US3219030A

US3219030A - Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Info

Publication number: US3219030A
Application number: US172359A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Roscoe G Bartlett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-09
Filing date: 1962-02-09
Publication date: 1965-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-23

Description

Nov. 23, 1965 G. BARTLETT, JR 3,219,030

APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION Filed Feb. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Roscoe G. Bartlett, Jr.

Attorney Nov. 23, 1965 R. G. BARTLETT, JR 3,219,030

APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION Filed Feb. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Roscoe G. Bartlett, Jr.

v Attorney 3 United States Patent 3,219,030 APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION Roscoe G. Bartlett, Jr., US. Navy School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Fla. Filed Feb. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 172,359 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-29) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. The present invention relates generally to apparatus for aiding victims of respiratory failure and, more particularly, to apparatus for emergency use in the so-called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation method where air is forced directly into the patients lungs in an effort to restore these organs to their normal operation.

In the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation method, the individual endeavoring to assist the party whose respiratory system has been temporarily disabled may be required to establish physical contact between his mouth and that of the patient. Because of this intimacy, there is an understandable reluctance on the part of some people who otherwise are in a position to render help to such victims to participate in this form of first aid. Moreover, during the resuscitation attempt, fluids may be discharged from the mouth of the victim and further repel the inexperienced operator, causing him to interrupt or discontinue his efforts. Besides these unpleasant features, the close physical contact required by this technique may be harmful to the operator should the patient be suffering from a communicable disease.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation wherein physical contact between the parties is avoided.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide resuscitation apparatus for use in the so-called mouth-to-mouth method wherein the operator is protected from contamination by the patients expired breath.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration wherein the operators and the victims respiratory systems are isolated except during the times the operator is exhaling into the victimslungs.

A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation wherein there is no interference between the operators normal breathing cycle and that of the patient.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for use in artificial respiration which provides positive ventilation of the victim.

A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device for positive artificial ventilation of a victim of respiratory failure wherein the operator need not remove his mouth from the device during the treatment.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an offset piston-type resuscitation device constructed according to one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows one form of a simple, non-loaded check valve assembly for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an offset bellows-type of resuscitation device;

3,219,030 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 FIG. 4 shows an in-line, piston-type construction; and

FIG. 5 shows an in-line, bellows-type of resuscitation apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a simplified, piston-type resuscitation device, constructed according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, is seen to comprise a substantially T-shaped, tubular housing 1 having a pair of vertical mouthpiece sections 2 and 3, slightly offset from each other, and a pair of horizontally aligned intake and exhaust sections 4 and 5 intersecting therewith. Section 4, the air intake line, communicates at one end thereof with section 2, the operators mouthpiece end, Via a normally closed, non-loaded check valve 6. This valve, which is of conventional design, as best shown in FIG. 2, includes a circular frame 7 having an outer ring 8 and an inner ring 9 concentrically mounted therein by a group of radial spokes 10. This frame, it will be appreciated, is mounted in the location shown by any suitable means. Cooperating with this member is a flexible, crescent-shaped diaphragm 11 which has a central ball projection 12 extending from one side thereof. As is well known, this ball can be forced through the central aperture 13 in inner ring 9 from either side thereof to form a complete check valve assembly. It would be noted at this time that the valve opens only when the pressure acting on side 10 of the diaphragm 11 exceeds that on the other side of this element. Thus, in the apparatus of FIG. 1, check valve 6, which is normally kept closed by the shape and resiliency of its diaphragm, opens only when the pressure on the left-hand side thereof exceeds that on the right-hand side, a condition which, it will be seen, occurs only during the inhalation part of the operators breathing cycle. The intersecting area of sections 2 and 4 communicate with that of 3 and 5 via a second check valve 15 whose construction is the same as that of valve 6. The former valve is likewise normally closed, opening only when the pressure on the left-hand side thereof is greater than that on the right-hand side, a condition which, it will be seen, occurs only during the exhalation part of the operators breathing cycle.

The operators mouthpiece section 2 and the exhaust section 5 are also interconnected via a pressure-sensing tube 16 which terminates at opposite ends thereof in

apertures

17 and 18 formed in the side walls of these sections. Section 5 is closed off at end 19 and accommodated therein is a piston 20 which is biased by a helical spring 21 up against an annular, sealing shoulder (or valve seat) 22 formed in the inner wall of this section at an intermediate point between

exit ports

24 and 25 and the victims mouthpiece section 3. It will thus be seen that piston 20 normally blocks

exit ports

24 and 25 which vent the exhaust section.

The operation of the apparatus just described is as follows: After appropriate safeguards have been taken to insure the existence of an unobstructed passageway into the patients lungs, the free end of mouthpiece section 3 is inserted into the patients mouth and his nostrils pinched tight. The operator then places his mouth over his mouthpiece section 2 and commences to breathe deeply at, perhaps, a slightly accelerated rate. During the inhalation part of his breathing cycle, air is drawn into inlet section 4 through intake check valve 6 and via his mouthpiece section 2 into hisrespiratory system, following the path shown by dashed arrows 26. During the exhalation part of the cycle, his discharge passes down through section 2, check valve 15 now open, mouthpiece section 3 and into the patients lungs, following the path shown by dashed arrow 27. Intake valve 6 stays closed at this time because of the increased pressure acting on the right-hand side of its diaphragm. Although there is an increased pressure acting on the left-hand end of piston 20 during this air transfer period, this component remains substantially stationary because of the counteracting pressure applied via tube 16 to its opposite side and the bias of spring 21. Consequently,

exit ports

24 and 25 remain closed and none of the exhaled air escapes into the atmosphere via these openings. It would be pointed out at this time that the inside diameter of exhaust section 5 is made slightly larger than the outside diameter of piston 20. This relationship permits tubular section 5 to perform as the pistons cylinder to insure the latters free displacement therein. At the completion of the operators expiration, the elastic recoil of the patients chest and lungs acts to discharge the air previously forced into his system back into his mouthpiece section 3. This flow maintains check valve closed and, in doing so, isolates the operators system from that of the patient during this critical period.

During this discharge period, the operator prepares for the next air transfer operation by drawing air into his system, the air flow being via the path previously identified. As the operator inhales for this next breathing cycle, a negative pressure is created at the right-hand side of piston because of the pressure-sensing tube connection to the operators mouthpiece. It would be pointed out that since check valve 15 is closed at this time the condition of counteracting pressures encountered during the operators exhalation effort cannot occur. Since there is now a greater pressure on the left-hand side of piston 20, this component moves to the right against the slight biasing force of spring 21 and opens

ports

24 and 25, thereby establishing a path to the atmosphere for the patients discharge, this path being represented by dashed arrow 28. Thus, the patients expiratory airway is opened by the operators inhalation. This feature facilitates expiration in patients with poor elastic recoil of chest and lungs.

The sequence above described is repeated throughout the resuscitation attempt, with the operator breathing normally without interference from the patient, and the patient, in turn, receiving his exhalations and thereafter subsequently discharging this air into the atmosphere while the operator is drawing his next breath. It will be seen from the above that, not only are patient and operator physically separated by the intervening apparatus of FIG. 1, but that their respiratory systems are mutually coupled only during that portion of the cycle during which the operator is exhaling into the patients lungs. As a result of this, there is little danger of the operator being contaminated by air discharged from the patients system. Moreover, the isolating action of check valves 6 and 15 permit the operator to satisfy his own breathing demands without removing his mouth from his mouthpiece.

In FIG. 3 there is shown an alternative construction wherein the vertical, tubular sections and 31 corresponding to the operators and the patients mouthpieces, respectively, are coaxially disposed to facilitate the unimpeded flow of air to the patient during the operators exhalation. Tubular section 32, the intake line, again terminates near one end thereof in a check valve 33 similar in construction to its counterpart 6 in the modification of FIG. 1. However, the second check valve, valve 34 in this configuration, is positioned across diagonal corners of the intersection formed by the

mouthpiece sections

30 and 31 and the intake and

exhaust sections

32 and 35. This valve, like its counterpart 15 in FIG. 1, is normally closed and opens only when air is being delivered to the patient. Horizontal section 35, the exhaust passageway, is again coupled to the operators mouthpiece 30 via a pressure-sensing tube 36 but, instead of retaining a piston for selectively opening

exit ports

37 and 38, this section houses a check valve 39 and a cooperating bellows 40 which together carry out the same venting function. To accomplish this, check valve 39 is positioned adjacent the open end of section between the exhaust ports and the intersection above defined. One end of bellows is secured to an inner wall portion 41 of section 35 located between the above ports and one end of tube 36. The other end of this bellows contacts a rim portion of diaphragm 42 of check valve 39. It will thus be seen that the above diaphragm, in effect, seals one end of the bellows and precludes any of the operators discharge from reaching the exit port via valve 39.

It will be appreciated from an inspection of this apparatus that check valves 33 and 34 duplicate the performance of valves 6 and 15 in the modification of FIG. 1, opening the intake line during the operators inhalation effort and opening an air passageway to the patient during the operators exhalation effort. The first valve of this pair also prevents the operators discharge from being expended into the atmosphere, and the second valve also prevents the patients exhalations from contaminating the operator. Valve 39 and its cooperating bellows 40, it will be recognized, vent the patients system by opening

ports

37 and 38 at the proper time in the cycle. It will be likewise appreciated that during the operators exhalation the pressure developed on the right-hand side of diaphragm 42 insures the continued closure of valve 39. Since bellows 40 and diaphragm 42 remain in the position shown during this portion of the operators breathing cycle, there is no opportunity of any of the air dispelled by the operator passing into the atmosphere via the above ports. It will also be appreciated that either the stiffness of bellows 40 or the loading of valve 39 can be selected to establish the threshold pressure level Which must be overcome by the operators inhalation and the patients exhalation to open valve 39. The paths over which the intake air, the air transferred to the patient and the latters exhalation travel are shown by dashed

arrows

43, 44 and 45, respectively.

One obvious advantage of the construction of FIG. 3 is that it provides a more direct path between the operator and the victim. It will be understood that the arrangement of FIG. 3 may be modified along the lines shown in FIG. 1, with the check valve and bellows being replaced by a piston and helical spring combination. By the same token, the check valve and bellows can be incorporated into the system of FIG. 1 to duplicate the venting function of the piston and spring just mentioned.

In FIG. 4 there is disclosed as in-line piston-type resuscitation device wherein the operators and the

patients mouthpiece sections

47 and 48 are in coaxial alignment with their inner ends coupled to a hollow, cylindrical section 49 of increased diameter. Accommodated within the latter section is a piston 50 which is biased to approximately the position shown by helical spring 51. One end of this spring abuts the inner surface 52 of the top wall of section 49, which wall also has formed therein a central aperture 53. The other end of this spring fits within the head of piston 50 and abuts the inner surface thereof. A check valve 54 of the type hereinbefore described is mounted in the center of the piston head and opens only during the operators exhalation. A central aperture 55 formed in the bottom end wall of section 49 completes the air passageway between the operator and the victim. It would be noted at this time that the diameter of piston 50 is made larger than either aperture 55 or the patients mouthpiece section 48. This selection of dimensions limits the downward travel of the piston. Cylindrical section 49 is also vented by

apertures

56 and 57 formed in the side wall near the lower end thereof. The operators mouthpiece section 47 is again furnished With a check valve 58 and this valve, like those previously used in this line, opens only during the inhalation effort of the operator.

The operation of this modification is essentially as follows. The operator draws air into his respiratory system via valve 58 and, while doing so, is protected from any contamination because of the normally closed position of check valve 54 mounted in the piston head. When the operator exhales, his discharge passes down his mouthpiece section 47, through aperture 53 into section 49 and then via check valve 54 and aperture 55 into the the patients mouthpiece section 48. During this transfer period, the pressure built up within cylinder 49 forces piston 50 downward to the limit of its travel so that it comes to rest against the inner surface of the lower end Wall of this section, still blocking the

exhaust ports

56 and 57. Since these ports remain closed, all of the operators exhalation passes directly into the patients system. At the completion of this exhalation, the elastic recoil of the patients chest and lungs acts to discharge the air thus transferred out of the system. This discharge when it takes place maintains check valve 54 closed and aids in the displacement of piston 50 upward against the action of coil spring 51. It will be appreciated that at the start of this discharge the operator prepares for the next air transfer operation by taking his next breath, the air entering his respiratory system via check Valve 58. Consequently, a negative pressure is again available for pulling piston 50 away from its seat to open

exhaust ports

56 and 57. This cooperation between the patients discharge and the operators inhalation, as mentioned previously, insures the proper venting of the apparatus and the establishment of an expiratory airway for the patient. Here, too, there is no conflict or interference between the breathing action of the patient when established and that of the operator, no possibility of mutual contamination and no need for the operator to remove his mouth from his mouthpiece section to satisfy his own breathing demands. The paths over which the intake air, the transferred air and the exhaust air travel are identified in this figure by dashed

arrows

60, 61 and 62.

It would be mentioned in connection with this modification that if a loaded valve is employed as expiratory valve 54, coil spring 51 may be removed from behind piston 50, particularly if the apparatus is used in a vertical position. If, as is the casein FIG. 4, a spring is used to hold piston 50 lightly against its seat, a loaded valve is not necessary. [For increased versatility, a light spring and an unloaded, simple, flap-type valve is recommended.

Since the operators inspiratory effort exerts a negative pressure directly on the back of the piston rather than through a sensing tube, the piston, in this modification, is widely moved during this portion of the operators breathing cycle. Consequently, with a light spring, a low resistance, expiratory pathway is provided for the patient or victim.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts an in-line, bellows-type device, generally similar in function to the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. However, in this modification the enlarged cylindrical section 64 houses a bellows 65 closed at its lower end by a check valve 66 of the type hereinbefore identified. Both of these components cooperate to control the transfer of air between the operator and the victim and the venting of the latters exhalations in the appropriate part of the cycle. Here, the upper end of bellows 65 is secured or rests against the inner surface of the upper end wall 67 of section 64. The lower end of this bellows, as just mentioned, is effectively closed by diaphragm 68 of valve 66. This valve, it will be appreciated, is mounted so as to open only during the exhalation effort of the operator. Normally, the lower end portion 69 of bellows 65 contacts the boundary edge 70 of aperture 71 formed in the lower end wall 72 of section 64. During the operators exhalation effort, this contact is strengthened so that little, if any, of the air expelled reaches

exhaust ports

73 and 74. It will be appreciated that FIG. 5 illustrates that portion of the cycle during which the victims exhalation is vented to the atmosphere. In this modification, like all of those previously described, the operators mouthpiece section 75 is fitted with its usual intake check valve 76. Since the operation of this modification is believed obvious in view of what has been presented hereinbefore, no further description of its performance will be given at this point. However, it would be mentioned that the paths over which the intake air, the transfer air and the exhaust air travel are shown by dashed

arrows

77, 78 and 79.

It would be pointed out in connection with the modification of FIG. 5 that valve 66 may or may not be loaded. If this valve is not loaded, then, as shown in FIG. 5, bellows 65 should be constructed so that in its normal position its end rests lightly against its seat. If a loaded valve is used, this bellows may float. The pressure required to seat the bellows in the latter case, however, must be less than the opening pressure of valve 66 so that it will seat before this valve opens.

The design of the in-line devices of FIGS. 4 and 5 can be somewhat simplified by having the diameter of

cylindrical sections

49 and 64 conform to that of the operators and patients mouthpiece section. In other words, all of the apparatus can be incorporated within a single length of cylindrical tubing. To provide the necessary retaining means for the upper end of the coil spring, the open end of the bellows and the valve seats for the piston and closed end of the bellows, suitable internal collars can be formed in this tubing at appropriate locations. Also in these in-line devices, the harder the operator expires the tighter the piston or bellows presses against its seat. Thus, there is little possibility of any air leaking to the outside during the air transfer period.

The devices of FIGS. 1 and 3 which employ the pressure-sensing tube to control the venting of the patients expired breath can be simplified by mounting the air intake check valve in a wall portion of the operators mouthpiece section in accordance with the practice shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This would eliminate the need of a separate air intake line. The operators and patients mouthpiece sections could then be made from a single, tubular member having only one arm extending therefrom for accommodating the piston or bellows control venting valve. The second check valve, the one controlling the air transfer between the operator and the patient, would be connected across the tubular member between the pressure-sensing tube and the horizontal arm serving as the exhaust line.

It would be pointed out in connection with the devices hereinbefore described that the diameters of the various airways preferably should be about five-eighths of an inch. Passageways of this size have negligible resistance and a very small and compact system can be constructed. Since the relatively small leaks in the pressure-compensated expiratory valves are of no consequence, the various pistons may be loosely fitted within their cylindrical sections. This reduces the friction in the system and at the same time lowers the cost of producing these devices.

It is also pointed out that a simple flap-like check valve can be substituted for each of the molded

valves

6, 15, 33, 34, 58 and 76 without impairing the operation of the respective embodiments of the invention. Conversely, a loaded, molded valve can be substituted for the non loaded

check valves

6, 15, 33, 34, 58 and 76.

While the various modifications hereinbefore discussed have been described in connection with the socalled mouth-to-mouth resuscitation method, it will be appreciated that these devices can be used to sustain paralytic polio cases, for example, or patients requiring tracheotomy tube ventilation. In such applications the operator can be replaced with an automatic device having the proper intake and discharge cycle. These resuscitation devices can also be used with pressure-compensated aviation oxygen masks, or other masks, to ventilate the patient with either air or oxygen, depending upon which mode is most advantageous. Either or both the rescuers and patients end of the device may be fitted with a mask. Also, the small percentage of carbon dioxide present in the operators expired breath is usually not objectionable and may be beneficial under some circumstances.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may b practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising, in combination, a pair of tubular members cross-coupled to form a four-arm tubular structure with successive arms corresponding to an air intake line, an operators mouthpiece, an exhaust line, and a patients mouthpiece, means positioned within said air intake line for blocking the flow of air between the open end of said air intake line and said operators mouthpiece during the exhalation effort of an individual whose mouth is coupled to said operators mouthpiece and for permitting such a flow during the inhalation effort of said individual, means positioned at the intersection of said cross-coupled tubular members for blocking the flow of air between said operators and said patients mouthpieces during the inhalation effort of said individual and for permitting such a flow to take place during the exhalation effort of said individual and means associated with said exhaust line for maintaining said line closed during the exhalation efforts of said individual and for opening said exhaust line to the atmosphere in response to air discharged into said patients mouthpiece by said patient during said individuals inhalation efforts.

2. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising, in combination, a first tubular member, sec- 0nd and third tubular members coupled to diametrically opposite wall portions of said first tubular member at a location intermediate the ends thereof whereby a fourarm tubular structure is formed with said arms meeting in a common intersection and corresponding to an air intake line, an operators mouthpiece, an exhaust line and a patients mouthpiece, valve means positioned within said air intake line for permitting the flow of air between the open end of said air intake line and said operators mouthpiece only during the inhalation effort of an individual whose mouth is coupled to said operators mouthpiece, valve means positioned at said common intersection for permitting the flow of air between said operators and said patients mouthpieces only during the exhalation effort of said individual, and valve means associated with said exhaust line for maintaining said exhaust line closed during the exhalation efforts of said individual and for opening said exhaust line to the atmosphere in response to air discharged into said patients mouthpiece by said patient during the inhalation efforts of said individual whereby said patients respiratory system can be vented periodically to the atmosphere through said exhaust line.

3. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising, a tubular structure having first, second, third and fourth arms extending from a common intersection with said first and third arms being in alignment and said second and fourth arms being in alignment, said second arm being closed off at one end, a first check valve positioned across opposite corners of said intersection and controlling the passage of air from one end of said first arm into said third arm, said check valve opening only when said pressure within said first arm is greater than that within said third arm, a second check valve positioned across said fourth arm, said second check valve opening to admit air into said first arm only when the pressure within said first arm is less than atmospheric pressure, a passageway intercoupling said first arm to said second arm, said passageway entering said second arm at a point adjacent its closed end thereof, a third check valve mounted across said second arm, said third check valve including a circular diaphragm, venting ports cut in the wall of said second arm between the location of said third check valve and said passageway, a circular bellows, one end of said bellows being secured to a circumferential inner wall portion of said second tubular arm between said passageway and said ports, the other end of said bellows being closed by the circular diaphragm of said third check valve.

4. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising a tubular structure having first, second, third and fourth arms extending from a common intersection with said first and third arms being in alignment, said second arm being closed off at that end thereof which is remote from said common intersection, a first check valve positioned across said fourth arm, said first check valve opening only when the pressure within said first arm is less than atmospheric pressure, a second check valve positioned across two opposite corners of said intersection, said second check valve opening only when the pressure within said first arm is greater than the pressure within said third arm whereby air dispelled from the respiratory system of an individual having said first arm in his mouth can pass directly into the respiratory system of a victim into whose mouth said third arm has been inserted, venting ports cut through the wall of said second arm and a pressure-compensated check valve mounted across said second arm between said common intersection and said venting ports, said pressure-compensated check valve being normally closed and remaining closed when air is transferred from said first to said third arm and opening in response to air discharged into said third arm by said victim to permit his discharge to pass into said second arm, through said venting ports and out into the atmosphere.

5. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising a tubular structure having first, second, third and fourth arms extending from a common intersection with said first and third arms being in alignment, means for closing off said second arm at that end thereof which is remote from said common intersection, a first check valve positioned across two diagonal corners of said intersection, said corners corresponding to those formed by the meeting of said first and second arms and said third and fourth arms, respectively, said first check valve being normally closed and opening to permit the transfer of air between said first and third arms when the pressure Within said first arm is greater than the pressure within said third arm whereby whenever said first and third arms are inserted into the mouth of a rescuer and a victim, respectively, the rescuers discharge can pass directly through said first check valve into the respiratory system of said victim, a second check valve positioned across said fourth arm, said second check valve being normally closed and preventing air discharged into said first arm by said rescuer from passing out into the atmosphere through said fourth arm but permitting air from said atmosphere to be drawn into said first arm whenever the pressure within said first arm is less that atmospheric whereby said rescuer can satisfy his normal breathing requirements when said first arm is in his mouth by drawing air from the atmosphere into his system through said second check valve, venting ports cut in the wall of said second arm, and means for effectively blocking said venting ports whenever air is discharged into said first arm by said rescuer and for effectively opening said venting ports whenever air is discharged into said third arm by said victim whereby said victims discharge can pass through said venting ports out into the atmosphere and cannot pass through said first check valve into the respiratory system of said rescuer.

6. Apparatus for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comprising a tubular structure having first, second, third and fourth arms extending from a common intersection with said first and third arms being in alignment, means for closing off said second arm at that end thereof which is remote from said common intersection, a first check valve positioned across two diagonal corners of said intersection, said corners corresponding to those formed by the meeting of said first and second arms and said third and fourth arms, respectively, said first check valve being normally closed and opening to permit the transfer of air between said first and third arms whenever the pressure within said first arm is greater than the pressure within said third arm whereby whenever said first and third arms are inserted into the mouth of a rescuer and a victim, respectively, the rescuers discharge can pass directly through said first check valve into the respiratory system of said victim, a second check valve positioned across said fourth arm, said second check valve being normally closed and preventing air discharged into said first arm by said rescuer from passing out into the atmosphere through said fourth arm but permitting air from said atmosphre to be drawn into said first arm whenever the pressure within said first arm is less than atmospheric whereby said rescuer can satisfy his normal breathing requirements when said first arm is in his mouth by drawing air from the atmosphere into his system through said second check valve, a passageway interconnecting said first arm with said second arm, said passageway entering said second arm at a point adjacent its closed end thereof, a third check valve mounted across said second arm, said third check valve having as an air control component a circular diaphragm, venting ports cut through the wall of said second arm at a location between said third check valve and the point at which said passageway enters said second arm, a hollow circular bellows, one rim portion of said bellows being secured to a circumferential inner wall portion of said second tubular arm at a location between that point whereat said passageway enters into second arm and said venting ports, the other rim of said bellows contacting one side of said circular diaphragm and being closed off thereby, said circular bellows preventing any air which is discharged into said first arm and that travels through said passageway into said second arm from passing out into the atmosphere through said venting ports whereby a counterbalancing force is applied to said one side of said circular diaphragm to oifset that applied to the other side thereof and to keep said third check valve closed during the time air is being transferred from said first arm through said first check valve and into said third arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,451 10/1947 Emerson 12829 2,834,339 5/1958 Bennett 12829 2,887,105 5/1959 Brown 128-29 2,902,992 9/1959 Renvall 12829 2,990,838 7/1961 Cross 128-29 3,063,620 11/1962 Black 128-29 X 3,099,985 8/1963 Wilson et a1 12829 3,124,124- 3/1964 Cross 128--29 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,204,930 8/1959 France.

875,790 8/1961 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF TUBULAR MEMBERS CROSS-COUPLED TO FORM A FOUR-ARM TUBULAR STRUCTURE WITH SUCCESSIVE ARMS CORRESPONDING TO AN AIR INTAKE LINE, AN OPERATOR''S MOUTHPIECE, AN EXHAUST LINE, AND A PATIENT''S MOUTHPIECE, MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID AIR INTAKE LINE FOR BLOCKING THE FLOW OF AIR BETWEEN THE OPEN END OF SAID AIR INTAKE LINE AND SAID OPERATOR''S MOUTHPIECE DURING THE EXHALATION EFFORT OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE MOUTH IS COUPLED TO SAID OPERATOR''S MOUTHPIECE AND FOR PERMITTING SUCH A FLOW DURING THE INHALATION EFFORT OF SAID INDIVIDUAL, MEANS POSITIONED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID CROSS-COUPLED TUBULAR MEMBERS FOR BLOCKING THE FLOW OF AIR BETWEEN SAID OPERATOR''S AND SAID PATIENT''S MOUTHPIECE DURING THE INHALATION EFFORT OF SAID INDIVIDUAL AND FOR PREMITTING SUCH A FLOW TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE EXHALATION EFFORT OF SAID INDIVIDUAL AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID EXHAUST LINE FOR MAINTAINING SAID LINE CLOSED DURING THE EXHALATION EFFORTS OF SAID INDIVIDUAL AND FOR OPENING SAID EXHAUST LINE TO THE ATMOSPHERE IN RESPONSE TO AIR DISCHARGED INTO SAID PATIENT''S MOUTHPIECE BY SAID PATIENT DURING SAID INDIVIDUAL''S INHALATION EFFORTS.