Apparatus and method to provide breathing support

Abstract

A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is provided to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, said device comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct; at least one valve connected to the peak inspiratory pressure control duct and to the positive end-expiratory pressure control duct, and at least one controller communicably connected to the valve to control rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling number of breaths per minute, and to control the duration of peak inspiratory pressure also known as inspiratory time.

1 . An apparatus to provide breathing support to a patient comprising:
 a three-port valve comprising at least three ports, said three ports comprising an inlet port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port, the inlet port adapted for connection to a patient interface via a primary duct configured for flow of a gas;   at least one peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) control duct connected to the first outlet port of the valve;   at least one positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) control duct connected to the second outlet port of the valve;   at least one PIP pressure-relief valve connected to the PIP control duct;   wherein the three-port valve is configured to cycle between the first outlet port and the second outlet port thereby switching the flow of the gas from the inlet port to only the first outlet port and from the inlet port to only the second outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one PEEP pressure-relief valve connected to the PEEP control duct. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pressure-relief valve is a variable pressure-relief valve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a container containing a body of fluid, wherein the PEEP control duct is configured to be immersed in the body of fluid in the container. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a cycle corresponds to one breath and when the gas flows from the inlet port to the first outlet port of the three-port valve, the gas flows through the PIP control duct, thereby controlling a PIP in the apparatus so that the patient receives the PIP, and when the gas flows from the inlet port to the second outlet port of the three-port valve, the gas in the apparatus flows through the PEEP control duct, thereby lowering pressure in the apparatus to a PEEP so that the patient receives the PEEP. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one safety duct adapted for connection to the primary duct and configured to be connected to a safety pressure-relief valve. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one controller communicably connected to the three-port valve to control a rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling a number of breaths per minute, and to control at least one of (a) an inspiratory time in seconds, (b) a ratio of the inspiratory time to an expiratory time, and (c) the inspiratory time as a percentage of a cycle time, thereby maintaining the ratio of the inspiratory time to the expiratory time as determined by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the PIP pressure-relief valve is communicably connected to the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the three-port valve has a coefficient of flow Cv greater than about 1.5. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the three-port valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus to provide breathing support to a patient comprising:
 a three-port valve comprising at least three ports, said three ports comprising an inlet port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port, the inlet port adapted for connection to a patient interface via a primary duct configured for a flow of a gas;   at least one peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) control duct connected to the first outlet port of the valve;   at least one positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) control duct connected to the second outlet port of the valve;   at least two pressure-relief valves wherein a first pressure-relief valve is connected to the PIP control duct and a second pressure-relief valve is connected to the PEEP control duct;   wherein the three-port valve is configured to cycle between the first outlet port and the second outlet port thereby switching the flow of the gas from the inlet port to only the first outlet port and from the inlet port to only the second outlet port;   wherein a cycle corresponds to one breath; and   wherein when the gas flows from the inlet port to the first outlet port of the three-port valve, the gas flows through the PIP control duct, thereby controlling a PIP in the apparatus so that the patient receives the PIP, and when the gas flows from the inlet port to the second outlet port of the three-port valve, the gas in the apparatus flows through the PEEP control duct, thereby lowering pressure in the apparatus to a PEEP so that the patient receives the PEEP.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising at least one safety duct adapted for connection to the primary duct and configured to be connected to a third pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising at least one controller communicably connected to the three-port valve to control a rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling a number of breaths per minute, and to control at least one of (a) an inspiratory time in seconds, (b) a ratio of the inspiratory time to an expiratory time, and (c) the inspiratory time as a percentage of a cycle time, thereby maintaining the ratio of the inspiratory time to the expiratory time as determined by a user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the PIP pressure-relief valve and the PEEP pressure-relief valve are communicably connected to the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the three-port valve has a coefficient of flow Cv greater than about 1.5. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the three-port valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a pressurized gas supply. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the PIP pressure-relief valve and the PEEP pressure relieve valve are electro-mechanical valves. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein at least one pressure-relief valve selected from a group of the PIP pressure-relief valve and the PEEP pressure relieve valve is a mechanical valve. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein at least one pressure-relief valve selected from a group of the PIP pressure-relief valve and the PEEP pressure-relief valve comprises a knob to vary the pressure at which a relief of pressure will occur.