Therapeutic gas delivery device with pulsed and continuous flow control

摘要

Described are methods and devices for therapeutic or medical gas delivery that utilize at least one proportional control valve and at least one binary control valve. The proportional control valve may be in series with the binary control valve to provide a valve combination capable of pulsing therapeutic gas at different flow rates, depending on the setting of the proportional control valve. Alternatively, the proportional control valve and binary control valve may be in parallel flow paths.

主权项

1. A therapeutic gas delivery device comprising:
an inlet to connect to a source of therapeutic gas; an outlet to connect to a device that is adapted to introduce the therapeutic gas to a patient; at least one binary control valve in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet that delivers a constant flow of the therapeutic gas; at least one proportional control valve in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet that delivers a variable flow of the therapeutic gas; a control system that delivers the therapeutic gas through one or more of the binary control valve and the proportional control valve; wherein the control system delivers the therapeutic gas into a flow of breathing gas through one or more of the binary control valve and the proportional control valve to provide a combined flow of therapeutic gas and breathing gas with a substantially constant concentration of therapeutic gas; and wherein the binary control valve and the proportional control valve are in parallel flow paths and the control system delivers a continuous flow of therapeutic gas through the proportional control valve when a therapeutic gas demand is greater than or equal to 5% of a delivery range and delivers one or more pulses of therapeutic gas through the binary control valve when the therapeutic gas demand is less than or equal to 1% of the delivery range.