VIBRATORY POSITIVE EXPIRATORY PRESSURE DEVICE

• US 20130184619A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Von Hollen, Dirk Ernest, Brooks, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 10,039,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• 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: 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 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 for improving respiratory function

Abstract

A method of providing airway clearance therapy to a patient includes receiving an expiratory airstream from the patient in a chamber, causing a back pressure to be created in the chamber (10) in response to receiving the expiratory airstream, causing a one-way valve, such as a magnetic duckbill valve (26), located downstream of the chamber to open only in response to the back pressure being at least equal to a certain predetermined level, causing a vibratory effect to be generated downstream of the one-way valve, for example using a vibratory ball check valve (32), when the one-way valve is open and in response to the expiratory air-stream passing therethrough, and delivering a percussive sensation to the patient through the chamber responsive to the vibratory effect.

Claims

1. A positive expiratory pressure device (2), comprising:

a chamber (10) structured to receive an expiratory airstream of a patient, the chamber having a fluid pathway (14) passing therethrough;

a magnetic duckbill valve (26) provided along the fluid pathway, the magnetic duckbill valve (26) having a first wall (30A) supporting a number of first magnets (28) having a first polarity and a second wall (30B) supporting a number of second magnets (28) having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the first magnets (28) and the second magnets (28) being configured to create a resistive cracking force in the magnetic duckbill valve wherein the magnetic duckbill valve is structured to open only in response to at least a certain back pressure being created in the chamber (10); and

a vibratory ball check valve (32) provided along the fluid pathway downstream of the magnetic duckbill valve.

2. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises an air intake chamber (10) having an air intake port (18) oriented perpendicular to the fluid pathway (14), the air intake port (18) having a check valve (16) structured to permit only fluid flow into the air intake port (18).

3. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 2, further comprising a mouthpiece portion (4) coupled to a first end (12) of the air intake chamber, the magnetic duckbill valve (26) being provided in magnetic duckbill valve assembly (20) coupled to a second end (24) of the air intake chamber.

4. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 2, wherein the fluid pathway (14) is a longitudinal fluid pathway provided along a longitudinal axis of the positive expiratory pressure device (2).

5. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the vibratory ball check valve (32) is provided as part of a vibratory ball check valve assembly (20), wherein a first end of the vibratory ball check valve assembly (20) is coupled to an outlet end of the magnetic duckbill valve assembly (20), wherein the vibratory ball check valve assembly (20) includes a tapered port (42) provided at the first end thereof, a valve seat (44) provided at an end of the tapered port (42), a second chamber (46) provided adjacent the valve seat (44), and a spherical element (52) provided in the second chamber (46), the spherical element (52) being structured to move within the second chamber (46) and intermittently engage the valve seat (44).

6. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 5, wherein the vibratory ball check valve assembly (20) includes a snubber element (50) positioned in the second chamber (46) opposite the valve seat (44), wherein the spherical element (52) is structured to intermittently engage the snubber element (50).

7. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 6, wherein the snubber element (50) is made of an elastomeric material.

8. A positive expiratory pressure device (2), comprising:

a chamber (10) structured to receive an expiratory airstream of a patient;

a one-way valve (26) provided downstream of the chamber (10), wherein the one-way valve (26) is structured to open only in response to at least a certain back pressure being created in the chamber (10); and

a vibratory ball check valve (32) provided downstream of the one-way valve (26), wherein the chamber (10), the one-way valve (26) and the vibratory ball check valve (32) are provided along a linear fluid flow pathway (14).

9. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the chamber (10) comprises an air intake chamber (10) having an air intake port (18) oriented perpendicular to the linear fluid flow pathway (14), the air intake port (18) having a check valve (16) structured to permit only fluid flow into the air intake port (18).

10. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the one-way valve (26) is provided in a valve assembly (20) coupled to an end (24) of the chamber (10), wherein the vibratory ball check valve (32) is provided as part of a vibratory ball check valve assembly (32), wherein a first end of the vibratory ball check valve assembly (32) is coupled to an outlet end of the valve assembly (20), wherein the vibratory ball check valve assembly (32) includes a tapered port (42) provided at the first end thereof, a valve seat (44) provided at an end of the tapered port (42) , a second chamber (46) provided adjacent the valve seat (44), and a spherical element (52) provided in the second chamber (46), the spherical element (52) being structured to move within the second chamber (46) and intermittently engage the valve seat (44).

11. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 10, wherein the vibratory ball check valve assembly (32) includes a snubber element (50) positioned in the second chamber (46) opposite the valve seat (44), wherein the spherical element (52) is structured to intermittently engage the snubber element (50).

12. The positive expiratory pressure device (2) according to claim 11, wherein the snubber element (50) is made of an elastomeric material.

13. A method of providing airway clearance therapy to a patient, comprising:

receiving an expiratory airstream from the patient in a chamber (10);

causing a back pressure to be created in the chamber (10) in response to receiving the expiratory airstream;

causing a one-way valve (26) located downstream of the chamber (10) to open only in response to the back pressure being at least equal to a certain predetermined level;

causing a vibratory effect to be generated downstream of the one-way valve (26) when the one-way valve (26) is open and in response to the expiratory airstream passing therethrough; and

delivering a percussive sensation to the patient through the chamber (10) responsive to the vibratory effect.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the one-way valve (26) is a magnetic duckbill valve (26) having a first wall (30A) supporting a number of first magnets (28) having a first polarity and a second wall (30B) supporting a number of second magnets (28) having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the first magnets (28) and the second magnets (28) being configured to create a resistive cracking force in the magnetic duckbill valve (26) wherein the magnetic duckbill valve (26) is structured to open only in response to the back pressure in the chamber (10) being equal to at least the certain predetermined level.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the causing the vibratory effect comprises causing a vibratory ball check valve (32) located downstream of the one-way valve (26) to create the vibratory effect.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the chamber (10), the one-way valve (26) and the vibratory ball check valve (32) are provided along a linear fluid flow pathway.