Resuscitator having directional control valve with internal "PEEP" adjustment valve

Claim 1

A resuscitator having an internal PEEP adjustment and comprising: (a) flexible squeeze bag means having a hollow interior and first and second connections thereinto, (b) a one-way gas inlet valve fastened to said second connection, said inlet valve permitting gas flow into said hollow interior through said second connection, (c) a directional control valve assembly communicating with the said first connection and comprising 1) a valve housing comprising a first cylindrical part secured to said first connection and having a partial floor thereacross, the floor being formed with a perpendicular threaded sleeve concentric with the first cylindrical part, and a second domed part telescopingly related to the first part, the second domed part having associated therewith a second threaded sleeve disposed axially thereof, the first and second threaded sleeves being threadedly engaged, 2) a tubular patient port joined to said domed second part of said valve housing and adapted to be coupled in gas flow communication to a patient, said patient port extending into said valve housing and including a tubular extension formed concentric with said valve housing and having a circular end seat and a unitary flexible duck-billed diaphragm valve, an exit passage being formed between said second domed part and said extension and having an outlet port; said duck-billed diaphragm valve including a flexible outer normally flat peripheral portion, and an inner duck-bill portion, said peripheral portion being secured to said second domed part and being adjacent to and engageable with said circular end seat of said tubular extension, said duck-bill portion extending into said tubular extension; and 3) a spring means disposed compressively between the floor of the first cylindrical part of the housing and an annular portion of the duck-billed diaphragm valve opposite the seat, and urging the duck-billed diaphragm valve to seat against the circular end seat, 4) said first and second threaded sleeves comprising PEEP setting means for adjusting the PEEP exhaled against, said sleeves permitting relative rotation of the first and second parts of the housing of said control valve assembly, whereby relatively rotating the parts of the valve housing to move the floor toward or away from the seat puts more or less compression on the spring to adjust the PEEP exhaled against.