Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

• US 9,913,955 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Grychowski, Jerry, Foley, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, Todd J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddie, Elliot S
• Application Number:
  US14/620,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20150151060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 12820023
• 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 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• 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 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/10 with powered movement mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/908 Respirator control

Abstract

An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus having a housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, a deformable restrictor member positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, and an oscillation member disposed within the chamber. The deformable restrictor member and the oscillation member are moveable between an engaged position, where the oscillation member is in contact with the deformable restrictor member and an disengaged position, where the oscillation member is not in contact with the deformable restrictor member. The deformable restrictor member and the oscillation member move from the engaged position to the disengaged position in response to a first exhalation pressure at the chamber inlet, and move from the disengaged position to an engaged position in response to a second exhalation pressure at the chamber inlet.

Claims

1. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the housing;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the housing;

an opening defined inside the housing;

an exhalation flow path between the inlet and the outlet;

the exhalation flow path passing through the opening;

an inhalation portal configured to permit inhaled air to enter the housing;

an inhalation flow path between the inhalation portal and the inlet;

a blocking member configured to move relative to the opening between a closed position where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the opening is less restricted; and

, a one-way valve positioned on the blocking member, the one-way valve configured to remain closed in response to the flow of air along the exhalation flow path, and to open in response to the flow of air along the inhalation flow path;

wherein the one-way valve moves with the blocking member.

2. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation portal is configured to receive an aerosol medicament from a nebulizer configured to deliver aerosol therapy.

3. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 2, wherein the oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy during a period of exhalation, and is configured to administer aerosol therapy during a period of inhalation, thereby allowing a user to perform both oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy and aerosol therapy during a respiratory cycle.

4. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation flow path is substantially straight.

5. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation flow path is unobstructed by the blocking member when the blocking member is in the closed position.

6. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation flow path does not flow around the blocking member.

7. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation flow path passes through the opening.

8. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the housing;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the housing;

an opening defined inside the housing;

an exhalation flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the exhalation flow path passing through the opening;

an inhalation portal configured to permit inhaled air to enter the housing;

an inhalation flow path between the inhalation portal and the inlet;

an oscillation member disposed within the housing configured to oscillate in response to the flow of air along the exhalation flow path between a closed position where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the opening is less restricted; and

, a one-way valve positioned on the oscillation member, the one-way valve configured to remain closed in response to the flow of air along the exhalation flow path, and to open in response to the flow of air along the inhalation flow path;

wherein the one-way valve moves with the oscillation member.

9. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inhalation portal is configured to receive an aerosol medicament from a nebulizer configured to deliver aerosol therapy.

10. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 9, wherein the oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy during a period of exhalation, and is configured to administer aerosol therapy during a period of inhalation, thereby allowing a user to perform both oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy and aerosol therapy during a respiratory cycle.

11. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inhalation flow path is substantially straight.

12. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inhalation flow path is unobstructed by the oscillation member when the oscillation member is in the closed position.

13. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inhalation flow path does not flow around the oscillation member.

14. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inhalation flow path passes through the opening.

15. An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the housing;

an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the housing;

an opening defined inside the housing;

an exhalation flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the exhalation flow path passing through the opening;

an inhalation portal configured to permit inhaled air to enter the housing;

an inhalation flow path between the inhalation portal and the inlet, the inhalation flow path passing through the opening;

a blocking member configured to move relative to the opening between a closed position where the flow of air through the opening is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the opening is less restricted; and

, a one-way valve positioned along the exhalation flow path and the inhalation flow path, the one-way valve configured to remain closed in response to the flow of air along the exhalation flow path, and to open in response to the flow of air along the inhalation flow path;

wherein the one-way valve is positioned on and moves with the blocking member.

16. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inhalation portal is configured to receive an aerosol medicament from a nebulizer configured to deliver aerosol therapy.

17. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 16, wherein the oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus is configured to administer oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy during a period of exhalation, and is configured to administer aerosol therapy during a period of inhalation, thereby allowing a user to perform both oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy and aerosol therapy during a respiratory cycle.

18. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inhalation flow path is substantially straight.

19. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inhalation flow path is unobstructed by the blocking member when the blocking member is in the closed position.

20. The oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inhalation flow path does not flow around the blocking member.