Breathing treatment apparatus
First Claim
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1. A breathing treatment apparatus comprising:
- a source of gas under pressure capable of providing substantially continuous positive gas flow;
regulator means for regulating the flow of said substantially continuous positive gas flow between said source and a patient;
selector means for selecting between one or more modes of operation, including at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;
means for interrupting said continuous positive gas flow;
a patient interface circuit having one or more apertures open to the ambient to allow ingress and egress of flow and calibrated to allow patient exhalation and prevent stacking of successive volumes of gas in the airway of the patient, the patient interface circuit further having a removable nebulizer, a venturi tube fluidly connected to said one or more apertures, and a means for covering a portion of said one or more apertures to restrict ingress and egress of flow; and
a gas control box housing the regulator means and the means for interrupting, the housing carrying the selector means, the housing having a first connector to which the source of gas couples, the housing having at least one second connector to which the patient interface circuit couples, and the housing having a nebulizer dryer nozzle through which gas is expelled to dry the nebulizer when the nebulizer is removed from the patient interface circuit.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating a variety of breathing disorders experienced by patients. The invention is particularly suited to the treatment of atelectasis, the partial or total collapse of the lung, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that it has applications in treating other disorders as well. Treating patients with breathing disorders traditionally has required the use of multiple types of apparatus in order to provide the multiple types of treatment used. The present invention provides for a treatment apparatus that is enabled to provide multiple types of treatment, depending on the needs of the patient.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A breathing treatment apparatus comprising:
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a source of gas under pressure capable of providing substantially continuous positive gas flow; regulator means for regulating the flow of said substantially continuous positive gas flow between said source and a patient; selector means for selecting between one or more modes of operation, including at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation; means for interrupting said continuous positive gas flow; a patient interface circuit having one or more apertures open to the ambient to allow ingress and egress of flow and calibrated to allow patient exhalation and prevent stacking of successive volumes of gas in the airway of the patient, the patient interface circuit further having a removable nebulizer, a venturi tube fluidly connected to said one or more apertures, and a means for covering a portion of said one or more apertures to restrict ingress and egress of flow; and a gas control box housing the regulator means and the means for interrupting, the housing carrying the selector means, the housing having a first connector to which the source of gas couples, the housing having at least one second connector to which the patient interface circuit couples, and the housing having a nebulizer dryer nozzle through which gas is expelled to dry the nebulizer when the nebulizer is removed from the patient interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification