초록 ▼

A combination of a bellows structure (12), volume restrictor, and pressure restrictor for use on a hand-operated resuscitator is provided to enable delivery of ventilation within specific volume and pressure limitations specified by the operator. The bellows structure (12) consistently provides pred

A combination of a bellows structure (12), volume restrictor, and pressure restrictor for use on a hand-operated resuscitator is provided to enable delivery of ventilation within specific volume and pressure limitations specified by the operator. The bellows structure (12) consistently provides predictable and uniform generation of gas flow for ventilation without regard to one or two-handed technique, hand placement, or hand size. The volume restrictor, primarily comprising of an inflow obturator (20), outflow obturator (22), and placement cam (34), enables the physician to specify a specific tidal volume to be delivered, which constitutes a volume-controlled cycling capability of the invention. The pressure restrictor, primarily comprising of an outer housing (40), stopper housings (41), and a stopper (50), enables the physician to specify a specific maximum airway pressure to be exposed to the patient, which constitutes a pressure-controlled cycling capability of the invention. Combined use of the volume and pressure restricting mechanisms can provide for various additional abilities, including limiting airway pressure during volume-controlled ventilation or providing a means to detect decreasing pulmonary compliance.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A bellows for use in a resuscitator, comprising: (a) a plurality of substantially rigid adjacent structural members coupled into a bellows structure, the bellows structure havinq a long and a short axis, wherein; (i) the short-axis constitutes a cross-section of the bellows structure,

I claim: 1. A bellows for use in a resuscitator, comprising: (a) a plurality of substantially rigid adjacent structural members coupled into a bellows structure, the bellows structure havinq a long and a short axis, wherein; (i) the short-axis constitutes a cross-section of the bellows structure, (ii) the bellows structure has an exterior and an interior surface, (iii) the interior surface forms a fluid chamber for accommodating a fluid, (iv) positioning the bellows structure to provide maximum potential volume of the fluid chamber constitutes an inflated condition of the bellows, (v) positioning the bellows structure to provide minimum potential volume of the fluid chamber constitutes a deflated condition of the bellows, and (vi) a force applied to the exterior surface of the bellows structure in a direction parallel to the short axis results in a decrease in volume of the fluid chamber, resulting in a dimensional decrease of the cross-section of the bellows structure, effectively transitioning the bellows from the inflated condition to the deflated condition, such that the bellows mechanically assists movement of fluid into and out of the fluid chamber. 2. The bellows of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the structural members provides unidirectional articulation with adjacent structural members to restrict pliability of the bellows into shapes other than those inclusive or between the inflated condition and the deflated condition of the bellows structure. 3. The bellows of claim 1, wherein the bellows structure forms a substantially cylindrical shape when positioned in the inflated condition. 4. The bellows of claim 1, wherein the bellows structure forms a substantially oblong shape when positioned in the deflated condition. 5. The bellows of claim 1, further comprising a volume-restrictor for use in a resuscitator, the volume restrictor including: (a) one or more obturator members which obstruct transition of the bellows between the inflated condition to the deflated condition; and, (b) an adjustable placer to provide for selective movement of obturator members into multiple positions relative to the bellows structure, such that movement of the obturator members provides for variable ranges of movement of the bellows structure between the inflated condition and the deflated condition, and operation of the adjustable placer specifies a predetermined degree of movement of the bellows. 6. A pressure-restrictor for use in a resuscitator, comprising: (a) a rigid housing structure adapted to be positioned distal to a flow-generator of a resuscitator and proximal to a flow port to a patient, such that the rigid housing structure separates the flow-generator and a flow-output portion of a resuscitator, (i) wherein the rigid housing structure contains a number of fluid conduits to permit the flow of fluid; (b) a movable stopper member positioned adjacent to the housing structure, wherein the position of the movable stopper member is configured to completely, partially, or minimally obstruct the fluid conduits of the rigid housing structure; and, (c) an automatic controller which operates in response to pressure in the flow-output portion of a resuscitator, wherein (i) variability of pressure in the flow-output portion of a resuscitator causes movement of the movable stopper member in relation to the housing structure; (ii) movement of the movable stopper member completely, partially, or minimally obstructs the fluid conduits of the housing structure; and, (iii) operation of the automatic controller decreases pressure between the flow-generation and flow-output portions of a resuscitator. 7. The pressure-restrictor of claim 6, further comprising a regulator, the regulator including: (a) a resistance apparatus which opposes the movement of the adjustable stopper member of the automatic controller into a position which obstructs fluid flow through the rigid housing structure of the pressure-restrictor; and, (b) a device to vary the degree of opposition provided by the resistance apparatus, which device enables an operator to specify a predetermined pressure at which the automatic controller engages movement of the adjustable stopper member into a position which obstructs fluid flow through the rigid housing structure of the pressure-restrictor. 8. A method of providing volume-controlled manual positive-pressure artificial ventilation, comprising: (a) providing a manually-operated resuscitator; (b) providing a volume restrictor, having one or more obturator members; (c) selecting a predetermined configuration of the volume restrictor; and, (d) manually operating the resuscitator, relying on the volume restuictor and one or more obturator members to determine maximum volume delivered in each breath, to deliver substantially-equivalent volumes in each breath. 9. A method of providing pressure-controlled manual positive-pressure artificial ventilation, comprising: (a) providing a manually-operated resuscitator; (b) providing a pressure-restrictor, having an adjustable controller; (c) selecting a predetermined setting for the controller of the pressure-restriotor; and, (d) manually operating the resuscitator, relying on the pressure-restrictor to determine maximum volume delivered in each breath, to inflate the lungs to a substantially-equivalent pressure in each breath. 10. A method of monitoring pulmonary compliance and/or airway resistance during volume-controlled manual positive-pressure artificial ventilation, comprising: (a) providing a manually-operated resuscitator; (b) providing a volume restrictor; (c) providing a pressure restrictor having an adjustable controller; (d) selecting a predetermined configuration of the volume restrictor; (e) selecting a predetermined setting for the controller of the pressure restrictor; (f) manually operating the resuscitator, relying on the volume restrictor to determine maximum volume delivered in each breath; (g) adjusting the controller of the pressure restrictor to a minimum point at which the pressure restrictor fails to interfere with delivery of the maximum volume specified by the volume restrictor; and, (h) making repetitive serial assessments of the ability to operate the resuscitator with delivery of the maximum volume specified by the volume restrictor without interference from the pressure restrictor, whereby development of an inability to operate the resuscitator with delivery of the maximum volume specified by the volume restrictor caused by interference from the pressure restrictor is indicative of increasing airway resistance and/or decreasing pulmonary compliance. 11. A method of monitoring pulmonary compliance and/or airway resistance during pressure-controlled manual positive-pressure artificial ventilation, comprising: (a) providing a manually-operated resuscitator; (b) providing a pressure-restrictor having an adjustable controller, (c) providing a volume restrictor; (d) selecting a predetermined setting for the controller of the pressure-restrictor; (e) manually operating the resuscitator, relying on the pressure-restrictor to determine maximum volume delivered in each breath; (f) temporarily adjusting the volume restrictor to the earliest point at which the volume restrictor interferes with attainment of the desired maximum inflation pressure specified by the pressure-restrictor; (g) observing the setting of the volume restrictor at which this interference occurs; (h) restoring the volume restrictor to a setting which eliminates the observed interference; and, (i) making repetitive serial assessments of the setting of the restrictor at which interference with the pressure-restrictor occurs, particularly observing for decreased volume settings which provide for such interference, whereby a change in the setting of the volume restrictor required to induce interference with the pressure-restrictor is indicative of a change in airway resistance and/or pulmonary compliance.