Resuscitation breathing apparatus

Resuscitation breathing apparatus for improving a user's breathing comprising:

• a) a high pressure source of breathable gas;
• b) an inhalation chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
• c) endotracheal adapter means for connection to the patient's airway to provide fluid communication to the lungs, the airway means being connected to the outlet of the inhalation chamber and including an inhalation check valve for allowing gas from the inhalation chamber to enter the patient's lungs and an exhalation check valve for venting the patient's exhaled gas;
• d) an inhalation valve connected between the inlet of the inhalation chamber and the high pressure source;
• e) inhalation valve control means responsive to the pressure in the inhalation chamber to open and close the inhalation valve when the pressure reaches first and second predetermined pressures, respectively;
• f) inhalation chamber venting means for venting gas within the inhalation chamber to lower the pressure therein from the second predetermined pressure when the inhalation valve is in the closed position;
• g) chest compressing means including an inflatable cuff adapted to extend over the patient's chest and/or upper abdomen for compressing the patient's chest when inflated;
• h) a cuff inflation chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connected to the cuff;
• i) a cuff inflation valve connected between the inlet of the cuff inflation chamber and a high pressure gas source;
• j) cuff inflation valve control means responsive to the position of the inhalation valve to close and open the cuff inflation valve when the inhalation valve is open and closed, respectively;
• and
• k) cuff inflation chamber venting means for venting gas within the cuff to lower the pressure therein when the cuff inflation valve is in the closed position;
• and
• i) the cuff inflation valve comprising a seventh diaphragm valve with first and second pressure actuating chambers disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm the diaphragm, the diaphragm of the seventh valve having a greater area exposed to the second chamber than the first chamber, whereby the seventh valve is in a closed position when the pressure in the second chamber exceeds the pressure in the first chamber by a preset amount and in an open position when the pressure in the second chamber falls below the preset valve and the cuff inflation valve control means includes means for connecting the first and second chambers to the pressurized source and an eight diaphragm valve with first and second chambers for selectively venting gas from the second chamber of the cuff inflation valve to reduce the pressure therein and allow the gas pressure within the first chamber of the cuff inflation valve to open said valve and inflate the cuff.