Patent ID: 8439036

Claim:
An exhalation valve assembly for controlling pressure in a ventilation system comprising: a valve module comprising a valve body and attached seal element, the valve body defining an inlet port allowing gas to enter a valve chamber and an exhaust port allowing gas to exit the valve chamber, the valve body having a valve seat opposite the seal element wherein displacement of the seal element relative to the valve seat controls gas pressure within the inlet port, wherein all gas that enters the inlet port exits the exhaust port; an actuator module fixed to a ventilator housing and removably connectable to the valve module and, when attached to the valve module, that is operable to move the seal element relative to the valve seat to control the pressure of gas in the inlet port and the release of gas via the exhaust port; and a flow sensor contained in the valve body monitoring the flow of gas between the inlet port and the valve seat, wherein all gas entering the inlet port and exiting the exhaust port is monitored by the flow sensor.