Randomly interrupted breathing device

• US 9,421,342 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Actegy Limited
• Original Assignee: Actegy Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Roger Leslie, Sumners, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US13/896,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.26, 128/200.27, 128/200.28, 128/201.25, 128/201.29, 128/202.16, 128/203.24, 128/204.11, 128/204.18, 128/204.19, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/205.12, 128/205.22, 128/205.24, 128/205.27, 128/207.16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/14 specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 for improving respiratory function

Abstract

Apparatus for randomly varying the breathing resistance applied to human and animal subjects to improve their performance.

Claims

1. A breathing device comprising:

an air inlet configured to be inhaled through by a user;

an air outlet configured through which the user can breathe;

a conduit connecting the air inlet and the air outlet;

a rotary valve positioned in the conduit so that air entering through the air inlet and inhaled by the user can be interrupted by the rotary valve; and

means to rotate the rotary valve; and

means to vary the speed of rotation of the rotary valve to vary the frequency of interruption of the flow of air through the conduit;

wherein the frequency of the interruptions to the flow of air is in the range of 5 to 100 Hz.

2. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein the frequency of interruption of the flow of air can be varied randomly.

3. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein the frequency of the interruptions to the flow of air is in the range of 10 to 50 Hz.

4. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein the air outlet incorporates a mouthpiece which is configured to fit over the mouth and/or nose of a user so that a user breathes through the mouthpiece.

5. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein there is a plurality of valves.

6. The breathing device of claim 5 and wherein the said valves are in series.

7. The breathing device of claim 5 and wherein the said valves are in parallel.

8. The breathing device of claim 5 and wherein one valve is operated at a constant rate and another at a varying rate.

9. The breathing device of claim 1 further comprising a control system which can change the speed of rotation of the valve whilst the device is in use.

10. The breathing device of claim 9 and wherein the control system incorporates a random number generator which controls the speed of rotation of the valves in accordance with the random numbers.

11. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein the rotary valve comprises;

a housing containing a fluid flow path with a central axis;

a plug having a sealing face cooperating with a valve seat in said housing in the closed position to block the fluid flow path; and

a support shaft arranged to carry said plug and being rotatable on an axis which is normal to and spaced from the axis of said valve seat so that rotation of the said shaft moves said plug relative to said housing.

12. The breathing device of claim 11 and wherein the valve comprises two discs, with each of the discs defining at least one opening therethrough, the discs being positioned in the air flow so that at least one of the discs can rotate relative to the other disc whereby the holes in the two discs are periodically coincident so as to form a continuous air flow passage.

13. The breathing device of claim 1 and wherein the rotary valve comprises a rotary vane, a plurality of spaced apart magnets and a co-operating single magnet.

14. The breathing device of claim 13 and which is arranged to be breath driven.

15. The breathing device of claim 1 and which incorporates a battery.

16. The breathing device of claim 15 and wherein the battery is rechargeable.

17. The breathing device of claim 16 and incorporating means to manually charge the battery.

18. The breathing device of claim 1 and which is powered manually.

19. The breathing device of claim 1 and which is clockwork powered.

20. The breathing device of claim 1 and incorporating data monitoring and data gathering sensors.

21. The breathing device of claim 20 and wherein the sensor measures at least one of pressures, flow rates, adjustment to changes in the rate of interruption of the flow.

22. The breathing device of claim 20 and having a display screen to display data obtained.

23. The breathing device of claim 20 and having means to store the data obtained electronically.

24. The breathing device of claim 20 and having means to transmit data obtained to a remote location.

25. The breathing device of claim 1 and having dimensions no greater than 10 cm*8 cm*4 cm.

26. The breathing device of claim 1 wherein the frequency of interruption of the flow of air through the conduit can be varied whilst the device is in use.

27. A method of training a person or animal comprising interrupting the breathing of the person or animal at a frequency which varies during a training period and wherein controlling of the breathing is carried out by the user breathing in and out through a breathing device as claimed in claim 1.