Vent valve apparatus
AssigneeResMed Limited
InventorShane Douglas Hollis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vent valve apparatus (10) for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal. The apparatus (10) includes a gas washout vent (15), a vent valve (18) adapted to progressively restrict the flow area of the washout vent (15), and a pressure sensitive vent valve control means (20,22,23). The control means is adapted to progressively cause the vent valve (18) to restrict the flow area of the gas washout vent (15) in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply, thereby substantially regulating the volumetric flow of gas and/or CO2 gas through the washout vent (15) over a range of gas supply pressures.
Claims12
A method for supplying pressurized breathable gas to a patient with a CPAP apparatus including a flow generator structured to generate a supply of pressurized gas, a mask adapted to provide a seal with the patient's face, and a conduit that interconnects the flow generator and the mask, the method comprising:
- generating a supply of pressurized gas with the flow generator;
- sealing the patient's face with the mask;
- interconnecting the flow generator and the mask with the conduit;
- controlling gas washout by progressively moving a vent valve within a gas washout vent based on the pressure of the gas supply;
- and
- controlling gas washout includes restricting gas washout in response to increases in the pressure of the gas supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.