Patent ID: 6263873
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A bellows arrangement for a ventilator/anesthesia system, said ventilator/anesthesia system having a propellant source and a respiratory circuit, said bellows arrangement comprising:a rigid container having an interior;a bellows disposed in said rigid container, said bellows having an interior and an exterior and a first end and a second end disposed opposite to and substantially parallel to each other, said first end being stationarily mounted in said rigid container and said second end being movable in said rigid container relative to said first end, said bellows having a center axis;said container having a connection for placing said interior of said container and said exterior of said bellows in gaseous communication with said propellant source for allowing compression and expansion of said bellows in said rigid container;said bellows having a connection for placing said interior of said bellows in gaseous communication with said respiratory circuit; anda guidance fixture at said second end of said bellows and disposed in said container at every position of said second end of said bellows as said second end moves relative to said first end during expansion and compression of said bellows, said guidance fixture guiding said second end of said bellows so that said second end always moves along said center axis of said bellows while remaining substantially parallel to said first end.