초록 ▼

A gas assisted re-breathing device is provided for life support of individuals venturing into harsh environments, particularly the underwater environment, which results in reduced work of breathing. In the pressurized gas assisted re-breathing device, pressurized gas, actuated by the breathing press

A gas assisted re-breathing device is provided for life support of individuals venturing into harsh environments, particularly the underwater environment, which results in reduced work of breathing. In the pressurized gas assisted re-breathing device, pressurized gas, actuated by the breathing pressure local to the mouthpiece, acts to move a flexible gas storage container on behalf of the individual and a loop seal valve is forcibly shut during assisted breathing, which seals the assisted breathing loop to prevent premature venting of breathing gas to the surrounding environment, unless the assisted breathing loop is full, whereupon the loop seal valve opens to allow excess breathing gas to escape into the surrounding environment through forcible exhalation by the individual through one or more conventional one way valves that prevent backflow from the surrounding environment back into the loop.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A re-breathing device for providing breathing gas to a user, the device comprising: (a) a pressurized gas source supplying a pressurized gas;(b) a mouthpiece providing an interface between the user and an assisted breathing loop;(c) a breathing regulator in the assisted breathing loop, the breath

1. A re-breathing device for providing breathing gas to a user, the device comprising: (a) a pressurized gas source supplying a pressurized gas;(b) a mouthpiece providing an interface between the user and an assisted breathing loop;(c) a breathing regulator in the assisted breathing loop, the breathing regulator fluidly connected to the pressurized gas source, the breathing regulator generating a variable pressure drive gas and presenting a breathing gas intermediate the mouthpiece and the assisted breathing loop;(d) a variable volume chamber in the assisted breathing loop, the variable volume chamber fluidly connected to the breathing regulator to receive and provide breathing gas;(e) positioning means for varying a volume of the assisted breathing loop by varying a volume of the variable volume chamber in response to pressure changes of the variable pressure drive gas acting against a variable and position dependent force;(f) a loop seal valve in the assisted breathing loop, the loop seal valve fluidly connected to the assisted breathing loop and selected to permit passing breathing gas one way from the assisted breathing loop into a surrounding environment in response to the variable pressure drive gas at a predetermined volume of breathing gas retained in the variable volume chamber; and(g) the breathing regulator controlling venting of the variable pressure drive gas back into the assisted breathing loop, the drive gas presented to fluid connections between the breathing regulator, the positioning means for varying the volume of the variable volume chamber, and the loop seal valve to control passing breathing gas from the assisted breathing loop to the surrounding environment. 2. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a loop make up valve, the loop make up valve selected to pass at least one of the pressurized gas and the drive gas into the assisted breathing loop in response to a given volume of the variable volume chamber. 3. The re-breathing device of claim 1, wherein the positioning means varies the volume of the variable volume chamber in response to a breathing pattern of the user. 4. The re-breathing device of claim 3, wherein the drive gas vented into the breathing loop has a sufficient quantity to provide for metabolic oxygen makeup needs without exceeding oxygen toxicity limits of the user. 5. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a first one way exhale valve in the assisted breathing loop fluidly intermediate the breathing regulator and the variable volume chamber for permitting one way flow of breathing gas from the breathing regulator to the variable volume chamber. 6. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a second one way exhale valve in the assisted breathing loop fluidly intermediate the breathing regulator and the variable volume chamber for permitting one way flow of breathing gas from the breathing regulator to the variable volume chamber. 7. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a first one way inhale valve in the assisted breathing loop for permitting one way flow of breathing gas in the assisted breathing loop to the breathing regulator. 8. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a second one way inhale valve in the assisted breathing loop for permitting one way flow of breathing gas in the assisted breathing loop to the breathing regulator. 9. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a bailout valve fluidly connected to the drive gas presented by the breathing regulator for selectively passing the drive gas to mix with breathing gas in the breathing regulator for direct breathing by the user and precluding passage of breathing gas from the assisted breathing loop to the breathing regulator. 10. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a decompression valve fluidly connected to a breathing regulator vent valve to vary a portion of venting drive gas between passing to the assisted breathing loop and passing from the assisted breathing loop. 11. The re-breathing device of claim 1, further comprising a high pressure metabolic gas storage bottle containing gas suitable for providing for the metabolic oxygen makeup needs of the user. 12. The re-breathing device of claim 11, further comprising a metabolic makeup gas dosing unit fluidly intermediate the high pressure metabolic gas storage bottle and the assisted breathing loop, the dosing unit being actuated by the drive gas. 13. The re-breathing device of claim 11, further comprising a relative humidity reducer fluidly intermediate the assisted breathing loop and one of the metabolic gas storage bottle, the pressurized gas source, and the regulator presented drive gas. 14. The re-breathing device of claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a drive cylinder and drive piston. 15. The re-breathing device of claim 14, wherein a non-drive side of the drive piston is selected to expel water from the assisted breathing loop. 16. A method for providing a breathing gas to a user in a re-breathing device, the method comprising: (a) supplying, via a breathing regulator, a variable pressure drive gas from a pressurized gas source to positioning means for changing a volume of an assisted breathing loop, the positioning means being responsive to the breathing pattern of the user; and(b) changing a volume of the assisted breathing loop in response to the positioning means to reduce an amount of work required for breathing from the assisted breathing loop. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising urging a loop seal valve to a closed position until the volume of the assisted breathing loop is at a predetermined volume. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising urging a loop seal valve to a closed position until the volume of the assisted breathing loop is at a maximum volume. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the variable pressurize drive gas increases pressure to decrease the volume of the assisted breathing loop thereby forcibly assisting with inhalation by the user, and decreases pressure to increase the volume of the assisted breathing loop thereby forcibly assisting with exhalation by the user. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising opening a make up valve upon the volume of the assisted breathing loop reaching a predetermined volume. 21. The method of claim 16, further comprising opening a make up valve in response to an insufficient volume of breathing gas in the assisted breathing loop for inhalation by the user. 22. The method of claim 16, further comprising venting a sufficient quantity of drive gas into the breathing loop to provide for metabolic oxygen makeup needs without exceeding oxygen toxicity limits of the user.