U.S. patent number 3,881,480 [Application Number 05/338,979] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-06 for breathing aid apparatus.
Invention is credited to Jean-Michel Lafourcade.
United States Patent |
3,881,480 |
Lafourcade |
May 6, 1975 |
Breathing aid apparatus
Abstract
An artificial respiration apparatus comprising a tip connectable
to a source of gas under pressure, said tip including a bore hole;
a valve seat at the end of said bore hole facing away from the
source; an outlet connectable to the respiratory system of a
patient; a movable valve member cooperating with said valve seat to
close said bore hole, a spring cooperating with said movable valve
member and biasing the same against said valve seat, a housing
including a first chamber communicating with said source of gas and
also with said outlet when the moving valve member is not in
contact with the valve seat; and a second chamber in which said
spring is housed, one wall of said second chamber being formed of
said movable valve member, a channel communicating said first
chamber with said second chamber, a pellet of porous material
disposed in said channel which produces a loss of pressure therein;
and a pressure screw cooperating with said pellet for varying the
compression thereof, thereby adjusting the flow of gas from said
first chamber to said second chamber.
Inventors: |
Lafourcade; Jean-Michel (Paris,
FR) |
Family
ID: |
9095013 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/338,979 |
Filed: |
March 7, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 10, 1972 [FR] |
|
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72.08488 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/200.21;
128/203.19; 128/205.24; 128/204.25; 137/514.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
16/0012 (20140204); A61M 16/00 (20130101); Y10T
137/7852 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
16/00 (20060101); A61m 016/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/145.8,145.5,277,145.6,142.3,188,191,184,273,146.3,146.4,146.5,209
;251/22,50 ;138/43 ;137/117,514.5,525 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hane, Baxley & Spiecens
Claims
I claim:
1. An artificial respiration apparatus comprising:
a tip connectable to a source of gas under pressure, said tip
including a bore hole;
a valve seat at the end of said bore hole facing away from the
source;
an outlet connectable to the respiratory system of a patient;
and
means for controlling the flow of gas permitting it to pass from
the source of gas to said outlet during the inhalation phase of the
patient but preventing said flow during the exhalation phase of the
patient, said means comprising a movable valve member cooperating
with said valve seat to close said bore hole, a spring cooperating
with said movable valve member and biasing the same against said
valve seat, a housing including a first chamber communicating with
said source of gas and also with said outlet when the moving valve
member is not in contact with the valve seat; and a second chamber
in which said spring is housed, one wall of said second chamber
being formed of said movable valve member, channel means causing
said first chamber and said second chamber to communicate with each
other, a pellet of porous material disposed in said channel means,
said pellet introducing a loss of pressure in the channel means;
and a pressure screw cooperating with said pellet for varying the
compression thereof, variation of the compression of the pellet
permitting adjustment of the flow of gas between said first and
second chambers.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet is formed
by the throat portion of a venturi, the apparatus further
comprising a nozzle between said outlet and a neck portion of the
venturi, said nozzle having an orifice directed towards said neck
portion, a channel connecting said nozzle to said bore hole, and
means interposed in said channel for selectively interrupting and
establishing pneumatic communication between said bore hole and
said nozzle, said means including an annular third chamber of
adjustable length surrounding said bore hole, a displaceable member
defining one of transverse walls of said third chamber for
modifying the length thereof, and two toroidal gaskets in said
third chamber, said gaskets being movable by the action of pressure
forces, placement of said two gaskets in contact with each other
interrupting said pneumatic communication when said movable valve
member is out of engagement with said valve seat, said
communication being open when said movable valve member is in
engagement with said valve seat whereby a flow of gas in the
direction opposite that during the inhalation phase is established
in the venturi during the exhalation phase.
3. An artificial respiration apparatus comprising:
a tip connectable to a source of gas under pressure, said tip
including a bore hole;
a valve seat at the end of said bore hole facing away from said
source, the axis of said valve seat being coaxial with the axis of
said bore hole;
an outlet connectable to the respiration system of a patient;
and
means for controlling the flow of gas, said means permitting the
gas flow to pass from the source of gas to said outlet during the
inhalation phase of the patient but preventing said flow during the
exhalation phase of the patient, said means including a
servo-controlled valve, said valve comprising a movable member
cooperating with said valve seat, elastic means biasing said
movable member toward said valve seat to close said bore hole in
response to the action of said movable member being subjected to
the pressure of gas from said source of gas and to the action of a
differential pressure acting in the same direction as the elastic
means, said differential pressure being obtained from said source
of gas by means introducing an adjustable loss of pressure in a
flow circuit provided between said valve seat and the face side of
the movable member upon said elastic means acts.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said elastic means is
a spring, the apparatus comprising further means for adjusting the
force developed by said spring, said spring force controlling the
ratio of the duration of engagement of said movable valve member
with said valve seat relative to the duration of non-engagement of
said movable valve member with said valve seat.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable valve
member comprises a piston tightly slidable in a further chamber,
said elastic means being disposed in said further chamber, and said
flow circuit including said means for introducing an adjustable
loss of pressure discharges into said further chamber.
6. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable valve
member comprises a deformable diaphragm forming an end wall of a
further chamber in which said elastic means is disposed and into
which discharges said flow circuit including said means for
introducing an adjustable loss of pressure.
7. The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:
a. means for controlling the flow of gas fed to the patient, said
means being interposed between said bore hole and said outlet and
including a first rotary barrel having a plurality of channels of
different cross-sectional area, a member for setting said barrel
and means for indexing the position of the barrel in order to
adjust the flow to a value selected from among a plurality of
predetermined values; and
b. means for controlling the number of phases of inhalation per
unit of time, said means comprising a second rotary barrel
interposed in said flow circuit and provided with a plurality of
means for introducing an adjustable loss of pressure, an operating
member, and means for indexing the position of said second barrel
so that said number of phases of inhalation per unit of time is
adjustable to a value selected from among a plurality of
predetermined values.
8. The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a
non-return valve disposed between said bore hole and said outlet,
and an adjustable leak means for adjusting the flow through said
non-return valve.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, comprising further a chamber
disposed in the gas flow and having a venturi neck upstream in the
direction of flow of the gas from the source of gas towards said
outlet, a thin capillary tube; a tank of liquid for moistening the
gas coming from the source of gas, and a connection connecting said
tank to said tube the discharge end of which into the apparatus is
substantially flush with the axis of said venturi neck so that the
flow of gas coming from said source obtains a high speed atomizing
said liquid thereby producing a fine mist of liquid particles in
the gas fed to the patient.
Description
The present invention relates to a breathing aid apparatus and
concerns an apparatus suitable for ensuring the inhaling phase of
the pulmonary breathing of a user whose breathing out phase is
controlled by his respiratory muscles as well as an apparatus
which, while ensuring the enhaling phase of the pulmonary
respiration, assists the breathing out phase of said breathing.
Such apparatus as the operating power of which is provided by a
source of compressed gas, advantageously the source of the gas to
be blown into the patient's lungs, are already known. In these
apparatus, means are provided for controlling the breathing cycle,
i.e. the sequence of fresh gas insufflation and of ventilation of
the breathing system ventilation periods, by means of pneumatic
logic circuits.
However, owing to the relatively large number of components
required for constituting the logic circuits, such as valves, fluid
throttle means, etc., a relatively large apparatus is required and
which is consequently difficult to transport, particularly in the
case of first aid to the injured persons. In addition, the large
number of components increases the cost of the equipment without
increasing their reliability.
One general aim of the invention is to provide a breathing aid
apparatus of particularly simple design, with a reduced number of
components, and consequently of low cost, which remedies the
drawbacks of known apparatus as particularly an apparatus of
reduced dimensions which is thus well suited to a plurality of
operating conditions.
It is also a purpose of the invention to provide such an apparatus
for simply and reliably humidifying gases or a mixture of gases
blown into the lungs of a user, as is for example necessary in the
case of anaesthesia, and whose working parameters particularly
frequency, flow rate and the ratio of the fresh gas insufflation
time to the breathing out time of stale air in an elementary cycle,
can be adjusted easily.
The breathing aid apparatus according to the invention, comprising
an end piece suitable for connection to a source of pressurized gas
to be blown into a patient's lungs, and means deriving their
operating power from the gas source and a circuit in derivation
form a said source in which is inserted an adjustable throttling
means, for periodically connecting the gas source to the output of
the device suitable for connection to the patient's pulmonary
system, is characterised in that said means are constituted by a
single automatic servo-controlled valve, the mobile member of which
is subjected to an elastic force applied in the same direction as
that of the pressure in the circuit in derivation.
The invention will be fully understood by means of the following
description given for the purposes of example and with reference to
the attached drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 represents a longitudinal cross-section of a first
embodiment of a device according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a part view analogous to that of FIG. 1 but for an
alternative embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 1, but for another
embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a graph;
FIG. 5 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 1, but for yet another
embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a larger scale view of a part of the device represented
in FIG. 5 for a first state;
FIG. 7 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 6 but for another state
of the device;
FIG. 8 illustrates the functioning of means for humidifying gas
blown by a device according to the invention;
FIG. 9 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 8, but for an
alternative embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 1, but for yet another
embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a top view on a large scale of a member of the device
represented in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a cross-section along line 12--12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a top view of another member of the device represented
in FIG. 10;
FIG. 14 is a cross-section view along line 14--14 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a part longitudinal cross-section of another embodiment
of a device according to the invention.
First, referring to FIG. 1, the breathing aid apparatus according
to the invention comprises a first end piece 11 with a longitudinal
bore 12 the althrough having a cross-sectional area s and whose
mouthpiece 13 is suitable for connection to a source of pressurized
gas to be blown into the lungs of a patient, for example oxygen or
a mixture of oxygen and another gas. At its end opposite that
connected to the gas source, end piece 11 is shaped into a collar
46, or valve seat, surrounding bore 12 which emerges in a chamber
14 provided in body 15, screwed to piece 11 with a seal 16
interposed between pieces 11 and body 15. The central portion of
body 15 comprises a cavity 17, extending from chamber 14, in which
is mounted a piston 19 with a working face 47 having an area S, a
seal 18 being interposed, the piston being biased by a spring 20
bearing against the bottom of cavity 17. A channel 21 emerges in
the cavity and connects it to a radial chamber 22 of body 15
housing an element 23 causing a considerable pressure drop, such as
a pellet of porous polyurethane foam or analogous material, acted
upon by a compression piston 24 bearing a seal 25 and displaceable
by the operation of a screw 26.
A channel 27 connects the chamber 14 to chamber 22 and a
longitudinal through bore 30 of body 15 connects chamber 14 to a
chamber 31 provided in a body 32, screwed onto body 15, and shaped
to form a venturi with a neck 33 and flared portion downstream from
chamber 31 in the direction taken by the gas (arrow f) flowing from
the pressurized gas source towards the patient.
A sleeve 38 is attached to the wall of body 32 by means of an
internal thread 37 and a screw 35 having a longitudinal through
bore 36; a mouthpiece 39 is integral with said sleeve and possesses
a longitudinal bore 40 suitable for connection to a source of gas
different from that introduced through mouthpiece 13, for example
air or anaesthizing gas. A needle type device 41 is rotatably
mounted in sleeve 38 for interconnecting chamber 31, as desired
with the gas source suitable for connection to mouthpiece 39.
The lower portion of needle device 41 is provided with a non return
valve 42 opening outwardly for decompressing chamber 31 if
necessary by discharge into the atmosphere.
The device according to the invention functions as follows:
After connecting to mouthpiece 13 a pipe 48 the other end of which
is connected to a pressurized gas source 49, for example a cylinder
of compressed oxygen, which is reduced to a pressure P, the outlet
30 of body 32 is connected to the pulmonary system of a patient
whose breathing said device is intended to ensure, the means for
connection between outlet 50 and the pulmonary system being of any
suitable known type, for example a mask, a cannula, a tube or
analogous device.
In a first mode of use, connection between chamber 31 and bore 40
of mouthpiece 39 is cut off by the needle device 41 and, in the
initial state, the spring 20 presses face 47 of piston 19 against
collar 46. The relative pressure P in bore 12, together with the
relative pressure p in chamber 51, defined by cavity 17 and piston
19, are zero. When gas cylinder 49 is opened, a relative pressure P
is set up in bore 12 and the forces then acting upon the piston
are, on the one hand, that set up by spring 20, having a value R,
which tends to maintain piston 19 against collar 46 and, on the
other hand, that of value Ps tending to displace piston 19 in the
direction of arrow f.
If a value below Ps, for example Ps/2, is selected for the force R
applied by spring 20, the pressure against face 47 is larger and
piston 19 is displaced in the direction of arrow f against the bias
of spring 20 which is compressed. The gas from cylinder 49 fills
chamber 14 in which the pressure is equal to P; the gas then flows
from cylinder 49 through conduit 30, chamber 31 flared portion 34
to the patient's pulmonary system, the gas flow rate being a
function of the inside cross-section of conduit 30 which is here
precalibred and, if necessary, can be adjusted by a variable
throttle means such as a needle valve. Simultaneously, owing to the
pressure differences in chambers 51 and 14, there is a flow of
fluid between said chambers through channel 27, pressure drop
member 23 and conduit 21. By analogy with the law whereby a current
is set up in an electric circuit comprising a resistor and a
capacitor (the volume of chamber 51 corresponding to an electric
capacitor and element 23 causing a high loss of charge
corresponding to an electrical resistor), pressure p in chamber 51
increases from zero value to a value p.sub.2 in accordance with a
substantially expenential law, whose parameters depend on volume V
in chamber 51 and the resistance to the flow of fluid through
compressed porous pellet 23, this resistance being adjustable by
operating screw 26.
When the pressure p in chamber 51 reaches the value p.sub.2 such
that:
Sp.sub.2 + R = SP
i.e. for a value: ##EQU1## piston 19 is displaced in the opposite
direction to that represented by arrow f and face 47 comes into
contact with collar 46, blocking bore 12. The flow of fluid through
bore 30 is then cut off, and the device does not supply the patient
with gas. The pressure is zero in chamber 14 and gas then
circulates between chambers 51 and 14 through channel 21, the
porous pellet 23 and channel 27, this circulation decreasing
pressure p from value p.sub.2 previously reached at moment t.sub.1
to a pressure value p.sub.1 reached at moment t.sub.2 and such
that:
p.sub.1 S + R = sP
i.e. ##EQU2##
Owing to this pressure value in chamber 51, the pressure acting on
face 47 of piston 19 again becomes preponderant and piston 19 is
displaced in the direction of arrow f, unblocking the outlet of
bore 12, reconnecting the gas supply to the patient and triggering
a cycle analogous to the one above described.
Curves I and II respectively in FIG. 4 represent the variations in
pressure and instantaneous flow of gas blown into the lungs of the
patient, in a graph the abscisses of which is the time axis and the
ordinate of which is the pressure and flow axes.
Time T during which the gas from source 49 is blown into the lungs
of the patient, on one hand, and time t during which communication
between the source and the patient is cut off, on the other hand,
as well as the frequency of the respiratory cycle and the flow rate
for gas blown in, can be determined, for a given pressure value P,
by suitable selecting the force R of spring 20, the resistance to
fluid flow afforded by pellet 23, the cross-section of bore 30 and
the surface to surface ratio S/s of the working surfaces of piston
19 and bore 12. Thus, if the following ratio is chosen: ##EQU3##
and a value of R is selected equal to PS/4, times T and t are
equal, pressure p.sub.1 being equal to P/4 and pressure p.sub.2
equal to 3P/4.
During the phases of the cycle corresponding to portions AB of
curve I in FIG. 4, i.e. during the patient's expiratory phase, the
stale air escapes from the device through non-return valve 42. The
invention here exploits the fact that, owing to the relatively high
velocity of the gases at the outlet of bore 30 into chamber 31, a
depression is set up upstream of neck 33, in relation to the gas
flow direction represented by the arrow f and, if said depression
is regulated to a value of the order of 30 mb by appropriately
selecting the dimensions of the constituent members of the device,
the requisite security means for artificial respiration devices in
order to avoid pulmonary overpressure in the case of an excessive
blown gas rate, or obstruction of the respiratory canals, are
obtained, valve 42 becoming operative for a pressure of over 30 mb
at outlet 50 of the device. In another mode of use of the device
according to the invention, needle member 41 fully or partially
opens the outlet of bore 40 of mouthpiece 39 communicating with the
atmosphere, thus providing the mixture in a given proportion of gas
from source 49 and ambiant air then drawn in by the depression
obtaining in chamber 31.
In yet another mode of use, a source of anaesthizing gas, for
example a container supplied with a suitable gas at a known flow
rate, is connected to mouthpiece 39 and it is then a mixture of gas
from source 49 and gas from the container connected to mouthpiece
39 which is blown into the lungs of the patient.
In the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, which is designed and
functions in an analogous manner to that of FIG. 1, piston 19 is
replaced by a membrane 55 bearing on the one hand, against a collar
56 surrounding the outlet of cavity 17 and, on the other hand,
against collar 46 surrounding the outlet of bore 12, a spring 20a
being interposed between membrane 55 and the bottom of cavity
17.
In the embodiment represented in FIG. 3, in order to provide
additional security, body 32 is provided with orifices 57 and,
substantially at right angles to neck 33 of the venturi, a shoulder
58 against which bears the extremity of a spring 59 the other
extremity of which cooperates with the face 60 of a piston 61, a
groove 63 of which is provided with a seal 64. This piston has a
bore 62 therethrough connected to a cavity 65 emerging on face 66
of piston 61 opposite bore 30 of body 15. In this embodiment, in
the state wherein gas flow is cut off between source 49 and the
patient, spring 59 maintains piston 61 away from holes 57, so that
the patient can, if necessary breathe freely through these holes.
In the inhaling phase, actuated by the device, the pressure exerted
on face 66 of piston 61 overcomes the bias of spring 59, so that
piston 61 is displaced towards neck 33 of the venturi, blocking
holes 57; the device then functions in an analogous manner to that
of the embodiment represented in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the
switch-over to natural spontaneous breathing on the part of the
patient can be made without disconnecting the device simply by
cutting off gas supply, so that a failure or an accidental
interruption of supply does not entail the risk to see the
patient's pulmonary system cut off.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 to 7 concerning an embodiment of
an breathing aid apparatus suitable, not only for ensuring the
inhaling phase of pulmonary respiration, but also for assisting the
breathing out phase.
In this embodiment, the device comprises an end piece 111 having a
longitudinal bore 112 therethrough whose mouthpiece 113 is suitable
for connection to the source of pressurized gas to be blown into
the lungs of a patient. The extremity of piece 111 remote from
mouthpiece 113 is shaped to form a collar 114, or a valve seat,
adjacent to a flange 115 having a threaded periphery connected to
mouthpiece 113 by a sleeve 116 with a smaller outside diameter than
flange 115 and which has a radial through bore 117. At the
extremity of sleeve 116 adjacent to mouthpiece 113, one portion of
the outer face of piece 111 comprises a thread 118 engaging with
the internal thread of a ring 119, which is advantageously knurled,
comprising an annular collar 120 whose internal diameter is
substantially equal to that of sleeve 116 and whose external
diameter is substantially that of flange 115. In order to adjust
the position of ring 119 in relation to piece 111, the latter
comprises tapped blind holes 121, (FIG. 7), distributed in a ring
coaxial with piece 111 and with which screws A 122 passing through
coaxial bores 123 of ring 119 are suitable for cooperating.
At its extremity adjacent to collar 114, bore 112 emerges in a
chamber 124 provided in a body 125 assembled to piece 111 by
screwing flange 115 in a tapped bore 126 of body 125. Two O-rings
127 and 128 being interposed between sleeve 116 and said body
opposite the outlet of a through channel 130 of body 125 facing the
outlet of bore 117 of piece 111. In its central portion, body 125
is shaped to form a cavity 131 in which is mounted a piston 132, a
seal being interposed, the piston being biased by the action of a
spring 133 bearing against the bottom of the cavity in which
emerges a channel 134 connecting it to a radial chamber of body 125
containing an element 135 causing a considerable pressure drop,
such as a pellet of porous polyurethane or analogous material,
which is subjected to the action of a compression piston that can
be displaced by operating a screw 136.
A channel 137 connects a chamber 124 to the radial chamber of body
125 and a bore 138 connects chamber 124 to a chamber 139 provided
in a body 140 prolonging body 125 to which it is screwed and which
is shaped to form a venturi with a neck 141 and a flared portion
142 downstream from chamber 139, in the direction in which gas from
the pressurized gas source flows towards the patient. At the
downstream extremity of flared portion 142, in the flow direction
above defined, is located a nozzle 143 whose calibrated orifice,
which is substantially aligned with the axis of the device,
communicates with a bore 144 of body 140 prolonging channel 130 of
body 125.
Chamber 139 is provided with orifice 145 and, substantially at
right angles to the neck 141 of the venturi, a shoulder 146
supports the extremity of a spring 147 whose other extremity
engages the face 148 of a piston 149 housed in said chamber and
pierced by a bore 150 communicating with a cavity 151 which emerges
on face 152 of the piston opposite bore 138 of body 125.
In body 140, beyond orifices 145 in the direction of gas
circulation from the source towards the patient, a recess 153
houses an O-ring 154 projecting on the internal wall of chamber
139.
In the state represented in FIG. 5, ring 119 is adjacent to body
125 and collar 120 presses O-rings 127 and 128 together, thus
preventing any gas flow from the pressurized gas source through
channel 117; the device functions in an identical manner to that of
the embodiment represented in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3.
If it is also desired to assist the breathing or ventilation phase
of the pulmonary system, ring 119 is unscrewed in order to be
spaced from body 125 by an adjustable predetermined distance as
represented in FIGS. 6 and 7.
During the patient's inhaling phase, piston 132 is removed from
collar 114, (FIG. 7): chamber 124 is at the pressure of the gas
source connected to end 113 and, owing to the non-sealing screw
assembly of piece 111 to body 125, this pressure applies a greater
force on O-ring 127 than that applied by the pressure obtained in
conduit 117, so that O-ring 127 is pressed in sealing engagement
against O-ring 128 abutting collar 120. Channel 130 does not
communicate with the pressurized gas source. and the inhaling phase
takes place as with the apparatus of the previous embodiments.
During the expiratory phase, piston 132 is in contact with collar
114 and chamber 124 is no longer connected to the gas supply source
(FIG. 6). Under the effect of the pressure obtaining in bore 117,
O-ring 127 comes into contact with flange 115 and O-ring 128
remains in contact with flange 120 whose face opposite flange 115
is at a precisely predetermined distance from said flange, so that
there is a pressure drop in the gas circulating between bore 117
and channel 130. The gas from the pressurized gas source is then
sent through bore 117, channel 130 and bore 144 to nozzle 143 which
circulates it through venturi 141, this circulation setting up a
depression which brings about and favours the ventilation phase of
the pulmonary system of the patient to whom the device is
connected. This device then ensures, successively, the inspiratory
and expiratory phases of pulmonary respiration.
According to the invention, prevision is also made for humidifying
the gas blown into the lungs of the patient, by disposing,
downstream from O-ring 154 -- in the flow direction of the gas from
the pressurized gas source towards the patient--and in the vicinity
of the axis of bore 150, a capillary tube 160, (FIG. 8), connected
by a hose 161 to a liquie container 163, which, in its most simple
form, is a glass in which the extremity of a tube provided with a
strainer 164 is immersed. The high speed accurately located gas
flow from bore 150 pulverizes the humidifying liquid in a quantity
depending on the height between the output of capillary tube 160
and collector 163 to create a fine spray of humidifying liquid
particles in the blown gas, as required, for example, when
anaesthizing or carrying out analogous operations.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the extremity of hose 161
remote from capillary tube 160 is not immersed in a humidifying
reservoir but is connected, for example, by a chamber 165,
communicating with a dropping bottle 166, a valve 167 being
interposed. Bottle 166 may then be disposed above the respiratory
device and, by adjusting with valve 167, the number of drops
supplied for each inspiration is determined for precisely dosing
the quantity of liquid to be sprayed.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 to 14 concerning another
embodiment of a device according to the invention, which, for
clarity, is represented as a device of the same type as that in
FIG. 2, but which may be of the type represented in FIG. 5.
The device according to this embodiment comprises an end piece 211
having a longitudinal bore 212 therethrough which also runs along
mouthpiece 213 suitable for connection to the source of pressurized
gas to be blown into the lungs of a patient. At its extremity
opposite that connected to the pressurized gas source, piece 211 is
shaped to form a sleeve 214 pierced by two radiating bores 215 and
216 which emerge respectively in chambers 217 and 218 provided
between the outer periphery of sleeve 214 and the interval surface
of member 219, screwed to piece 211, a seal 220 being interposed.
Substantially opposite sleeve 214, member 219 provides a seat 221
for a membrane 222 housed in said sleeve and biased by spring 223
bearing against the bottom of a chamber 224, the force of the
spring being adjustable by means of a screw 225.
Chamber 217 communicates through a channel 226 with the internal
chamber 227 of a tubular piston 228 the bottom 230 of which is
pierced by a bore 231 and which is biased by the action of a spring
229 which bears against a shoulder 229a of an mouthpiece 229b
integral by screwing with member 219 and which comprises a venturi
232 with a neck 233 and flared portion 234 the extremity of which
is suitable for connection to the pulmonary system of a patient by
any appropriate means.
Channel 226 is, in fact, constituted by three portions end to end,
two of which 226a and 226b are provided in member 219 and which are
suitable for interconnection by a third portion provided in barrel
member 240, (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12), rotatably mounted about its axis
241 in member 219, O-rings 252, and 254 being interposed. The body
of barrel member 240 possesses a blind hole 243 for attaching a
knurled operating button 242 and it comprises, for putting the two
portions 226a and 226b of channel 226 in communication, a certain
number of passages at right angles (6 in the example represented)
each comprising (FIG. 12), a radial arm 244 in which emerges a
longitudinal arm 245 extended, on the end face 246 of the barrel
member, by a forward hole 247. As represented in FIG. 11, the arms
245, uniformly distributed angularly about axis 241, have different
predetermined diameters for supplying six different blowing rates
for the same supply pressure. Each of the flow rates is read off a
graduated annular zone surrounding operating button 242, provided
with an index, the precise location of each of its six positions
being ensured by a snap-locking means such as a ball 248 suitable
for cooperating with semi-circular grooves 251 in the barrel body
against which bears a spring 249 the force of which can be adjusted
by means of a screw 250.
An apparatus somewhat analogous to that described above for
controlling the blowing rate is provided for controlling the
blowing frequency, i.e. the number of breathing cycles per minute.
As represented in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14, the blowing frequency
control means comprise a barrel member 260 with an x axis 262 and a
control button 261 pierced by bores, six in the example
represented, uniformly disposed angularly about said axis and
represented at 263.sub.1, 263.sub.2, etc . . . 263.sub.6. In each
of bores 263 emerges a radial bore 264 for connecting chamber 218
with cavity 224, a member 265 causing a high pressure drop being
interposed in the junction zone of each bore 263 and 264 associated
therewith. Member 265 is, for example, a pellet of porous
polyurethane foam or teflon material, compression of which is
adjustable by means of a needle screw 266 bearing an O-ring 267 and
cooperating with an internal thread of bore 263.
O-rings 268, 269 and 270 contribute to tight communication between
chamber 218 and cavity 224.
In a manner analogous to that described above in connection with
the blow rate control barrel, a ball 271 biased by a spring 272 is
suitable for cooperating with grooves 273 of the body of barrel 260
for precisely locating it in one of the six positions corresponding
to the six bores 263 to each of which is attributed a frequency
that is predetermined and preset in the workshop by actuating
needle screw 266 on member 265 with which it cooperates. By
suitably adjusting needle screw 266, it is possible, for example,
to attribute to bores 263 values of 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 cycles
per minute.
FIG. 15 represents another embodiment of the device according to
the invention wherein the flow control means and the blowing
frequency control means are continuously adjustable, means being
provided on the unit for displaying the real blowing rate and
frequency at any moment.
In this embodiment, body 280 of the device possesses tapped bores
281 and 282 with which blowing rate and frequency adjusting screws
283 and 284 respectively cooperate. Screw 283, which is provided,
in a shoulder formed by its body, with a sealing O-ring 285, is
pierced by a longitudinal hole 287 which emerges in a diametral
bore 288 for setting a channel 289 connected to the source of
pressurized gas to be blown, not represented, in communication with
the chamber of an annular piston, also unrepresented, whose role
analogous to that of piston 228 of the previous form of embodiment.
Said chamber is connected, by means of a pneumatic circuit in which
is inserted an non-return valve and adjustable pressure release
means, to a pressure gauge 291 which continuously displays the flow
rate of gas blown in accordance with the pressures obtaining in
said chamber.
Screw 284, interposed between a cavity and a chamber analogous to
cavity 224 and chamber 218 in the previous embodiment, enables the
blowing frequency to be continuously adjusted by greater or lesser
compression of an element causing a high pressure drop analogous to
that represented at 265 in FIG. 14. This embodiment functions as
follows:
The flow rate for gas to be blown set at a given value, for example
10 liters per minute, by operating screw 283, is displayed on the
pressure gauge 291 during the inhaling phase during which the
source of pressurized gas communicates with the user's pulmonary
system. When, through actuating the periodic flow device,
communication between the pressurized gas source and the user is
cut off, the pressure displayed by pressure gauge 291 decreases
progressively owing to the presence of the non-return valve and the
escape means provided on the circuit interconnecting the pressure
gauge and the piston chamber, until a new inspiratory phase begins
which again causes said pressure gauge to display the flow rate
regulated by means of screw 283. The displayed flow rate again
decreases when the inhaling phase ceases and the oscillating flow
rate indication resistered by the pressure gauge, which is
representative of the blowing frequency, can be indicated on an
appropriate scale of the pressure gauge which then simultaneously
and continuously indicates both blowing frequency and rate.
* * * * *