The Boc Group, Inc.

Gerhardt P Schroeder

Abraham H Kou

Robin L Roehl

Respiratory therapy apparatus is provided with setting elements such as knobs for inputting set values for various parameters. A digital display is provided for showing measured values of operational variables. The set point for each parameter is displayed on the display apparatus along with the measured values only when the knob or setting element for the particular parameter is engaged by the operator's hand.

Respiratory therapy apparatus with selective display of parameter set

An exhalation valve is disclosed having an inlet, an outlet and a diaphragm movable between closed position covering the inlet and an open position away from the inlet. The valve includes a bias means comprising a sealed chamber containing a gas acting upon the diaphragm and urging the diaphragm to its closed position. An opening means in said sealed chamber conducts a control pressure to chamber to create the bias acting against one side of the diaphragm. The diaphragm comprises a flexible peripheral portion and a semi-rigid plunger. The plunger has a projection adapted to move within a confined space to align the diaphragm and provide damping to its movement. The flexible peripheral portion of the diaphragm has a specially shaped cross-section comprising two attached cantilever sections that reduce the effective resistance to motion between open and closed positions. In the preferred embodiment, the plunger is an insert that fits into and is retained by the flexible peripheral portion.

Exhalation valve

A coaxial breathing circuit is disclosed and which includes an inner tube for supplying fresh gas to a patient, which may contain a vaporized anesthetic for anesthetizing the patient, and a corrugated outer tube for conducting the patient's exhaled gases from the patient. At the patient end, there is allowed a slippage between the inner and outer tubes to provide flexibility of the overall circuit to bending. At the the machine end, the end that is connected to a mahcine supplying the inspiratory gas, a connector provides the means to join the inner and outer tubes to a male coupling or directly to a male fitting on the machine. The corrugated outer tube is joined to the connector and an outlet is provided for the discharge of the exhaled gases. For the coaxial circuit to be operable, the inner tube is sandwiched between the outer diameter of the male coupling and the inner diameter of an opening in the connector. In such way, in the event the inner tube becomes disconnected from the male coupling, the entire connector no longer can maintain its connection to the machine and the coaxial circuit drops off completely, thus the possibility of an inadvertent disconnection from the supply of fresh gas is immediately noticeable by attending personnel.

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Madison, WI, United States of America

Gerhardt P Schroeder