Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Assignees
Member
Hamilton Medical Inc.Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Publication Number
US-11000668-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to an expiratory valve (10) of a ventilation device (100), comprising a valve body (12) having a fluid inlet (14) and a fluid outlet (16) for breathing air of a patient formed therein, said valve body (12) comprising a support (42) having a top side (46) on which a valve membrane (20) can be placed with an abutment area formed at the outer edge thereof, with the top side (46) of the support (42) having an uneven design.
Core Innovation
The disclosure relates to an expiratory valve (10) of a ventilation device (100) for breathing air of a patient. The expiratory valve includes a valve body (12) with a fluid inlet (14) and a fluid outlet (16) and a valve plenum (18) enclosed by the valve body (12). A valve membrane (20) is placed on a support (42), the support (42) having a top side (46) and an abutment area formed at the outer edge of the valve membrane (20).
The top side (46) of the support (42) has an outwardly curved surface with respect to the valve plenum (18). The outwardly curved surface is configured such that, when the expiratory valve is mounted in the ventilation device and the valve body (12) is subject to stress so as to deform, the top side (46) of the support (42) is arranged in a level surface. In this level-surface condition, there is established a sheet-like contact between the abutment area of the valve membrane (20) and the top side (46) of the support (42).
The disclosure further describes that the valve design is associated with reduced noise and reduced retroactive pressure effects, including mitigation of auto-trigger/auto-cycle. In addition, the expiratory valve is implemented with a cup-shaped valve plenum and a fluid flow path in which a cross-sectional area expands toward the outlet. Structural features such as rounded contour regions and integrally formed reinforcing ribs around a bulging valve-bottom/channel around the fluid inlet are described as suppressing vibrations and noise.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim identified is clm-00001. Two inventive features are identified, centered on an outwardly curved support top side and the resulting sheet-like contact with the valve membrane abutment area.
Outwardly curved support top side configured to become a level surface
The top side (46) of the support (42) has an outwardly curved surface with respect to a valve plenum (18) enclosed by the valve body (12), and the outwardly curved surface is configured such that, when the expiratory valve is mounted and the valve body is subject to stress so as to deform, the top side of the support is arranged in a level surface.
Sheet-like contact between membrane abutment area and support top side
When the top side of the support is arranged in a level surface, there is established a sheet-like contact between the abutment area of the valve membrane (20) and the top side of the support (42).
Overall, the claim coverage for the identified independent claim focuses on a stress-deformation transition from an outwardly curved support top side to a level surface that enables sheet-like contact between the valve membrane abutment area and the support top side.
Stated Advantages
Reduced noise.
Reduced retroactive pressure effects.
Mitigation of auto-trigger/auto-cycle.
Documented Applications
Use as an expiratory valve in a ventilation device (100) for breathing air of a patient.
Interested in licensing this patent?