Breathing assistance device with linear actuated gas regulating valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9923442-B2
Application number	US-201013377244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2010
Priority date	Jun 9, 2009
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A breathing assistance device includes a gas regulating valve ( 1300 ). The gas regulating valve is operated by a linear actuator ( 1330 ). The linear actuator may include a movable member that moves an obstruction member between an open position and a closed position. The linear actuator is isolated from a gas flow path through the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear actuator for a gas regulating valve, comprising:
a housing;
a yoke mounted inside the housing;
a coil assembly inserted within the yoke;
a magnetic element inserted within the coil assembly;
a circuit assembly coupled to an axially facing outer surface of the yoke;
a central aperture radially inner to the magnetic element and extending axially through the housing; and
a fixed flow restrictor placed within the central aperture;
wherein the central aperture is adapted to receive a gas flow path extending through the fixed flow restrictor;
wherein the coil assembly includes a bobbin having a wire coil wound thereon and wire aligning structures adapted to facilitate attachment of ends of the wire coil to the circuit assembly through apertures provided in the yoke;
wherein the coil assembly is adapted to move in an axial and a linear direction within the yoke in response to electro-magnetic forces applied by the magnetic element;
wherein the fixed flow restrictor is configured to create a pressure difference across the gas flow path.

2. The linear actuator of claim 1 , wherein the central aperture is configured to allow a gas flow to travel through the central aperture without obstruction.

3. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the yoke comprises a circumferential wall a central yoke aperture and the apertures provided in yoke radially outer to the central yoke aperture.

4. The linear actuator according to claim 3 , wherein the apertures provided in the yoke radially outer to the central yoke aperture are continuous with the central yoke aperture.

5. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising a removably installed membrane assembly arranged adjacent to the yoke.

6. The linear actuator according to claim 5 , wherein movement of the coil assembly is arranged to deform the removably installed membrane assembly.

7. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed flow restrictor is placed interior to the yoke.

8. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the coil assembly is configured to move relative to the fixed flow restrictor.

9. A linear actuator for a gas regulating valve, comprising:
a housing;
a yoke mounted inside the housing;
an annular bobbin that is movably mounted inside the yoke and that has first and second arms that extend axially from a location around a circumferential body of the bobbin, wherein a wire coil is wrapped around the bobbin and respective first and second ends of the wire coil are coupled to the first and second arms of the bobbin;
a flexible circuit assembly having a central portion that is attached to the yoke and first and second extensions that extend from the central portion and that are attached to the first and second arms of the bobbin, respectively, wherein first and second electrical contacts are formed on the central portion, the first and second electrical contacts being coupled, respectively, to first and second ends of the wire coil;
a fixed flow restrictor placed within a central aperture of the housing and configured to create a pressure difference across a gas flow path;
and a magnet that is attached to the yoke.

10. The linear actuator according to claim 9 , wherein the fixed flow restrictor is placed interior to the yoke.

11. The linear actuator according to claim 9 , wherein annular bobbin is configured to move relative to the fixed flow restrictor.

12. A gas regulating valve, comprising:
a generally linear actuator having a central passageway extending therethrough;
a first housing portion configured to be attached to a gas delivery tube;
a second housing portion configured to be attached to a patient interface, wherein one of the first and second housing portions extends at least partially through the central passageway of the linear actuator; and
a removably installed membrane assembly that is coupled between the first and second housing portions such that a gas passing through the first and second housing portions and through the membrane assembly is isolated from the linear actuator; and
a fixed flow restrictor arranged within the central passageway such that the gas has a flow which must pass through the fixed flow restrictor in use,
wherein the fixed flow restrictor is configured to create a pressure difference across the flow.

13. The gas regulating valve according to claim 12 , wherein the fixed flow restrictor is placed interior to the linear actuator.

14. The gas regulating valve according to claim 12 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to move relative to the fixed flow restrictor.

15. A method of manufacturing a gas regulating valve, comprising:
inserting a first end of a first housing portion through a linear actuator to form a first section of a central gas passageway;
inserting a removably installed membrane assembly into the first end of the first housing portion and coupling a first end of the membrane assembly to the first housing portion to form a second section of the central gas passageway;
placing a fixed flow restrictor within the central gas passageway such that a flow path must pass through the fixed flow restrictor in use; and
attaching a second housing portion to the first housing portion, wherein the second housing portion provides a third section of the central gas passageway adjacent a second end of the membrane assembly such that the central gas passageway is formed through the first housing portion, the membrane assembly and the second housing portion, the central gas passageway being isolated from the linear actuator,
wherein the fixed flow restrictor is configured to create a pressure difference across the flow path.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the fixed flow restrictor is placed interior to the linear actuator.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to move relative to the fixed flow restrictor.

18. A method of manufacturing a linear actuator, comprising: inserting a hollow annular bobbin having a wire coil wound thereon inside a hollow yoke, the bobbin having a first and a second axially protruding arm, both of which extend through the yoke; coupling a first and second end of the wire coil to the first and second axially protruding arm of the bobbin, respectively, the first and second axially protruding arms of the bobbin protruding from the annular bobbin around its circumference; attaching a central portion of a flexible circuit assembly to an axial face of the yoke, the flexible circuit assembly having first and second extensions protruding from the central portion; coupling first and second ends of the wire coil to the first and second extensions of the flexible circuit assembly; inserting a hollow magnet inside the bobbin; inserting a fixed flow restrictor within a central aperture, the fixed flow restrictor configured to create a pressure difference across a gas flow path; and attaching the magnet to the yoke.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the fixed flow restrictor is placed interior to the yoke.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the annular bobbin is configured to move relative to the fixed flow restrictor.

21. A method of treating a patient with a breathing assistance device which includes a gas supply, a patient interface, a gas supply line coupling the gas supply and the patient interface, and a gas regulating valve with a removably installed membrane assembly that controls a flow of the gas from t

Assignees

• Chalvignac Philippe Auguste
• Wu Nan Hai
• Taylor Ken
• Judson Daniel Robert
• Klasek Paul Jan
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Chalvignac Philippe Auguste
• Wu Nan Hai
• Taylor Ken
• Judson Daniel Robert
• Klasek Paul Jan
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley

Classifications

• Y10T29/49412

  with assembly, disassembly or composite article making · CPC title

• A61M39/22

  Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} · CPC title

• A61M2209/06

  Packaging for specific medical equipment · CPC title

• A61M16/20

  Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices · CPC title

• A61M16/12

  by mixing different gases · CPC title