PORTABLE BREATHING DEVICE

• US 20080053456A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Actegy Limited, Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: South Bank University Enterprises Limited (London South Bank University)
• Inventors: Brown, Roger Leslie, Sumners, David Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• 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 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0018 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• 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 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8275 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 : Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 : using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 : using pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 : by moving the surrounding air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/74 : Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/405 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 : for improving respiratory function
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A pulsed breathing device has a base unit containing a motor and control circuit and a detachable head unit containing a valve, driven by the motor, which can interrupt the flow of air being breathed.

Claims

1. A breathing device which comprises:

a base unit;

a head unit detachably attached to the base unit;

a conduit in the head unit through which a user can breathe; and

a valve mounted in the conduit arranged to interrupt the flow of air down the conduit.

2. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and having a mouthpiece which can fit over the mouth and/or nose of a user so that a user breathes through the mouthpiece.

3. A breathing device as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the mouth piece is detachable.

4. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein there is a restrictor in the air inlet for restricting the flow of air.

5. A breathing device as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the restrictor is removable.

6. A breathing device as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the restrictor is adjustable.

7. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the valve produces regular periodic interruptions to the flow of air reaching the user and being breathed in by a user.

8. A breathing device as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the valve is a rotary valve which is driven by a motor in the base unit and the axle of the motor engages with the drive mechanism of the valve.

9. A breathing device as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the rotary valve comprises:

a housing containing a fluid flow path with a central axis;

a plug having a sealing face cooperating with said housing in the closed position to block the fluid flow path, and

a support shaft arranged to carry said plug and being rotatable on an axis which is normal to and spaced from the axis of said valve seat and located outside of the flow path so that rotation of the said shaft moves said plug relative to said housing.

10. A breathing device as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the valve comprises two discs, at least one of which can be rotated relative to the other, with each of the discs defining at least one opening therethrough, the discs being positioned in the air flow so that, as at least one of the discs rotates relative to the other, the openings in the two discs are periodically coincident so as to form a continuous air flow passage.

11. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the head unit of the device can be removed and can be sterilised without the sterilisation of the base unit.

12. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 together with a plurality of different head units.

13. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the valve comprises a rotary vane (700), a plurality of spaced magnets (704) and a co-operating single magnet (705).

14. A breathing device as claimed in claim 13 and which is arranged to be breath driven.

15. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and incorporating a battery.

16. A breathing device as claimed in claim 15 and wherein the battery is rechargeable.

17. A breathing device as claimed in claim 16 and incorporating means to manually charge the battery.

18. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and which is powered manually.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 and which is clockwork powered.

20. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the head unit incorporates data monitoring and data gathering sensors.

21. A breathing device as claimed in claim 20 and wherein the sensor measures at least one of pressures, flow rates, adjustment to changes in rate of interruption of the flow.

22. A breathing device as claimed in claim 20 and having a display screen for displaying data obtained.

23. A breathing device as claimed in claim 20 and having means to store the data obtained electronically.

24. A breathing device as claimed in claim 20 and having means to transmit data obtained to a remote location.

25. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and having means to vary the speed of the valve.

26. A breathing device as claimed in claim 25 and wherein the means to vary the speed of the valve is arranged to do so according to a fixed cycle.

27. A breathing device as claimed in claim 28 and wherein the means to vary the speed of the valve is arranged to do so randomly.

28. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and having a plurality of valves, each driven by a separate motor.

29. A breathing device as claimed in claim 28 and wherein the valves are in series.

30. A breathing device as claimed in claim 28 and wherein the valves are in parallel.

31. A breathing device as claimed in claim 28 and wherein one of the valves is arranged to be driven at a constant rate and another at a varying rate.