EP0361626A2

EP0361626A2 - Dual compartment bag for use as an artificial lung

Info

Publication number: EP0361626A2
Application number: EP89202480A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eric C/O Shark Sports Limited Bramham; David Hallen Elliot
Original assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Current assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority date: 1988-09-30
Filing date: 1989-09-29
Publication date: 1990-04-04
Also published as: DK474889A; NO893847D0; EP0361626A3; NO893847L; GB8822945D0; DK474889D0

Abstract

A dual compartment bag (2) comprises an inflatable buoyancy compartment (7) and a breathing compartment (8) which is used in an emergency situation as an artificial lung via which the wearer can exhale and inhale his own breath several times.

Description

The invention relates to a dual compartment bag for use as an artificial lung.
It is well known that exhaled breath still contains sufficient oxygen to allow a person to breathe in and out few times using the same breath. It could therefore be of vital importance to enable a person to breath his own breath via an artificial lung in case of an emergency situation e.g in case of fire or when he is cast in the sea.
It is further known that adequate storage of a bag which can be used as an artificial lung such that it is immediately available in an emergency situation is difficult to accomplish. For example helicopter transit passengers generally wear a watertight overall suit and an inflatable jacket on top of it. The presence of a relatively large artificial lung in the outfit of such a passenger should not interfere with e.g. the self righting property of the jacket and should not reduce the freedom of movement of the wearer.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a bag for use as an artificial lung which bag can be stored in a safe place and such that it is immediately available in an emergency situation.
According to the invention a dual compartment bag for use as an artificial lung comprises:
- a breathing compartment, which is fitted with a mouthpiece so as to allow a person carrying the bag to breathe in and out using the same breath,
- a buoyancy compartment which is inflatable with a gas, and
- means for securing the bag below the wearers neck in a central position in front of the wearers body.
Preferably the buoyancy compartment at least partly surrounds the breathing compartment so that the buoyancy compartment forms a protective cage around the breathing compartment.
It is furthermore preferred that the means for securing the bag below the wearers neck are formed by a non inflatable collar which can be pulled around the wearers neck and a clip for securing the lower end of the bag to the clothes in the region of the wearers crotch. In this manner the bag remains central along a line from the chin to the crotch upon inflation of the buoyancy compartment. The central positioning of the bag in front of the body is an essential part of the bags function in creating a turning moment to bring the wearer into the face up position upon immersion.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a dual compartment bag according to the invention which is secured to an immersion suit of a helicopter transit passenger, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the bag shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a person wearing an inflatable overall immersion suit 1 to which a dual compartment bag 2 according to the invention is secured. The bag 2 is equipped with a non-inflating collar 3 which is pulled around the neck of the wearer and a clip 4. The clip 4 is locked to an eye 5 which is secured to the suit 1 in the region of the crotch. The collar 3 and clip 4 enable a quick attachment of the bag 2 to the suit in such a manner that the bag 2 is maintained in a central position in front of the body of the wearer.
As shown in Fig. 2 the bag 2 comprises a buoyancy compartment 7 and a breathing compartment 8. The buoyancy compartment at least partly surrounds the breathing compartment 8 and thereby protects the fragile wall 10 of the breathing compartment 8. The buoyancy compartment 7 is provided with a so-called Roberts valve 11 which can be used to actuate a CO₂ cartridge (not shown) to inflate the buoyancy compartment with CO₂.
The breathing compartment 8 is connected via a flexible hose 12 to a mouthpiece 13. The hose 12 is secured to the bag 2 by a base ring 14 which simultaneously serves to anchor the wall 10 of the breathing compartment to the bag 2 of the buoyancy compartment 7. As can be seen in Fig. 1 and 2 the bag 2 has an elongate box-like mid portion and tapered end portions to which the collar 3 and clip 4 are secured.
The operation of the dual compartment bag is as follows. During normal travelling circumstances the un-inflated bag 2 is attached by the collar 13 and clip 4 to an inflatable immersion suit 1 of e.g. a helicopter passenger. However, when the wearer is cast in the sea following an accident, he will use the breathing section of the dual compartment bag whilst underwater.
By subsequently exhaling and inhaling his own breath again several times via the mouthpiece and the artificial lung provided by the breathing compartment 8 the wearer is able to breathe while he is escaping to the water surface. Once the survivor reaches the surface he may inflate the buoyancy compartment of the bag by means of the Roberts valve 11, to ensure that he floats with his head clear of the water in an upright position.
It will further be understood that instead of the particular construction of the dual compartment bag shown in the drawing other constructions are possible as well. For instance, the breathing compartment 8 can be fitted with a dual hose having non-return valves which are set in opposite directions. If the wearer breathes out through the mouthpiece his breath circulates through the hose and breathing compartment 8 rather than the pendulum action described above. Furthermore the buoyancy compartment may upon immersion be automatically inflated with any suitable gas instead of filling this compartment with CO₂ by actuating the Roberts valve. Accordingly it is to be understood that the foregoing description with reference to the accompanying drawings is illustrative only.

Claims

1. A dual compartment bag for use as an artificial lung, the bag comprising:
- a breathing compartment, which is fitted with a mouthpiece so as to allow a person carrying the bag to breathe in and out using the same breath,
- a buoyancy compartment which is inflatable with a gas, and
- means for securing the bag below the wearers neck in a central position in front of the wearers body.

2. The dual compartment bag of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy compartment at least partly surrounds the breathing compartment.

3. The dual compartment bag of claim 1, wherein the means for securing the bag below the wearers neck are formed by a non inflatable collar which can be pulled around the wearers neck and a clip for securing the lower end of the bag to the clothes in the region of the wearers crotch.

4. The dual compartment bag of claim 1, wherein a flexible hose is arranged between the breathing compartment and the mouthpiece.

5. The dual compartment bag of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy compartment is equipped with a CO₂ cartridge which can be actuated manually or automatically upon immersion to inflate the buoyancy compartment.