초록 ▼

A pressure/flow control valve that includes a first valve member and a second valve member moveable relative to one another and cooperating with one another so as to define a valve opening having a size that varies with a relative position between these members. The first magnet is operatively coupl

A pressure/flow control valve that includes a first valve member and a second valve member moveable relative to one another and cooperating with one another so as to define a valve opening having a size that varies with a relative position between these members. The first magnet is operatively coupled to the first valve member and a second magnet is operatively coupled to the second valve member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet. The first and second magnets are disposed such that a repulsive force between them increases asymptotically as the magnets move together, thereby providing a dampening force between the first and second valve members that allows these valve members to be moved rapidly from one position to the next in a highly controlled fashion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fluid delivery system comprising: (a) a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of gas at a pressure level; (b) a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient; and

What is claimed is: 1. A fluid delivery system comprising: (a) a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of gas at a pressure level; (b) a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient; and (c) a valve operatively associated with the patient circuit to control a pressure, a flow of gas, or both in the patient circuit, wherein the valve comprises: (1) a first valve member, (2) a second valve member operatively coupled to the first valve member and moveable relative thereto, wherein the first valve member and the second valve member cooperate to define a valve opening having a size that varies with a relative position between the first valve member and the second valve member to control the pressure, the flow of gas or both, (3) a first magnet coupled to the first valve member, and (4) a second magnet coupled to the second valve member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet such that a magnetic interaction of the first magnet and the second magnet provides a dampening force between the first valve member and the second valve member, and (5) wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented relative to one another such that a repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet increases non-linearly as the second magnet moves toward the first magnet, and further comprising: an actuator associated with the first valve member and the second valve member, wherein the actuator advances the second valve member relative to the first valve member such that second magnet moves toward the first magnet; and a controller coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller provides an actuating energy supplied to the actuator that imparts an actuating force on the second valve member urging the second magnet toward the first magnet. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second valve member is a sleeve and the first valve member is a conduit. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first valve member is a stationary member and the second valve member is a moveable member. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented relative to one another such that a repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet increases asymptotically as the second magnet moves toward the first magnet. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein movement of the second magnet toward the first magnet increases a size of the valve opening to increase at least one of the pressure and a flow of gas in the patient circuit. 6. The system of claim 4, further comprising an actuator coupled to the first valve member, wherein the actuator advances the second valve member relative to the first valve member such that second magnet moves toward the first magnet. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the actuator includes a coil coupled to the second valve member that moves the second valve member toward the first valve member responsive to an actuating energy being provided to the coil. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor coupled to the patient circuit so as to measure a pressure and a flow, respectively, of the gas in the patient circuit, wherein the controller provides the actuating energy to the actuator based on an output of at least one of the pressure sensor and the flow sensor. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein, during operation of the fluid delivery system, the controller provides a constant actuating energy to the actuator that imparts a first actuating force on the second valve member to maintain the second valve member at a static equilibrium position relative to the first valve member that corresponds to a relative position between the first valve member and the second valve member, where the first actuating force is equal to the repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet. 10. A fluid delivery system comprising: (a) a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas at a pressure level; (b) a patient circuit having a first end coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient; and (c) a valve operatively connected to the patient circuit to control one of a pressure and a flow of gas in the patient circuit, wherein the valve comprises: (1) a first valve member, (2) a second valve member associated with the first valve member such that the first valve member is moveable relative to the second valve member, wherein the first valve member and the second valve member cooperate to define a valve opening having a size that varies with a relative position between the first valve member and the second valve member, and wherein the size of the valve opening controls a pressure or a flow of gas provided to the patient, (3) an actuator associated with the first valve member and the second valve member, wherein the actuator is adapted to provide an actuating force on the second valve member that moves the second valve member toward the first valve member to change the size of the valve opening, and (4) movement controlling means for providing a dampening force that prevents movement of the second valve member toward the first valve member, wherein the dampening force increases non-linearly as the second valve member moves toward the first valve member. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the movement controlling means comprises a first magnet operatively coupled to the first valve member and a second magnet operatively coupled to second valve member, wherein the first magnet is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, and wherein the second magnet is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented relative to one another such that a repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet increases asymptotically as the second magnet moves toward the first magnet. 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second valve member is a sleeve and the first valve member is a conduit. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the conduit comprises a hollow first cylinder having an open first end, an open second end, a blower discharge slot defined in a wall thereof, an exhaust discharge slot defined in the wall thereof between the blower discharge slot and the second end, and a separating plate positioned in the first cylinder between the exhaust discharge slot and the blower discharge slot, and wherein the sleeve comprises a hollow second cylinder having a first slot defined in a wall thereof, with the second cylinder positioned coaxially around the first cylinder. 15. The system of claim 10, further comprising controlling means associated with the actuator for controlling the actuating force imparted by the actuator on the second valve. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor coupled to the patient circuit so as to measure a pressure and a flow, respectively, of the gas in the patient circuit, wherein the controlling means controls the actuating force based on an output of at least one of the pressure sensor and the flow sensor. 17. The system of claim 10, wherein, during operation of the fluid delivery system, the actuator produces a constant actuating force that is offset by a corresponding repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet so as to maintain the second valve member at a static equilibrium position relative to the first valve member. 18. A method of controlling pressure or flow in a fluid delivery system comprising: providing a first valve member and a second valve member associated with the first valve member such that the first valve member is moveable relative to the second valve member, and wherein the first valve member and the second valve member cooperate to define a valve opening having a size that varies with a relative position between the first valve member and the second valve member to control a pressure or a flow of gas delivered to the patient; providing an actuating force on the second valve member to move the second valve member toward the first valve member to change the size of the valve opening; and controlling movement of the second valve member toward to the first valve member by providing a dampening force that prevents movement of the second valve member toward the first valve member, wherein the dampening force increases non-linearly as the second valve member moves toward the first valve member. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling movement of the second valve member includes providing a first magnet operatively coupled to the first valve member and a second magnet operatively coupled to second valve member, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented relative to one another such that a repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet increases asymptotically as the second magnet moves toward the first magnet. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein movement of the second magnet toward the first magnet increases a size of the valve opening to increase at least one of the pressure and a flow of gas delivered to a patient. 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring at least one of a pressure and a flow of gas delivered to such a patient and controlling the actuating force based on at least one of the pressure and the flow of gas delivered to such a patient. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein providing an actuating force includes providing a biasing actuating force that is offset by the repulsive force between to maintain the second valve member at a static equilibrium position relative to the first valve member.