Valve with internal member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069456-A1
Application number	US-202017012447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A valve with an internal member is disclosed which allows exhaled carbon dioxide to escape from a breathing circuit when the circuit gas pressure drops below a threshold pressure. The valve operates by occluding one or more ports under a relatively high pressure and opening the one or more ports under a relatively low pressure. The internal member is attached to the body of the valve at two or more locations on the internal member. The internal member moves in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow through the valve.

First claim

1 . A valve configured for use in positive airway pressure therapy, the valve comprising:
a tubular body with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface surrounding a passageway through which fluids can flow; one or more ports comprising through holes in the body that extend from the interior surface to the exterior surface such that the passageway is in fluid communication with an environment through the ports; and at least one internal member attached to the body at two or more discontinuous attachment positions on the internal member, wherein the at least one internal member comprises an elongate ribbon that is apposed to the ports of the valve, the internal member having an open configuration in which the elongate ribbon curves away from the interior surface of the body and a closed configuration in which the elongate ribbon abuts the interior surface to occlude the ports.

2 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface is curved.

3 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface is curved, and wherein the elongate ribbon curves with the interior surface in the closed configuration of the at least one internal member.

4 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is configured to progressively roll over the interior surface of the body.

5 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member transitions between the open configuration and the closed configuration at a distinct threshold pressure.

6 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member transitions between the open configuration and the closed configuration during a range of pressures.

7 . The valve of claim 6 , wherein the range of pressures is at least approximately 1.5 cm H2O and/or less than or equal to approximately 4 cm H2O.

8 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ports are circular holes having a diameter of approximately 1 mm.

9 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ports have a combined venting area of at least approximately 30 mm 2 and/or less than or equal to approximately 600 mm 2 .

10 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ports have a combined venting area of approximately 40 mm 2 .

11 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein a threshold pressure is approximately 2 cm H2O.

12 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein a length of the at least one internal member between attachment positions is approximately the same as a length of the interior surface of the body between the attachment positions.

13 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is a continuous member configured to extend around the interior surface of the body in the closed configuration.

14 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be placed at an inlet of a patient interface.

15 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be placed in-line between a patient interface and a blower.

16 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is attached to the body by posts that extend through the body.

17 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is attached to the body by an adhesive.

18 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is attached by overmoulding onto the body.

19 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a constant flow valve.

20 . The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal member is configured to be in the open configuration when gas flow pressure in the valve is below a threshold pressure.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Arrowsmith Mark John
• Partington Andrew John
• Johnson Sophia Adele

Classifications

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/208 Primary

  Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves · CPC title

• F16K15/145

  the closure elements being shaped as a solids of revolution, e.g. cylindrical or conical · CPC title

• Y10T137/7843

  Integral resilient member forms plural valves · CPC title