Ventilator adaptable for use with either a dual-limb circuit or a single-limb circuit

• Main Author: DOYLE PETER R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.11.2009
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE

A ventilator of the present invention includes a housing, a gas flow generator disposed in the housing, a gas outlet port provided on an exterior surface of the housing, and a first conduit coupling the gas flow generator to the gas outlet port. A gas inlet port is also provided on an exterior surface of the housing. A second conduit couples the gas inlet port to a first exhaust valve in the housing that regulates a flow of exhaust gas from the second conduit. A second exhaust valve in the housing is coupled to the first conduit and regulates a flow of exhaust gas from the first conduit. A controller coupled to second exhaust valve causes the second exhaust valve to change a degree of flow restriction based on a respiratory phase of a patient coupled to the ventilator when the ventilator is operating in a single-limb ventilation configuration.