Importance

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Abstract

An exhalation assembly which includes a hollow flow-through body, having an air inlet port and an air outlet port. The inlet port is arranged to receive air for supplying to a patient, and the air outlet port is arranged to provide air to a patient. The device also includes an exhalation valve connected to the flow-through body, for facilitating selectable exhalation by a patient to whom air is being supplied. The exhalation valve includes an air exhalation port arranged to permit therethrough an outflow of exhaled air and a valve member arranged to selectably cover the exhalation port in response to a closure pressure applied thereto, and to uncover the exhalation port in response to an exhalation pressure applied thereto from the flow-through body through the exhalation port Also included is a pressure source for selectably applying a closure pressure to the valve member, wherein the valve member is operative to cover the exhalation port in response to at least a minimum closure pressure which has a smaller magnitude than an opposing exhalation pressure.

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First Claim