초록 ▼

An oscillatory positive expiratory pressure respiratory therapy device which may be incorporated into the expiratory limb of a ventilator circuit. Accordingly, this device allows a patient on a ventilator to be subjected to positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy combined with airway oscillation

An oscillatory positive expiratory pressure respiratory therapy device which may be incorporated into the expiratory limb of a ventilator circuit. Accordingly, this device allows a patient on a ventilator to be subjected to positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy combined with airway oscillation and intermittent air flow acceleration while allowing the oscillatory PEP respiratory therapy treatment to be bypassed without interrupting the integrity of the ventilating circuit once the device has been installed in the ventilator circuit. In this manner, all expiratory air in the ventilator circuit is accounted for, the expiratory air volume may be accurately monitored and the ventilator circuit does not have to be broken for insertion or removal of the device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device for installation in a ventilator circuit to induce an oscillatory positive air pressure exhalation by a user, or to bypass the therapy without opening the ventilator circuit in which the device has been installed, comprising:an air-flow t

1. An oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device for installation in a ventilator circuit to induce an oscillatory positive air pressure exhalation by a user, or to bypass the therapy without opening the ventilator circuit in which the device has been installed, comprising:an air-flow tube having an inlet opening adapted to be connected into a ventilator circuit for receiving expiratory air passed there through by a user receiving respiratory therapy or care, and an outlet opening adapted to be connected into the ventilator circuit for discharging the expiratory air passed through said inlet opening;air-flow control means carried within said air-flow tube for directing the flow of expiratory air received through said inlet opening in a first path of air movement for inducing a respiratory treatment in the user or in a second path of air movement bypassing the respiratory treatment;said air-flow tube including expiratory air responsive closure means positioned in said first path of air movement and actuable between an open position and a closed position in response to the pressure of expiratory air passed thereto; andsaid expiratory air responsive closure means including a normally closed non-linear discharge outlet which is opened in response to the presence of a predetermined pressure of expiratory air being passed in said first path of air movement, and which closes in response to a predetermined rate of air pressure decrease through said non-linear discharge opening. 2. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 wherein said expiratory air responsive closure means includes a cone-shaped closure member pivotally movable in response to expiratory air pressure between a closed position blocking the flow of expiratory air in said first path of air movement and an open position permitting the flow of expiratory air in said first path of air movement. 3. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 wherein said non-linear discharge outlet positioned in said first path of air movement comprises a non-linear tapered discharge orifice. 4. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 wherein said non-linear discharge outlet positioned in said first path of air movement comprises a bell-shaped discharge orifice. 5. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 wherein said non-linear discharge outlet positioned in said first path of air movement comprises a trumpet-shaped air discharge outlet. 6. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 further including a magnetic force field applying means for generating a biasing force effecting the opening and closing of said non-linear discharge opening. 7. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 6 further including means for adjusting the magnitude of the magnetic force field applying means to bias the opening and closing of said non-linear discharge opening. 8. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 7 wherein said means for adjusting the magnitude of the magnetic force field applying means includes a rotatable frequency control dial. 9. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 8 wherein said rotatable frequency control dial includes a receiving aperture operatively connected to said expiratory air responsive closure means for adjusting the expiratory air pressure for opening said non-linear discharge opening. 10. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy device of claim 1 wherein said expiratory air responsive closure means positioned in said first path of air movement and actuable between an open position and a closed position in response to the pressure of expiratory air passed thereto comprises an oscillatory rocker assembly including a rocker portion pivotally supported on a rocker support portion. 11. The oscillatory positive expiratory pressure t herapy device of claim 10 wherein said rocker portion includes a cone-shaped closure member carried on said rocker portion for pivotal movement into and out from said non-linear discharge opening; andsaid rocker support portion includes a bell-shaped non-linear discharge orifice which is opened and closed in response to the movement of said cone-shaped closure member. 12. A method of selectively effecting oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy in a patient using a ventilator circuit without interruption of the circuit integrity, comprising:passing a flow of patient-induced expiratory air from a ventilator circuit into an air-flow tube having an air-flow control valve for selectively passing the expiratory air in a first path of air movement for inducing oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy and in a second path of air movement bypassing said oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy;blocking a discharge opening for expiratory air moving in said first path of air movement and thereby increasing the expiratory air pressure as said expiratory air continues in said first path of air movement;opening said discharge opening in response to the increase of the expiratory air pressure to a predetermined level, and then reducing the expiratory air pressure at a variable rate by passing the discharge of expiratory air through a non-linear discharge orifice to induce an oscillatory positive expiratory pressure in the patient; andactuating said air-flow control valve to selectively pass said flow of expiratory air from said first path of air movement for inducing oscillatory positive pressure therapy to said second path of air movement for bypassing said oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy when said oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy has been completed to return said flow of expiratory air through said air-flow tube to the ventilator circuit. 13. The method of selectively effecting oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy of claim 12 wherein the steps of blocking the discharge opening for expiratory air moving in said first path of air movement and thereby increasing the expiratory air pressure as said expiratory air continues to flow in said first path of air movement, and opening said discharge opening in response to the increase of the expiratory air pressure to a predetermined level and then reducing the expiratory air pressure at a variable rate bypassing the discharge of expiratory air through a non-linear discharge orifice to induce an oscillatory positive expiratory pressure in the patient are repeated until a sufficient oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy has been effected. 14. The method of selectively effecting oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy of claim 12 further including applying a biasing force for closing said discharge opening to control the predetermined level of expiratory air pressure. 15. The method of selectively effecting oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy of claim 14 wherein said biasing force is a magnetic force field. 16. The method of selectively effecting oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy of claim 12 wherein said step of reducing the expiratory air pressure at a variable rate by passing the discharge of expiratory air through a non-linear discharge orifice includes application of the Coanda effect.