HIGH FREQUENCY CHEST WALL OSCILLATION SYSTEM

• US 20080000477A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Pte Ltd. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Pte Ltd. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neal, Todd, Ikeler, Timothy, Chase, Daniel, Gove, Karen, Schulte, Stephen, King, Rachael, Mirabella, Teresa, Yermaneni, Mayur, Branson, Gregory, Huster, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1697 Breathability of the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/08 Trunk
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/02 "Iron-lungs" , i.e. involving chest expansion by applying underpressure thereon, whether or not combined with gas breathing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• 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 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature

Abstract

An therapy system is operable to deliver a plurality of respiratory therapies to the patient and has an assessment system operable to assess the efficacy of at least one of the respiratory therapies. The therapy system may be operable to deliver any one or more of the following therapies: a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy, a nebulizer therapy, an intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) therapy, a cough assist therapy, a suction therapy, a bronchial dilator therapy, and the like. The assessment system may comprise any one or more of the following devices: a flow meter, a spirometer, an electronic stethoscope, a tympanic thermometer, a pulse oximeter, a respiration rate monitor, and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a housing,

a therapy system carried by the housing and operable to deliver a plurality of respiratory therapies to the patient, one of the respiratory therapies being a high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy, and

an assessment system carried by the housing and operable to assess the efficacy of at least one of the respiratory therapies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the therapy system is operable to deliver any one or more of the following therapies:

a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy, a nebulizer therapy, an intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) therapy, a cough assist therapy, a suction therapy, or a bronchial dilator therapy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the assessment system comprises any one or more of the following devices:

a spirometer, an electronic stethoscope, a tympanic thermometer, a pulse oximeter, or a respiration rate monitor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display carried by the housing and operable to show data relating to the therapy system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the display is further operable to show data relating to the assessment system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller carried by the housing and operable to provide control signals to operate at least two of the respiratory therapies.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller carried by the housing and operable to provide control signals to operate the assessment system and at least one of the respiratory therapies.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein data from the assessment system is used to adjust at least one of the respiratory therapies.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein data from the assessment system is used to adjust the HFCWO therapy.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein data from the assessment system is used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the HFCWO therapy.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the therapy system comprises a housing and an air pulse generator carried by the housing and operable to deliver HFCWO therapy by providing a pressure having a steady state pressure component and an oscillating pressure component.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a controller carried by the housing and operable to control an amplitude of the steady state pressure component, a frequency of the oscillating pressure component and a duration of the HFCWO therapy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a display carried by the housing and operable to show data relating to the HFCWO therapy.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the assessment system comprises a spirometer, and the controller is configured to analyze data from the spirometer and show the data on the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein data from the spirometer is used to adjust the amplitude of the steady state pressure component and the frequency of the oscillating pressure component.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a nebulizer coupled to a pressurized air source carried by the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the air pulse generator includes a blower separate from the pressurized air source coupled to the nebulizer.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the pressurized air source is a compressor.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air pulse generator is configured to be coupled to a vest positioned on the patient.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a housing,

an air pulse generator operable to deliver a HFCWO therapy to a patient, the air pulse generator including a first pressure source carried by the housing, and

a vacuum source carried by the housing and configured to be coupled to a suction therapy device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the vacuum source cooperates with the suction therapy device to provide a cough assist function.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the vacuum source cooperates with the suction therapy device to provide vacuum wound therapy to a wound of a patient.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a housing,

an air pulse generator operable to deliver a HFCWO therapy to a patient, the air pulse including a blower carried by the housing, and

a pressure/vacuum source carried by the housing and coupled to a port located on a wall of the housing, the source supplying pressurized air to the port in a first mode of operation and supplying vacuum to the port in a second mode of operation.

26. A HFCWO therapy system for use with a plurality of patients, the system comprising:

an air pulse generator operable to produce high frequency air pulses that are applied to a patient,

a controller operable to control the operation of the air pulse generator in accordance with a set of operating parameters,

a memory for storing the operating parameters for each of the plurality of patients, and

a user interface apparatus usable to select a patient from the plurality of patients for whom the system is used, the controller automatically operating the air pulse generator in accordance with the operating parameters associated with the selected patient.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the user interface apparatus comprises a display.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display panel.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the display is signaled by the controller to display a plurality of user interface screens.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons:

(i) a patient icon which, when selected, results in a patient screen being displayed to list information about patients for which the system is programmed for use; and

(ii) a vest program icon which, when selected, result in a vest program screen being displayed to permit an operational mode of the system to be selected.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons:

(i) a spirometry icon which, when selected, results in a spirometry screen being displayed to show data obtained by a spirometer coupled to the system; and

(ii) a vest &

spirometry icon which, when selected, results in a vest &

spirometry screen being displayed to show data relating to breath volume attributable to normal patient breathing and breath volume attributable to the HFCWO therapy.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons:

(i) a data download icon which, when selected, results in a data download screen being displayed to permit data to be downloaded from the system to another device; and

(ii) help icon which, when selected, results in a help screen being displayed on the display to permit a user to view portions of a user'"'"'s manual on the display and to display a video on the display regarding how to use the system.

33. A garment comprising a wrap having a mesh fabric layer and at least one inflatable chamber, the wrap being positionable across a chest region of the patient.

34. A garment comprising a wrap having a patient-facing low air loss layer including a plurality of perforations and at least one inflatable chamber, the wrap being positionable across a chest region of the patient.

35. A garment comprising a wrap having a pair of slits formed in an exterior surface of the wrap, at least one inflatable chamber and a pair of generally flat tubes extending through the pair of slits to establish fluid communication with the inflatable chamber, the wrap being positionable across a chest region of the patient.

36. A garment comprising a wrap coupleable to a sheet on which the patient may lie, the wrap having at least one inflatable chamber, the wrap being movable relative to the sheet and positionable across a chest region of the patient.

37. An apparatus to be worn by a patient during high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy, the apparatus comprising a garment having a plurality of air chambers and a plurality of flow regulators carried by the garment, the garment being configured to cover at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s chest, each of the plurality of flow regulators being openable to permit pressurized air to reach an associated one of the plurality of air chambers, and each of the plurality of flow regulators being closeable to block pressurized air from reaching the associated one of the plurality of air chambers.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of flow regulators comprises a knob which is accessible on the exterior of the garment to open and close the associated one of the plurality of air chambers.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of air chambers has a cut-out to accommodate a portion of an associated one of the knobs.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the plurality of air chambers comprises side-by-side pairs of first and second air chambers, each of the first air chambers being situated vertically above an associated one of the second air chambers.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the plurality of flow regulators includes a pair of side-by-side valves, each of the side-by-side valves being located in a space between the associated first and second air chambers.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein when each of the side-by-side valves are opened, the first and second air chambers are in fluid communication, and when each of the side-by-side valves are closed, the fluid communication between the first and second air chambers is blocked.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the plurality of air chambers further comprises a side-by-side pair of third air chambers, each of the third air chambers being situated vertically below an associated one of the second air chambers.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the plurality of flow regulators comprises a first pair of side-by-side valves and a second pair of side-by-side valves, each of the first pair of side-by-side valves being located in a space between the associated first and second air chambers, and each of the second pair of side-by-side valves being located in a space between the associated second and third air chambers.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein when each of the first pair of side-by-side valves are opened, the first and second air chambers are in fluid communication;

when each of the first pair side-by-side valves are closed, fluid communication between the first and second air chambers is blocked;

when each of the second pair of side-by-side valves are opened, the second and third chambers are in fluid communication; and

when each of the second pair of side-by-side valves are closed, fluid communication between the second and third air chambers is blocked.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein each of the first air chambers has a first volume that is larger than a second volume of each of the second air chambers and the second volume is larger than a third volume of each of the third air chambers.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the garment is openable and closeable along a split line that extends generally vertically between the side-by-side pairs of first, second, and third air chambers.

48. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising at least one hose interconnecting a first air chamber of the plurality of air chambers and a second air chamber of the plurality of air chambers and wherein the plurality of flow regulators comprises a hose clamp coupled to the hose.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the hose clamp is accessible to be manipulated to open and close the hose.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first air chamber is located above the second air chamber.

51. A system for applying high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a garment having a plurality of air chambers, the garment being configured to cover at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s chest, and

an air pulse generator operable to produce a first oscillating pressure and a second oscillating pressure, the first oscillating pressure being communicated to at least a first air chamber of the plurality of air chambers and the second oscillating pressure being communicated to at least a second air chamber of the plurality of air chambers.

24. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the second mode of the pressure/vacuum source is used to provide a cough assist function.

25. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the second mode of the pressure/vacuum source is used to provide vacuum wound therapy to a wound of a patient.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the air pulse generator comprises a first oscillating diaphragm assembly operable at a first frequency associated with the first oscillating pressure and a second oscillating diaphragm assembly operable at a second frequency associated with the second oscillating pressure.

53. The system of claim 51, further comprising a first blower coupled to the first oscillating diaphragm assembly and operable to establish a first baseline pressure associated with the first oscillating pressure and further comprising a second blower coupled to the second oscillating diaphragm assembly and operable to establish a second baseline pressure associated with the second oscillating pressure.

54. An apparatus comprising:

a housing,

an air pulse generator operable to deliver a high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy to a patient, the air pulse generator including a first pressure source carried by the housing, and

a second pressure source carried by the housing and configured to be coupled to a nebulizer.