Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

• US 9,220,855 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• 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): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/920,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.19, 128/204.18, 128/205.13, 128/205.19, 128/202.14, 128/203.14, 128/203.24, 128/205.24, 128/207.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

a housing enclosing a chamber;

a chamber inlet configured to receive air into the chamber;

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

a channel positioned in a flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet; 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 air along the flow path;

wherein an orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user.

2. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user independent of an orientation of the housing.

3. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a truncated cone.

4. The respiratory treatment device of claim 3, wherein the truncated cone is rotatable about an axis offset from a central axis of the truncated cone.

5. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a spherical shape.

6. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of air through the channel.

7. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to move with respect to the housing in response to a change in an orientation of the housing.

8. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the channel relative to the air flow regulator is selectively adjustable by a user.

9. A respiratory treatment device comprising:

a housing enclosing a chamber;

a chamber inlet configured to receive air into the chamber;

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

a channel positioned in a flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet; 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 air along the flow path;

wherein an orientation of the channel relative to the air flow regulator is selectively adjustable by a user.

10. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein the orientation of the channel relative to the air flow regulator is selectively adjustable by a user independent of an orientation of the housing.

11. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein the channel comprises a truncated cone.

12. The respiratory treatment device of claim 11, wherein the truncated cone is rotatable about an axis offset from a central axis of the truncated cone.

13. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a spherical shape.

14. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of air through the channel.

15. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein the channel is configured to move with respect to the housing in response to a change in an orientation of the housing.

16. The respiratory treatment device of claim 9, wherein the orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user.

17. A method of performing respiratory therapy, the method comprising:

selectively adjusting an orientation of a channel relative to a housing of a respiratory treatment device having an inlet configured to receive air into the housing and an outlet configured to permit air to exit the housing;

receiving a flow of air into the housing;

directing the flow of air through the channel;

moving an air flow regulator with respect to the channel repeatedly 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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable independent of an orientation of the housing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the air flow regulator moves repeatedly between the first position and the second position in response to the flow of air through the channel.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of air through the channel.