This invention relates, generally, to devices that help patients breathe. More particularly, it relates to a breathing assistance device that includes a nebulizer and a filter, but which does not require a second flow valve connection.
A conventional breathing assistance device delivers preselected gaseous fluids suitable for respiration to a patient who requires breathing assistance. The preselected gaseous fluids are stored under pressure in a reservoir, which may hold oxygen or miscellaneous mixtures of suitable gaseous fluids. The patient wears a facemask and a tube interconnects the reservoir and the facemask. A manometer and a pressure relief valve may be provided between the tank and the facemask and such parts perform their respective well-known functions.
At times a physician may want to employ a nebulizer to administer therapeutic dosages of a medicine to a patient suffering from breathing difficulties. However, there are a number of problems associated with the prior art use of nebulizers. First, the flow of gaseous fluid to the patient must be interrupted so that a nebulizer can be added to the system. Secondly, the nebulizer must be connected to a second reservoir of gaseous fluid if the reservoir already in use does not have a “Y” connection so that the nebulizer flow valve can be attached thereto. Third, prior nebulizers, including the previous related application (U.S. application Ser. No. 15/340,142), allow for the patients potentially harmful exhaled gaseous fluid (e.g., exhaled breath) and/or aerosolized medication to be freely discharged into the environment surrounding the patient, including medical personnel. This discharge of potentially contaminated air increases the risks that third parties, such as medical personnel may contract a bacterial and/or viral infection from the patient if the patient has been admitted for a bacterial and/or viral infection. Fourth, it is undesirable, harmful, and possibly fatal for aerosolized medication to be inhaled by an individual, such as hospital staff, whom the medication is not prescribed. Adverse reactions, such as anaphylactic shock, resulting from an allergic reaction to the medication may occur.
Thus, there is a need for a breathing assistance device that enables a patient to receive medical treatment from a nebulizer without interrupting the flow of gaseous fluid to the patient and simultaneously prevents the patient's unfiltered exhaled breath from contaminating an environment occupied by the patient and medical personnel.
There is also a need for a system that does not require connection to a second flow valve associated with a second reservoir as described in an embodiment of the invention. Moreover, there is a need for a system that does not require that a reservoir in use be equipped with a “Y” connection thereby allowing a second flow valve to be connected to the reservoir as described in an embodiment of the invention.
In view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill how medical treatment could be administered to a patient wearing a breathing assistance device without requiring a second reservoir or a reservoir having a “Y” connection.
The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a breathing assistance device that is used with a single tank having a single flow control valve, which does not require interruption of flow of gaseous fluid to a patient and filters a patient's exhalation breath prior to discharging the expiration gas into the environment is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention.
The novel breathing assistance device includes a patient breathing tube having a leading end adapted to be in fluid communication with a facemask worn by a patient who requires breathing assistance. A nebulizer port is connected to or formed integrally with the patient breathing tube. In an embodiment, the nebulizer port extends radially away from the patient's breathing tube. The nebulizer has a leading end formed integrally with or releasably attached to the nebulizer port and includes a reservoir adapted to hold a liquid medical compound.
A valve body is coupled to the trailing end of the patient's breathing tube and maybe in axial alignment therewith. A first port is in fluid communication with the valve body. In an embodiment, the first port extends radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve body, however, one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that the first port may be oriented away from the valve body in any direction.
A first tube has a trailing end connected in fluid communication with a remote source of gaseous fluid under pressure and includes a leading end connected in fluid communication to the first port. A second port is in fluid communication with the valve body and extends radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the valve body in a circumferentially spaced relation to the first port, however, any other orientation of the second port relative to the valve body and the first port is contemplated.
A second tube has a trailing end in fluid communication with the second port and a leading end in fluid communication with a trailing end of the nebulizer, i.e., to the fluid reservoir of the nebulizer.
A valve may be positioned between the reservoir and the facemask and includes both an open and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the valve prevents the flow of gaseous fluid through the second tube and in the open configuration, the valve enables the flow of gaseous fluid through the second tube. The position of the valve does not alter the flow of gaseous fluid from the reservoir to the facemask through the first tube.
The valve may be a gate valve, a butterfly valve, or any other type of valve that is suitable for controlling a flow of a fluid. The valve may be selectively opened and closed by a valve actuator. The valve actuator, for example, maybe a hand-operated rotatable valve actuator, a hand-operated slide valve actuator, a hand-operated toggle valve actuator, and the like. In an embodiment, electrical or electronic means may operate the valve actuator, however, it is preferable to have a hand-operated valve actuator to limit the complexity of the system and provide a simple and intuitive means for transitioning the valve from the open to the closed configuration and vice versa.
In an embodiment, the valve includes a handle that is rotatably mounted relative to a longitudinal axis of the patient's breathing tube and the valve body. In such an embodiment, a ninety-degree (90°) rotation of the handle in a first direction opens the valve and allows for gaseous fluid to flow through the second tube. Consequently, a ninety-degree (90°) rotation in the opposite direction closes the valve and prevents the flow of gaseous fluid through the second tube.
Accordingly, the novel breathing assistance device delivers a gaseous fluid under pressure from the remote reservoir to a patient when the valve is in the closed configuration, similarly to how the system would operate if no nebulizer was used.
The novel breathing assistance device in the open configuration delivers gaseous fluid under pressure from the remote reservoir to the patient along with the aerosolized medication from the nebulizer. The spray of the aerosolized medicine from the nebulizer is entrained into the flow of air flowing through the patient's breathing tube to the patient's face mask.
In an embodiment, the valve includes a shaft formed integrally with the valve and is axially displaced when the valve is rotated. One or more O-rings may be mounted on the shaft in longitudinally spaced relation to one another to provide a sealing function when the valve is in the closed configuration thereby preventing the flow of gaseous fluid through the second tube. One or more O-rings provide no sealing function when the valve is open configuration, thereby allowing the flow of the gaseous fluid under pressure through the second tube to the nebulizer. In an embodiment, O-rings may be disposed at least partially within an outer surface of the shaft.
In an embodiment, a plurality of ramps are formed integrally with the trailing end of the valve. The handle has a disc-shaped leading end and a plurality of pins disposed circumferentially and formed integrally with the leading end. The pins extend away from a longitudinal axis of the device.
The valve cover has a plurality of ramps configured to mate with the trailing end of the valve. The plurality of ramps in the valve cover matches the size, quantity, and slope of the ramps formed in the trailing end of the valve.
The pins are sandwiched between the ramps formed in the trailing end of the valve and the ramps formed in the leading end of the valve cover. The pins translate in a sliding motion up their associated ramps when the valve handle is rotated from a first position to a second position. The pins translate down their associated ramps in a sliding motion when the valve handle is rotated from the second configuration to the first configuration. This constrains the shaft to only be displaced axially along its longitudinal axis when the valve handle is rotated. Any electrical, electronic, hydraulic, or mechanical means for translating rotational movement of a valve handle to axial translation of a shaft for the purpose of opening and closing the valve is contemplated herein.
Moreover, any electrical, electronic, hydraulic, or mechanical means for opening and closing a valve that controls the path of travel of gaseous fluid is within the scope of this invention. The invention provides a caregiver with the ability to switch between a main gaseous flow from a single remote reservoir having a single flow valve and no “Y” connection to a patient where a nebulizer is bypassed to gaseous flow from the same single remote reservoir to the patent where at least some of the gaseous flow is routed through a nebulizer without interrupting the main gaseous flow.
An orifice jet is disposed concentrically within a lumen of the patient's breathing tube. The orifice jet is in fluid communication with the remote source of gaseous fluid under pressure when the valve is in the open configuration.
A plurality of slots, rectangular openings, or an outlet port is formed in a leading end of the valve body, the openings enable the patient to exhale into the environment surrounding the patient when the nebulizer valve is in either the open or the closed configurations. In an embodiment, a filter device is connected to the outlet port thereby filtering the patient's exhalation breath prior to exhausting the patient's breath into the environment. In an embodiment, the filter device includes a housing, a cover, and at least one filter residing between the housing and the cover, such that prior to being exhausted through the cover, the gaseous liquid is disposed through the at least one filter.
The patient receives a combination of gaseous fluids from the orifice jet and entrained ambient air through the openings when the patient inhales at a rate greater than the rate that gaseous fluid is delivered from the remote source of gaseous fluid under pressure and no gaseous fluid is flowing through the nebulizer tube.
The patient receives a combination of gaseous fluid from the orifice jet, entrained room air through the openings formed in the leading end of the valve, and from the nebulizer, together with aerosolized medication if the gaseous fluid is flowing through the nebulizer.
In an embodiment of the invention, the device enables a patient wearing a facemask receiving assistance in breathing to be administered one or more medications as needed without interruption of the flow of the gaseous fluids to the patient.
In an embodiment of the invention, the device is a breathing assistance device that is equipped with a built-in nebulizer having a manually operated valve for switching between an open configuration and a closed configuration.
In an embodiment of the invention, a breathing assistance device is equipped with a built-in nebulizer operating from a single remote reservoir having a single flow valve.
In an embodiment of the invention, a breathing assistance device delivers aerosolized medication to a patient when the nebulizer valve is in the open configuration and restricts the flow of aerosolized medication when the nebulizer valve is in the closed configuration.
In an embodiment of the invention, a breathing assistance device enables a patient to exhale against a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this disclosure proceeds.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, the combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the disclosure set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed disclosure, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Valve body 30 is mounted to the trailing end of patient breathing tube 24. Ports 32 and 34 (see
Nebulizer 40 includes a transparent or translucent reservoir 42 having graduation marks 44 imprinted thereon. A medical compound in liquid form and prescribed by a physician is charged into nebulizer reservoir 42 prior to the connection of leading end 24a of breathing tube 24 to a connecting port formed in a patient's face mask.
Nebulizer 40 atomizes the liquid fluid in nebulizer reservoir 42 into a mist or spray in a way that is well-known outside the context of breathing assistance devices, i.e., nebulizers are known for use in connection with spray bottles that dispense a wide variety of liquid fluids in spray or mist form.
Port 50 is preferably formed integrally with patient breathing tube 24 and depends vertically therefrom in parallel relation to port 32. The leading end of nebulizer 40 is mounted to port 50, such that the medical compound in compartment 42 is in spray or mist form when it flows through the patient's breathing tube 24.
Valve actuator 52 is rotatably mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of patient breathing tube 24 and valve 30. Depicted in
When valve actuator 52 is in the open configuration, as depicted in
One or more O-rings 52a, 52b, depicted in
When valve actuator 52 is in its “nebulizer open” position, as depicted in
In an embodiment, extension 72 is secured to outlet port 65 by press-fitting within or over the top of an outer surface of outlet port 65 forming an airtight seal. Outlet port 65 or extension 72 may optionally include one or more O-rings disposed therein, further sealing the connection between outlet port 65 and extension 72. Extension 72 may be secured to outlet port 65 by any means known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, an embodiment includes extension 72 permanently secured or integrated with outlet port 65.
When the patient exhales, the gaseous fluid flows through outlet port 65 and through one or more filters 72, until the gaseous fluid is eventually discharged to the environment containing the patient and medical personnel.
As shown in
The filter results in the patient exhaling against a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure due to the continuing incoming flow of gaseous fluids. In an embodiment, to prevent any further increase in pressure from affecting the patient's respiration, a hydrophobic filter 67 may be provided to permit water vapor naturally occurring during respiration from being absorbed into filter 67, thereby eliminating the chance for the pressure to build up when the patient naturally breathes.
Filters 67 may be provided, to filter a different particulate. In an embodiment, a single filter 67 may be used to filter bacteria, viruses, and/or unadministered medicine from the patient's breath. Filters 67 provide a protective barrier against the spread of pathogens and contaminates by preventing the patient's contaminated exhaled breath from being freely disseminated into an environment surrounding the patient. Filters 67 are shaped in substantially the same geometric configuration as the second end of the filter such that the majority of or all of the patient's exhaled breath must flow through filter 67.
In an embodiment, filter 67 may be those supplied by Hollingsworth & Vose Company™ In an embodiment, filter 67 may be composed of an electrostatically charged polypropylene and configured to filter out bacteria and/or viruses from the exhaled breath of the patient. In an embodiment, filters 67 are disposable and configured to be replaced after each use to provide a sanitary device for the next patient.
Subsequent to flowing through the one or more filters 67, the filtered gaseous fluid is exhausted through cover 69. The first end of cover 69 is complementary to the size and shape of the second end of the housing 68. The second end of cover 69 includes a protective portion 76 design to allow for the exhausting of the filtered gaseous fluid yet prevent objects from damaging filter 69 or being sucked into the device. In an embodiment, protective portion 76 may be in the form of slots, mesh, one or more apertures, or any other geometric shape, size, material, or configuration that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate facilitating the exhausting of filtered gaseous fluid and simultaneously preventing objects from contacting and damaging the one or more filters 67 housed within filter device 66. In an embodiment, cover 69 may be removably coupled to housing 68, such that the filters 67 may be easily swapped out and replaced depending on the specific medicine or medical ailment the device is being used to treat.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing disclosure, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing disclosure or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be the to fall therebetween.
This nonprovisional application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/340,142, entitled “BREATHING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH NEBULIZER,” filed Nov. 1, 2016 by the same inventor, which is a continuation of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/693,638, entitled “BREATHING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH NEBULIZER,” filed Dec. 4, 2012, issued on Dec. 6, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,511,202 by the same inventor.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13693638 | Dec 2012 | US |
Child | 15340142 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15340142 | Nov 2016 | US |
Child | 16594689 | US |