Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

• US 10,722,668 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Meyer, Adam, Gulka, Noel, Schmidt, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O
• Application Number:
  US15/919,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20180256839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0098 Activated by exhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• 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 16/0866 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 expiratory pressure device comprising a housing enclosing at least one chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the at least one chamber, and a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the at least one chamber. A channel is positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, with the channel being moveably connected to a chamber of the at least one chamber. An air flow regulator is moveable with respect to the channel between a first position, where the flow of air through the channel is restricted and a second position, where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of exhaled air.

Claims

1. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive air into the device;

an outlet configured to permit air to exit the device;

a channel positioned in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the channel configured for movement relative to a housing by a force of gravity in response to a change in an orientation of the housing;

a weight movably attached to the channel, wherein a position of the weight relative to channel is selectively adjustable by a user; and

,

an air flow regulator moveable with respect to the channel between a first position where the flow of air through the channel is restricted, and a second position where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of air along the flow path.

2. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein selective adjustment of the position of the weight relative to the channel by the user moves the channel relative to the housing.

3. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein selective adjustment of the position of the weight relative to the channel by the user moves the channel relative to the air flow regulator.

4. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the weight is configured for rotation about the channel.

5. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, further comprising indicia representing the position of the weight relative to the channel.

6. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, further comprising indicia representing the orientation of the channel relative to the housing.

7. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, further comprising indicia representing orientations of the housing suitable for providing respiratory therapy.

8. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein an orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user independent of an orientation of the housing.

9. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a truncated cone.

10. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a sphere.

11. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of air through the channel.

12. A method of performing respiratory therapy, the method comprising:

selectively adjusting a position of a weight attached to a channel moveable relative to a housing of a respiratory treatment device in response to a change in an orientation of the housing;

receiving a flow of air into the housing;

directing the flow of air through the channel;

moving an air flow regulator with respect to the channel repeatedly between a first position where the flow of air through the channel is restricted, and a second position where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting the position of the weight moves the channel relative to the housing under a force of gravity.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting the position of the weight moves the channel relative to the air flow regulator.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an indication representing the position of the weight relative to the channel.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an indication representing the orientation of the channel relative to the housing.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an indication representing orientations of the housing suitable for providing respiratory therapy.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising selectively adjusting an orientation of the channel relative to the housing.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising selectively adjusting an orientation of the channel relative to the air flow regulator.

20. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive air into the device;

an outlet configured to permit air to exit the device;

a channel positioned in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the channel configured for movement relative to the housing;

a weight movably attached to the channel; and

,

an air flow regulator moveable with respect to the channel between a first position where the flow of air along the flow path is restricted, and a second position where the flow of air along the flow path is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of air along the flow path;

wherein an orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user.