US3603308A - Intermittent positive pressure breathing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held respirator comprising a gas pressure source, exhaust port means and a plurality of tubular elements in a substantially tee shape with the leg of the tee having a pressure relief valve for patient exhalation to atmosphere, an air intake valve for controlling ambient air inflow, and inhalation and exhalation passages; with the head of the tee having a nebulizer at one end receiving gas from said pressure source therethrough for flow directly to the patient and a mouthpiece at the other end for passing gas from said source with air to the patient, the gas flow through the nebulizer and mouthpiece when the exhaust port means is closed being maintained distinct until reaching the patient.

Description

United States Patent (72] Inventors Joseph W. Spradling;

John P. Kayser, both of Madison, Wis. 21 Appl. No. 744,813 [22} Filed July 15,1968 [45) Patented Sept.7, 1971 [73] Assignee Air Reduction Company. Incorporated Murray Hill, NJ.

[54] lNTlERMl'I'lENT POSlTllVE PRESSURE BREATHING 1011511111315 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

152] 11.5. C1 l28/145.8, 128/194 1.111] 1nt.C1 Afilm 7/02 1510] Field ofSearch 128/145.8, 185,145.6,211,208,140,142,142.2,142.3,194, 146.3,l95,196,197,187,188,205,l45,145.5, 145.7, 141, 202

{M11 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,301,255 1/1967 Thompson 128/194 2,268,145 12/1941 Welty 128/202 2,693,178 11/1954 Gilroy 128/194 2,897,833 8/1959 Seeler....v l28/l45.8 3,083,707 4/1963 Seeler..... 128/194 (X) 3,170,463 2/1965 Duggan 128/205 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne AttorneysH. Hume Mathews and Edmund W. Bopp ABSTRACT: A hand-held respirator comprising a gas pressure source, exhaust port means and a plurality of tubular elements in a substantially tee shape with the leg of the tee having a pressure relief valve for patient exhalation to atmosphere, an air intake valve for controlling ambient air inflow, and inhalation and exhalation passages; with the head of the tee having a nebulizer at one end receiving gas from said pressure source therethrough for flow directly to the patient and a mouthpiece at the other end for passing gas from said source with air to the patient, the gas flow through the nebulizer and mouthpiece when the exhaust port means is closed being maintained distinct until reaching the patient.

minnow 7m Y 3,603,308

FIG.2

INVENTORS JOH N P. KAY SER JOSEPH SPRADLING ATTORNEY INTERMIITTIENT POSITIVE PRESSURE BREATHING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Breathing devices which provide respiratory assistance in the form of gas flow under pressure carrying medicament and moisture are known to the prior art.

Improvements in such devices as, e.g. manual finger flow control and compactness for use in hand, are now available. However, no devices of this type have provided variable ambient air intake coupled with simplified exhalation relief, and direct distinct flow from the nebulizer to the patient.

Prior art devices have been inefficient in transfer of moisture and medicament from the nebulizer to the patient and have not permitted varying the entry of ambient air into the device from a given flow rate of primary gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to flow control of ambient air which is utilized to dilute the carrier gas, and a pressure relief valve associated therewith.

This invention further relates to means for maintaining the nebulizer flow separate from the main flow to the patient.

The above is accomplished by providing the tubular leg of a tee-shaped device with an air intake valve arrangement comprising circumferential holes of varying size in the leg and a collar having an axial slit which permits the desired air entry into the leg through the hole exposed by the slit. Nebulizer slow is maintained separate by utilizing an internal tube fixed to the nebulizer or mouthpiece, which tube extends from the nebulizer exit port to the mouthpiece exit port, thus not permitting intermixing of flows in the mouthpiece. A pressure relief valve is utilized in exhalation because of the restriction of the leg access to atmosphere in using an air intake valve arrangement.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a breathing device which permits control of ambient air intake and has associated therewith a check valve to prevent pressure buildup and permit exhalation through the mouthpiece.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the nebulizer with an extension tube to the patient's mouth, the tube maintaining the nebulizer flow segregated from the flow through the mouthpiece so as to prevent moisture buildup in the device, provide a visible mist and prevent loss of medicament in the device and otherwise.

These objects and other objects, features and advantages, will become apparent when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a breathing device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

I FIG. 2 is a top view of the collar used in the air intake valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawing with reference characters, in FIG. 1, the breathing device generally designated at I comprises a plurality of tubular elements forming a generally tee shape.

The tee leg 2 has a body portion 2a, a neck portion 2b, and a connecting portion 2c. The tee head 3 has a nebulizer portion 3a, a connecting portion 3b, and a mouthpiece portion 3c. Leg connecting portion 2cas shown in FIG. 1 is securely received within head connecting portion 3b.

Leg 2 includes a through-tube 4 having an annular shoulder 5 abutting against the leg and an orifice 6 opening toward head 3. Tube 4 extends into tee connection 50 which connects it to a pressure supply, such as a compressed gas cylinder, not shown. The leg (not numbered) of the tee connection has a tube 18 leading therefrom to the nebulizer portion 3a to supply the nebulizer with a carrier gas for moisture and medicament. The tube 4 opens to atmosphere at port 7 and is closable by the patient's thumb when inhalation is desired.

Leg 2 further includes an air intake valve arrangement generally designated at 8. The valve comprises four circumferentially spaced apertures 9 of varying; size on body 2a, an annular groove 10 on body 20 overlying said apertures and a collar 11 fitting in groove 10 and over the apertures. As shown in FIG. 2, collar III has a slit 12 of such a size so as to permit complete exposure of the largest of said apertures 9.

A mushroom type check valve arrangement 13 is used in conjunction with valve 8 to provide pressure relief and an exhalation port. Stern 14 of valve 13 fits through an opening in a cross plate having apertures 15 with the valve being biased closed by spring 16. The spring force can easily be overcome by the pressure created by the patient's exhalation. The lower end of leg 2 is axially slotted at 30 to provide vents when valve head 17 is moved away from the plate. It should be noted that the apertures 9 also aid in pressure relief and exhalationventing but the exhalation flow line is not in alignment with these apertures and the apertures are in themselves of insutficient size to vent an exhalation without resistance. Therefore, the check valve arrangement 13 is necessary.

Tube 18 is connected to nebulizer gas passage 19 having outlet 20. The nebulizer portion 3a has a connector shell 21, a body 22 and a neck 23 which is securely received within connecting portion 3b. Body 22 has a moisture and medicament reservoir 24 therein and suction tube 25 communicating between the reservoir 24 and outlet 20. Thus, as gas under pressure passes from the compressed gas source through tube 18 and passage 19, the expansion phenomenon at outlet 20 creates a negative pressure at tube 25 which draws moisture and medicament through tube 25 to be impinged upon and broken down in particle size for carrying by the gas to the patient. The carrier gas with moisture and medicament then passes through extension tube 26 either attached internally to neck 23 or mouthpiece portion 30 so that no gas passing out of the nebulizer portion contacts any other part of the breathing device before entering the patients mouth. Thus, the nebulizer flow shows as a visible mist at the exit and no moisture or medicament is lost by contact and accumulation at the portions 3b and 3 c.

Mouthpiece portion 30 is securely received within connect ing portion 3b and passes the flow from tube 4 through orifice 6 to the patient.

In operation, the pressure source is opened with flow ex hausting to atmosphere on a path of least resistance through port 7. When inhalation is desired by the patient, he merely places thumb over the port 7 with resultant flow into tube 18 and leg 2 through orifice 6. Flow through tube 18 proceeds through passage 19 where moisture and medicament from reservoir 24 are picked up at tube 25 and passes through extension tube 26 to the patients mouth which is positioned over mouthpiece portion 30. Flow through orifice 6 carries surrounding air entering through open aperture 9 with it through the upper part of leg 2, connecting portion 3b and mouthpiece portion 30 while inducing the entry of more air through the desired aperture 9. The volume of ambient air desired is governed by the size of the aperture 9. Thus, the patient receives two distinct flows on inhalation.

For exhalation, the patient merely removes his thumb from port 7 which again passes the entire gas. flow to atmosphere and, without removing mouthpiece portion 3c from his mouth, exhales. The exhalation flow passes through mouthpiece portion 30 and into leg 2 as the path of least resistance around tube 4 within leg 2, through apertures 15, and, exceeding the spring force, pushes the valve head 17 to open position for exhalation flow to atmosphere. Of course, part of the exhalation flow vents through the open aperture 9.

If pressure buildup occurs during inhalation with insufficient venting by the open aperture 9, the valve arrangement 13 will be opened for pressure relief. The spring 16 in the instance of pressure buildup and/or exhalation returns the valve to closed position thereafter.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be considered illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, the circular apertures 9 could be replaced by a single rectangular aperture with calibrated markings to designate the particular desired percentage flow; and the mushroom type valve could be of a different check valve arrangement.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new l. A breathing device having a gas pressure source, conduit means being connected to said source and adapted to convey gas from said source to a patient, said conduit means comprising first and second inhalation flow passages, said first inhalation passage having valve means for permitting a desired inflow of ambient air and communicating between said source and the patient and atmosphere and the patient, said second inhalation flow passage communicating between said source and the patient and having nebulizer means including an extension tube at the outlet of said nebulizer means adapted to conduct the entire flow output of said nebulizer means to said patient distinct from the flow output of any other inhalation flow passage, said conduit means further comprising at least one exhalation flow passage communicating between the patient and atmosphere and having pressure relief means whereby the ambient air concentration or inhalation may be controlled and the patient may exhale through said pressure relief means, and said conduit further comprises a third passage communicating with atmosphere whereby the closing of said third passage permits inhalation and the opening of said third passage permits exhalation through the device.

2. A breathing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means in said first inhalation passage includes aperture means in said conduit means and a movable closure element adapted to overlie said aperture means and adjustably regulate the inflow of ambient air.

3. A breathing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said aperture means comprises a plurality of apertures of dissimilar size and said closure element is adapted to allow the inflow of ambient air through at least one of said plurality of apertures.

4. A breathing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure relief means comprises a check valve adapted to vent the exhaled breath of a patient to the atmosphere.

Claims (4)

1. A breathing device having a gas pressure source, conduit means being connected to said source and adapted to convey gas from said source to a patient, said conduit means comprising first and second inhalation flow passages, said first inhalation passage having valve means for permitting a desired inflow of ambient air and communicating between said source and the patient and atmosphere and the patient, said second inhalation flow passage communicating between said source and the patient and having nebulizer means including an extension tube at the outlet of said nebulizer means adapted to conduct the entire flow output of said nebulizer means to said patient distinct from the flow output of any other inhalation flow passage, said conduit means further comprising at least one exhalation flow passage communicating between the patient and atmosphere and having pressure relief means whereby the ambient air concentration or inhalation may be controlled and the patient may exhale through said pressure relief means, and said conduit further comprises a third passage communicating with atmosphere whereby the closing of said third passage permits inhalation and the opening of said third passage permits exhalation through the device.

2. A breathing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means in said first inhalation passage includes aperture means in said conduit means and a movable closure element adapted to overlie said aperture means and adjustably regulate the inflow of ambient air.

3. A breathing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said aperture means comprises a plurality of apertures of dissimilar size and said closure element is adapted to allow the inflow of ambient air through at least one of said plurality of apertures.

4. A breathing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure relief means comprises a check valve adapted to vent the exhaled breath of a patient to the atmosphere.

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