Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for pumping breathable gas from a pressurized source into and out of the proximal airway of a patient, comprising: conduit means adapted for fluid connection to said proximal airway; inhalation means, fluidly connected between said source and said conduit means, for alternately (a) receiving a first selected volume of gas from said source during an expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle of said patient, and (b) delivering said first selected volume of gas to said conduit means during the subsequent inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle; exhalation means, fluidly connected to said conduit means, for alternately (a) withdrawing a second selected volume of gas from said conduit means during an expiratory phase of said respiratory cycle, and (b) venting said second selected volume of gas to atmosphere during the next inspiratory phase of said respiratory cycle; driving means for driving in synchronism both of said inhalation and exhalation means alternately forcing gas therefrom during a corresponding inspiratory phase and drawing gas thereto during a corresponding expiratory phase; and volume adjustment means for independently adjusting said first and second selected volumes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for pumping breathable gas from a pressurized source into and out of the proximal airway of a patient, comprising: conduit means adapted for fluid connection to said proximal airway; inhalation means, fluidly connected between said source and said conduit means, for alternately (a) receiving a first selected volume of gas from said source during an expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle of said patient, and (b) delivering said first selected volume of gas to said conduit means during the subsequent inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle; exhalation means, fluidly connected to said conduit means, for alternately (a) withdrawing a second selected volume of gas from said conduit means during an expiratory phase of said respiratory cycle, and (b) venting said second selected volume of gas to atmosphere during the next inspiratory phase of said respiratory cycle; driving means for driving in synchronism both of said inhalation and exhalation means alternately forcing gas therefrom during a corresponding inspiratory phase and drawing gas thereto during a corresponding expiratory phase; and volume adjustment means for independently adjusting said first and second selected volumes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: control means for adjusting the frequency with which said driving means alternately drives said inhalation and exhalation means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inhalation means includes a first bidirectional gas pump, said exhalation means includes a second bidirectional gas pump, and said driving means comprises: first and second pneumatic cylinders, said first cylinder having a first piston operatively connected to said first pump and said second cylinder having a second piston operatively connected to said second pump; means for generating pulses at a preselected pulse repetition rate; a source of high pressure gas; and means responsive to said pulses for alternately routing gas from said high pressure gas source along a first path to said first and second cylinders to cause said first and second pistons to operate said first and second pumps in a first direction and along a second path to said first and second cylinders to cause said first and second pistons to operate said first and second pumps in a second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: means for adjusting said pulse repetition rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first and second pistons are respectively connected to said first and second pumps in a manner such that said first and second preselected volumes are proportional to the length of travel of said first and second pistons, respectively, and wherein said volume adjustment means comprises: first and second means for independently adjusting the length of travel of said first and second pistons, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said driving means further comprises: means pneumatically coupled to said first and second cylinders for creating a variable measurable rise time for the pneumatic pressure in said first and second cylinders resulting from the routing thereto of gas from said high pressure gas source, thereby to modulate the operation of said first and second pumps through said first and second pistons.