Jet pump adaptor for ventilation system
An adaptor comprises comprising a base element and a nozzle element which are operatively coupled to each other. The base element defines a throat and at least one entrainment port facilitating a path of fluid communication between the throat and ambient air. The nozzle element includes a jet nozzle, and a connector which is adapted to facilitate the fluid coupling of the nozzle element to a bi-lumen tube of the patient circuit. The connector includes both a delivery port and a sensing port. The jet nozzle and the delivery port collectively define a delivery line or lumen which fluidly communicates with the throat of the base element, and is placeable into fluid communication with the delivery lumen of the bi-lumen tube.
1. An adaptor for fluidly coupling a flow generator to a ventilation mask in a respiratory assistance system, the adaptor comprising:
a base element which is fluidly connectible to the ventilation mask, the base element having:
a connector which defines an interior;
a tubular wall which protrudes into the interior of the connector and at least partially defines a throat, the tubular wall having a distal end which fluidly communicates with the interior of the connector and a proximal end which is opposite the distal end, the proximal end defining an opening;
at least one entrainment port in open fluid communication with ambient air, the at least one entrainment port being at least partially defined by an aperture in the tubular wall between the distal end and the proximal end; and
a nozzle element connectable to the base element and fluidly connectible to a main gas delivery tube in fluid communication with the flow generator, the nozzle element including a jet nozzle having a distal tip and at least partially defining a gas delivery lumen;
wherein when the nozzle element is connected to the base element with the jet nozzle advanced through the opening, a gas-tight coupling is formed between the jet nozzle and the proximal end of the tubular wall defining the opening and the distal tip of the jet nozzle is positioned within the tubular wall at a distance from the distal end of the tubular wall to fluidly communicate gas into the throat, such that when gas is flowed through the gas delivery lumen, out the jet nozzle, and into the throat, ambient air is entrained through the at least one entrainment port; and
wherein the connection of the nozzle element to the base element is selectively variable between at least two connected configurations so as to permit the distance from the distal tip of the jet nozzle to the distal end of the tubular wall to be varied by transitioning the connection of the nozzle element to the base element to one of the connected configurations.
2. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the connector of the base element is sized and configured to allow for the releasable attachment of the adaptor to the ventilation mask.
3. The adaptor of claim 2 wherein the connector is a standard 22 mm ISO taper connector which allows for the releasable attachment of the adaptor to the ventilation mask.
4. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the base element defines a first pressure sensing lumen the nozzle element defines a second pressure sensing lumen which fluidly communicates with the first pressure sensing lumen of the base element when the nozzle element is connected to the base element.
5. The adaptor of claim 4 wherein the nozzle element is rotatably connectable to the base element, and when connected, the nozzle element and the base element collectively define an annular gap which circumvents a portion of the jet nozzle, with the first pressure sensing lumen, the second pressure sensing lumen, and the annular gap collectively defining a pressure sensing line fluidly isolated from gas flowed through the gas delivery lumen and into the throat, the fluid isolation of the pressure sensing line being maintained throughout 360° of rotation of the nozzle element relative to the base element.
6. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the nozzle element defines a connector which allows for the releasable attachment of the adaptor to the main gas delivery tube.
7. The adaptor of claim 6 wherein the connector of the nozzle element comprises:
a gas delivery port which at least partially defines the gas delivery lumen; and
a pressure sensing port which at least partially defines the pressure sensing lumen of the nozzle element;
the gas delivery and pressure sensing ports at least partially residing within a common recess of the nozzle element and extending in side-by-side relation to each other.
8. The adaptor of claim 1 further in combination with an exhalation valve comprising:
a housing which is attached to the connector and fluidly communicates with the throat, the housing including at least one exhalation port formed therein; and
a resilient, conical diaphragm which is disposed within the housing and cooperatively engaged thereto, the diaphragm being selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to the housing; and
wherein positive pressure and flow in the throat facilitates the stretching of the diaphragm from its open position wherein the exhalation port is unblocked thereby to its closed position wherein it seals against and thus blocks the exhalation port.
9. The adaptor of claim 1 further in combination with a piloted exhalation valve comprising:
a housing which is attached to the connector and defines an interior chamber which fluidly communicates with the throat, the housing including at least one exhaust port formed therein; and
a resilient diaphragm which is disposed within the interior chamber and effectively segregates the same into an upper region and a lower region which fluidly communicates with the exhaust port, the diaphragm being selectively movable between an open position wherein the exhaust port is placed into fluid communication with the throat, and a closed position wherein the exhaust port is blocked from fluid communication with the throat.
10. The adaptor of claim 9 further in combination with a pressure line which facilitates the fluid communication between the upper region of the interior chamber and the gas delivery lumen.
11. The adaptor of claim 9 further in combination with a biasing spring disposed within the upper region of the interior chamber and extending between the diaphragm and the housing.
12. The adaptor of claim 9 further in combination with a resilient flapper valve which is cooperatively engaged to the base element, and selectively movable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the flapper valve at least partially obstructs flow into the throat and an open position wherein flow from the throat is substantially unimpeded by the flapper valve.
13. The adaptor of claim 12 wherein the flapper valve includes a plurality of perforations formed therein.
14. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein when the nozzle element is connected to the base element, the distal tip of the jet nozzle is positioned within the tubular wall at a position along a common axis of the gas delivery lumen and the throat perpendicularly adjacent, with respect to the common axis, to a portion of the at least one entrainment port.
15. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle element is threadably connectable to the base element, and wherein selective variation between the two or more connected configurations is accomplished via translation of the nozzle element along the threaded connection.