Case Western Reserve University

William O Martin

Harry J Derda

Wen H Ko

David G Fleming

An apparatus for delivering continuous positive airway pressure to a patient (e.g., an infant) includes a cradle assembly for firmly and adjustably supporting the head of a patient to whom continuous positive airway pressure is to be delivered, a support frame assembly mounted on the cradle assembly for adjustably supporting a disposable airway set, and a disposable airway set which receives fresh air and delivers it, under pressure, to a patient. The cradle assembly includes a head-supporting cradle which may be moved to any one of a number of angular positions. A pair of adjustable head-restraining plates are mounted in the cradle for firmly supporting heads of different sizes. The support frame assembly which receives and holds the disposable airway set is mounted on one end of the head-supporting cradle and can be adjusted relative to the cradle for accurate positioning of a nasal cannula at the delivery end of the disposable airway set. The support frame assembly includes a swingable support arm which receives and retains the disposable airway set. The swingable support arm may be swung to a position wherein the disposable airway set retained therein may be swung out of the vicinity of the patient's head to facilitate insertion and removal of the patient's head and treating of the patient. The disposable airway set includes a pop-off valve assembly for limiting the maximum amount of pressure of the air delivered to the patient and a pressure control valve for controlling the pressure of the air delivered to the patient. The disposable airway set is comprised of two airway arms which are connected to one another by a connector member which establishes fluid communication between the two arms. One end of one of the airway arms of the disposable airway set receives fresh air from an air supply, and the other end of the first arm has a re-breather bag connected thereto for 'bagging' the patient. One end of the second airway arm is provided with a nasal cannula for attachement to the patient, and the other end of the second arm is provided with the pressure control valve. The disposable airway set is adapted to be used for one patient only, and discarded after use.

Continuous positive airway pressure administrating apparatus

An apparatus for supporting and restraining the head of a patient (typically an infant) during medical treatment, for example, during the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure to a patient suffering from a respiratory disease. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a generally arcuate cradle, a pair of opposed, generally flexible restraining plates pivotably mounted within the cradle for conforming to and positively restraining the patient's head, and adjustable means on the cradle for moving the restraining plates toward one another to a position wherein they will gently, yet firmly, restrain the patient's head. Padding of a suitable material (e.g., lamb's wool) lines the interior exposed surfaces of the members and the cradle to cushion the patient's head. The padding may be held within the apparatus by means of cooperating mating strips of velcro. The generally arcute cradle is mounted in a generally arcuate groove in the upper surface of a base member by means of a suitable clamp which may be loosened to permit the cradle to be rotated until the patient's head is in a desired angular position and which, when tightened, will lock the cradle in the desired angular position.

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Chesterland, OH, United States of America

William O Martin