Resuscitator

A resuscitator for use with a breathing device such as a mask, tube or the like comprising;

• an air bag having fresh air inlet means for admitting fresh air to the interior of the bag and having air outlet means and operable to pump air through said outlet means;
• a two-way valve chamber having a supply end and a mask end, the mask end being adapted for communication with a breathing device, both said ends having opening means, the supply end opening being connectible with said air outlet means of said bag, and adapted to receive air from said bag;
• a first valve plate member of thin lightweight material of predetermined shape and size freely movable within said valve chamber between said supply end and said mask end for closing respective said opening means, the first valve plate member defining a flow axis and a single generally circular opening centered on the flow axis and being otherwise imperforate;
• a plurality of support arms formed integrally with the first plate member extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the circular opening, the support arms defining and being integrally joined together at a solid central hub at the center of said circular opening, whereby the support arms divide said generally circular opening;
• a plurality of stub members formed integrally with the first plate member extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the circular opening and terminating short of said central hub;
• said support arms and said stub members of said first valve plate member lying in a common plane whereby to define a flat planar valve surface;
• a fastening boss formed integrally with the central hub of said first plate member and extending towards said mask end of said chamber;
• retaining flange means formed integrally with said boss and spaced from said valve surface a predetermined distance;
• a flat planar flexible valve element membrane attached to said first valve plate member, said member having a single central opening and being otherwise imperforate and fitting elastically over said boss and fitting within said predetermined spacing between such first valve plate member and such flange means engaging such valve element membrane and retaining same in position lying flat on said flat planar valve surface;
• said valve element membrane normally closing said generally circular opening and being flexibly movable so as to open said generally circular opening when air flows from said supply end opening means of said chamber to said mask end opening means, and,
• a second valve plate member integrally formed with support arms, a central hub, stub members, fastening boss, and flange means all being generally identical to the first valve plate member and corresponding support arms, central hub, stub members, fastening boss, and flange means, the second valve plate member having a flat planar flexible valve element membrane attached thereto generally identical to the membrane attached to the first valve plate member, the second valve plate member forming part of the air inlet means whereby to permit air flow through the inlet means into the air bag and to prevent flow out of the bag.