Method and means for dispensing respirating gases by effecting a known displacement

Claim 1

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals, said valve means comprising a three-way valve having two option ports and a common port; cannula means; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to one of said option ports; second gas flow routing means for connecting said containment means to said common port; third gas flow routing means for connecting one end of said cannula means to the other of said option ports; and means connected to the other end of said cannula means and adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said means connected to the other end of the cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient.

Claim 2

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals, said valve means comprising a three-way valve having two option ports and a common port; cannula means; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to one of said option ports; second gas flow routing means for connecting said containment means to said common port; third gas flow routing means for connecting one end of said cannula means to the other of said option ports; and means connected to the other end of said cannula means and adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said means connected to the other end of the cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient.

Claim 3

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing, said means for sensing producing a first electrical signal in response to said sensing; solenoid-operated valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; a flip-flop relay having a power supply associated therewith, said relay activated by said first electrical signal to thereby cause said relay and said solenoid to move said valve means from its first said position to its said second position, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient.

Claim 4

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing, said means for sensing producing a first electrical signal in response to said sensing; solenoid-operated valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; a flip-flop relay having a power supply associated therewith, said relay activated by said first electrical signal to thereby cause said relay and said solenoid to move said valve means from its first said position to its said second position, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient.

Claim 7

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; solenoid-operated valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; and an interval timer and means to transmit a signal produced by said sensing means to said timer; said interval timer arranged to activate the solenoid of said valve means and to thereby cause said valve means to move from its first position to its second position for the duration of the timed interval, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient, said timed interval being sufficiently long to allow release of said gas dose from said containment means.

Claim 8

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a prescribed single dose quantity of said respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; solenoid-operated valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; and an interval timer and means to transmit a signal produced by said sensing means to said timer; said interval timer arranged to activate the solenoid of said valve means and to thereby cause said valve means to move from its first position to its second position for the duration of the timed interval, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said containment means thereby filling said containment means with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said containment means in communication with said cannula means thereby releasing said measured dose quantity of respirating gas from said containment means and conveying said gas dose to the patient, said timed interval being sufficiently long to allow release of said gas dose from said containment means.

Claim 9

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a single dose quantity of respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose, said containment means comprising a cylinder having a piston which is movable therein; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; and means arranged to mechanically move said piston for a fixed distance within said cylinder upon movement of said valve means from its first position to its second position, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with the interior of said cylinder thereby filling said cylinder with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing the interior of said cylinder in communication with said cannula means thereby delivering said measured dose of respirating gas to the patient during the early stage of a sensed inhalation.

Claim 10

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means having a volume sized to measure a single dose quantity of respirating gas at source pressure and to temporarily store said measured dose, said containment means comprising a cylinder having a piston which is movable therein; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; and means arranged to mechanically move said piston for a fixed distance within said cylinder upon movement of said valve means from its first position to its second position, said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with the interior of said cylinder thereby filling said cylinder with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing the interior of said cylinder in communication with said cannula means thereby delivering said measured dose of respirating gas to the patient during the early stage of a sensed inhalation.

Claim 16

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means comprising a fixed volume reservoir arranged to temporarily store a volume of gas and sized such that a prescribed dose of respirating gas is discharged by blowing down said reservoir from source pressure to atmospheric pressure; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said reservoir thereby filling said reservoir with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said reservoir in communication with said cannula means thereby allowing said reservoir to blow down from source pressure at atmospheric pressure to release a measured dose quantity of respirating gas and convey said gas dose to the patient.

Claim 17

A device for supplying premeasured doses of respirating gas to a patient in synchronization with the respiratory cycle of the patient comprising: a source of respirating gas at relatively high pressure; containment means comprising a fixed volume reservoir arranged to temporarily store a volume of gas and sized such that a prescribed dose of respirating gas is discharged by blowing down said reservoir from source pressure to atmospheric pressure; means for sensing the onset of inhalations of the patient and for producing signals in response to said sensing; valve means arranged to move between a first position and a second position in response to said produced signals; cannula means adapted for communication with the nasal cavity of the patient; first gas flow routing means for connecting said gas source to said valve means; second gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said containment means; third gas flow routing means for connecting said valve means to said cannula means; said valve means in its first position connecting said first gas flow routing means to said second gas flow routing means and placing said gas source in communication with said reservoir thereby filling said reservoir with respirating gas at source pressure, said valve means in its second position connecting said second gas flow routing means to said third gas flow routing means and placing said reservoir in communication with said cannula means thereby allowing said reservoir to blow down from source pressure at atmospheric pressure to release a measured dose quantity of respirating gas and convey said gas dose to the patient.