Incentive spirometer with automatic levelling
First Claim
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1. An incentive spirometer comprising:
- an inhalation flow path through which air flows in response to an inhalation suction force applied thereto by a patient;
a support frame;
a hollow column disposed in said flow path and supported by said frame, said column having first and second ends;
incentive means disposed in said column to move in opposition to gravity therein toward said second end in response to inhalation air flow through said column from said first end toward said second end; and
levelling means for automatically maintaining said column in a substantially vertical orientation, with said second end being disposed above said first end, in response to tilting of said frame in at least one plane.
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Abstract
An incentive spirometer, of the type wherein an object is raised in a tube by a patient inhaling through the tube, is improved by automatically maintaining the tube vertically-oriented in spite of tilting of the frame from which the tube is supported.
29 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An incentive spirometer comprising:
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an inhalation flow path through which air flows in response to an inhalation suction force applied thereto by a patient; a support frame; a hollow column disposed in said flow path and supported by said frame, said column having first and second ends; incentive means disposed in said column to move in opposition to gravity therein toward said second end in response to inhalation air flow through said column from said first end toward said second end; and levelling means for automatically maintaining said column in a substantially vertical orientation, with said second end being disposed above said first end, in response to tilting of said frame in at least one plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of minimizing friction between an incentive-indicating member and the walls of an inhalation flow path in which the member is translated by inhalation flow, said method comprising the step of automatically orienting said flow path in a vertical direction in response to tilting in at least one plane of a structure in which said flow path is supported.
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11. An incentive spirometer comprising:
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inhalation flow path means for passing air therethrough in response to inhalation suction forces applied thereto by a patient; a support structure; a hollow column disposed in said flow path means and supported by said structure, said column having first and second ends; incentive indication means disposed in said column to move in opposition to gravity therein toward said second end in response to inhalation air flow through said column from said first end toward said second end; and levelling means for automatically maintaining said column in a substantially vertical orientation, with said second end being disposed above said first end, in response to tilting of said support structure in at least one plane, said levelling means comprising a means for suspending said column from said structure.
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Specification