Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

• US 9,950,128 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• 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:
  US14/946,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20160136369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• 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, the channel comprising a truncated cone within the channel, wherein the truncated cone is defined by a base and a plane at an oblique angle relative to the base; and

,

an air flow regulator moveable with respect to the channel in response to a flow of air along the flow path 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.

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

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

4. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the channel is rotatable about a central axis of the channel.

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 air flow regulator is configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to the flow of air along the flow path.

17. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the truncated cone is further defined by a central axis at a right angle relative to the base.

18. The respiratory treatment device of claim 1, wherein the truncated cone is further defined by a central axis at an oblique angle relative to the base.

8. 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, the channel comprising a truncated cone within the channel, wherein the truncated cone is defined by a base and a central axis at an oblique angle relative to the base; and

,

an air flow regulator moveable with respect to the channel in response to a flow of air along the flow path 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.

9. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein an orientation of the channel relative to the housing is selectively adjustable by a user.

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

11. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein the channel is rotatable about a central axis of the channel.

12. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein the air flow regulator comprises a spherical shape.

13. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein a weight of the air flow regulator offers a resistance to the flow of air through the channel.

14. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein the air flow regulator is configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to the flow of air along the flow path.

19. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein the truncated cone is further defined by a plane parallel to the base.

20. The respiratory treatment device of claim 8, wherein the truncated cone is further defined by a plane at an oblique angle relative to the base.

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

rotating an orientation of a channel comprising a truncated cone within the 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; and

,

moving an air flow regulator with respect to the channel in response to the flow of air 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;

wherein the truncated cone is defined by a base and a plane at an oblique angle relative to the base.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein selective adjustment of the orientation of the channel relative to the housing adjusts the resistance to the flow of air through the channel.