Innovations in mechanical ventilators
A respiratory device of negative pressure type comprising a shell fastened to the user's chest and/or abdomen with minimal dead space, one or more vacuum and compressed air chambers attached to the shell; vacuum generating and compressed air generating sources connected to the vacuum and compressed air chambers respectively, one or more openings on the shell to allow exchange of the air enclosed between shell and user's body, with the vacuum and compressed air chambers; a valve shuttling between the vacuum and compressed air chambers. By having low dead space, pre-generated vacuum and compressed air close to the user, and the use of fast acting valves in some embodiments, the power requirement, weight, and size are reduced, making the device low cost and portable. In some embodiments, the vacuum and compressed air generating sources can be mounted on the shell itself, making the device ambulatory.
1. A respiratory device comprising:
a flexible shell that is configured to enclose front and side parts of a user's chest and/or abdomen, wherein the flexible shell is configured to enclose less than 2 liters of dead space between the flexible shell and the user's chest and/or abdomen;
an assembly located on and directly attached to the flexible shell, wherein the assembly comprises:
one or more vacuum chambers communicating with the dead space enclosed by the flexible shell when secured to the user via at least one first opening through a fast acting valve;
one or more compressed air chambers communicating with the dead space enclosed by the flexible shell when secured to the user via at least one second opening through the fast acting valve;
a vacuum generating source connected to the one or more vacuum chambers;
a compressed air generating source connected to the one or more compressed air chambers;
one or more sensors and one or more electronic control units that are configured to operate the respiratory device, wherein the fast acting valve is configured to operate within microseconds of the user's initiation of inhalation effort or within microseconds of command from the one or more electronic control units, and shuttle between the one or more vacuum chambers and the one or more compressed air chambers for providing instantaneous pre-stored vacuum or compressed air to the dead space to synchronize with the user's breath;
one or more battery and/or electrical connection to an external power source attached to the one or more electronic control units to power the respiratory device, the respiratory device requiring less than 20 watts of power, and
a sealing mechanism that is configured to seal the flexible shell to the user's chest and/or abdomen;
wherein the respiratory device weighs less than 1.5 kilograms.
2. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein: the vacuum generating source and the compressed air generating source of the assembly comprise (i) a vacuum pump and a compressor, or (ii) a compressor that generates both compressed air and vacuum via venturi effect principle; and
wherein the assembly is a detachable separate unit from the flexible shell, and attachable to other shells of different sizes.
3. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein:
the vacuum generating source and the compressed air generating source of the assembly are external to the flexible shell and comprise (i) an external vacuum pump and a compressor, (ii) a compressor that generates both vacuum and compressed air via venturi effect principle, (iii) vacuum and compressed air outlets of hospital pipelines, or (iv) a compressed air outlet of the hospital pipelines that generates both vacuum and compressed air via venturi effect principle, wherein
said vacuum generating source and the compressed air generating source communicate with the one or more vacuum chambers and the one or more compressed air chambers by means of high pressure pipes of small bore with diameter of less than 1 centimeter, and wherein the high pressure pipes withstand pressures of 4 bar and 75% vacuum.
4. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein the respiratory device is configured to auto-start ventilating to the user on fastening a shell fastening mechanism.
5. The respiratory device of claim 1 , further comprising pipes that are configured to supply warm air from the respiratory device to the user's nose, to nebulize medicine and/or to humidify air for delivering to the user's nose via nasal pipes, a mask or a helmet.
6. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible shell is adjustable to minimize dead space between the one or more vacuum chambers and the user's chest and/or abdomen.
7. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flexible shell, the one or more vacuum chambers and the one or more compressed air chambers are made utilizing thin-walled, structurally supported elements or thin shells that are well stiffened with narrowly spaced ribs or lattice structures.
8. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more electronic control units are connectable to an external programming device comprising a mobile phone or a computing device to customize settings per user via wired or wireless network; or
the one or more electronic control units are connected to an input device comprising a keypad, a display unit or a touchscreen, the input device attached to the flexible shell to program various settings comprising respiratory rate, rhythm, pressures, and tidal volume onto the respiratory device as desired.
9. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein the respiratory device is programmed to provide resistance training to the user's respiratory muscles, to improve strength of respiratory muscles, and/or to improve the respiratory rate, rhythm, and volume of the user.
10. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein the respiratory device is utilized to generate and provide positive pressure ventilation to the user via nasal pipes, a mask, a helmet or an endotracheal tube.
11. The respiratory device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a seal comprising soft foamed cells covered with an outer skin for preventing air from within the seal from communicating with the atmosphere while at the same time allowing movement of air within the seal.