Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2142058
PULMONARY REsus~l~rA~roN D~vlCE
BI~CKGROUND OF THE lwv~ Ow
1. Fie~l of the invention:
The present invention relates to devices which supply
aspiration to patients. More par~ lArly, the present invention
relates to a pulmonary resuscitation device which provides an
ai~way for providing non-contact mouth-to-mouth art;f;f~iAl
respiration and/or administration of bottled oxygen to a patient
without danger of an undue pressure b~ -up within the patient
due to automatic metering of the outflow gas from the patient's
lungs. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a
device of the af ores~ type which is extremely portable and
compact, making it suitable f or use by the general population
during times of emergency with or without prior training.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
It is well known that failure of respiration can have rapid
dire consequences for a person who suffers an emergent me~
problem. While the standard practice is for a bystander to
administer mouth-to-mouth artif;~;~l respiration, this practice has
with it a certain degree of danger should the patient suf f er f rom a
dread commlln;~hl~ disease, such as AIDS.
In the prior art there are certain devices which can af f ord
respiratory function to a patient without need for ~;rect body
intercomrll n i ~ tion .
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U.S. Patent 2,857,911 to Bennett, dated October 28, 1958,
discloses a respiratory device having a mouthpiece with a tubular
portion connected thereto for the introduction of air into the
patient's lungs. This device fails to address tongue depression and
nasal airway involvement.
U.S. Patent 3,730,179 to W;~ ms~ dated May 1, 1973,
discloses a cn~rle~ system which combines resuscitating, aspirating
and gastric draining f unctions in one apparatus. One tube passes
through the patient's nostrils, and a flattened tube is structured to
enter the throat of the patient and is securable by a ~ip seal. A
tube extends through the flattened tube and is connected at its
remote end to a mechAnicAl aspirator. A resuscitating supply
source is connected with the remote end of the flattened tube.
This device, while being well suited to a hospital environment, is
ill-suited to home or emergent care situations in which non-trained
or semi-trained individuals must act quickly.
U.S. Patent 4,270,531 to Blachly (deceased et al), dated June
2, 1981, discloses an oropharyngeal airway device having an airway
tube connected with a bite block assembly that provides an
A;r-tight mouth seal. A ventilatory resuscitator bag is connected
at a remote end of the airway tube and the patient's nostrils are
oc~ ed by some conventional means.
U.S. Patent 4,788,973 to Kirchgeorg et al, dated December 6,
1988, discloses a gas dispensing system f or use as an emergency
Q~ygen ;nh;~tor which includes a gas storage tank and a connected
f ace mask.
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U.S. Patent 4,559,940 to McGinnis, dated December 24, 1985,
discloses an airway tube having a single exterior tube having a
single open end protruding f rom the mask. On the other side of
the mask, interior to the patient, an elongated beam portion is
provided which connects with the tube. Two channels are provided
by an '~-beam" configuration of the beam portion, since it is not
possible with this configuration f or the patient's tongue to assume
a position that blocks of f both channels simultaneously.
U.S. Patent 4,944,291 to Robertson Il: et al, datéd July 31,
1990, discloses a hygi~n;~ pulmonary resuscitation device having an
inlet tube and an outlet tube, each having the same cross-section
and each terminating the same length inside the mouth mask. In
operation, a portion of the outlet tube must be pinched by the user
in order to provide a correct pressure in the lungs of the person.
U.S. Patent 3,060,927 to Gattone, dated October 30, 1962,
discloses a single tube f or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation which has
provision f or connection with an oxygen bottle.
U.S. Patent 3,185,147 to Champagne, dated May 25, 1965,
discloses a resuscitator having a multiple chamber configuration.
By pumping (using a hand pump or blowing~J air or other gas enters
an inlet controlled by a one-way valve, enters into a lower
chamber, then goes out a mouthpiece via control of another
one-way valve to a discharge end and thereupon into the patient.
The gas then returns to the mouthpiece via a discharge tube,
~ i~culates past another one-way valve, enters an intermediate
chamber and thereupon exits through another one-way valve. The
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cap i8 provided with a hand pump or a mouthpiece f or providing a
gas pressurizations in an upper chamber which causes ~ phrams to
effect (in conjunction with the one-way valves) the gas to be
pumped as des~rihe~l above.
What remains needed in the art is a simple, easily used and
operated pulmonary resuscitation device which can be used by
anyone in an emergent situation, with or without prior training
because pressure relief is automatically effected without moving
parts and without skilled user control of gas flow metering.
SUMMAl'<Y OF TEIE lNv~;NllON
The present invention is a simple, easily used and operated
pulmonary resuscitation device which can be used by anyone in an
emergent situation, with or without prior tr~;ning, wherein pressure
relief is automatic~lly effected without moving parts and without
ski~led user control of gas flow metering.
The present invention is composed of an airway member
which includes an inlet tube and an outlet tube, a f ace mask
se~l~hly connected with the airway member, and a connection at a
remote end of the gas inlet tube for connection of an oxygen
bottle or a user's mouth thereto. The outlet tube has a
cross-section which is sized to cause automatic metering of the
outflow of gas from the lungs of the patient at a rate which allows
for the lungs to be f;lle~l~ but not injuriously pressurized, by the
gas flo~Lng ~nto the lungs from the inlet tube.
operation, when a patient requires pulmonary resuscitation,
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the user inserts the ai~way member into the throat of the patient
so as to depress the tongue and open the patient's airway, and
completes insertion by fitting of the face mask se~l~hly onto the
f ace of the patient. The user then breathes into the inlet tube or
alternatively oxygen f rom a bottle is connected with the inlet tube
and then an in-line valve is turned on. Air or oxygen then enters
the patient's lungs through the inlet tube to thereby lif e-savingly
inflate the lungs, while excess pressure b~ -up within the patient
is prevented by automatic metering of the outflow gas by the
outlet tube, wherein the outflow gas is vented harmlessly to the
atmosphere. The user may or may not wish to momentarily block
the outlet tube with his or her finger to assist inflation of the
lungs, but this is not required because of the inherent, built-in
automatic metering f eature of the outlet tube. Accordingly,
operation is f ool-proof, so that anyone can operate the invention,
as may f requently happen in emergent situation s .
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a pulmonary resuscitation device which provides f or delivery
of air and/or bottled oxygen to a patient without need of
complicated structures and other attendant apparatus.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide
a pulmonary resuscitation device which provides f or delivery of air
and/or bottled oxygen to a patient without danger of pressure
bll;kl-up, so that any person can operate the invention during an
emergen t situation .
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
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21~2û~8
_
pulmonary resuscitation device which provides f or the A~l~ini ~:tration
of mouth-to-mouth arti f; ~ 1 respiration without any of the dangers
associated with possible transmission of disease there~ ring.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
pulmonary resuscitation device which provides f or delivery of ~i r
and/or bottled o~cygen to a patient without danger of pressure
build-up, so that any person can operate the invention during an
emergent situation, wherein lung pressure relief is automatically
ef f ected without moving parts and without ski~led user control of
gas outflow metering.
These, and additional objects, advantages, f eatures and
benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the
f ollowing specification.
BRIEF DES~ lll)N OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partly sectional side view of the pulmonary
resuscitation device according to the present invention, shown in
operation in connection with a patient.
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the pulmonary
~ resuscitation device according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a partly sectional top plan view of the pulmonary
resuscitation device according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the pulmonary resuscitation
device, seen along lines 4-4 in Figure 3.
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DETA~T ~n DES~ )N OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Ref erring now to the Drawing, Figure 1 shows the pulmonary
resuscitation device 10 according to the present invention in
operation in connection with the pulmonary ventilation of a patient
12. As can be discerned f rom Figure 1, the pulmonary resuscitation
device 10 is composed of an airway member 14 (which includes an
inlet tube 16 and an outlet tube 18 as shown in Figures 3 and 4), a
f ace mask 20 sealably connected with the airway member 14, and a
threaded connection member 22 located at the remote end 14a of
the airway member. As can be f urther discerned f rom Figure 1, the
airway member 14 is gently curved so as to provide depression of
the patient's tongue 12a, provide an airway to the patient's throat
12b and sealably interf ace with the patient's f ace 12c. Greater
structural and operational specificity will now be described with
ref erence being had to the Drawing, generally.
The airway member 14 is pref erred to be constructed of a
plastic material and is preferred to be of an ellipsoidal
cross-section, as shown in Figure 4. The ailway member 14 is
composed of two component tubes: an inlet tube 16 and an outlet
tube 18. It is preferred for the airway member 14 to be formed by
the inlet and outlet tubes 16, 18 being integrated as shown in
Figure 3, although this is not a requirement. In this regard, the
outlet tube 18 may be alternatively connected with the inlet tube
16 entirely exterior to the inlet tube.
The inlet tube 16 terminates at an output end 16a that is
coterln;nous with the intubate end 14b of the airway member 14,
21~2058
wherein when properly placed within the mouth of the patient the
a~way member extends to a location substantially adjacent the base
12a' of the patient's tongue 12a as depicted in Figure 1. The input
end 16b of the inlet tube 16 is pref erably provided with a threaded
connection member 22 whereto an external line 24 is thre~ hly
connectable. The external line is connected, in turn, with an
oxygen bottle 2 6 f or providing oxygen to the patient through the
inlet tube af ter an in-line valve of conventional construction has
been turned on. The threaded connection member 22 is also used
by a person to perf orm mouth -to-mouth art-; f i ~i ~l respiration by
placing his or her mouth thereto and then blowing into the input
end 16b of the inlet tube 16. Other structures than the pref erred
threaded connection mem-her 22 may be substituted theref or, such
as f or ex~mrl~ a connection member structured f or easy and
eff;~i~nt mating with a user's mouth parts to fa~ ilitate the user
administering mouth-to-mouth type resuscitation to the patient.
The outlet tube 18 terminates at an input end 18a that is
remote from the intubate end 14b of the airway member 14, for
~x;~mpl Q about an inch or so. ~ this regard, because the input end
18a of the outlet tube 18 is located a predetermined distance f rom
the output end 16a of the inlet tube 16, gas entering into the
patient's throat 12b f rom the output end 16a of the inlet tube will
travel to the patient's lungs thereupon inflating the lungs and
circulating in the lungs, and then exit at the input end of the
output tube without an undue proportion of the inflowing gas
entering from the output end of the inlet tube by-passing the lungs
2142058
and ,1; rectly exiting via the input end of the outlet tube.
The outlet tube 18 terminates at an output end 18b a
predeterln;ned length from the remote end 14a of the airway
member so that venting gas f rom the outlet tube will not endanger
or bother the user who is administerirlg resuscitation. In this
regard, an extension tube 18c may be optionally added to the
output end 18b of the outlet tube 18, as shown in phantom in
Figure 3, having a selected length and a selected shape so as to
carry vented gas to a remote location with respect to the
connection member 22 and thereby assuage any danger of the user
breathing in vented gas therefrom.
The f ace mask 20 is of a substantially conventional structure,
and is preferably constructed of a plastic mater;~l- The face mask
is provided with a central aperture 20 which interfaces se~l~hly
with the airway member 14 via a seal 28. As depicted in Figure 1,
the f ace mask 2 0 seals the patient's f ace 12c in terms of his or
her nostrils 12d and mouth 12e. It is to be noted that the output
end 18b of the outlet tube 18 is located between the f ace mask 20
and the threaded connection member 2 2, so as to thereby vent
outflow gas to the atmosphere. It is to be further noted that the
input tube 16 has a length inside the f ace mask 20 which exceeds
the length of the outlet tube 18 inside the f ace mask such that the
inflowing gas from the input tube cannot simply short circuit to the
outlet tube, but rather must circulate through the lungs before
exiting via the outlet tube.
Critical to operation of the pulmonary resuscitation device
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10 is the structure of the outlet tube 18 thereof because the outlet
tube provides inherent automatic outflow gas metering that ensures
inflation of the lungs and prevents over inflation of the lungs
without any act on the part of the user being reqll; red to
accomplish this. The automatic outf low gas metering is provided by
throttling of the outflow gas due to preselection of an interior
cross-sectional area of the outlet tube. In this regard, the
throttling of the outflow gas by the outlet tube provides a
preselected gas outflow rate range at a preselected lung pressure
range when the input tube supplies a preselected gas inflow rate
range at a preselected input pressure range. Thus, given a
preselected gas inflow rate range at a preselected input pressure
range via the inlet tube, the outlet tube provides an outflow gas
rate range that results in a lung pressure range at mA~imllm less
than that which is injurious to the lungs and at mini~ m that which
is suffi~iP~t to inflate the lungs. It is preferred for the entire
length of the outlet tube to be provided with a preselected
cross-sectional area for providing the aforesaid throttling, however,
a selected portion or a location somewhere along the outlet tube
may be provided with a constriction having a cross-sectional area
such as to provide the afores;~ throttl;ng. For PlrAmrlP, a person
breathing into the inlet tube to manu~lly provide mouth-to-mouth
ar~ifi~i~l respiration of a patient would generate an input pressure
and inflow gas rate during exhalation that would recommend an
interior cross-sectional area of the outlet tube f or providing the
aforesaid throttling on the order of about .0123 square inches
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(which corresponds to a diameter of about one-eighth inch) so that
the lungs will inflate and yet be at most pressurized below an
injurious level. In the case where bottled oxygen under pressure is
to be introduced to the lungs of the patient via the inlet tube, the
outlet tube cross -sectional area would be preset to have a
cross-sectional area selected to be the same, increased or
decreased relative to the af oresaid example in order to provide
throttling via the outlet tube analogous to that des~r;hetl with
respect to the example.
The interior cross-sectional area of the inlet tube 16 is not
critical (in the same sense that the interior cross-sectional area of
the outlet tube 18 is critical f or providing the af oresaid throttling
feature), but is nonetheless predetermined to provide an expected
range of inflow gas rates commensurate with an expected range of
input gas pressures. For example, with respect to a manual
resuscitation scenario wherein the outlet tube 18 interior
cross-sectional area is about .0123 square inches, the inlet tube 16
interior cross-sectional area would be preferably about 196 square
inches (which corresponds to a diameter of about one-h~lf inch) in
order to ensure easy inflation of the patient's lungs by the user's
breath. Ordinarily, the interior cross-sectional area of the inlet
tube 16 would be considerably larger than the interior
cross-sectional area of the outlet tube 18, as is depicted by way of
pref erred example in Figures 3 and 4. With regard to operation
with respect to a pressurized oxygen bottle, the interior
cross-sectional areas of each of the input and output tubes is such
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as to regulate the gas inflow rate with the gas outflow rate such
that a steady state gas flow rate is estAhli~hed whereat the
pressure within the person's lungs is less than injurious, yet the
lungs are inflated.
Thus, it is to be understood that the throttling feature of
the outlet tube 18 results in the inflowing gas inflating the lungs
of the patient, and further serves to prevent the pressure in the
lungs f rom reaching an in jurious leveL This is a critical f eature of
the invention because the user who is administering resuscitation to
the patient may not be able to adequately discern whether or not
inflowing gas from the inlet tube 16 is actually inflating and
circulating in the lungs bef ore exiting via the outlet tube.
Experiments to verify the hereinabove des~r;herl throttling
f eature of the outlet tube have been conducted. In the
experiments, a model of the pulmonary resuscitation device
according to the present invention was constructed composed of a
plastic inlet tube having an inside diameter of between one-h~lf
and five-eighths inch and a plastic outlet tube having an inside
diameter of between one-eighth and three-sixteenths inch. A
balloon (which was intended to simulate a patient's lungs) was
sealingly connected to the outlet end of the inlet tube and the
inlet end of the outlet tube.
In one experiment, ~i r was manually blown into the input end
of the inlet tube. The balloon was observed to inflate and slowly
deflate after blowing ceased. The rate of ~ir venting through the
outlet tube increased as the pressure in the h;~llor~n increased, and
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slowed as the pressure in the balloon decreased as it deflated.
This automatic inflation and pressure control of the balloon was
adduced because of the outflow gas metering as a result of the
interior cross-sectional area of the outlet tube, which
cross-sectional area provided the necessary throttling process to
pr~vide the afores~ outflow gas metering. It was further
observed that blocking the output end of the outlet tube, as f or
example by placing a finger sealingly thereagainst, was not
essential to effect inflation of the balloon. Thus, it was observed
that the output end of the outlet tube need not be blocked during
blowing into the input end of the inlet tube in order to secure
inflation of the balloon, which effect is considered ~plic~hl~? to
pulmonary resuscitation administered to a patient's lungs.
In another exper; ---t, air was .qrlmin; ~tered to the input end
of the inlet tube at a rate of approximately two liters per minute
while the output end of the inlet tube was pinched closed. One
minute later the balloon was observed to be inflated and the output
end of the outlet tube was then unblocked. The balloon was
observed to remain inflated. Now the rate of inflowing air was
increased to three liters per minute. The balloon was observed to
hardly increase in size because the outlet tube vented the added
rate of inflowing ;~;r.
Thus, what may be drawn as conclusions from the
experiments with respect to pulmonary resuscitation device
according to the present invention are:
1) proper throttling via the selected cross-sectional area of
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the outlet tube provides both inflation and excess pressure relief of
the lungs;
2) the output end of the outlet tube does not need to be
blocked to provide inflation of the lungs; and
3) if the outlet tube has too much throttling ef f ect the
lungs of the patient may become dangerously over pressurized or, if
the outlet tube has too little throttl;ng effect the lungs may not
receive suff;~;Rr~t inflowing gas to adequately ventilate the patient.
In operation, a user inserts the intubate end of the ai~way
member into the mouth of a patient so that the tongue is depressed
and continues insertion until the face mask seAlAhly engages the
f ace of the patient. If an oxygen bottle is being used, the bottle
is connected to the connection member and the in-line valve is
then turned on to thereby deliver oxygen to the patient's lungs via
the output end of the inlet tube. Gas pressure is prevented f rom
hll;lrl;ng to an injurious level by automatic operation of the inherent
gas f low metering af f orded by the throttling caused by the
predetermined interior cross-sectional area of the outlet tube. In
the event resuscitation is to be manuqlly perf ormed, the user places
the connection member to his or her mouth and then proceeds to
blow into the inlet tube. During this process, the user may wish to
block the output end of the outlet tube to assist lung inflation,
although this is not considered essenti.ql because the automatic,
inherent gas flow metering function of the outlet tube will serve to
promote inflation of the lungs as well as prevent the lungs from
being subjected to in jury by over inf lation. In order to ef f ect and
21 120~8
retain the af oresaid throttling ef f ect, the user would keep his or
her mouth sealingly engaged with the inlet tube f or the duration
needed.
To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains,
the above described pref erred embodiment may be subject to change
or morlif;c~tion. For instance, the shape and construction of the
airway member may be varied. Further for instance, the term
oxygen bottle" is interpreted to mean a container of compressed
gas, parti~lllArly a compressed gas having a rich percentage of
oxygen. Such change or mo~;fi~tion can be carried out without
departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
