Apparatus and method to provide breathing support

Inventors

SARDESAI, NOLAN RAJENDRA • Ramanathan, Rangasamy • Sardesai, Rajendra Gurudas

Assignees

Eupnea Technologies Inc

Abstract

A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is provided to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, the apparatus comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct; at least one valve connected to the peak inspiratory pressure control duct and to the positive end-expiratory pressure control duct, and at least one controller communicably connected to the valve to control rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling number of breaths per minute, and to control the duration of peak inspiratory pressure also known as inspiratory time.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a breathing support apparatus that provides PIP and PEEP to a patient by using a primary duct connected to a gas supply and terminating at a patient interface, where the distal end connects to a three-port valve. The three ports include an inlet port, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port. At least one peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) control duct is connected to the first outlet port, and at least one positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) control duct is connected to the second outlet port.

A controller activates to switch the three-port valve so that gas flow is directed through either the PIP control duct or the PEEP control duct, thereby providing PIP and PEEP to the patient. Deactivation is defined by shutting off power to the controller or setting a cycle rate of the three-port valve in the controller to a value of zero. In that deactivated state, the three-port valve remains open to the second outlet port such that gas flow is directed to the PEEP control duct and the patient is provided a baseline pressure.

The apparatus supports conversion from Bi-PAP ventilation to CPAP ventilation based on the same deactivation conditions, by shutting off power to the controller or setting the cycle rate to the value of zero. In further embodiments, the apparatus includes pressure-relief valves connected to the PIP and PEEP control ducts, with the relief valves selected from electronically controlled electro-mechanical valves or manually controlled mechanical valves. Additional refinements include specifying the three-port valve as a solenoid valve and defining a failure behavior in which the valve is open to the second outlet port to direct flow to the PEEP control duct and maintain pressure at a baseline level.

Claims Coverage

Two independent apparatus claims are present. Each independent claim centers on switching a three-port valve with a controller to route gas to either a PIP control duct or a PEEP control duct, while ensuring baseline pressure upon controller deactivation and enabling Bi-PAP to CPAP conversion.

Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the controller-activated switching of a three-port valve between PIP and PEEP control ducts, combined with a deactivation behavior that keeps the valve open to the second outlet port to provide baseline pressure, enabling Bi-PAP to CPAP conversion.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications