Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

• US 8,485,179 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Meyer, Adam, Gulka, Noel, Schmidt, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bouchelle, Laura A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATNEY, BROOKE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/711,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.19, 128/204.18, 128/205.16, 128/205.19, 128/202.14, 128/203.14, 128/203.24, 128/205.24, 128/207.12
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0098 Activated by exhalation
• 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 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising a housing enclosing at least one chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the at least one chamber, and a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the at least one chamber. A channel is positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, with the channel being moveably connected to a chamber of the at least one chamber. An air flow regulator is moveable with respect to the channel between a first position, where the flow of air through the channel is restricted and a second position, where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of exhaled air.

Claims

1. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising:

a housing enclosing at least one chamber;

a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the at least one chamber;

a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the at least one chamber;

a channel positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, the channel configured for movement relative to the housing by a force of gravity in response to a change in an orientation of the housing; and

,

an air flow regulator moveable with respect to the channel between a first position, where the flow of air through the channel is restricted and a second position, where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of exhaled air.

2. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of exhaled air through the channel during exhalation.

3. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the channel is moveable about a center of rotation.

4. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 3, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a center of mass offset from the center of rotation.

5. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the channel is biased by the weight of the air flow regulator in the direction of gravity.

6. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein a resistance to the flow of exhaled air through the channel during exhalation is selectively adjustable independent of an orientation of the housing.

7. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a truncated cone.

8. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 7, wherein the truncated cone is rotatable about an axis offset from a central axis of the truncated cone.

9. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 8, wherein the truncated cone is rotatable by a gear train extending beyond the housing.

10. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a spherical shape.

11. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the channel is moveably connected to the housing by at least one gimbal.

12. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 11, wherein the channel is moveable about an axis of rotation defined by a gimbal of the at least one gimbal.

13. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 11, wherein the gimbal comprises a passage defining a portion of the exhalation flow path.

14. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, wherein the channel is moveably connected to the housing by a ball and socket joint.

15. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 1, further comprising a nebulizer port for receiving an aerosol medicament into the at least one chamber.

16. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 15, wherein the nebulizer port further comprises a one-way valve configured to open during inhalation and close during exhalation.

17. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 15, further comprising an inhalation flow path between the nebulizer port and the chamber inlet, the inhalation flow path bypassing the channel.

18. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicia moveable with the channel, wherein at least a portion of the indicia is viewable from an exterior of the housing when the oscillating positive expiratory pressure device is in an orientation predetermined to be acceptable for the administration of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy.

19. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible annulus disposed between the housing and the channel, wherein the annulus is configured to expand in response to an increased pressure and form a seal between the housing and the channel.

20. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber being moveably connected to the first chamber, and the channel being moveable with the second chamber.

21. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber;

a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the first chamber;

a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the second chamber;

an exhalation flow path defined between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet;

a channel positioned in the second chamber in the exhalation flow path, the channel configured for movement relative to the first chamber by a force of gravity in response to a change in an orientation of the first chamber; and

,

an air flow regulator positioned in the channel, the air flow regulator being configured to oscillate in response to a flow of exhaled air between a first position, where the flow of air through the channel is restricted and a second position, where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted.

22. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, wherein the second chamber is configured to automatically move relative to the first chamber to maintain an orientation with respect to a direction of gravity.

23. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of exhaled air through the channel during exhalation.

24. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, wherein the second chamber is moveably connected to the first chamber by a gimbal.

25. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 24, wherein the channel is moveable about an axis of rotation defined by the gimbal.

26. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 25, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a center of mass offset from the axis of rotation.

27. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 24, wherein the gimbal comprises a passage between the first chamber and the second chamber and defines a portion of the exhalation flow path.

28. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, wherein the channel is biased by a weight of the air flow regulator in a direction of gravity.

29. The oscillating positive expiratory pressured device of claim 21, wherein the channel comprises a truncated cone.

30. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a spherical shape.

31. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 21, further comprising a nebulizer port for receiving an aerosol medicament into the first chamber.

32. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 31, wherein the nebulizer port further comprises a one-way valve configured to open during inhalation and close during exhalation.

33. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure device of claim 31, further comprising an inhalation flow path between the nebulizer port and the chamber inlet, the inhalation flow path bypassing the channel.