PORTABLE HIGH FREQUENCY AIR PULSE DELIVERY DEVICE

• US 20110282248A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited), University of Western Ontario
• Original Assignee: University of Western Ontario
• Inventors: ZEHR, JOHN, NUTTALL, MICHAEL, NOWAK, BART, FINLAY, BRYAN, THEURER, JULIE, MARTIN, RUTH E.
• Application Number:
  US13/040,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 21/00 Massage devices for cavities of the body , e.g. nose, ears and anus for the genitals A61H19/00; Vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0061 Swallow helping devices, e.g. tongue shields
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/049 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0206 where the catheter is secured by using devices worn by the patient, e.g. belts or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A portable air pulse delivery device includes a housing and an air compressor having a motor disposed in the housing. The motor is operable at speeds between 1200 and 4800 rpm. The air compressor includes an air inlet and an air outlet. An untethered power source is disposed in the housing and is operably connected to the motor. An intake filter is disposed in the housing and is in fluid communication with the air inlet of the air compressor. An outlet port is coupled to the air outlet of the air compressor and is in communication with an exterior of the housing. A mouthpiece includes an inlet coupled to the outlet port and an outlet having a gas exit port. The air compressor is operative to produce an average gas flow rate of between about 2-3 L/min at the gas exit port at a pulsation frequency of between about 20 Hz to 80 Hz. A method for delivering air pulses to a mouth of a user is also provided.

Claims

1. A portable air pulse delivery device comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor comprising a motor disposed in said housing, said motor operable at speeds between 1200 and 4800 rpm, said air compressor comprising an air inlet and an air outlet;

an untethered power source disposed in said housing and operably connected to said motor;

an intake filter disposed in said housing, said intake filter in fluid communication with said air inlet of said air compressor;

an outlet port coupled to said air outlet of said air compressor and communicating with an exterior of said housing; and

a mouthpiece comprising an inlet coupled to said outlet port and an outlet comprising a gas exit port, wherein said air compressor is operative to produce an average gas flow rate of between about 2-3 L/min at said gas exit port at a pulsation frequency of between about 20 Hz to 80 Hz.

2. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said mouthpiece is releasably coupled to said outlet port.

3. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a hands free support coupled to said housing.

4. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said housing has a volume of less than about 1000 cm³.

5. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said housing has a volume of less than about 600 cm³.

6. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said housing has a volume of less than about 200 cm³.

7. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 further comprising controller operably coupled to said motor so as to cycle said motor on and off in a predetermined sequence of time periods.

8. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said untethered power source comprises at least one 9V battery.

9. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises a scented element.

10. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 3, wherein said hands free support is a lanyard.

11. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 3, wherein said hands free support is a hook and loop strap.

12. The portable air pulse delivery device of claim 1 further comprising an output delivering a signal when said air compressor is operative.

13. A method for delivering air pulses to a mouth of a user comprising:

providing an untethered portable air pulse delivery device comprising a housing and a mouthpiece connected to said housing, said mouthpiece having a gas exit port;

inserting said mouthpiece into the mouth of the user wherein said gas exit port is disposed in the mouth of the user;

actuating a power switch on said housing;

automatically turning a compressor motor located in said housing on and off for a predetermined sequence of predetermined time periods and actuating a pump with said compressor motor;

operating said motor at a speed of between 1200 and 4800 rpm when turned on; and

producing an average gas flow rate of air with said pump between about 2-3 L/min at said gas exit port at a pulsation frequency of between about 20 Hz to 80 Hz when said motor is turned on.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said compressor motor is automatically turned off a final time after said predetermined sequence without intervention by the user.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling said device to the user such that said device is retained by the user hands-free.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said coupling said device to the user comprises disposing said housing in a pocket of an article of clothing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said coupling said device to the user comprises disposing a lanyard connected to said housing about a neck of the user.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said producing said average gas flow rate of air comprises producing air pulses at said gas exit port at a pressure less than 2.25 mmHg.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising filtering air entering said pump driven by said compressor motor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said filtering said air comprises adding a scent to said air with a scent element.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising releasably connecting said mouthpiece to said housing.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising powering said compressor motor with an untethered power source disposed in said housing.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising delivering an output signal while operating said motor.