Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PERMANENT ADAPrrER
Bac~ ound of the Inventlon
The present invention xelates to an adapter for a
humidifier used in respiratoxy apparatus.
Inhalation therapy is frequently used for patients
suffering from such diseases as em~hyse~a! stroke, heart stoppage,
drowning~ and a variety of other applica~ions which require the
administration of eithex pure oxygen or a high percentage of
~xygen or otherlr~dicaments administered through inhalation therapy.¦
Hul~idifiers are employed in the respiratory apparatus. The
patient inhales a gas-liquid mixture from the humldifier, which
is efeective in moistening the gas that is passed through the
humidlfier and discharged therefrom in a manner to introduce the
moistened gas, such as oxygen or air, into a person's respiratory
system. The gas is humidified so as to prevent dessication of the
respiratory tract or membranes during treatment over a prolonged
period o~ time.
There has been a problem in the past with medical
humidifiers in reliably determining when humidified gas ~as
inadvertently cut off from the patient. This often happened when
the oxygen tube leading to the patient's mask became kinked.
Thus, while ,it ~p~eared that the patient was still receiving tne
oxygen or~ ther humidified gas, he was in effect cut off from his
inhal.à~tiOn therapy treatment.
It has been proposed to use various check valves or
pressure relief valves in a humidifier to avoid an excessive
pressure buildup that might break tubing joints, etc. from their
connections. When such a pressure relief valve does open to
release pressure, it is importallt that the attending medical
personnel be aware of it. This is so he can correct the
obstruction causing the pressure buildup and quickly get the
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j patient back on his prescribed inhalation therayy. Previous
inhalation therapy apparatus involved a spring biased check valve
that exhausted released gas into a knife edge whistle such as a
common toy whistle. However, the gas flow rates in a medical
humidifier are sometimes too slow to cause a noise with such a
whistle. Also, at very low pressures of beiween 2 and ~ psi above
a~mospheric, these knife edge whistles do not always operate
reliably.
U.S. patents nos. 4,061,698 and 4,100,235 disclose
humidifier-nebulizer apparatus having an adapter head that
includes control valve means movable to discharge a nebulized gas-
liquid mixture from the adapter head during a nebulizing mode of
operation and adjustable to introduce liquid oxygen into the
reservoir in a manner to effect discharge of hl~iai~ied oxygen
through a discharge port of the liquid reservoir of the apparatus.
; However, these apparatus do not include an audible relief valve
~eans which serves as an audible alar~ to indicate an above normal
pressure in the humidifier to alert an attendant of his condition.
Sherman, U.S. patent no. 4,134,940, discloses a
humidifier adapter comprising two oppositely facing, independently
I movable, internally threaded pieces for connection to the gas
¦ conduit and the water bottIe, a body piece intermediate the two
end pieces with an axial hose for holding a spike, a set screw
transfixing the body piece, two pressure sealing "O" rings, ana
an audible duck bill valve with retaining screw and flange upon
which the valve sits. An internal pressure chamber is located
between the spike and internal diameter of the body piece which
connects with the water bottle, which body piece is transfixed
by the duck bill valve.
~ ankel et al, U.S. patent no. 4,039,639, discloses a
hu~idifier comprising a 1ap valve for emitting an audible alarm
when excessive pressure exists in a nebulizer device. P. f1exible
tube is used to connect an oxy~eo difuser immersed in liquid
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to a source of oxysen.
.~,ePhee, ~.S. patent no. 3, B07, 445, discloses an
audible pressure relief valve for ~ medical humi~fier. The ~7alve
has a rubber disc that is dirnensionally tuned to vi}~rate a~ainst
a valve seat and emit an audible soulld at sas flow rates OL 3 to
15 li~ers per minute and pressures of 1 to 5 psi above at-
mospheric pressure.
Oliivier, ~.S. patent no. 3,867,934, discloses a
pressure monitor for use with a lung ven~ilator. The monitor is
connected to a pneumatically-operated warning aevice which may
be audible, visible, or both.
Adolphsen et al, U.S. patent no. 2,267,009, discloses
an oxy~en inhaling assembly including a tube for oxygen flow.
If the tube becomes clogged, pressure will build up in a casing
and a diaphragm csnnected to the casing will begin to lift,
releasing gas from the casiny for passage t~ough a duct to the
atmosphere. In this case, the diaphrasm will vihrate, ~mitting
a sound similar to that of an air h~rn.
The disadvantage of some of the prior art
arrangements typified, for instance, by U~S. Patent
3,807,445 or U.S. Patent 4,039,63~ referred to
above is in that the gas passing through the audible
signal generating valve is moist. This gives rise to
difficulties in calibrating the audible signal gen~rating
valve with reasonable accuracy~ From this standpoint, it is
of greater advantage to use the incoming oxygen before it
passes through the liquid within the bottle. A typical
example of this arrangement is seen in U.S. Patent
4,134,940 referred to above. The drawback of the latter
arrangement, however, is in a considerable complexity of
the structure of the valve. For instance, the piercing
member passes through the entire body of the adapter and
requires at least two sealing elements, usually O-rings
at Pach end. It is furthermore necessary to provide the
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piercing member with passages directing pressurized
oxygen to the relief valve. Since the piercing member
is normally threadably received within the body portion
of the adapter, it cannot be predic~ed as to which position
the passages in the wall of the piercing mémber will assume.
Thus, it is necessary to provide a small diameter portion in
the piercing member to secure a free annular space
communicating the side port means of the piercing m~mber
with the audible signal generating valve.
Thus, while securing the operation with dry
oxygen which is desirable from the standpoint of
the relief valve, the complexity of the Sherman
arrangement makes the device too difficult to produce
and also gives rise to potential difficulties with
-respect to maintaing the equipment sterile.
SU~MARY OF THE_I VENTION
It is an object of the present invention
to provide an adapter of the general type as shown in
the Sherman paten~ which would combine structural
simplicity with the possibility of obtaining a relatively
exact calibration of the relief valve.
In general terms, the present invention provides an
adapter for mounting on an engageable portion of a
container over a pierceable seal thereon sealing therein
a supply of purified or sterile water, and to be connected
to a pressurized gas tube for introducing gas into the supply
of water to moisten the gas, and adapter comprising two
oppositely facing cups, an upper cup for connection to a
gas conduit, a lower cup for connection to a container;
a generally cylindric body piece opera~ively engaged by
said lower cup and including a normally lower face with a
spike member protruding from said normally lower face
coaxially with the cylindric shape of he body, said spike
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member being integral with the body piece; an axial bore
extending through said body piece from a normally upper end
thereof to the tip of said spike member to provide a passage
through the body piece, an upper section of said axial bore
being of an enlarged diameter and being provided with a thread
at the normally upper end of ~he body piece; a sealing
pin member having a passage therethrough and operatively
engaged by the upper cup and threadably and sealingly
engaging said bore at said normally upper end of the body
piece, the passage in the pin and in the body piece being
generally coaxial with each other; relief means in the body
piece establishing communication between the passage and
the outside atmosphere, said relief means being located at
a point downstream of a normally lower end of said sealing
pin; audible relief valve means adapted to effect audible
pressure relief of the passage under above normal
conditions.
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D escr_pt:ion_of t]~le Drawi~ys
Fig.1 is a front view of the adapter o~ the present
invention shown attached to a pre-filled ~iater bottle.
Fig. 2 is an end view and a cross-sectional view
taken along line 3-3 o~ Fig.l showing the flow~eter connector
end view of the adapter of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
adapter of the pxesent invention attached to a pre--filled water
bottle and to a gas conduit.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cross T of the
adapter showing the cross T, the duckbill valve, and the retainer.¦
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the adapter¦
according to the present invention is shown at 10. The adapter
is generally of cyli*drical shape, havlng a lowercup 11 of larger
diameter than the body piece 13 and upper cup 12. A generally
coaxlal bore 36 is provided lnternally of the adapter and extends
the entire length of the body of the adapter. Lower cup 11 is
~1~ lnternally threaded for connection to a respirator bottle or
liquid container or reservoir 16. The bottle 16 is constructed
to contain a quantity of purified or sterile liquid, such as
water, and has provision for mountlng the adapter 10 thereon.
In operatlon, the adapter 10 ls connected at upper cup 12 to a
flowmeter tnot shownl which in turn is connected to a source of
oxygen, alr, or the like (not shown). Upper cup 12 is internally
threaded.
The body piece 13, intermediate the ~pper cup and the
lower cup, contains a duckbill valve 15 within a retainer 27 which
holds the duckbill valve in place. The body piece 13 also holds
a set screw or seal~:ng pin, shown at 14. Attached to the body
piece 13 is a chain 17 with a snap clip retaining ring 18 to
iacilitate connection of the adapter to a pipe (shown in dotted
lines) between uses.
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Fig. 2 shows a horizontal cross-section of the
adapter 10 taken along line 3--3. The hole't~h~ough sealing pin
member 19 is shown at 35, ~e rë~ainer for t~e duckbill valve
at 27, and the retaining chain at L7.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of adapter
10 in place upon bottle 16. The bottle, or liquid reser~oir,
generally is for~ed of blow-molded polyethylene and is sealed
by a pierceable membrane. To connect the adapter to the bottle,
the lower cup 11 of t~e adapter is screwed over the top of the
bottle 16 ~y means of the internal threads in t~e lower cup 11.
Annular scoring member 22, located at the bottom of body piece
13, scores the top of the membrane on the ~ottle 16 to produce
a tight seal between the bottle'and the adapter.
I The adapter 10 is provided with sealing pin member 19
in a seated, snug relation longitudinally of the entire adapter.
The sealing pin member 19 includes a generally tubular body 40
and sealing head 41. The sealing head 41 is adapted to mate with,
for example, a seal in a flowmeter (not shown). The sealing
pin member 19 centrally terminates in a cross T 24 with'hcles 30
on either side of the stem of the cross T to allow escape of
built-up gas. Shoulders 26 of the cross T 24 ho3d the duckbill
valve 15 in place. A retainer 27 is screwed into female threads
28 on the cross T to hold the duckbill valve 15 in places.
Notches 29 on the retainer 27 enable the retainer to be screwed
on with a screwdriver. "O" rings 20 assist in providing a tight
seal of the adapter. The "0" ring shown at 20 is loca,ed in
a ring yroove 47 in the mid portion of the sealing pin member 19.
The ring groove ~7 may be made in any suitable manner in
accordance with generally kno~n machin;ng principles. Set
screw 14 on the body piece 13 is provided so as to be tightenable
against thread 31 of the adapter to prevent unwanted rotation
of the sealing pin member 19 after it is properly seated.
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The sea]ing pin mc-mber 19 includes at least t~/o stepped ¦ ;
d~meter portions. As illustra-ted in ~'ig. 3, a large diameter
portion 45 of the tubular body extends through the upper cup 12
and the body piece 13, and a small diameter through the spike
end portion 46 e~tends through the lower cup 11 of -the adapter.
Fig. 4 is a cross-section of cross T 24 showing holes
30 on either side O.L the stem of the cross-T allowiny escape
of built-up gas. Duckbill Yalve 15 surrounds the cross T, and
the retainer 27 surrounds the duckbill valve.
The tubular body 40 of the sealing pin member defines a
longitudinal internal passage which may be in the form of a
constant-diameter bore. This passage serves as a conduit for
the pressurized gas through the adapter 10 to allow the gas to
pass through the bottle 16 for moistening before discharge into
a cannula.
In order to relieve excess pressure in the adapter,
the spi~e member 13 is provided with a cross T 24 which
communicates with the longitudinal internal passage of the spike
member. The cross T defines an internal passage 48 at right
angle to the longitudinal internal passage of the spike member
and establishes communication between the longitudinal internal
passage and the internal passage of the cross ~. Two openings
or port means 30 on the cross T establish communication between
the internal passage of the cross T and the outside atmosphere.
When the duckbill valve 15 is mounted on the cross T, air
escaping from the openings 30 will activate the duckbill valve.
The two opposing tapered sides or valve portions 49 and 50
of the duckbill valve are flexible and vibratable aod converge
to an apex where tne two sides define a slit 52 between them.
Normally this slit is closed as the two opposing sides lie flat
against each other at the apex. When there is gas pressure,
ho~ever, these portions separate and allow a gas discharge
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through the slit. 'rhese wall portions are adapted to vib~ate
and produce an audible signal when gas flows bet~een thP~.
The adpater of the present invention is reusa~le and
permanent. The adapter is preferably metallic an~ i~s ~ade, for
example, by machining suitable ~laterial, such as ~rass. All
such brass parts are then prerera~ly covered with a chrome
plate or suitable stainless steel. The set scre~ 14 may be
stainless steel. The "O" ring and the duckbill ~alye are
preferably made from a silicone rubber having the ability to
withstand temperatures normally experienced in a steam autoclave,
such as 25~F to 275F, for thirty minutes. Preferably, the
materlal Will withstand temperatures of 400F or more. An
example of such material is a 45 durometer methyl-vinyl
siloxane polymer proceesed for use in external medical
equipment. This construction allows the adapter 10 to be
sterilized as needed.
In operation, the adapter 10 as described herein will
be used as part of respiratory apparatus to humidify a gas in
inhalation therapy If pressure rises above nor~al in the
~1 respirator bottle or liquid reservoir 16, for any reason, the
adapter 10 will ser~e as an audible alarm ta attract the
attention of an attendant who can inspect the apparatus and
remove the cause of the high pressure. If -the pressure in the
respirator bottle is high as a result of high pressure from
the gas source, globules of water may form and exit the humidiFier
apparatus, and enter the lungs of the patient. On the other
hand, if high pressure in the respirator bottle results from
an occlusion in the outgoing line, such as by pinching of the
line, humidifiea gas may not reach the lungs al all. In either
situation, the result is a malfunction and an attendant should
make an appropriate remedial adjustment.
Accordingly, gas flow exceeding a predetermined
pressure is audibly vented to the atmosphere through the
duckbill
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valve 15. In a device constructed in accordance with the
illustrated embodiment, the audio range has been Eound to be
effective from about 0.07 cfm to about 0.5 cfm.
One adapter has been constructed in which the aaapter
body is approximately two inches long and has a hose portion of
approximately 0.40 inch. 'rhe large bore diameter portion of the
spike member 13 has a diameter of approximately 0.125 inch. The
material for the adapter body and the spike m.ember is chrome
plated brass. The set screw 14 is a socket type screw made of
stainless steel. The duckbill valve is made of rubber having
the same characteristics described earlier in connection with
the O-ring.
Generally, the gas flow through the adapter 10 and
the bottle 16 to the patient ranges from approximately two liters
per minute to approximately fifteen liters per minute, i.e.,
from about 0.07 cfm to about 0.53 cfm. In the aforesaid
~construction, an internal- pressure build of 3 to 3.5 psig will
cause an outward flow of about 0.007 cfm through the duckbill
valve 15. Sucn pressure buildup might result, for example, from
a kink or other obstruction in the cannula leading to the patient.
In accordance with this invention, thè duckbill valve 15 is
effective to respond to such low gas flow of about 0.07 cfm by
an audible vibration of the opposing wall portions 49 and 50.
This audible vibration of these opposing walls continues until
the flow of ~as outwardly of the duckbill valve exceeds about
0.5 cfm. In terms of liters per minute, this means that the
valve audibly vibrates at gas flow rates therethrough withln
a range of from two to fifteen liters per minute. At gas flow
rates eY.ceeding fifteen liters per minute, the opposing wall
portions 49 and 50 remain separated without audibly vibrating
as the gas flows therebetween. The flow of fifteen liters per
minute (about 0.53 cf~ at the upper end of the audible range
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results from a pressure in the respirator bott~e 16 of a~out
6.5 psi~.
Thus, audible vibrations are produced in the duckbill
valve 1~ at internal pressures of 3 to 6.5 psig at gas flow rates ¦
of two to fifteen liters per ~inute. An audible signal will be
provided to alert an attendant to the fault conditions so that
corrective action can be taken and the patient can again receive
moistened gas from the system.
In s~mmary, there has- been disclosed a permanent
hu~idifier adapter 10 for mounting on an engageable portion of
a container or liquid reservoir 16 over a pierceable sealed
surface of the container. A supply of purified or sterile water
is sealed in the container. The adaprer also connects~a
pressurized gas tube to the container for introducing gas with
the supply of water to moisten or humidify the gas. The adapter
13 includes an upper cup means 12, a body piece 13, ana a lower
cup means 11, the lower cup 11 having means at one end for
engagin~ the container, and a bore axially extending through the
adapter. A spike member 13 is pro~lided and inserted within the
adapter. The spike member has a generally tubular body. A cross T
24 establishes communication~between the inside passage of the
spike member through which,gas enters the container, and the ,
outside atrnosphere. An audible relief valve means including a
duckbill valve is located on the''cross, T, whi'ch valve means
effects audible pressure relief of the adapter under normal
pressure chamber under above normal pressure conditions. The
illustrated audible relief valve means has an e~fective audible
range from the minimum flow that establishes sound to
approxirnately eight times such minimum flow.
Although the invention has been described in connection
with a preferred embodi3nent, alternatives, modifications, and
variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art of the
il foregoiny description. Accordingly, it is intended to e~bxace
all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall
within the spirit and scope of the ap~ended ~l~.ims.
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