Exhalation valve for a ventilator apparatus with a valve configuration for reducing noise emission

Inventors

Hunger, Jan

Abstract

An exhalation valve for a ventilator apparatus for at least partial instrumental respiratory assistance of a patient, includes a valve housing with a flow passage which extends along a passage trajectory defining a local axial, radial and circumferential direction and along which respiratory air can flow through the valve housing. The valve housing has a housing-side valve sub-formation with a closed end surface which extends around the passage trajectory and towards which a mating surface of a valve body, movable relative to the valve housing and facing the end surface, can be pretensioned by the pretensioning force of a pretensioning device in such a way that the mating surface, when subjected to respiratory gas in an exhalation flow direction counter to the pretensioning force of the pretensioning device, is removable.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an exhalation valve for a ventilation apparatus for at least partly mechanically assisted ventilation of a patient. The valve includes a valve housing with a flow passage along a passage path and a housing-mounted valve sub-configuration having an end surface which continuously encircles the passage path.

A valve body movable relative to the valve housing is preloaded so that impingement of a flow of respiratory gas in an exhalation flow direction moves a counterpart surface away from the end surface in a lifting direction against a preload force, enlarging an annular gap between the end surface and the counterpart surface. In the exhalation flow direction, the flow passage is flowthrough-capable, while flow in a direction opposite to the exhalation flow direction is blockable by abutment of the counterpart surface against the end surface.

To achieve noise reduction effects, the valve body comprises a skirt extending in a circumferential direction surrounding the counterpart surface and the end surface, and projecting axially beyond the end surface in a reference state not stressed by a respiratory flow. In the reference state, an annular gap space is provided radially between the skirt and an end portion of the valve sub-configuration facing toward the end surface.

The spacing between a skirt rim remote from the counterpart surface and the counterpart surface is different at least circumferentially locally depending on a position in a circumferential direction, and further constrained relationships are provided between the radial dimension of the annular gap space and the radial thickness of the skirt in an end region of the skirt containing the skirt rim. The skirt geometry and the preloading device configuration, including a diaphragm spring and optional reinforcing disk, provide stabilized flow characteristics and reduced pressure fluctuations and eddying associated with exhalation flow passage through the annular gap space.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover an exhalation valve with a preloaded movable valve body that opens in an exhalation direction by enlarging an annular gap and blocks reverse flow by abutment, and a skirt that projects axially beyond the end surface in a reference state to define a radially provided annular gap space, with additional geometry and structural constraints. Across the three independent claims, the main inventive features include circumferentially varying spacing, quantitative radial tolerance in an end region, and reinforcement of a substantially flat plate portion by metal and/or ceramic disks.

Collectively, the independent claims require a preloaded, movable valve body that opens by enlarging an annular gap and blocks reverse flow by abutment, combined with a skirt projecting beyond the end surface to establish a radially provided annular gap space. The refinements specify either circumferentially varying spacing between a remote skirt rim and the counterpart surface, or a constrained difference between radial annular gap dimension and skirt thickness in an end region, and also include an embodiment where a substantially flat plate portion is reinforced with a metal and/or ceramic disk.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications