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US 4,224,940 AGranted
Respirators
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorJean-Pierre Monnier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A respirator having insufflation and exhalation lines which form a breathing circuit for a patient or other user, insufflation and exhalation valves for admitting and discharging breathable gas to the circuit in accordance with an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, and a bellows or other storage container which receives breathable gas from a suitable gas generator. The storage container supplies breathable gas to the insufflation line and is connected thereto by a plurality of branch conduits which are arranged such that, during the final portion of the insufflation phase, the pressure in the storage container is lower than the pressure in the breathing circuit.
Claims14
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line having one end connected to said user connection means and an exhalation line having one end connected to said user connection means;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the opposite end of said insufflation line;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve having an inlet connected to the opposite end of said exhalation line and an outlet communicating with the atmosphere;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves at predetermined times, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- conduit means including a pair of branch conduits connected in parallel relationship between the storage container and the insufflation line upstream of the insufflation valve, unidirectional flow means in one of said branch conduits for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase;
- and
- unidirectional flow means in said other branch conduit responsive to the maximum insufflation pressure in said insufflation line for supplying breathable gas to said reservoir when said maximum insufflation pressure is reached, whereby the pressure in said container is maintained lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase.
6 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line having one end connected to said user connection means, and an exhalation line having one end connected to said user connection means;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the opposite end of said insufflation line;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve having an inlet connected to the opposite end of said exhalation line and an outlet communicating with the atmosphere;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase, said control means closing the insufflation valve prior to the opening of the exhalation valve during each breathing cycle;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- conduit means interconnecting the storage container and the insufflation line upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying unidirectional flow of the breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase;
- and
- unidirectional flow means connected in the conduit means and responsive to the maximum insufflation pressure in said insufflation line for supplying breathable gas to said reservoir when said maximum insufflation pressure is reached, whereby the pressure in said container is maintained lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase.
6 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line having one end connected to said user connection means and an exhalation line having one end connected to said user connection means;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the opposite end of said insufflation line;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve having an inlet connected to the opposite end of said exhalation line and an outlet communicating with the atmosphere;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves at predetermined times, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means
- means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation phase;
- and
- conduit means including a pair of branch conduits connected in parallel relationship between the storage container and the insufflation line upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase and for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits having a regulator valve for admitting breathable gas to the storage container when the pressure in said circuit is at least equal to the maximum insufflation pressure, and the other of said branch conduits having a nonreturn valve for preventing the flow of breathable gas from the insufflation line to the storage container.
6 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line having one end connected to said user connection means and an exhalation line having one end connected to said user connection means;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the opposite end of said insufflation line;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve having an inlet connected to the opposite end of said exhalation line and an outlet communicating with the atmosphere;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves at predetermined times, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- and
- conduit means including a pair of branch conduits connected in parallel relationship between the storage container and the insufflation line upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase and for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits having a regulator valve for admitting breathable gas to the storage container when the pressure in said circuit is at least equal to the maximum insufflation pressure, and the other of said branch conduits having a nonreturn valve for preventing the flow of breathable gas from the insufflation line to the storage container.
5 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including connection means, an insufflation line and an exhalation line connected to said user connection means;
- venturi means having a discharge portion communicating with the insufflation line and an injector portion;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the injector portion of the venturi means;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve in the exhalation line;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves at predetermined times, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- conduit means interconnecting the storage container and the venturi means upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying unidirectional flow of breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase;
- and
- unidirectional flow means connected to the conduit means and responsive to the maximum insufflation pressure in said insufflation line for supplying breathable gas to said reservoir when said maximum insufflation pressure is reached, whereby the pressure in said container is maintained lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase.
7 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line and an exhalation line connected to said user connection means;
- venturi means having a discharge portion communicating with the insufflation line and an injector portion;
- supply means for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the injector portion of the venturi means;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve in the exhalation line;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the supply means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- and
- conduit means including a pair of branch conduits connected in parallel relationship between the storage container and the venturi means upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit and for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits having a regulator valve for admitting breathable gas to the storage container when the pressure in said circuit is at least equal to the maximum insufflation pressure, and the other of said branch conduits having a nonreturn valve for preventing the flow of breathable gas from the venturi means to the storage container.
6 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line and an exhalation line connected to said user connection means;
- venturi means having a convergent portion, a divergent portion communicating with the insufflation line, and an injector portion;
- means including a compressed gas generator for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the injector portion of the venturi means;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve in the exhalation line;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves at predetermined times, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the generator, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- and
- conduit means including a pair of branch conduits connected in parallel relationship between the storage container and the convergent portion and divergent portion of the venturi means, respectively, and upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit and for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits connected between the convergent portion and said storage container having unidirectional flow means for preventing the flow of breathable gas from said convergent portion to the storage container, the other of said branch conduits connected between the divergent portion and the storage container including unidirectional flow means responsive to the maximum insufflation pressure in said insufflation line for supplying breathable gas to said reservoir when said maximum insufflation pressure is reached.
6 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line and an exhalation line connected to said user connection means;
- venturi means having a convergent portion, a divergent portion communicating with the insufflation line, and an injector portion;
- means including a compressed gas generator for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the injector portion of the venturi means;
- an insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- an exhalation valve in the exhalation line;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and an exhalation valve for opening and closing said valves, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase, said control means closing the insufflation valve prior to the opening of the exhalation valve during each breathing cycle;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the generator, means for maintaining the gas in the reservoir at a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure within the insufflation line at the beginning of the insufflation phase;
- and
- conduit means including a plurality of branch conduits interconnecting the storage container and the venturi means upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit during the insufflation phase;
- and
- means connected to the conduit means for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits having a regulator valve for admitting breathable gas to the storage container during the exhalation phase and when the pressure in said circuit is at least equal to the maximum insufflation pressure during the insufflation phase, and the other of said branch conduits communicating with the convergent portion of the venturi means and having a nonreturn valve for preventing the flow of breathable gas from said convergent portion to the storage container.
8 more elements
In a respirator for supplying breathable gas to a user and having an insufflation phase and an exhalation phase, in combination:
- a user circuit including user connection means, an insufflation line and an exhalation line connected to said user connection means;
- venturi means having a convergent portion, a divergent portion communicating with the insufflation line, and an injector portion;
- a compressed gas generator for introducing breathable gas under pressure to the injector portion of the venturi means;
- a pneumatically operated insufflation valve in the insufflation line;
- a pneumatically operated exhalation valve in the exhalation line for connecting the same to the atmosphere;
- control means connected to the insufflation valve and the exhalation valve for automatically applying pressure thereto from said generator at predetermined times, to open and close said valves, the opening of the insufflation valve initiating the insufflation phase and the opening of the exhalation valve initiating the exhalation phase;
- a reservoir forming a storage container for breathable gas from the generator;
- and
- conduit means including a plurality of branch conduits interconnecting the storage container and the venturi means upstream of the insufflation valve for supplying breathable gas from said storage container to the user circuit and for maintaining the pressure in said container lower than that in said circuit during the final portion of the insufflation phase and the initial portion of the exhalation phase, one of said branch conduits being connected to the divergent portion of the venturi means and having a regulator valve for admitting breathable gas from said divergent portion to the storage container when the pressure in said circuit is at least equal to the maximum insufflation pressure, and the other of said branch conduits being connected to the convergent portion of the venturi means and having a nonreturn valve for preventing the flow of breathable gas from said convergent portion to the storage container.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.