Valve

Abstract

A valve for use with breathing assistance apparatus comprises first, second and third ports () for respective connection to a patient breathing tube, a first ventilation apparatus and a second ventilation application. The valve includes a bistable valve mechanism having a first stable configuration in which the first port is in fluid communication with the second port and not the third port; and a second stable configuration in which the first port is in fluid communication with the third port and not the second port. The valve has an actuator configured to transition the bistable valve mechanism between the two stable configurations and preventing the valve mechanism from maintaining a stable intermediate position between the first and second stable configurations. In this way a patient may be switched from one ventilation apparatus to another ventilation apparatus without sudden loss of pressure in the disconnecting circuit causing potentially infected aerosols to be released, and the without sudden loss of positive end expiratory pressure to the patients lungs.