maintaining said movable valve member in said open position when the pressure in said inlet chamber is below said predetermined value;
• said first housing portion forming a structural unit with said movable valve member and said control means.