Apparatus for supplying breathable gas

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying breathable gas includes a main housing, a sub-housing removably connected to the main housing, and a vent valve assembly provided to the sub-housing. The sub-housing has a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The vent valve assembly includes a gas venting conduit in fluid communication with the gas flow path. The gas venting conduit is adapted to be selectively restricted by a cam abutting an exterior of the gas venting conduit, whereby a position of the cam is variable to vary gas passing through the gas venting conduit which varies a flow rate of gas leaving the gas outlet.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for supplying breathable gas, the apparatus comprising:
 a main housing;   a sub-housing removably connected to the main housing, the sub-housing having a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet; and   a vent valve assembly provided to the sub-housing, the vent valve assembly including a gas venting conduit in fluid communication with the gas flow path, the gas venting conduit adapted to be selectively restricted by a cam operatively communicated with the gas venting conduit, whereby a position of the cam is variable to vary gas passing through the gas venting conduit which varies a flow rate of gas leaving the gas outlet.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the gas venting conduit includes a flexible portion adapted to be selectively restricted by the cam. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the cam is controlled by a motor. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the gas venting conduit and flexible portion are removable from the main housing along with the sub-housing while the cam and motor remain with the main housing. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the cam and motor are associated with the main housing and are isolated or not in fluid communication with the gas flow path. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the gas venting conduit is removable from the main housing along with the sub-housing to allow cleaning, sterilizing, disinfecting, and/or replacement along with the sub-housing. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising an impeller within the sub-housing in fluid communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the impeller is adapted to releasably engage a motive power source within the main housing. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for supplying breathable gas, the apparatus comprising:
 a main housing;   a sub-housing removably connected to the main housing, the sub-housing having a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet; and   a vent valve assembly including a gas venting conduit and a cam adapted to selectively restrict the gas venting conduit, the gas venting conduit being provided to the sub-housing and in fluid communication with the gas flow path and the cam being provided to the main housing and isolated or not in fluid communication with the gas flow path,   wherein the gas venting conduit is removable from the main housing along with the sub-housing while the cam remains with the main housing.   
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the gas venting conduit includes a flexible portion adapted to be selectively restricted by the cam. 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the cam is controlled by a motor. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for supplying breathable gas, the apparatus comprising:
 a Y-shaped conduit including a first conduit portion in communication with a supply of pressurized gas, a second conduit portion in communication with a patient, and a third conduit portion in communication with atmosphere;   a first vent valve assembly including a first flexible portion provided to the first conduit portion;   a second vent valve assembly including a second flexible portion provided to the third conduit portion; and   first and second cams adapted to selectively restrict respective first and second flexible portions,   wherein the first and second cams are linked so that one of the flexible portions is restricted while the other of the flexible portions is enlarged which controls the pressure of gas supplied to the patient.   
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the cams are controlled by a motor. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first flexible portion is restricted and the second flexible portion is enlarged to lower the pressure of gas supplied to the patient. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first flexible portion is enlarged and the second flexible portion is restricted to raise the pressure of gas supplied to the patient.