WO2022173392A1

WO2022173392A1 - Expiratory valve used in respiratory apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022173392A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/051221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cemal ERDOGAN
Original assignee: Biosys Biyomedikal Muhendislik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2021-02-12
Filing date: 2021-11-16
Publication date: 2022-08-18

Abstract

The present invention is an expiratory valve (1) which can be positioned at an air flow line (I) provided in a respiratory apparatus particularly used in regulation of respiration of a patient. The improvement is that in order to be able to control breathe exchange of the patient between inspiration and expiration cycles, said expiratory valve (1) comprises a valve (10) which can at least partially limit the air passing through said air flow line (I); and in order to detect the pressure and flow speed of the air, advanced in the air flow line (I), in the passage to the expiration cycle; said expiratory valve (1) comprises at least one flow pipe (21) through which air flow is provided in the vicinity of said valve (10), at least one membrane (25) configured to provide at least partial deceleration of the air which flows in said flow pipe (21) and to form pressure and flow speed difference in the flow pipe, and at least one measurement part (20) which has at least one first opening (221) and at least one second opening (231) in order to be used in detection of this pressure difference and flow speed in a manner positioned essentially at the mutual sides of said membrane (25) in the flow pipe (21).

Description

EXPIRATORY VALVE USED IN RESPIRATORY APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an expiratory valve which can be positioned at an air flow line provided in a respiratory apparatus particularly used in regulation of respiration of a patient.

PRIOR ART

Respiratory or ventilator apparatus is among the medical apparatus used in hospitals. It artificially provides respiration function which is a vital function. These apparatus generally form positive pressured gas flows in accordance with the adjustments realized beforehand, and provide inflation of lungs at specific intervals, and thus, these apparatus try to rectify the deteriorated gas change. By means of the positive pressure formed by ventilator apparatus, the functions of the respiratory system are externally supported, and the risk of death which may occur due to respiration insufficiencies is eliminated. Ventilators can produce artificial breathes at negative or positive pressures. Modern ventilators are computerized microprocessor controlled machines.

Pandemic diseases occurring in recent times have increased the need for respiratory apparatus. Virus, which places to and augments in the lungs of the patient depending on respiratory diseases, leads to infection and inflammation of the pleura. This inflammation is called as pneumonia. Because of this inflammation, a serious decrease occurs in the lung usage capacity of the patient. Here, respiratory apparatus is used. Respiratory apparatus, called ventilator in the art, provides support in sending oxygen to the lungs of the patient. Shortly, the respiratory apparatus realizes an artificial lung function.

Expiratory valve, which is one of the most basic parts of respiratory apparatus, is used in regulating breath of the patient. It controls the level of pressure applied to the patient and provides measurement of the air which returns from the patient. The expiratory valves must have a structure which is very sensitive and which can pass high flow.

In the art, there are expiratory valves for use in respiratory apparatus with applications which have numbers US10589054 and GB2404721A. The expiratory valves produced up to now have two types. The first one is disposable and has low precision and high cost. The second one is for multiple uses and has very high cost. Some hospital managements do not realize sterilization of valves even in case of patient change in order not to deteriorate the valves. Because of problem of usage numbers, hospitals use the expiratory valve without sterilization. Since there is electronic circuit on the valves, valves become very brittle against sterilization. For this reason, hospitals use these valves without realizing cleaning in order not to deteriorate these valves. Therefore, the risk of infection which may infect from a patient to another patient increases very much. Moreover, some hospital managements operate ventilation apparatus and connect to the patient without using the parts of these valves which measure flow since the costs of disposable expiratory valves are high. In this solution method, since the air coming from the patient is not measured, this method is a substantially dangerous solution method. This method endangers patient life since the information, related to the efficiency of the ventilation apparatus or related to presence of leakages in the connections, cannot be reached. Moreover, since there is electronic circuit on the valves which function with high precision, the apparatus rapidly malfunctions during sterilization even though the apparatus is for multiple usages.

Besides these described structures, the expiratory valves known in the present art cannot function with the desired precision for treatments. Since the measurement precision of the flow sensor provided at the valves is low, synchronization of the patient and the ventilation apparatus is affected in an unfavorable manner. The inefficient functioning of the flow sensor prevents the ventilation apparatus from sensing the breath need of the patient. Therefore, the compliancy between the patient and the respiratory apparatus (mechanical ventilator) is deteriorated; the problem of conflict of the patient and the respiratory apparatus occurs.

As a result, because of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an expiratory valve, for eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide an expiratory valve for use in respiratory apparatus and which has improved measurement precision and facilitated usage. In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is an expiratory valve which can be positioned at an air flow line provided in a respiratory apparatus particularly used in regulation of respiration of a patient. Accordingly, the improvement is that in order to be able to control breathe exchange of the patient between inspiration and expiration cycles, said expiratory valve comprises a valve which can at least partially limit the air passing through said air flow line; and in order to detect the pressure and flow speed of the air, advanced in the air flow line, in the passage to the expiration cycle; said expiratory valve comprises at least one flow pipe through which air flow is provided in the vicinity of said valve, at least one membrane configured to provide at least partial deceleration of the air which flows in said flow pipe and to form pressure and flow speed difference in the flow pipe, and at least one measurement part which has at least one first opening and at least one second opening in order to be used in detection of this pressure difference and flow speed in a manner positioned essentially at the mutual sides of said membrane in the flow pipe. Thus, in respiratory apparatus, an expiratory valve structure is obtained with increased measurement precision and with facilitated usage.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the valve and the measurement part are configured such that they can be fixed to and removed from each other. Thus, the expiratory valve can be easily sterilized.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the membrane has at least one frame which can provide positioning on the flow pipe, and at least one lamina which at least partially rotates with respect to the membrane by means of air flow and which can enable air passage. Thus, while the membrane is positioned on the flow pipe by means of the frame, a precise measurement is provided by means of the movement of the lamina.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said first opening and said second opening can provide air passage to the sensors provided on the respiratory apparatus. Thus, pressure and flow speed can be detected depending on air flow in the measurement part.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, at least one cover is provided on the valve for controlling passage between the inspiration and expiration cycles by limiting air passage in the air flow line, and said cover can be actuated by means of at least one control element. Thus, flow control can be provided in the air flow line. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said control element can pneumatically move the cover. Thus, the system is diverged from electronic parts and undesired failures are prevented.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the membrane can be positioned between at least one first part and at least one second part on the flow pipe. Thus, ease of assembly is provided in the placement of the membrane between the first part and the second part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative perspective view of the subject matter expiratory valve is given.

In Figure 2, a representative exploded view of the subject matter expiratory valve is given.

In Figure 3, a representative exploded view of the valve provided in the subject matter expiratory valve is given.

In Figure 4, a representative exploded view of the measurement part provided in the subject matter expiratory valve is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In Figure 1 , a representative perspective view of the subject matter expiratory valve (1) is given. Accordingly, said expiratory valve (1) is used in respiratory apparatus. Expiratory valve (1) is positioned in the part where the discharge air, taken from the patient in respiratory apparatus, is transferred to the respiratory apparatus. The expiratory valve (1) provides breathing control while respiration support is being provided to the patient and provides detection of the air pressure and flow values in the breath during breathing control. By means of this, detection of the health condition of the patient dependent on breath characteristics is facilitated, and treatment can be sustained in an efficient manner.

In Figure 2, a representative exploded view of the subject matter expiratory valve (1) is given. Accordingly, said expiratory valve (1) is positioned on an air flow line (I). This air flow line (I) is the part where the air, discharged from the patient, is advanced as mentioned. The expiratory valve (1) has at least one valve (10) and at least one measurement part (20). Said valve (10) and said measurement part (20) can be connected to each other in a removable manner. Thanks to this, ease of use and ease of sterilization can be provided. The valve (10) is configured to at least partially limit air passage in the air flow line (I). Said measurement part (20) enables detection of the flow speed and the pressure of air discharged from the patient.

In Figure 3, a representative exploded view of the valve (10) provided in the subject matter expiratory valve (1) is given. As mentioned, the valve (10) is configured to at least partially decelerate and stop advancing of air in the air flow line (I). Thanks to this, the passage between the inspiration and expiration cycles of the patient can be mechanically controlled. Inspiration and expiration are realized by means of pressure changes in lungs as a result of the change of the volume in the chest space. Inspiration is the condition where the pressure inside the lung is lower than atmospheric pressure. Expiration is the condition where the pressure inside the lung is higher than atmospheric pressure. The patient can breathe by means of the passage cycle between these conditions. In order to provide this, there is at least one body (11) in the valve (10) and there is at least one cover (13) which can close the air flow line (I) in said body (11). Said body (11) is positioned on the air flow line (I). Said cover (13) is placed to a cover opening (12) provided on the body (11). Opening-closing of the cover (13) is provided by means of at least one control element (14). Said control element (14) is preferably an element configured to pneumatically open and close the cover (13). Thanks to the control element (14), the cover (13) can be opened and closed, and the patient can be forced to breathe between the inspiration and expiration cycles. The cover (13) preferably has a cover body (131), a first intermediate element (132), a second intermediate element (133) and a closer (134). Said closer (134) is positioned on the side of the cover (13) facing the cover opening (12). Said cover body (131) provides placement of the cover (13) structure to the cover opening (12) provided on the body (11). Said first intermediate element (132) and said second intermediate element (133) provide stopping of the air flow under pneumatic pressure by the closer (134). In order to provide this, the first intermediate element (132) is made of a softer material when compared with the second intermediate element (133). Thanks to this, the first intermediate element (132) can at least partially flex under air pressure. In the invention, said control element (14) and said closer (134) can realize closing and opening by means of pneumatic pressurizing effect. However, the present invention is not limited with this. Instead of this, closing can also be provided by means of electronic or smart systems. The advantage of this structure of the present invention is that a simplified structure is provided to the expiratory valve (1) for preventing failure thereof while being sterilized under high temperature and pressure. Thanks to this, failure of the expiratory valve (1) in case of repetitive usage is prevented, production costs are reduced and usage is facilitated.

In Figure 4, a representative exploded view of the measurement part (20) provided in the subject matter expiratory valve (1) is given. Accordingly, the measurement part (20) provides detection of the air flow speed and air pressure as the patient passes from inspiration to expiration. In order to realize this, there is at least one flow pipe (21) on the measurement part (20). Said flow pipe (21) is essentially positioned on the air flow line (I). The flow pipe (21) essentially has at least one first part (22) and at least one second part (23). At least one membrane (25) is positioned on the flow pipe (21). Said membrane (25) is preferably positioned between the first part (22) and the second part (23). The membrane (25) is configured to at least partially decelerate air passage in the air flow line (I). The membrane (25) has at least one frame (251) and at least one lamina (252). Said frame (251) is essentially formed in a compliant manner to the form of the flow pipe (21). Said lamina (252) is positioned on the frame (251) in a manner having at least partial rotational freedom. The membrane (25) structure is preferably made of stainless steel material. The membrane (25) allows passage of the air, which passes through the air flow line (I), in a manner decelerating because of the structure of said membrane (25). Thanks to this, difference occurs between the flow speeds and air pressure at the first part (22) and at the second part (23). This air pressure and flow speed difference provides detection of the respiratory characteristics of the patient. In order to provide detection of the air data at the first part (22) and at the second part (23), there are respectively a first opening (221) and a second opening (231). There are one each connection elements (24) on said first opening (221) and on said second opening (231). Said connection elements (24) provide the air values, which exist in the first opening (221) and in the second opening (231), to be transferred to one each sensors (not shown in the figures) provided in the respiratory apparatus. Depending on this, the pressure difference and the floe speed difference between the two parts can be detected.

In a possible usage of the invention, as air is applied to the lungs of the patient, the cover (13) interrupts the air flow in the air flow line (I) by means of the control element (14). Thanks to this, inspiration cycle is provided. While passing to the expiration cycle after inspiration, the measurement part (20) can detect the air pressure and the air flow speed. In the measurement part (20), the membrane (25) vibrates as a result of air flow and difference occurs between the physical values of air between the first part (22) and the second part (23). Thanks to this, pressure and speed difference occurs. Depending on this, depending on the data obtained from the first opening (221) and from the second opening (231), the breath of the patient can be controlled.

By means of all these embodiments, a valve (10) and a measurement part (20), which can be easily fixed to and removed from each other, are provided in the expiratory valve (1). Thanks to the easily fixation and removal characteristics, the sterilization is facilitated and usage is improved. Besides, by means of taking of the sensor from the expiratory valve (1) and carrying of the sensor onto the respiratory apparatus, undesired sensor failures are prevented during sterilization. By means of simplification of the structure of the expiratory valve (1 ), the production costs are reduced, and improvement in sterilization is provided.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosers given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosers, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

I Expiratory valve

10 Valve

I I Body

12 Cover opening

13 Cover

131 Cover body

132 First intermediate element

133 Second intermediate element

134 Closer

14 Control element

20 Measurement part

21 Flow pipe

22 First part

221 First opening

23 Second part

231 Second opening

24 Connection element

25 Membrane

251 Frame

252 Lamina

(I) Air flow line

Claims

1. The present invention is an expiratory valve (1) which can be positioned at an air flow line (I) provided in a respiratory apparatus particularly used in regulation of respiration of a patient, wherein in order to be able to control breathe exchange of the patient between inspiration and expiration cycles, said expiratory valve (1) comprises a valve (10) which can at least partially limit the air passing through said air flow line (I) and in order to detect the pressure and flow speed of the air, advanced in the air flow line (I), in the passage to the expiration cycle; said expiratory valve (1) comprises: at least one flow pipe (21) through which air flow is provided in the vicinity of said valve (10), at least one membrane (25) configured to provide at least partial deceleration of the air which flows in said flow pipe (21) and to form pressure and flow speed difference in the flow pipe, at least one measurement part (20) which has at least one first opening (221) and at least one second opening (231) in order to be used in detection of this pressure difference and flow speed in a manner positioned essentially at the mutual sides of said membrane (25) in the flow pipe (21).

2. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the valve (10) and the measurement part (20) are configured such that they can be fixed to and removed from each other.

3. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane (25) has at least one frame (251) which can provide positioning on the flow pipe (21), and at least one lamina (252) which at least partially rotates with respect to the membrane (25) by means of air flow and which can enable air passage.

4. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said first opening (221) and said second opening (231) can provide air passage to the sensors (not shown in the figures) provided on the respiratory apparatus.

5. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one cover (13) is provided on the valve (10) for controlling passage between the inspiration and expiration cycles by limiting air passage in the air flow line (I), and said cover (13) can be actuated by means of at least one control element (14).

6. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 5, wherein said control element (14) can pneumatically move the cover (13).

7. The expiratory valve (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane (25) can be positioned between at least one first part (22) and at least one second part (23) on the flow pipe (21).