Ventilator/anesthetic system comprising a manually operated safety valve device

Abstract: Ventilators and anesthetic systems are generally equipped with a plurality of different safety functions. An improved, manually operated safety valve device (46) is described in the present invention. The safety valve device (46) comprises a valve body (52), slideingly arranged inside a valve body (54). The valve body (52) is connected to an operating means (48), and when the operating means (48) is not operated the valve body (52) is retained in a first position by a spring (50), which presses against the operating means (48). When the operating means (48) is partly depressed, a gas channel (66) is exposed to an input channel (56) and gas can pass to an output channel (58) at a first defined flow rate. The operating means (48) can be affixed in this position with the aid of an arresting unit (68). If a larger flow of gas is needed, the operating means (48) can be depressed all the way, whereupon a flow-through channel with a lower resistance to flow opens to pass a second defined flow of gas.

Description: A ventilator/anesthetic system comprising a manually operated safety valve device, said safety valve device comprising an input channel connected to a gas source, an output channel connected to a breathing gas circuit in the ventilator/anesthetic system, a flow-through channel with a first flow impediment, a valve seat and a valve body, moveable in relation to the valve seat, which valve body is in a first position in relation to the valve seat when the safety valve device is not actuated, at which first position no gas flows through the safety valve device, and which, when manually operated, can be moved to a second position in relation to the valve seat, at which second position the flow-through channel opens to permit the passage of a first gas flow, whose magnitude depends on the first flow impediment, from the input channel to the output channel. The main task of a ventilator/anesthetic system is to support or maintain a patient's respiration. So it is of the utmost importance for the ventilator/anesthetic system to be equipped with a plurality of safety functions. For example, the system normally incorporates a battery to provide power in the event of a power failure. Some systems also have separate emergency gas cylinders in case piped gas supplies should fail. Many ventilator/anesthetic systems even contain manually operated safety valve devices used if the ventilator/anesthetic system's automatic valve systems break down. A safety valve device with a plurality of functions is also known. In anesthetic systems, for example, the safety valve device can be used to rapidly flush anesthetic gases out of the breathing gas circuit by supplying a relatively large flow of oxygen. The same safety valve device can also be used in emergency situations. A hand ventilator, usually a collapsible bag, is then connected to the breathing gas circuit. By pressing the valve briefly the hand ventilator fills with fresh oxygen. The physician can supply this oxygen to the patient by manually squeezing the hand ventilator. After a number of breaths, the hand ventilator must be emptied of used gas and is refilled with oxygen by pressing the safety valve device again. In emergency situations, the ability to supply a continuous and relatively small flow of e.g. oxygen, in relation to the flushing flow, to the breathing gas circuit and the patient would be desirable. In principle, this could be achieved by installing an additional, manually operated valve device, but this would require more connectors and connections between gas lines, resulting in a more expensive and complex ventilator/anesthetic systems and even increase the risk of leaks in the system. One object of the present invention is to achieve a ventilator/anesthetic system with a manually operated safety valve device capable of performing a plurality of functions, such as e.g. passing different gas flows. One such ventilator/anesthetic system is achieved according to the invention in that the safety valve device further comprises a gas channel with a second flow impediment which is larger than the first flow impediment, said gas channel connecting the input channel to the output channel when the valve body is manually moved to a third position, so a second flow of gas, less than the first flow of gas, passes from the input channel to the output channel. With such a safety valve device, the physician is able to open the device, by moving the valve body to the second position, to permit the passage of a large flow of e.g. oxygen and open the device, by moving the valve body to the third position, to permit the passage of a smaller flow of oxygen. Here, it is advantageous if the safety valve device further comprises an operating means, which is mechanically connected to the valve body in order to facilitate manual operation of the valve body, and a spring which loads the operating means and valve body in such a way that the valve body automatically assumes the first position when there is no manual actuation. Since the safety valve device is only intended for use in extreme situations and then only after manual operation, it is advantageous if the safety valve device were designed so it automatically assumed the first position. In conjunction herewith, it is advantageous if the safety valve device further comprises an arresting unit for affixing the valve body in the third position. Continuous passage of the smaller flow of gas is desirable. So operating the safety valve device is easier for the physician if it comprises an arresting unit for the third position, since she/he, or some other staff member, will not then need to hold the valve body manually fixed in the third position. An improvement of the ventilator/anesthetic system is achieved according to a preferred feature of the invention in that the valve seat is devised with a cylindrical cavity having a first defined diameter and the valve body is cylindrically devised and movably arranged inside the cavity of the valve seat. Here, the anesthetic system can be advantageously devised so the valve body is slideably arranged inside the valve seat, the valve body is equipped with a first O-ring serving as a seal between the input channel and the output channel when the valve body is in its first position, the valve body is devised with a second defined diameter which is smaller than the first defined diameter, a tubular channel then being formed between the valve body and the valve seat to form the flow-through channel, and the valve body, when the safety valve device is manually operated, first moves to the third position, at which the gas channel connects the input channel to the output channel, and then moves to the second position, at which the flow-through channel connects the input channel to the output channel. A sliding construction for the valve body inside the valve seat facilitates manual actuation of the operating means. Locating the third position between the first and the second positions facilitates the valve body's construction, since the third position is to pass a smaller flow of gas than in the second position and must therefore offer greater resistance to the flow of gas. The gas channel can advantageously be devised as a groove with a defined cross-sectional area and length in the valve seat. The groove's cross-sectional area and length govern its resistance to flow and therefore define the flow which can pass when the valve body is moved to the third position. Alternately, the gas channel can be devised in the valve body, whereby the gas channel has a first orifice and a second orifice on the surface of the valve body. Here, it would be advantageous if the first orifice is located next to the first O-ring which serves as a seal between the input channel and the first orifice when the valve body is in its first position, the second orifice is located at a defined distance from the first orifice and a second O-ring is arranged between the first orifice and the second orifice to serve as a seal between the input channel and the flow-through channel when the valve body is in its third position. This construction ensures that only the smaller flow passes through the valve device when the valve body is in the third position. As an alternative to a slidingly arranged valve body, the valve body can advantageously be rotatingly arranged in the valve seat, the flow-through channel and the gas channel running radially through the valve body and at least in part at one defined angle to each other. The flow-through channel and the gas channel could thus share a common part. It would be advantageous if the second position is located in one direction of rotation from the first position and the third position is located in the other direction of rotation from the first position. For example, the valve body could be devised with three channels radiating out from the center of the valve body at a 120° to each other. The input channel and the output channel are then also arranged at a 120° to each other but displaced e.g. 60° to the channels' orifices. Rotation of the valve body 60° would then open a connection between the input channel and the output channel. This would therefore make it easier for the physician to select the desired flow through the safety valve by selecting the valve body's direction of rotation. When an arresting unit is employed, it is advantageous if the operating means is devised with a recess, and the arresting unit consisted of a sliding disc which can be moved up in the recess on the operating means when this is operated so that the valve body is in the third position, thereby affixing the operating means and valve body in the third position. The invention will now be described in greater detail, referring to the figures in which FIG. 1 schematically depicts an anesthetic system with a safety valve device according to the invention; FIGS. 2-4 show a first embodiment of the safety valve device in three different functional positions; FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the safety valve device and FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the safety valve device. An anesthetic system 2 is shown in FIG. 1. The anesthetic system 2 comprises a gas mixer 4, which receives nitrous oxide (N 2 O) via a nitrous oxide connection 6 and oxygen (O 2 ) via an oxygen connection 8. N 2 O and O 2 are mixed in defined proportions in the gas mixer 4, and the mixed gas is sent to a vaporizer device 10. An anesthetic can be vaporized in the vaporizer device 10 and added to the gas mixture from the gas mixer 4 before the mixture is sent to a fresh gas reservoir 12. Gas from the fresh gas reservoir 12 is sent to a breathing gas circuit 14. The breathing gas circuit 14 is connected to a patient 16 who, in this instance, receives a gas mixture containing an anesthetic. The breathing gas circuit 14 is a recirculating breathing gas circuit, i.e. the same breathing gas is reused immediately after expiration and returned to the patient through an inspiratory line 18 after passing a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) absorber 20 which removes carbon dioxide from it. Expired gas passes from the patient 16 through an expiratory line 22. The direction of breathing gas flow in the breathing gas circuit 14 is governed by a first check valve 24 and a second check valve 26. Surplus gas in the breathing gas circuit 14 is evacuated via a pressure relief valve 28 which also ensures that pressure in the breathing gas circuit 14 and, accordingly, in the patient's lungs 16, does not become excessive. The removed gas is preferably sent to some form of evacuation device (not shown in the figure). The patient's 16 respiration can be controlled according to two different principles. The first employs a bellows 30 placed in a container 32. The gas space in the bellows 30 is connected to the breathing gas circuit 14 via a gas line 33, and the space between the bellows 30 and the wall of the container 32 is connected to a drive gas unit 34 which receives a drive gas through a drive gas connection 36. When an inspiration is to be imposed on the patient 16, the space between the bellows 30 and the wall of the container 32 is filled, compressing the bellows 30 and forcing breathing gas through the inspiratory line 18 and the CO 2 absorber to the patient 16. During expiration, gas is released from the space between the bellows 30 and the wall of the container 32, whereupon gas flows into the bellows 30 via the expiratory line 22 and the gas line 33. The second principle is based on the use of a hand ventilator 38, preferably in the form of bag. The anesthetist can, by manually squeezing the gas-filled hand ventilator 38, force breathing gas to flow through the inspiratory line 18 to the patient 16. Expiration occurs when the physician releases her/his pressure on the hand ventilator 38, whereupon the hand ventilator fills with gas from the expiratory line 22. The choice of a regulatory principle for the imposed respiration is made with a first switching valve 40 and a second switching valve 42. In mechanically controlled respiration, the first switching valve 40 is open, and the second switching valve 42 is closed. The reverse applies in manually controlled respiration. The switching valves 40, 42 are designed so the first switching valve 40 closes and the second switching valve 42 opens when there is a complete power failure and only manual ventilation of the patient 16 is possible. All the components in the anesthetic system 2 are controlled and regulated by a control device 44. The control device 44 therefore regulates the mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen in the gas mixer 4, the supply of anesthetic to the vaporizer device 10, the supply of fresh gas to the breathing gas circuit 14 from the fresh gas reservoir 12, the patient's breathing cycles via the drive gas unit 34 and switching between mechanical ventilation and manual ventilation with the first switching valve 40 and the second switching valve 42. If the anesthetic system 2 stops working for some reason, or if the physician should wish to give the patient 16 an extra dose of oxygen or quickly flush anesthetic out of the breathing gas circuit 14, the anesthetic system 2 is equipped with a manual safety valve device 46. The physician can operate the safety valve device 46 by pressing a pushbutton 48. The safety valve device 46 is connected to the oxygen connection 8 and to the breathing gas circuit 14 via a connecting line 49. In FIGS. 2-4, to which joint reference is made, are shown a first embodiment of the safety valve device 46 in the anesthetic system 2. The pushbutton 48 is slideably arranged in the valve device 46 and acted on by a spring 50 so it normally is in a closed position. The pushbutton 48 is connected to a valve body 52, which is slideably arranged in a valve seat 54 in the safety valve device 46. Connection to the oxygen line 8 is via an input channel 56 carrying oxygen under pressure. When the safety valve device 46 opens, oxygen flows through the safety valve device 46 and out through an output channel 58 connected to the connecting line 49. The valve body 52 is sealed against the valve seat 54 with a first O-ring 60, a second O-ring 62 and a third O-ring 64. There is a gas channel 66 in the valve body 52. The gas channel 66 has a small orifice in the surface of the valve body 52, and this gas channel 66 orifice is exposed to the oxygen in the input channel 56 when the pushbutton 48 is depressed a given distance, as shown in FIG. 3. Oxygen can then flow through the gas channel 66 to the output channel 58 at a rate governed by the flow resistance of the gas channel 66. Here, the second O-ring 62 seals so gas can only flow through the gas channel 66. The safety gas device 46 is also equipped with a blocking button 68 which can be moved up into a recess 70 in the pushbutton 48 to affix the valve body 52 in this position. If a large flow of oxygen is temporarily desired, e.g. to flush out the breathing gas circuit 14, this is easily accomplished when the physician pushes the pushbutton 48 all the way in, as shown in FIG. 4. A flow-through channel 72 for oxygen then opens in the input channel 56. The flow-through channel 72 is arranged so its resistance to flow is less than the gas channel's 66, so oxygen can therefore flow to the output channel 58 with a larger flow than when the valve body 52 is in the position shown in FIG. 3. However, the safety valve device 46 can be devised in a plurality of different ways. In FIG. 5 is shown a second embodiment of the safety valve device 46. The second embodiment of the safety valve device 46 is a variant of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, so the same designations have been used for the corresponding parts in FIG. 5. The main difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is in the introduction of a gas channel 74 inside the valve seat 54 of the second embodiment (FIG. 5) to permit the passage of a smaller flow of gas from the input channel 56 to the output channel 58 when the pushbutton 48 is only partially depressed. Here, only one O-ring 60 is needed on the valve body 52 to seal the input channel 56 and the output channel 58 from each other. The cross-sectional area and length of the gas channel 74 governs the resistance to flow which, in turn, governs the magnitude of the flow through the safety valve device 46. In practice, this flow is established at the time the safety valve device 46 is manufactured, the gas channel 74 being made with a specific area and length. In principle, the same flow can be achieved with a plurality of smaller grooves whose total flow resistance is the same as the defined flow resistance. Other embodiments containing a sliding valve body inside the valve seat are also conceivable. For example, the input channel and the output channel can be arranged so they are opposite one another, and the valve body can be supplied with two radially arranged through openings with different dimensions which are sealed from each other and from the input channel with O-rings. The openings can be individually exposed to the input channel, when the valve body is moved, and release two different gas flows. As an alternative to through openings, the valve body can be devised with different diameters in order to pass the respective flow. Another variant of the safety valve device 46, which does not employ a slideable valve body, is shown in FIG. 6. in which a third embodiment of the safety valve device 46 is shown. A valve body 82 is rotatingly arranged inside a valve seat 80. In the position shown in FIG. 6, corresponding to a non-actuated position, no gas passes from the input channel 56 to the output channel 58. However, a through channel 84 will open a connection between the input channel 56 and the output channel 58 when the valve body 82 is turned clockwise. This position could be e.g. spring-loaded so the valve body 82 returns to its first position as soon as actuation of the valve body 82 ceases. If the valve body 82 is instead turned counter-clockwise, a gas channel 86 opens through which a smaller flow of oxygen can flow, corresponding to the position in FIG. 3 for a slideable valve body. As in the previously described embodiments, the valve body 82 in FIG. 6 can be connected to a rotating button which can be affixed in the third position, i.e. when a flow of gas passes through the gas channel 86 from the input channel 56 to the output channel 58. As regards rotating valve bodies, a plurality of alternative solutions will be immediately apparent to anyone well-versed in the art. The safety valve device could also be devised so the valve is both moveable and rotatable in the valve seat in order to assume the two different positions. However, the main principle of the invention is a ventilator/anesthetic system containing a safety valve device which is able, in one position, to pass a first defined flow of a gas and, in a second position, to pass a second defined flow of gas which is smaller than the first defined flow.

Claims: A ventilator/anesthetic system (2) comprising a manually operated safety valve device (46), said safety valve device (46) comprising an input channel (56) connected to a gas source (8), an output channel (58) connected to a breathing gas circuit (14) in the ventilator/anesthetic system (2), a flow-through channel (72; 84) with a first flow impediment, a valve seat (54; 80) and a valve body (52; 82), moveable in relation to the valve seat (54; 80), which valve body (52; 82) is in a first position in relation to the valve seat (54; 80) when the safety valve device is not actuated, at which first position no gas flows through the safety valve device (46), and which, when manually operated, can be moved to a second position in relation to the valve seat (54; 80), at which second position the flow-through channel (72; 74) opens to permit the passage of a first gas flow, whose magnitude depends on the first flow impediment, from the input channel (56) to the output channel (58), characterized in that the safety valve device (46) further comprises a gas channel (66; 74; 86) with a second flow impediment which is larger than the first flow impediment, said gas channel (66; 74; 86) connecting the input channel (56) to the output channel (58) when the valve body (52; 82) is manually moved to a third position, so a second flow of gas, less than the first flow of gas, passes from the input channel (56) to the output channel (58). A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety valve device (46) further comprises an operating means (48), which is mechanically connected to the valve body (52) in order to facilitate manual operation of the valve body (52), and a spring which loads the operating means (48) and the valve body (52) in such a way that the valve body (52) automatically assumes the first position when there is no manual actuation. A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety valve device (46) further comprises an arresting unit (68) for affixing the valve body (52) in the third position. A ventilator/anesthetic system according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the valve seat (54; 80) is devised with a cylindrical cavity having a first defined diameter, and the valve body (52; 82) is cylindrically devised and movably arranged inside the cavity of the valve seat (54; 80). A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve body (52) is slideably arranged inside the valve seat (54), the valve body (52) is equipped with a first O-ring (60) serving as a seal between the input channel (56) and the output channel (60) when the valve body (52) is in its first position, the valve body (52) is devised with a second defined diameter smaller than the first defined diameter, a tubular channel then being formed between the valve body (52) and the valve seat (54) to form the flow-through channel (72), and the valve body (52), when the safety valve device (46) is manually operated, first moves to the third position, at which the gas channel (66; 74) connects the input channel (56) to the output channel (58), and then moves to the second position, at which the flow-through channel (72) connects the input channel (56) to the output channel (58). A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 5, characterized in that the gas channel (74) is devised as a groove with a defined cross-sectional area and length in the valve seat (54). A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 5, characterized in that the gas channel (66) is devised in the valve body (52), the gas channel (66) then having a first orifice and a second orifice on the surface of the valve body (52). A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first orifice is located next to the first O-ring (60) which serves as a seal between the input channel (56) and the first orifice when the valve body (52) is in its first position, the second orifice is located at a defined distance from the first orifice and a second O-ring (62) is arranged between the first orifice and the second orifice to serve as a seal between the input channel (56) and the flow-through channel (72) when the valve body (52) is in its third position. A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve body (82) is rotatingly arranged in the valve seat (80), the flow-through channel runs radially through the valve body (82), the gas channel runs radially through the valve body (82) and at least part of the flow-through channel (84) and part of the gas channel (86) run at a defined angle to one another. A ventilator/anesthetic system according to claim 9, characterized in that the second position is located in one direction of rotation from the first position, and the third position is located in the other direction of rotation from the first position. A ventilator/anesthetic system according to any of claims 4-10 in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the operating means (48) is devised with a recess (70), and the arresting unit (68) consists of a sliding disc (68) which can be moved up in the recess (70) on the operating means (48) when this is operated so that the valve body (52) is in the third position, thereby affixing the operating means (48) and valve body (52) in the third position.

Inventors: AKERBERG LEIF, AKERBERG, LEIF
Applicants: SIEMENS ELEMA AB, SIEMENS-ELEMA AB
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61M16
IPC codes: A61M16