Apparatus and method to provide breathing support

Inventors

Sardesai, Rajendra Gurudas • Ramanathan, Rangasamy

Assignees

Eupnea Technologies Inc

Abstract

A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is disclosed to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, said device comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct configured to be immersed in a first body of fluid; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct configured to be immersed in a second body of fluid; 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 provides a low-cost breathing support apparatus that controls peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) by routing pressurized gas through a valve that cycles between a first outlet port connected to at least one PIP control duct and a second outlet port connected to at least one PEEP control duct. The apparatus defines a cycle corresponding to one breath, and when the gas flows from the inlet port to the first outlet port the gas flows through the PIP control duct to control PIP, and when the gas flows from the inlet port to the second outlet port the gas flows through the PEEP control duct to lower pressure to a PEEP so that the patient receives the PEEP.

The pressure control ducts are configured as fluid-column immersed ducts, where at least one PIP control duct is immersed in a body of fluid and at least one PEEP control duct is immersed in the body of fluid. An immersion-length relationship is defined so that an immersed length of the PIP control duct is greater than an immersed length of the PEEP control duct, thereby providing different pressure levels when the valve switches flow between the ducts.

Safety is addressed by providing at least one safety duct adapted for connection to the primary duct and configured to be immersed in the body of fluid, wherein an immersed length of the safety duct is greater than an immersed length of the PIP control duct. The valve is further configured to provide a fail-safe state in which, if power to the valve is shut off, the valve remains in an open position to the second outlet port, directing flow of gas to the PEEP control duct and maintaining pressure at a baseline lower level.

Additional disclosed embodiments include separating the PIP and PEEP control ducts into different containers with different fluid bodies, with further disclosed structural options such as angled duct sections.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides two independent claims, both covering a breathing support apparatus that cycles a multi-port valve to switch gas flow between an immersed PIP control duct and an immersed PEEP control duct for one-breath operation, with defined immersion-length relationships and a fail-safe valve state that maintains baseline lower pressure at the PEEP duct upon power loss.

Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a multi-port valve that cycles once per breath to route gas either through an immersed PIP control duct or through an immersed PEEP control duct, using a defined immersion-length relationship to set different pressures, plus a fail-safe valve state that maintains baseline lower pressure at the PEEP control duct when power is shut off, with additional pressure-control safety provided by a safety duct immersed deeper than the PIP control duct.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications