US3853147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Respirator flow curve modifier
Assignee: Airco Inc
•
Filing: 1973-01-08
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A device for modifying the normally square-pulse characteristics of the flow curve of square-wave respirators to provide a gradual development to maximum flow. The device includes a chamber having a movable wall mounted for displacement therein, a gas flow passage being defined between the wall and a bounding surface at one side of the chamber. An inlet and outlet to the flow space enables connection of the device in line with the respirator. The chamber is preferably closed on the side opposite the movable wall by a retaining diaphragm. A plate is mounted across the chamber between movable wall and retaining diaphragm, and the spaces on alternate sides of the plate are interconnected through an orifice, which can be present through the plate itself. A damping fluid is provided in at least the space between plate and movable wall. Gas flowing into the device inlet proceeds through the flow space during the inspiratory portion of the respirator cycle and displaces the movable wall to enlarge the flow passage. As the movement of the wall must in turn displace damping fluid through the orifice, the impedance thereby provided modifies the gas flow curve so that the latter approaches its maximum value in asymptotic fashion. Means are also provided for restoring the movable wall to its original position upon completion of a gas flow pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 A Cibulka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A device for modifying the normal square-pulse characteristic of the flow curve of square-wave respirator systems; to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a chamber; b. a movable wall mounted for displacement in said chamber; c. a gas flow space between said wall and one side of said chamber; d. an inlet and an outlet to said gas flow space for connection of said device in line with the breathing circuit of said respirator system; e. a relatively rigid first plate mounted across said chamber and spaced from said movable wall, on the side of said wall non-adjacent to said one side, the space between said plate and wall defining a fluid damping reservoir; f. bounding means between said inlet and outlet, defining with at least a portion of said movable wall, a variable crosssection gas passageway varying in accordance with the displacement of said portion of said movable wall; g. an orifice communicating with said fluid damping reservoir; h. a fluid within the said damping reservoir displaceable through said orifice in response to displacement of said movable wall toward said plate by pressure changes introduced at said flow space by the inspiratory portion of said breathing cycle; the bleeding of said fluid through said orifice allowing controlled growth in cross-section of said gas passageway, thereby providing a damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device; and i. means to restore the original position of said movable wall upon completion of a gas flow pulse, and to return fluid to said reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
259 words
A device for modifying the normal square-pulse characteristic of the flow curve of square-wave respirator systems; to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a chamber; b. a movable wall mounted for displacement in said chamber; c. a gas flow space between said wall and one side of said chamber; d. an inlet and an outlet to said gas flow space for connection of said device in line with the breathing circuit of said respirator system; e. a relatively rigid first plate mounted across said chamber and spaced from said movable wall, on the side of said wall non-adjacent to said one side, the space between said plate and wall defining a fluid damping reservoir; f. bounding means between said inlet and outlet, defining with at least a portion of said movable wall, a variable crosssection gas passageway varying in accordance with the displacement of said portion of said movable wall; g. an orifice communicating with said fluid damping reservoir; h. a fluid within the said damping reservoir displaceable through said orifice in response to displacement of said movable wall toward said plate by pressure changes introduced at said flow space by the inspiratory portion of said breathing cycle; the bleeding of said fluid through said orifice allowing controlled growth in cross-section of said gas passageway, thereby providing a damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device; and i. means to restore the original position of said movable wall upon completion of a gas flow pulse, and to return fluid to said reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluid is air, and said movable wall comprises a flexible diaphragm secured at its perimeter to said chamber, the said restoring means including the unsecured portions of said diaphragm, which portions upon displacement provide a restoring force arising from self-elasticity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a retaining diaphragm mounted across said chamber and spaced from said plate on the side opposite said movable wall; said orifice further communicating with the space between said plate and retaining diaphragm; fluid passing through said orifice being trapped between said retaining diaphragm and said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said orifice is provided through said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said orifice is connected to the said space between said plate and retaining diaphragm by a connecting tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further including a check valve mounted at said orifice plate and openable to permit said fluid to return at least in part through said valve to the space between said plate and movable wall upon the completion of said gas flow pUlse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said movable wall comprises a flexible diaphragm secured at its perimeter to said chamber, the said restoring means including the unsecured portions of said flexible diaphragm, which portions upon displacement provide a restoring force arising from self-elasticity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said plate is mounted in a substantially horizontal plane, and said movable wall is displaceable in a vertical direction, whereby said fluid may return under the influence in part of gravitational flow-through at said orifice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said movable wall comprises a second plate secured to said first plate by a bellows; said first plate being mounted in said device at a substantially horizontal plane and said second plate being displaceable in a generally vertical direction whereby said second plate is restored to its original position at least in part by gravitational flow-through of the fluid displaced above said first plate during the gas flow pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further including check valve means mounted in said first plate, openable to facilitate return of said fluid from above to below said plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further including means to vary the flow through said orifice.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said restoring means is at least in part spring actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the inherent elasticity of said retaining diaphragm comprises at least part of said restoring means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said restoring means is at least in part spring actuated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
199 words
A device for modifying the normally square pulse characteristic of the flow curve of a respirator system to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a gas conduit having an inlet for receiving gas from the respirator and an outlet for delivering the gas to a patient; b. said gas conduit having a movable wall portion to change the cross-section of said gas conduit; c. a damping reservoir surrounding said movable wall and containing a fluid acting against said movable wall; d. said damping reservoir having an orifice in one wall thereof; e. a fluid chamber adapted to receive and contain fluid passing from said damping reservoir through said orifice; f. said movable wall adapted to be displaced by an increasing flow in said gas conduit to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit whereby a portion of the fluid passes through said orifice to said fluid chamber at a controlled rate to provide damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device; and g. means to restore the original position of said movable wall upon completion of a gas flow pulse and to return fluid from said fluid chamber to said damping reservoir.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
199 words
A device for modifying the normally square pulse characteristic of the flow curve of a respirator system to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a gas conduit having an inlet for receiving gas from the respirator and an outlet for delivering the gas to a patient; b. said gas conduit having a movable wall portion to change the cross-section of said gas conduit; c. a damping reservoir surrounding said movable wall and containing a fluid acting against said movable wall; d. said damping reservoir having an orifice in one wall thereof; e. a fluid chamber adapted to receive and contain fluid passing from said damping reservoir through said orifice; f. said movable wall adapted to be displaced by an increasing flow in said gas conduit to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit whereby a portion of the fluid passes through said orifice to said fluid chamber at a controlled rate to provide damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device; and g. means to restore the original position of said movable wall upon completion of a gas flow pulse and to return fluid from said fluid chamber to said damping reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said movable wall is a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said orifice includes means to vary its flow area.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
180 words
A device for modifying the normally square pulse characteristic of the gas flow from a respirator to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a gas conduit having an inlet for receiving gas from the respirator and an outlet for delivering the gas to a patient; b. said gas conduit having a movable wall portion to change the cross-section of said gas conduit; c. said movable wall adapted to be displaced by an increasing flow in said gas conduit to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit; d. damping means acting upon said movable wall to damp the displacement of said movable wall, thereby providing a damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device, said damping means comprising a fluid-containing chamber surrounding said movable wall and means for bleeding said fluid from said chamber at a contrOlled rate when said movable wall is displaced to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit; and e. means to restore the cross-section of said gas conduit to its initial state upon completion of a gas flow pulse.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
180 words
A device for modifying the normally square pulse characteristic of the gas flow from a respirator to provide a gradual development to peak flow, comprising in combination: a. a gas conduit having an inlet for receiving gas from the respirator and an outlet for delivering the gas to a patient; b. said gas conduit having a movable wall portion to change the cross-section of said gas conduit; c. said movable wall adapted to be displaced by an increasing flow in said gas conduit to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit; d. damping means acting upon said movable wall to damp the displacement of said movable wall, thereby providing a damping in build-up of the gas flow through said device, said damping means comprising a fluid-containing chamber surrounding said movable wall and means for bleeding said fluid from said chamber at a contrOlled rate when said movable wall is displaced to enlarge the cross-section of said gas conduit; and e. means to restore the cross-section of said gas conduit to its initial state upon completion of a gas flow pulse.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device in accordance with claim 18 wherein said means to restore the cross-section of said gas conduit comprises a further fluid chamber adapted to receive fluid bled from said fluid containing chamber and to return said received fluid to said fluid containing chamber upon completion of a gas flow pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |