Fluid Mixing Apparatus Such as a Ventilator

Abstract

An apparatus such as a fluid mixer, suitable for use with a respirator, including a venturi nozzle for flow of a pressure-controlled fluid; an ambient fluid aperture in fluid communication with the venturi nozzle; a fluid port; a pressure force multiplier in fluid communication with the fluid port; and a valve moveable relative to the venturi nozzle between a start flow position and a stop flow position; where the pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid forced into the fluid port actuates the valve relative to the venturi nozzle; and where the pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid withdrawn from the fluid port actuates the valve relative to the venturi nozzle. A method of using an apparatus suitable for a ventilator is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilator connectable to the airway of a living patient, comprising:
 a venturi, comprising a throat;   a venturi nozzle;   a venturi opening in the venturi nozzle through which pressure-controlled oxygen flows outward, wherein said venturi opening opens to said throat, and wherein said venturi opening and said throat are substantially longitudinally aligned;   an ambient air aperture in fluid communication with said venturi nozzle and with ambient air;   a fluid port in fluid communication with the airway of the patient;   a pressure force multiplier in fluid communication with said fluid port, wherein said pressure force multiplier includes at least one opening defined therethrough; said pressure force multiplier comprising at least one flap movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said at least one opening; and   a valve moveable along an axis of movement relative to said venturi opening in said venturi nozzle between a start flow position that causes entrainment of the ambient air by the flow of pressure-controlled oxygen within said throat, and a stop flow position that ceases entrainment of the ambient air by the flow of pressure-controlled oxygen within said throat;   wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured wherein exhalation of the patient into said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to close said venturi nozzle;   wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured wherein inhalation of the patient through said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle;   wherein said axis of movement of said valve is substantially longitudinally aligned with a longitudinal direction of said throat; and   comprising at least one of a sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device positioned between at least one of:
 the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture; and 
 the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port; and 
   wherein at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, oxygen sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, piezo sensor, piezo electrical generator, spirometer measurement device, pitot measurement probe, and spirometer electrical generator.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture, and at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein, for collecting differential data, at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture, and the same type of at least one of a sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , comprising a central processing unit for packaging raw data collected by at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , comprising a motion sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , comprising exhalation windows for allowing fluid to exit the ventilator during exhalation, and a fluid flow restrictor for at least selectively partially closing the exhalation windows to set the Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus suitable for use with a respirator, comprising:
 a venturi, comprising:
 a throat, 
 a venturi nozzle, and; 
 a venturi opening in the venturi nozzle through which pressure-controlled fluid flows outward, wherein said venturi opening opens to said throat, and wherein said venturi opening and said throat are substantially longitudinally aligned; 
   an ambient fluid aperture in fluid communication with said venturi nozzle and with an ambient fluid;   a fluid port;   a pressure force multiplier in fluid communication with said fluid port; and   a valve moveable along an axis of movement relative to said venturi opening in said venturi nozzle between a start flow position that causes entrainment of the ambient fluid by the flow of pressure-controlled fluid within said throat, and a stop flow position that ceases entrainment of the ambient fluid by the flow of pressure-controlled fluid within said throat;   wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid forced into said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to close said venturi nozzle;   wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid withdrawn from said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle;   wherein said axis of movement of said valve is substantially longitudinally aligned with a longitudinal direction of said throat;   wherein said pressure force multiplier is positioned between said venturi nozzle and said fluid port; and   comprising at least one of a sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device positioned between at least one of:
 the venturi nozzle and the ambient fluid aperture; and 
 the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port; and 
   wherein at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, oxygen sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, piezo sensor, piezo electrical generator, spirometer measurement device, pitot measurement probe, and spirometer electrical generator.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture, and at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein, for collecting differential data, at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture, and the same type of at least one of a sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device is positioned between the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising a central processing unit for packaging raw data collected by at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising a motion sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising at least one fluid gate for allowing fluid to exit the apparatus when fluid is forced into said fluid port, and a fluid flow restrictor for at least selectively partially closing the at least one fluid gate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured such that the fluid forced into said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to said stop flow position; and
 wherein the pressure force multiplier is configured such that the fluid withdrawn from said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to said start flow position.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured such that the fluid forced into said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to said start flow position; and
 wherein said pressure force multiplier is configured such that the fluid withdrawn from said fluid port actuates said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to said stop flow position.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a pressure regulator for regulating the flow of the pressure-controlled fluid, the pressure regulator comprising:
 a housing formed to include a bore therein;   a piston moveably disposed within said bore, wherein said piston comprises an annular lip adjacent a first end thereof;   a spring disposed within said bore, and comprising a first end and a second end;   
       an adjustment cap moveably disposed in said bore, wherein said adjustment cap is formed to include a plurality of key slots formed therein; 
       wherein:
 said first end of said spring is in physical contact with said annular lip; and 
 said second end of said spring is in physical contact with said adjustment cap wherein:
 rotating said adjustment cap in a first direction causes said adjustment cap to compress said first spring; 
 rotating said adjustment cap in a second and opposite direction causes said adjustment cap to decompress said spring; 
 rotating said adjustment cap in said first direction increases the output pressure of the pressure regulator; 
 rotating said adjustment cap in said second direction decreases the output pressure of the pressure regulator; 
 
 
       said bore is defined by a cylindrical wall; 
       said cylindrical wall is formed to include a first threading therein; 
       said adjustment cap is formed to include a second threading formed on a periphery thereof; and 
       said second threading is configured to mesh with said first threading. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure force multiplier comprises a diaphragm. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said valve includes a stem with a tapered end, wherein said tapered end enters said venturi opening in said venturi nozzle in said stop position to substantially close said venturi opening. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one filter detachably connected to said ambient fluid aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pressure-controlled fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using an apparatus suitable for a ventilator and collecting data from a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a pressure-controlled oxygen source;   providing an apparatus suitable for a ventilator, comprising:
 a venturi, comprising a throat;
 a venturi nozzle; 
 a venturi opening in said venturi nozzle through which pressure-controlled oxygen flows outward, wherein said venturi opening opens to said throat, and wherein said venturi opening and said throat are substantially longitudinally aligned; 
 
 an ambient air aperture in fluid communication with said venturi nozzle and with ambient air; 
 a fluid port; 
 a pressure force multiplier in fluid communication with said fluid port, wherein said pressure force multiplier includes at least one opening defined therethrough; said pressure force multiplier comprising at least one flap movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said at least one opening; and 
 a valve moveable along an axis of movement relative to said venturi opening in said venturi nozzle between a start flow position that causes entrainment of the ambient air by the flow of pressure-controlled oxygen within said throat, and a stop flow position that ceases entrainment of the ambient air by the flow of pressure-controlled oxygen within said throat; 
   placing said fluid port in fluid communication with an airway of the patient;   in response to exhalation by the patient through said fluid port,
 causing said at least one flap to move to said closed position relative to said at least one opening, and 
 actuating said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle to close said venturi nozzle; and 
   in response to inhalation by the patient through said fluid port,
 causing said at least one flap to move to said open position relative to said at least one opening, and 
 actuating said valve along said axis of movement relative to said venturi nozzle; and 
   wherein said axis of movement of the valve is substantially longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal direction of the throat; and
 comprising at least one of a sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device positioned between at least one of:
 the venturi nozzle and the ambient air aperture; and 
 the pressure force multiplier and the fluid port; and 
 
   wherein at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, oxygen sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, piezo sensor, piezo electrical generator, spirometer measurement device, pitot measurement probe, and spirometer electrical generator; and   collecting raw data using the at least one of the sensor, measurement device, and power-generation device;   packaging the collected raw data using a central processing unit;   transmitting the packaged raw data to a receiving device using a wired or wireless communication link;   receiving the packaged data on the receiving device;   unpackaging the collected raw data;   quantizing the unpackaged raw data;   formatting the quantized data;   analyzing the formatted data;   distributing the analyzed data; and   displaying the analyzed data using an application.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising the step of coupling the central processing unit to the ventilator. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein using the wireless communication link comprises using at least one wireless protocol selected from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein using the wired communication link comprises using at least one of a USB, serial, 1-wire, and parallel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising displaying the analyzed data using a smart device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the smart device comprises at least one of a mobile communication device, a tablet, a patient interface display, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         26 . An active filter comprising at least one piezo element and at least one dielectric filter medium, wherein the piezo element generates electricity to induce a static charge in the dielectric filter medium. 
     
     
         27 . The active filter of  claim 26 , wherein the power generated by the at least one piezo element is AC. 
     
     
         28 . The active filter of  claim 26 , comprising at least one spirometer that generates electricity to induce a static charge in the at least one dielectric filter medium. 
     
     
         29 . The active filter of  claim 28 , comprising two spirometers that generates electricity to induce a static charge in the at least one dielectric filter medium. 
     
     
         30 . The active filter of  claim 28 , wherein the power generated by the at least one spirometer is DC.