Breathing assistance device comprising a gas regulating valve and associated breathing assistance method

Abstract

The invention relates to a breathing assistance device for a patient, the device including: a source of respiratory pressurised gas; a gas transmission duct comprising a distal end coupled to said source and a proximal end coupled to the patient; a gas regulating valve interposed in the gas transmission duct at a proximal location, comprising a leakage orifice and an obstruction means capable of varying the opening of the leakage orifice upon signal of controlling means and allowing a bidirectional gas flow through the leakage orifice in both expiration and inspiration phases.

1 . Breathing assistance device for a patient breathing in successive cycles, each cycle being defined by at least an inspiration phase and at least an expiration phase, said breathing assistance device including:
 a source of respiratory pressurised gas,   a gas transmission duct comprising a distal end coupled to said source and a proximal end coupled to said patient,   a gas regulating valve comprising at least a leakage orifice between the inside and outside of said duct, and an obstruction element capable of varying the opening of said leakage orifice upon signal of a controller, characterised in that the gas regulating valve is interposed in said duct at a proximal location, and that the obstruction element is capable of allowing a bidirectional gas flow through said leakage orifice in both expiration and inspiration phases.   
     
     
         2 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the obstruction element includes a return so that the leakage orifice remains at least partially opened in the absence of signal from the controller. 
     
     
         3 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the obstruction element is an electromagnetic obstruction element. 
     
     
         4 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the electromagnetic obstruction element includes a metallic sheath wherein a coil is fixed, said coil being controllable by the controller and surrounding a movable magnetic element, the metallic sheath and the movable magnetic element defining the magnetic equator (M E ). 
     
     
         5 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the magnetic element comprises a toric magnet, a first polar piece and a second polar piece, said first and second polar pieces being coaxially fixed on either side of the toric magnet and being of different polarities, and said second polar piece comprising an obstruction piece being capable of obstructing the leakage orifice. 
     
     
         6 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the magnetic element is translatable along an axis of revolution of the toric magnet 
     
     
         7 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the electromagnetic obstruction element includes two coaxial coils controllable by the controller, the first coil substantially surrounding the toric magnet and the first polar piece, and the second coil substantially surrounding the toric magnet and the second polar piece. 
     
     
         8 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the electromagnetic obstruction element is mounted coaxially relative to the gas transmission duct. 
     
     
         9 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the electromagnetic obstruction element includes an armature surrounded by a coil, said coil being controllable by the controller, and said armature comprising an inner toric space wherein a magnetic element is translatable. 
     
     
         10 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the magnetic element is capable of obstructing the leakage orifice. 
     
     
         11 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the magnetic element comprises a toric magnet and a magnet guide. 
     
     
         12 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the electromagnetic obstruction element is mounted transversally relative to the gas transmission duct. 
     
     
         13 . Breathing assistance device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the return is a rubber membrane comprising a bellows designed for maintaining the obstruction element in a position where the leakage orifice is at least partially opened. 
     
     
         14 . Breathing assistance method for assisting a patient with a breathing assistance device according  claim 1 , characterised in that the leakage orifice is at least partially opened in the absence of signal from the controller. 
     
     
         15 . Gas regulating valve for a breathing assistance device, being interposed in a gas transmission duct of said breathing assistance device at a proximal location, and comprising at least a leakage orifice between the inside and outside of said duct, and an obstruction element capable of varying the opening of said leakage orifice upon signal of a controller, characterised in that the gas regulating valve is capable of allowing both an inward or an outward gas flow in both expiration and inspiration phases. 
     
     
         16 . Gas regulating valve according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the obstruction element is an electromagnetic obstruction element including a metallic sheath wherein a coil is fixed, said coil being controllable by the controller and surrounding a translatable magnetic element, the magnetic element comprising a toric magnet, a first polar piece and a second polar piece, said first and second polar pieces being coaxially fixed on either side of the toric magnet and being of different polarities, and said second polar piece comprising an obstruction piece being capable of obstructing the leakage orifice. 
     
     
         17 . Gas regulating valve according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the obstruction element is an electromagnetic obstruction element including an armature surrounded by a coil, said coil being controllable by the controller, and said armature comprising an inner toric space wherein a magnetic element is translatable, the magnetic element being capable of obstructing the leakage orifice and being constraint by a compression spring. 
     
     
         18 . Valve arrangement for a breathing regulating device, comprising at least a leakage orifice to the atmosphere and an obstruction element capable of varying the opening of said leakage orifice upon signal of a controller, and passage means between the valve and a pressurized gas source, characterised in that said obstruction element can be moved between a position where it closes said passage means and a position where it closes said leakage orifice. 
     
     
         19 . Gas regulating valve for a breathing assistance device, comprising a casing provided with at least a leakage orifice, an obstruction element capable of varying the opening of said leakage orifice upon signal of a controller, and a processing portion for connecting measurement means to the controller, characterised in that the processing portion is designed for being removably connected to the casing. 
     
     
         20 . Gas regulating valve according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the processing portion comprises a clip designed for surrounding the casing so that processing portion may be removably clipped on the casing.