Patent ID: 8973603
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: A61B,G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A gas flow regulating device for use as part of a medical system for sampling a patient's breath, the device comprising: a housing assembly including a main housing, a valve seat body, and a distal plate, the main housing forming an inlet port at a proximal end and the distal plate forming an outlet orifice; wherein adjacent to the inlet port at the proximal end, the valve seat body forms through holes an inlet tube assembly including a proximal inlet end, a tube forming a lumen, and a flange, the inlet tube assembly slidably disposed within the housing assembly; a lower membrane sealably connected between the inlet tube assembly proximal to the proximal inlet end and an interior surface of the housing, wherein a width of the lower membrane allows the lower membrane to overlap upon itself circumferentially; a biasing device disposed within the main housing and bearing against the flange of the inlet tube assembly; a middle chamber formed within the housing assembly between the proximal inlet end and the flange of the inlet tube assembly; and a constant pressure chamber formed within the housing assembly between the flange of the inlet tube assembly and the distal plate; wherein the valve seat body has an exterior circumferential surface and an interior circumferential surface, the interior circumferential surface comprising a tapering diameter to fluidly seal the proximal inlet end of the inlet tube; wherein the device is configured to provide an open state in which incoming airflow to the inlet port is directed to the constant pressure chamber via the lumen, and a closed state in which the lumen is fluidly sealed between the inlet port and the constant pressure chamber such that a constant airflow rate from the outlet orifice is provided independent of fluctuations in the incoming airflow rate at the inlet port.