Oscillating positive respiratory pressure device

• US 10,668,235 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Meyer, Adam, Engelbreth, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sippel, Rachel T
• Application Number:
  US15/415,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20170128683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus and a method of performing oscillating positive respiratory pressure therapy. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, and a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber. The restrictor member has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the flow path at the inlet, and includes at least one blocking segment. Rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position and a closed position. Respiratory pressure at the chamber inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position. By exhaling into the apparatus, oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy is administered.

Claims

1. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;

an opening positioned along a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

and,

a blocking segment configured to move relative to the opening in response to a flow of air along the flow path between a closed position, where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position, where the flow of air path through the opening is less restricted;

wherein there is an absence of a force biasing the blocking segment toward the closed position during a period when air is not flowing along the flow path; and

,

wherein a size of a blocking surface of the blocking segment is equal to or greater than a size of the opening.

2. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the blocking segment is configured to move without delay in response to the flow of air along the flow path between the closed position and the open position.

3. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, further comprising at least one vane positioned in the flow path and configured to move the blocking segment between the closed position and the open position in response to the flow of air along the flow path.

4. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the blocking segment is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a direction of the flow of air at a location in the flow path where the blocking segment is in the closed position.

5. The respiratory treatment device of claim 3, wherein the blocking segment and the at least one vane have a combined center of gravity offset from an axis of rotation about which the at least one vane is rotatably mounted.

6. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the blocking segment is biased by a force of gravity toward the open position.

7. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the device is an oscillating positive expiratory pressure treatment device.

8. The respiratory treatment device of claim 7, wherein the device is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy regardless of a physical orientation of the device.

9. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the flow of air through the opening is completely blocked when the blocking segment is in the closed position.

10. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the blocking surface of the blocking segment contacts the opening when the blocking segment is in the closed position.

11. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;

an opening positioned along a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

and,

a blocking segment configured to move relative to the opening without delay in response to a flow of air along the flow path between a closed position, where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position, where the flow of air through the opening is less restricted;

wherein the blocking segment is biased by a force of gravity toward the open position; and

,

wherein a size of a blocking surface of the blocking segment is equal to or greater than a size of the opening.

12. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein there is an absence of a force biasing the blocking segment toward the closed position during a period when air is not flowing along the flow path.

13. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, further comprising at least one vane positioned in the flow path and configured to move the blocking segment between the closed position and the open position in response to the flow of air along the flow path.

14. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein the blocking segment is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a direction of the flow of air at a location in the flow path where the blocking segment is in the closed position.

15. The respiratory treatment device of claim 13, wherein the blocking segment and the at least one vane have a combined center of gravity offset from an axis of rotation about which the at least one vane is rotatably mounted.

16. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein the device is an oscillating positive expiratory pressure treatment device.

17. The respiratory treatment device of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy regardless of a physical orientation of the device.

18. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein the flow of air through the opening is completely blocked when the blocking segment is in the closed position.

19. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein the blocking surface of the blocking segment contacts the opening when the blocking segment is in the closed position.

20. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;

an opening positioned along a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

and,

a blocking segment configured to move relative to the opening without delay in response to a flow of air along the flow path between a closed position, where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position, where the flow of air through the opening is less restricted; and

,

at least one vane positioned in the flow path and configured to rotate the blocking segment between the closed position and the open position in response to the flow of air along the flow path;

wherein there is an absence of a force biasing the blocking segment toward the closed position during a period when air is not flowing along the flow path;

wherein the blocking segment is biased by a force of gravity toward the open position; and

,

wherein a size of a blocking surface of the blocking segment is equal to or greater than a size of the opening.

21. The respiratory treatment device of claim 20, wherein the blocking segment is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a direction of the flow of air at a location in the flow path where the blocking segment is in the closed position.

22. The respiratory treatment device of claim 20, wherein the blocking segment and the at least one vane have a combined center of gravity offset from an axis of rotation about which the at least one vane is rotatably mounted.

23. The respiratory treatment device of claim 20, wherein the respiratory treatment device is an oscillating positive expiratory pressure treatment device.

24. The respiratory treatment device of claim 23, wherein the respiratory treatment device is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy regardless of a physical orientation of the respiratory treatment device.

25. The respiratory treatment device of claim 20, wherein the flow of air through the opening is completely blocked when the blocking segment is in the closed position.

26. The respiratory treatment device of claim 20, wherein the blocking surface of the blocking segment contacts the opening when the blocking segment is in the closed position.