Method and device for performing orientation dependent oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy

• US 10,729,863 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenberg, Rebecca E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Weng
• Application Number:
  US14/843,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• 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 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• 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 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 for improving respiratory function

Abstract

A respiratory device comprising a housing enclosing a chamber and an orientation indicator moveable with respect to the housing between a first position indicative of an orientation of the housing predetermined to be suitable for operation of the respiratory device, and a second position indicative of an orientation of the respiratory device predetermined to be less suitable for operation of the respiratory device. The orientation indicator is positioned in a location on the respiratory device visible to a user during the operation of the respiratory device.

Claims

1. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to permit air to enter the housing;

an outlet configured to permit air to exit the housing;

a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

an air flow regulator configured to move between a closed position where a flow of air along the flow path is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air along the flow path is less restricted than when the air flow regulator is in the closed position; and

,

an electronic sensor configured to transmit a signal external to the housing indicating a suitability of an orientation of the housing, relative to a direction of gravity, for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

2. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein movement of the air flow regulator between the closed position and the opening position is dependent on the orientation of the housing relative to the direction of gravity.

3. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor comprises an electro-mechanical sensor.

4. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor comprises a gyroscope.

5. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the signal is configured to generate a visual output indicative of the orientation of the housing.

6. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 5, wherein the visual output is a light.

7. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 5, wherein the visual output comprises a plurality of color-coded indicators, wherein each color of the plurality of color-coded indicators represents a degree of the suitability of the orientation of the housing.

8. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the signal is configured to generate an auditory output indicative of the orientation of the housing.

9. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the signal is configured to generate an alarm.

20. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the signal is indicative of a degree of the suitability of the orientation of the housing.

21. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to generate the signal independent of the flow of air along the flow path.

10. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to permit air to enter the housing;

an outlet configured to permit air to exit the housing;

a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

an air flow regulator configured to move between a closed position where a flow of air along the flow path is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air along the flow path is less restricted than when the air flow regulator is in the closed position; and

,

an electro-mechanical sensor configured to transmit an electronic signal external to the housing indicating a suitability of an orientation of the housing, relative to a direction of gravity, for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

11. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, wherein movement of the air flow regulator between the closed position and the opening position is dependent on an orientation of the housing relative to the direction of gravity.

12. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, wherein the electro-mechanical sensor comprises a gyroscope.

13. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, wherein the electronic signal is configured to generate a visual output indicative of the suitability of the orientation of the housing for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

14. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 13, wherein the visual output is a light.

15. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 13, wherein the visual output comprises a plurality of color-coded indicators, wherein each color of the plurality of color-coded indicators represents a degree of the suitability of the orientation of the housing for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

16. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, wherein the electronic signal is configured to generate an auditory output indicative of the suitability of the orientation of the housing for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

17. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, wherein the electronic signal is configured to generate an alarm.

18. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 10, further comprising a battery for powering the electro-mechanical sensor, and a circuit for analyzing the electronic signal generated by the electro-mechanical sensor.

19. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to permit air to enter the housing;

an outlet configured to permit air to exit the housing;

a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;

an air flow regulator configured to move between a closed position where a flow of air along the flow path is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air along the flow path is less restricted than when the air flow regulator is in the closed position; and

,

an electro-mechanical gyroscope configured to transmit a signal external to the housing for generating an indication of the suitability of an orientation of the housing, relative to a direction of gravity, for administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy;

wherein movement of the air flow regulator between the closed position and the opening position is dependent on an orientation of the housing relative to the direction of gravity.