Patent ID: 6516800
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
In an automatic ventilator, the automatic ventilator having a receptacle with: a pressurized breathable gas supply port; and a breathing control circuit port, a neonatal patient ventilator circuit comprising:a removable plug with: a pressurized breathable gas supply connector adapted to releasably engage the gas supply port of the receptacle; and a breathing control circuit connector adapted to releasably engage the control circuit port of the receptacle; a patient interface having an inlet and an outlet each adapted to be in flow communication with the patient's airway; a gas supply conduit communicating between the interface inlet and gas supply connector of the plug; and breathing control valve means, in communication with the interface outlet and with the breathing control connector of the plug, for exhausting pressurized gas from the patient airway when open and retaining pressurized gas in the patient airway when closed, in response to open and close signals communicated via the breathing control connector of the plug, wherein the breathing control valve means comprise: a hollow valve housing including an exhaust port, the housing including an exhalation chamber and a control chamber disposed on opposing sides of a piston, the piston operating between an open position wherein the exhalation chamber is in flow communication with the exhaust port and a closed position, wherein: the flow communication between the exhalation chamber and the exhaust port is impeded by the piston; the exhalation chamber is in flow communication with the patient interface outlet; and the control chamber is in flow communication with pressurized gas conducted via the breathing control connector of the plug; the breathing control valve means further comprising: piston biasing means for urging the piston to the open position against the force of pressurized gas within the control chamber.