Respiratory stimulator & methods of use

• US 5,647,345 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbert D. Saul
• Original Assignee: Gilbert D. Saul
• Inventors: Saul, Gilbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US08/473,141
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.23, 128/202.28, 128/200.24, 128/205.14, 128/261.13, 128/205.17, 128/720, 128/205.28, 128/203.28
• US Class Current: 128/201.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0045 Means for re-breathing exhaled gases, e.g. for hyperventilation treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/006 under hypoxy conditions, i.e. oxygen supply subnormal

Abstract

Disclosed is an isocapnic respiratory stimulator for providing a mixture of fresh air and CO2 enriched exhaled air. The respirator comprises a mixing chamber with a breathing port and at least one vent port. Fresh air is mixed thoroughly with exhaled air in the mixing chamber. Upon sustained breathing from the chamber, the minute ventilation of the insure is increased with experiencing any substantial change in arterial blood CO2 level. This provides methods to avoid or treat hypoxia experienced by an individual at altitudes above 5000 feet, to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, to induce losing weight, to assist in smoking cessation, to condition an athlete to minimize dyspnea, and to condition respiratory muscles.

Claims

1. A respiratory stimulator, including

a rigid mixing chamber where the contents of the chamber include exhaled air and fresh air which are mixed together by the breathing of a user, said chamber not varying substantially in volume in response to exhalation and inhalation of the user,

a breathing port in the chamber which provides communication between the user and the mixing chamber, upon exhalation of the user, exhaled air entering the chamber as a jet stream to create turbulence within the chamber and being entrapped in the chamber and mixed with the contents of the chamber, and, upon inhalation of the user, a portion of the contents of the chamber being drawn through the breathing port, and

a vent opening structure in the chamber for providing communication between the mixing chamber and the atmosphere, upon exhalation of the user, a portion the contents of the chamber substantially equal to the volume of air exhaled by the user being exhausted to the atmosphere through the vent opening structure, and upon inhalation of the user, fresh air as a jet stream substantially equal to the volume of air inhaled by the user being introduced into the chamber through the vent opening structure,

said vent opening structure having a sufficiently large cross-sectional area to allow that portion of the contents of the chamber being exhausted to flow freely out of the chamber as the user exhales into the chamber without substantially increasing the pressure within the chamber yet being sufficiently restrictive to promote turbulent mixing in the chamber of the contents of the chamber and fresh air drawn into the chamber upon inhalation.

2. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 where the pressure within the chamber upon exhalation or exhalation does not change more than 15 centimeters of water either above or below ambient atmospheric pressure.

3. The respiratory stimulator of claim 2 where the volume of the chamber ranges between 1.5 and 20 liters.

4. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 where cross-sectional area of the vent opening structure ranges between 0.75 and 20 square centimeters.

5. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 where the breathing port of the chamber is enlarged into an open end of a face mask that fits over the mouth, the mouth and nostrils, or the entire face of the user.

6. The respiratory stimulator of claim 5 where face mask has a collapsed position and an extended position.

7. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 including a breathing passageway structure for placing the breathing port in communication with the mouth or nostrils, or both, of the user, said breathing passageway structure having a volume which is less than 500 cubic centimeters.

8. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 where the chamber includes a filter.

9. The respiratory stimulator of claim 1 where the chamber is in communication with a supply of oxygen gas.

10. A respiratory stimulator for increasing the minute ventilation of a user to a predetermined level substantially above the minute ventilation of user when breathing normally during resting, including

a rigid mixing chamber in which exhaled air is mixed with fresh air and which does not vary in volume in response to inhalation and exhalation of a user, said chamber having a predetermined capacity based on said predetermined level of increased minute ventilation,

a breathing port in the chamber which provides communication between the user and the mixing chamber, the exhaled air entering the chamber through the breathing port being entrapped in the chamber and mixed with fresh air in said chamber,

a breathing passageway structure for placing the breathing port in communication with the mouth or nostrils, or both, of the user, said breathing passageway structure having a volume which is less than 500 cubic centimeters, and

a vent opening structure in the chamber through which, upon exhalation, a portion of the exhaled air/fresh air mixture in the chamber equal to the volume of air exhaled by the user is exhausted to the atmosphere and through which, upon inhalation, fresh air equal to the volume of air inhaled by the user is introduced into the chamber,

said vent opening structure having a sufficiently large cross-sectional area to allow the exhaled air/fresh air mixture to flow freely out of the chamber as the user exhales into the chamber without substantially increasing the pressure within the chamber yet being sufficiently restrictive to promote mixing in the chamber of fresh air with exhaled air.