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A high frequency pressure oscillation device that selective restricts the flow of breathing gas to or from a patient to produce pressure spikes in the patient's airway that facilitate clearing secretions from the patient's airway. The device includes a patient circuit that defines a closed path betw

A high frequency pressure oscillation device that selective restricts the flow of breathing gas to or from a patient to produce pressure spikes in the patient's airway that facilitate clearing secretions from the patient's airway. The device includes a patient circuit that defines a closed path between a source of breathing gas and the patient's airway. A valve is disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between the source of breathing gas and the airway of the patient is substantially unobstructed. When the valve is in a closed position, the path between the source of breathing gas and the patient's airway is at least partially obstructed to create the pressure spikes. An actuating system associated with the valve alternatively places the valve in the open position and in the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate that is independent of patient effort.

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What is claimed is: 1. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a single source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breat

What is claimed is: 1. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a single source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; and a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient, wherein the device includes a secretion clearance mode and a spirometer mode. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pulmonary measurement means is a flow sensor that measures a rate of flow of gas through the patient circuit. 3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising: a control unit, receiving an output of the flow sensor to determine a pulmonary characteristic of such a patient based on the output of the flow sensor; and an output device providing a human perceivable indication of such a pulmonary characteristic of a patient. 4. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 1, wherein the patient circuit includes a conduit having a plurality of breathing gas openings defined therein communicating an interior of the conduit to the breathing gas source and a patient end opening defined therein communicating the interior of the conduit with an airway of a patient, wherein the valve is disposed in the conduit such that the valve blocks the plurality of breathing gas openings responsive to the valve being in the closed position and unblocks at least one of the breathing gas openings responsive to the valve being in the open position. 5. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 1, wherein the patient circuit includes a conduit having a slideable portion, the slideable portion having a first number of breathing gas openings defined therein at a first circumferential location and a second number of breathing gas openings defined therein at a second circumferential location, wherein the breathing gas openings in the first and the second circumferential locations communicate an interior of the conduit to the breathing gas source, wherein the conduit also has a patient end opening defined therein communicating the interior of the conduit with an airway of a patient, and wherein the slideable portion is moveable in an axial direction relative to the valve so that in a first position the first number of breathing gas openings are selectively blocked and unblocked by rotation of the valve and the second number of breathing gas openings are blocked and in a second position the second number of breathing gas openings are selectively blocked and unblocked by rotation of the valve and the first number of breathing gas openings are blocked. 6. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating drive assembly includes: a power supply; an electric motor operatively coupled to the power supply, the motor having an output shaft that rotates responsive to energy being provided to the motor by the power supply; and a mechanical linkage coupling the motor to the valve such that a torque output by the motor rotates the valve. 7. A high frequency pressure oscillation device according to claim 6, further comprising an input device operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the motor is a variable speed motor, and wherein a speed of rotation of the output shaft is controlled via the input device. 8. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: conduit means for coupling a single source of breathing gas with an airway of a patient via a closed path; flow controlling means for controlling a flow of gas in the conduit means by substantially unblocking the path responsive to the flow control means being in an open position and at least partially obstructing the path responsive to the flow controlling means being in a closed position; actuating means for alternatively placing the flow controlling means in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the flow controlling means comprises a valve is disposed in the conduit means and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position within the conduit means, and wherein the actuating means comprises means for rotating the valve in the first direction; and a pulmonary measurement means associated with the conduit means that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient. 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the pulmonary measurement means is a flow sensor that measures a rate of flow of gas through the conduit means. 10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising: a control unit, receiving an output of the flow sensor to determine a pulmonary characteristic of such a patient based on the output of the flow sensor; and an output device providing a human perceivable indication of such a pulmonary characteristic of a patient. 11. A method of providing high frequency pressure oscillations in an airway of a patient comprising: a)providing a patient circuit defining a closed path between a single source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; b)providing a valve in the patient circuit adapted to control a flow of gas in the closed path; c)moving the valve to an open position within the patient circuit to substantially open the path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; d)moving the valve to a closed position within the patient circuit to substantially restrict the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient, wherein moving the valve between the open position and the closed position is accomplished independent of patient effort; e)repeating steps c) and d) to alternatively place the valve in the open and the closed positions at a predetermined oscillation rate, wherein moving the valve to the open and closed positions includes rotating the valve in a first direction within the patient circuit; and measuring a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein measuring a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient includes measuring a rate of flow of gas through the patient circuit. 13. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; wherein the patient circuit includes a conduit having a first opening defined therein communicating an interior of the conduit to such a source of breathing gas and a second opening defined therein communicating the interior of the conduit with an airway of a patient; wherein the valve is a generally cylindrical member having a hollow central cavity defined therein extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member having a third opening defined in a side wall thereof communicating an exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity and a fourth opening defined on a first axial surface of the cylindrical member that also communicates an exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity; and wherein the valve provides an unobstructed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient responsive to the third opening overlapping the first opening, and substantially blocks the path responsive to the third opening not overlapping the first opening. 14. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; wherein the patient circuit includes a conduit having a first opening defined therein communicating an interior of the conduit to such a source of breathing gas and a second opening defined therein communicating the interior of the conduit with an airway of a patient; wherein the valve is a generally cylindrical member having a hollow central cavity defined therein extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member having a third opening defined on a first axial surface of the cylindrical member communicating an exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity and having a plurality of side wall openings defined in a side wall thereof communicating an exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity; and wherein the valve provides an unobstructed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient responsive to one of the plurality of side wall openings overlapping the first opening and substantially blocks the path responsive to the side wall openings not overlapping the first opening. 15. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; and wherein the valve is a generally cylindrical member having a hollow central cavity defined therein extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member having a first number of openings defined in a side wall at a first circumferential location thereof communicating an exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity, a second number of openings defined in the side wall also communicating the exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity at a second circumferential location, and a third opening defined on a first axial surface of the cylindrical member that communicates the exterior of the cylindrical member with the central cavity. 16. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; and a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; and wherein the rotating drive assembly includes: a mechanical linkage operatively coupled to the valve; a manually actuated member adapted to receive a force imparted by a user; and a mechanism operatively coupled to the manually actuating member for altering the force on the manually actuated member into a rotational force and for providing the rotational to the mechanical linkage. 17. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; and a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; and a mode selection switch that allows a user to select between at least the following two modes of operation: (1) a secretion clearance mode in which the actuating means alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate, and (2) a spirometer mode in which the valve remains in the open position and the pulmonary measurement means measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient. 18. A high frequency pressure oscillation device comprising: a patient circuit defining a closed path between a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient; a valve disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is substantially unobstructed, and, in a closed position, the path between such a source of breathing gas and an airway of a patient is at least partially obstructed; an actuating system associated with the valve that alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate independent of patient effort, wherein the valve is disposed in the patient circuit and configured such that rotating the valve in a first direction alternatively places the valve in the open position and the closed position, and wherein the actuating system comprises a rotating drive assembly operatively coupled to the valve to rotate the valve in the first direction; and a pulmonary measurement means associated with the patient circuit that measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient; and a mode selection switch that allows a user to select between at least the following two modes of operation: (1) a secretion clearance mode in which the actuating means alternatively places the flow controlling means in the open position and the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate, and (2) a spirometer mode in which the flow controlling means remains in the open position and the pulmonary measurement means measures a characteristic associated with a pulmonary function of a patient.