Inspirational inhalation spirometer apparatus

• US 4,210,155 A
• Filed: 08/03/1978
• Issued: 07/01/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerry Grimes
• Original Assignee: Jerry Grimes
• Inventors: Grimes, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/930,553
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 128/173 R, 128/193, 128/194, 128/195, 128/196, 128/197, 128/201, 128/205, 128/206, 128/207, 128/208, 128/209, 128/210, 128/188, 128/727, 128/725, 128/716, 128/145.8 , 128/202, 128/187
• US Class Current: 600/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0871 Peak expiratory flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices

Abstract

A disposable inhalation spirometer apparatus for prophylactic respiratory maneuver is in expensively constructed and intended for single-patient use. The apparatus includes a tube with an interior respiratory passage communicating through a one-way valve structure to a nebulizer assembly and having a separate visual inhalation meter. The nebulizer assembly includes both a medicant mist dispensing nebulizer and an enlarged, enclosed, mist accumulation chamber which is positioned between the nebulizer and the tube passage. The visual inhalation meter includes a tube defining a chamber and having a transparent portion or window with a scale or indicia thereon and in which is mounted a floating piston movable in response to low differential pressure to indicate relative inspirational ability. A one-way check valve in an end of the tube passage opens to the atmosphere upon exhalation and permits the patient to maintain constant contact with a tube mouthpiece.

Claims

1. A disposable inhalation spirometer apparatus for prophylactic respiratory maneuver and intended for single patient use, said spirometer apparatus comprising:

(a) a tube member having an interior respiratory passage and opposite end portions, one of said end portions having means for breathing use by a patient;

(b) an enlarged, enclosed mist accumulation chamber of substantially greater cross-sectional diameter than said tube member and of a size to contain a volume of air on the order of an entire inhalation by the patient and having a rigid wall and inlet means and an outlet means connected closely adjacent to said tube member interior passage intermediate said opposite end portions;

(c) a bleed port extended through said wall and open to the atmosphere exterior of said accumulation chamber;

(d) a medicant mist dispensing nebulizer having outlet means connected to said accumulation chamber inlet means whereby an entire inhalation of air and medicant is collected in said accumulation chamber and having a nebulizer inlet means communicating with a pressurized gas supply source for introducing a flow of pressurized gas in said spirometer apparatus;

(e) check valve means positioned between said chamber and said tube member and operative to close automatically upon expiration and open upon inhalation;

(f) a visual meter indicating relative inhalational ability and including a tube having a transparent portion and defining a meter chamber connected to and extended upwardly from said tube member and positioned closer to the other end portion of said tube member relative to said accumulation chamber, said meter chamber having a substantially closed bottom and a top communicating with a passage to said tube member and directing respiratory pressure differentials thereto;

(g) a piston responsive to said respiratory pressure differentials slidably mounted in said meter chamber and moving upwardly therein upon inhalation and moving downwardly therein upon exhalation by said patient; and

(h) check valve means at the other end portion of said tube member and operative to close automatically upon inhalation and open upon exhalation, said visual meter positioned between said check valve means at the other end portion and said accumulation chamber outlet means.

2. A disposable, lightweight, compact inhalation spirometer apparatus for prophylactic respiratory maneuver and intended for single patient use, said spirometer apparatus comprising:

(a) an air inlet tube having an interior passage and opposite end portions, one of said end portions including means adapted for connection to means providing a flow of pressurized air for breathing by a patient;

(b) the other end portion of said air inlet tube connected to a nebulizer having a medicant fluid reservoir therewith, said nebulizer having an outlet and a mist dispensing nozzle communicating with said air inlet tube and receiving the flow of pressurized air therethrough;

(c) an enlarged, enclosed mist accumulation chamber having an inlet and outlet and a rigid wall therearound and having said inlet connected to said nebulizer outlet, said mist accumulation chamber being of substantially greater cross-sectional area than said air inlet tube and of a size to collect and contain a volume of air and medicant mist on the order of an entire inhalation of air and medicant mist by said patient;

(d) a breathing tube having an interior passage, one end including means for breathing therethrough by the patient and a second end for exhalation of expired air, said outlet of said mist accumulation chamber connected to said breathing tube intermediate of said one end and said second end for supplying air and medicant mist to said patient upon inhalation;

(e) a visual meter means affixed to said breathing tube adjacent said mist accumulation chamber outlet and operative therewith to provide an indication of breathing ability, said meter means having a float slidably positioned in a tubular housing and sensitive to pressure differentials in said breathing tube to move up and down in said housing; and

(f) a valve means communicating with said breathing tube to prevent flow from said mist accumulation chamber and permit flow through said second end upon exhalation and permit flow from said mist accumulation chamber and prevent flow through said second end upon inhalation.

3. The spirometer apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said mist accumulation chamber includes a bleed air port extended through said wall and open to atmosphere exterior thereof for venting excessive pressure therefrom.

4. The spirometer apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said check valve means are positioned between said mist accumulation chamber and said breathing tube and responsive to differential pressure and opening upon inhalation.

5. The spirometer apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said visual meter means includes said tubular housing upstanding from said breathing tube and a second tube upstanding therewith and having an internal passage communicating with said float to move said float upwardly in said tubular housing in response to inhalation by said patient.