# US 7,036,506 B2 · Flow diverter for controlling the pressure and flow rate in CPAP device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,036,506 B2 - Document ID: US7036506B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/102,732 - Filed: 2005-04-11 - Published: 2005-08-11 - Granted: 2006-05-02 - Earliest claimed: 2002-01-08 - Assignees: ResMed Limited - Inventors: Patrick J. McAuliffe; Denis L. Bullock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7036506B2 ## CPC - F16K 11/0525: {the closure members being pivoted around an essentially central axis} - A61M 16/0069: {the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation} - A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor} - A61M 16/0866: {Passive resistors therefor} - A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices - A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise - Y10T 137/86525: Flow combining with flow dividing - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - 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)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A flow diverter valve is used in controlling the pressure and/or flow rate of a breathable gas supplied to the airways of a patient by a breathable gas flow generator supply apparatus during, for example, ventilatory assistance treatments such as non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The flow diverter valve includes a vane and a housing. The housing has an inlet port, an outlet port, and an exhaust port. The exhaust port opens to atmosphere, and the inlet port is in fluid communication with the flow generator. The outlet port is in fluid communication with a patient mask via a conduit. The vane is configured with respect to the housing such that a blower associated with the CPAP apparatus remains substantially unchoked, regardless of whether the vane is in the open or closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust port positioned between the inlet and outlet ports; and a vane moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein: the vane can selectively protrude into the flow from the inlet port and thereby variably divert the flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port, the vane forms a portion of a passage leading to the outlet port when in the closed position, and the housing includes at least one of a leading housing ledge and a trailing housing ledge that defines a stop for the vane in the closed position. ### Claim 2 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust port positioned between the inlet and outlet ports; and a vane moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein: the vane can selectively protrude into the flow from the inlet port and thereby variably divert the flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port, the vane forms a portion of a passage leading to the outlet port when in the closed position, and the vane is pivotable between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 3 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust port positioned between the inlet and outlet ports; and a vane moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein: the vane can selectively protrude into the tiow from the inlet port and thereby variably divert the flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port, the vane forms a portion of a passage leading to the outlet port when in the closed position, and the vane comprises a flexible material that can bend, the vane bendable between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 4 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust port positioned between the inlet and outlet ports; and a vane moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein: the vane can selectively protrude into the flow from the inlet port and thereby variably divert the flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port, the vane forms a portion of a passage leading to the outlet poll when in the closed position, and the housing includes a straight inlet port flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port directing a majority of undiverted flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. ### Claim 5 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust poil positioned between the inlet and outlet port; and a vane moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein: the vane can selectively protrude into the flow from the inlet port and thereby variably divert the flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust poll and the outlet port, the vane forms a portion of a passage leading to the outlet port when in the closed position, and the vane has a first side surface and a second side surface with a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flow diverter valve of claim 5, wherein the first radius of curvature is equal to the second radius of curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The flow diverter valve of claim 5, wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The flow diverter valve of claim 5, wherein the first radius of curvature is less than the second radius of curvature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The flow diverter valve of claim 8, wherein the first radius of curvature is approximately 120 mm and the second radius of curvature is approximately 200 mm. ### Claim 10 A CPAP apparatus, comprising: a flow generator; and a flow diverter valve in communication with the flow generator, the flow diverter valve including a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port and an exhaust port positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to exhaust at least one of flow from the inlet port and back flow from the outlet port, and a vane pivotable or bendable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the vane can selectively admit undiverted flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port when the vane is in the open position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flow generator includes a blower that remains substantially unchoked as the vane moves between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 12 A flow diverter valve, comprising: a housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port; an exhaust port positioned between the inlet and outlet ports; and a vane pivotable or bendable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the vane can selectively admit undiverted flow from the inlet port to at least one of the exhaust port and the outlet port when the vane is in the open position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The flow diverter valve of claim 12, wherein flow capacity of the housing downstream of the vane is at least substantially equal to flow capacity upstream of the vane, regardless of whether the vane is in the open position or the closed position.