Oscillating positive respiratory pressure device

Inventors

Meyer, Adam • Engelbreth, Dan

Assignees

Trudell Medical International

Abstract

A respiratory treatment device includes a housing enclosing a chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive a flow of air into the chamber, a first chamber outlet configured to permit the flow of air to exit the chamber, and a second chamber outlet configured to permit the flow of air to exit the chamber. A vane mounted within the chamber is configured to rotate between a first position where the flow of air is directed to exit the chamber through the first chamber outlet, and a second position where the flow of air is directed to exit the chamber through the second chamber outlet. A blocking member disposed on the vane is moveable relative to the chamber inlet between a closed position where the flow of air through the chamber inlet is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the chamber inlet is less restricted.

Core Innovation

A respiratory treatment device is described for oscillating positive respiratory pressure (OPEP) therapy by receiving exhaled air into an inlet and permitting exhaled air to exit through an outlet. An exhalation flow path is defined between the inlet and the outlet, and a blocking member is movable relative to the exhalation flow path between a closed position where flow is restricted and an open position where flow is less restricted. A rotating vane or turbine is configured to rotate in response to the flow of air along the exhalation flow path.

An arm is operatively connected to the vane and is configured to move the blocking member between the closed position and the open position in response to rotation of the vane. By alternating the blocking member between more restricted flow and less restricted flow states during exhalation, the device alternates mouthpiece and lung pressure as exhalation proceeds. The rotation of the vane is used as the driver mechanism that actuates the blocking member to generate pressure oscillation.

Multiple embodiments are described with different mechanical couplings between the rotating vane and the blocking member, while retaining an oscillating restriction of the exhalation flow path. In one embodiment, vane rotation directs exhaled flow to first and second outlets while a blocking member restricts a chamber inlet and limited rotation is defined by housing contact. In another embodiment, a turbine with linkages causes the blocking member to reciprocate to restrict a chamber outlet and create pressure oscillations, and in a further embodiment, turbine arms periodically engage hinged blocking-member contact surfaces to move the blocking member between open and closed outlet-restriction states.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00010, clm-00019). Across these independent claims, a common core set of inventive features is: a respiratory treatment device with an inlet, outlet, and exhalation flow path; a movable blocking member that alternates between closed and open positions to change restriction of airflow; and a vane whose rotation is transmitted via an arm to move the blocking member. Additional independent-claim-specific constraints include separation relationships and, in some cases, common axis of rotation and repeated movement behavior.

Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is the mechanical conversion of rotation of a vane, responsive to exhalation flow, into alternating closed and open states of a blocking member to restrict and less-restrict airflow along an exhalation flow path, thereby generating oscillating positive respiratory pressure. Some independent claim coverage further requires a separation and common-axis relationship between vane and arm relative to the blocking member and, in one independent claim, repeated actuation of the blocking member based on airflow.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications