FLOW CONTROL ADAPTER FOR PERFORMING SPIROMETRY AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING
First Claim
1. A flow control adapter comprising:
- a subject port adapted to couple to a tracheostomy tube;
an inspiratory port adapted to couple to an incentive spirometer;
an expiratory port;
an adapter body that defines an inspiratory fluid flow path between the inspiratory port and the subject port and that defines an expiratory fluid flow path between the subject port and the expiratory port during use; and
a one-way valve that substantially prevents air that flows substantially along the inspiratory fluid flow path from flowing through the expiratory port during inspiration and allows air flowing substantially along the expiratory fluid flow path to flow through the expiratory port during expiration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breathing circuit for a tracheostomized patient provides respiratory care and pulmonary function testing. The breathing circuit includes a flow control adapter that directs an inspiratory flow of air and an expiratory flow of air. The flow control adapter includes a subject port for coupling to a tracheostomy tube, an inspiratory port for coupling to an incentive spirometer, and an expiratory port. The flow control adapter further includes an adapter body and a one-way valve. The adapter body is configured to define an inspiratory fluid flow path between the inspiratory port and the subject port and to define an expiratory fluid flow path between the subject port and the expiratory port. The one-way valve substantially prevents air that flows generally along the inspiratory fluid flow path from flowing through the expiratory port during inspiration and allows air flowing generally along the expiratory fluid flow path to flow through the expiratory port during expiration.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A flow control adapter comprising:
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a subject port adapted to couple to a tracheostomy tube; an inspiratory port adapted to couple to an incentive spirometer; an expiratory port; an adapter body that defines an inspiratory fluid flow path between the inspiratory port and the subject port and that defines an expiratory fluid flow path between the subject port and the expiratory port during use; and a one-way valve that substantially prevents air that flows substantially along the inspiratory fluid flow path from flowing through the expiratory port during inspiration and allows air flowing substantially along the expiratory fluid flow path to flow through the expiratory port during expiration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A breathing circuit comprising:
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an incentive spirometer; a tracheostomy tube; a pulmonary testing device; and a flow control adapter having an inspiratory mode to fluidically couple the incentive spirometer to the tracheostomy tube while substantially preventing fluid communication between the pulmonary testing device and at least one of the tracheostomy tube and the incentive spirometer, the flow control adapter further having an expiratory mode to fluidically couple the tracheostomy tube to the pulmonary testing device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for performing spirometry, comprising:
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delivering inspiratory air away from an incentive spirometer through a flow control adapter and into a tracheostomy tube while a valve of the flow control adapter is in a closed position; delivering expiratory air away from a subject connected to the tracheostomy tube and into the flow control adapter; delivering the expiratory air within the flow control adapter past the valve in an open position; and delivering the expiratory air that has been delivered past the valve to a pulmonary testing device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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providing a breathing circuit including an incentive spirometer, a flow control device, and a pulmonary testing device; incentive spirometry testing using the incentive spirometer while a patient inhales and the flow control device at least inhibits inspiratory air flow towards the pulmonary testing device; and pulmonary testing using the pulmonary testing device while the patient exhales causing expiratory air flow through the flow control device towards the pulmonary testing device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification