# US 5,566,669 A · Autoclavable carbon dioxide absorber/valve for use in anesthesia and resuscitation apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,566,669 A
- Document ID: US5566669A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/490,779
- Filed: 1995-06-15
- Granted: 1996-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 1994-06-20
- Assignees: Techbase Pty Ltd.
- Inventors: David Komesaroff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5566669A

## CPC

- A61M 16/22: Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices {; Other means for removing carbon dioxide}(cartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00)
- A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
- A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves}
- Y10S 128/909: Breathing apparatus with means for preventing patient cross-contamination
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A canister (10) is provided for use with an anaesthesia and resuscitation machine. The canister (10) includes a canister body (12) defining an interior (41) for holding carbon dioxide absorbent (114). A unidirectional expiratory valve (40) is integrally mounted to the canister body (12) through which a patient gas can pass into the canister body interior (41), and a unidirectional inspiratory valve (42) is provided through which the patient gas can pass out of the canister body interior (41). An overflow orifice (102) extends through the canister body, through which the patient gas can pass. A unidirectinal overflow valve (150) is coupled to the overflow orifice (102) for permitting a controlled flow of patient gas therethrough to maintain the desired patient gas pressure within the interior (41) of the canister body (12). When the valve (150) is in its unlocked position, it is normally biased by gravity into a valve engaged position to automatically adjust the flow of excess patient gas therethrough, by being moveable under the influence of gas pressure within the canister into a valve disengaged position. In the valve disengaged position, patient gas can pass through the overflow valve (150). Also, the valve (150) can be locked in the valve engaged position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A canister for use with an anesthesia and resuscitation machine, the canister including a canister body defining an interior for holding a carbon dioxide absorbent material, a unidirectional expiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which a patient gas can pass into the canister body interior, a unidirectional inspiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which the patient gas can pass out of the canister body interior,
an overflow orifice extending through the canister body, through which the patient gas can pass, and
a unidirectional overflow valve means coupled to the overflow orifice for permitting a controlled flow of patient gas therethrough to maintain a desired gas pressure within the interior of the canister body, the valve means being biased by gravity into a valve engaged position to normally prevent the flow of patient gas therethrough and being movable, against the influence of gravity, if an over-pressure situation occurs with the interior of the canister body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the canister body includes
(1) a generally planar front surface and a generally planar rear surface, and at least one of the unidirectional inspiratory valve and expiratory valve are integrally mounted to the canister body between said front surface and rear surface;
(2) an inspiratory port, to which an inspiratory line can be attached; and
(3) an expiratory line to which an expiratory line can be attached, expiratory port including a key means to prevent connection of a male gas line connector thereto.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the canister body includes
(a) a bowl portion
(b) a lid portion sealingly engagable with the bowl portion, and
(c) a partition means for defining an expiratory cavity, an inspiratory cavity disposed adjacent the expiratory cavity, and an absorbent cavity in which the absorbent can be placed, the partitions defining a patient gas flow path from the expiratory valve, into the expiratory cavity, through the absorbent cavity, through the inspiratory cavity, and then through the inspiratory valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the overflow orifice is disposed adjacent to the expiratory cavity, further comprising a fresh gas orifice disposed adjacent to the inspiratory cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the overflow valve means includes
(1) a valve member, and
(2) a valve seat defining a valve aperture through which the patient gas can pass out of the interior of the body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5 wherein the overflow valve means includes a valve actuating means for adjusting the valve between
(1) a locked position wherein the valve member is locked into the valve engaged position wherein the valve member is engaged with the valve seat to prevent the flow of patient gas through the valve aperture, and
(2) an unlocked position wherein the valve member can move, under the influence of patient gas pressure, between the valve engaged position, and a valve disengaged position wherein the valve member is disposed in a spaced relation to the valve seat to permit the patient gas to flow through the valve aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein
(1) the canister means includes a breathing bag port to which a breathing bag can be attached for placing the breathing bag in fluid communication with the interior of the canister body, and
(2) the valve member is sized and weighted to remain, under the influence of gravity, when in the unlocked position, in the valve engaged position until the pressure of the patient gas within the interior of the canister body is sufficient to cause the inflation of the breathing bag.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the valve member includes a stem portion and a head portion, and the valve actuating means includes:
(1) a collar member having a threaded surface,
(2) a shaft member having a threaded surface for engaging the threaded surface of the collar member, and a sleeve portion for slidably receiving the stem portion of the valve member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the shaft member includes a limiter member for limiting the travel of each of the shaft member and the valve member, and for maintaining the shaft member in engagement with the collar member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the shaft member includes a recessed groove disposed between the collar member and the valve head portion, and the limiter member comprises a snap ring receivable in the recessed groove, the snap ring being engagable with the collar member for limiting the travel of the shaft member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the valve member is adjustable to permit a variable flow rate through the aperture, and wherein when the valve is in its unlocked position, the valve member is normally biased into the valve engaged position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11 wherein
(1) the canister means includes a breathing bag port to which a breathing bag can be attached, for placing the breathing bag in fluid communication with the interior of the canister body, and
(2) the valve member is sized and weighted to remain, when in the unlocked position, in the valve engaged position, until the pressure of the patient gas within the interior of the canister body is sufficient to cause the inflation of the breathing bag.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12 wherein the overflow valve member includes a stem portion and a head portion, and the valve actuator means includes
(1) a collar member having a threaded surface,
(2) a shaft member having a threaded surface for engaging the threaded surface of the collar member, and a sleeve portion for slidably receiving the stem portion of the valve member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13 wherein the valve actuating means includes a knob member fixedly coupled to the shaft member for rotating the shaft member, the knob member including an aperture aligned with the sleeve portion for slidably receiving the stem portion of the valve member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14 wherein the shaft member includes a limiter member for limiting the travel of each of the shaft member, and the valve member, and for maintaining the shaft member in engagement with the collar member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15 wherein the shaft member includes a recessed groove disposed between the collar member and the valve head portion, and the limiter member comprises a snap ring receivable in the recessed groove, the snap ring being engagable with the collar member for limiting the travel of the shaft member.

### Claim 17

A canister for use with an anesthesia and resuscitation machine, the canister including a canister body defining an interior for holding a carbon dioxide absorbent material, a unidirectional expiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which a patient gas can pass into the canister body interior, a unidirectional inspiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which the patient gas can pass out of the canister body interior,
an overflow orifice extending through the canister body, through which the patient gas can pass, the overflow orifice being disposed adjacent to the expiratory cavity,
a fresh gas orifice disposed adjacent to the inspiratory cavity,
a unidirectional overflow valve means coupled to the overflow orifice for permitting a controlled flow of patient gas therethrough to maintain a desired gas pressure within the interior of the canister body, the valve means being biased by gravity into a valve engaged position to normally prevent the flow of patient gas therethrough, the overflow valve means including:
(1) valve member including a stem portion and a head portion, and
(2) valve seat defining a valve aperture through which the patient gas can pass out of the interior of the body
(3) valve actuating means for adjusting the valve between a locked position wherein the valve member is locked in a fixed position, and an unlocked position wherein the valve member can move, the valve actuating means including:
(a) a collar member having a threaded surface,
(b) a shaft member having a threaded surface for engaging the threaded surface of the collar member, and a sleeve portion for slidably receiving the stem portion of the valve member, and
(4) a cap means for engaging a surface of the outlet orifice, wherein the collar member is fixedly coupled to the cap means, the threaded surface of said collar member comprises a threaded radially inwardly facing surface, the threaded surface of the shaft member comprises a threaded radially outwardly facing surface, and the sleeve portion comprises a longitudinally extending central passageway formed in the shaft portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17 wherein the valve member includes a knob member fixedly coupled to the shaft member for rotating the shaft member to induce vertical travel of the shaft member.

### Claim 19

A canister for use with an anesthesia and resuscitation machine, the canister including a canister body defining an interior for holding a carbon dioxide absorbent material, a unidirectional expiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which a patient gas can pass into the canister body interior, a unidirectional inspiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which the patient gas can pass out of the canister body interior,
an overflow orifice extending through the canister body, through which the patient gas can pass, the overflow orifice being disposed adjacent to the expiratory cavity,
a fresh gas orifice disposed adjacent to the inspiratory cavity,
a unidirectional overflow valve means coupled to the overflow orifice for permitting a controlled flow of patient gas therethrough to maintain a desired gas pressure within the interior of the canister body, the valve means being biased by gravity into a valve engaged position to normally prevent the flow of patient gas therethrough,
the canister body including
(1) a bowl portion
(2) a lid portion sealingly engagable with the bowl portion, and
(3) partition means for defining an expiratory cavity, an inspiratory cavity disposed adjacent the expiratory cavity, and an absorbent cavity in which the absorbent can be placed, the partitions defining a patient gas flow path from the expiratory valve, into the expiratory cavity, through the absorbent cavity, through the inspiratory cavity, and then through the inspiratory valve,
the partition means further defining a breathing bag cavity in fluid communication with the absorbent cavity, and
a breathing bag port orifice in fluid communication with the breathing bag cavity, the breathing bag port orifice being capable of receiving a breathing bag means, and being placed in the patient gas flow both downstream and upstream of the absorbent cavity.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18 wherein the partition means includes at least one grate portion through which the patient gas can pass from one of the absorbent and breathing bag cavity into the absorbent cavity, the one grate portion including a first surface, a second surface disposed adjacent the absorbent cavity, and a series of apertures extending between the first and second surfaces, the apertures each having a first opening at the first surface, and a second opening at the second surface, said second openings being smaller than said first openings.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19 wherein the partition means comprises
(a) a first grate portion disposed between the expiratory cavity and the absorbent cavity,
(b) a first solid portion disposed the expiratory cavity and the inspiratory cavity,
(c) a second solid portion disposed between the expiratory cavity and the breathing bag cavity,
(d) a third solid portion disposed between the breathing bag cavity and the absorbent cavity,
(e) a second grate portion disposed between the breathing bag cavity and the absorbent cavity,
(f) a third grate portion disposed between the absorbent cavity and the inspiratory portion, and
(g) a fourth solid portion disposed generally between the first and third grate portions, and extending into the absorbent cavity for directing the flow of patient gas through the first grate portion to flow in the absorbent cavity, and around the fourth solid portion before passing through the third grate portion.

### Claim 22

A canister for use with an anesthesia and resuscitation machine, the canister including a canister body defining an interior for holding a carbon dioxide absorbent material, a unidirectional expiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which a patient gas can pass into the canister body interior, a unidirectional inspiratory valve integrally mounted to the canister body through which the patient gas can pass out of the canister body interior,
an overflow orifice extending through the canister body, through which the patient gas can pass, and
a unidirectional overflow valve means coupled to the overflow orifice for permitting a controlled flow of patient gas therethrough to maintain a desired gas pressure within the interior of the canister body, the valve means being biased by gravity into a valve engaged position to normally prevent the flow of patient gas therethrough the overflow valve means including:
(1) a valve member,
(2) a valve seat defining a valve aperture through which the patient gas can pass out of the interior of the body, and
(3) a mechanical valve actuating means for enabling the valve member to be placed in both:
(a) a locked position wherein the valve member is locked into the valve engaged position wherein the valve member is engaged with the valve seat to prevent the flow of patient gas through the valve aperture, and
(b) an unlocked position wherein the valve member can move, under the influence of patient gas pressure, between the valve engaged position, and a valve disengaged position wherein the valve member is disposed in a spaced relation to the valve seat to permit the patient gas to flow through the valve aperture.