Surgery – Respiratory method or device
Utility Patent
1998-10-28
2001-01-02
Dawson, Glenn K. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
C601S041000, C482S013000
Utility Patent
active
06167881
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to respiratory devices and more particularly to a vibrating device which assists in breaking up and dislodging accumulated fluids and solids generated in a user's lungs.
2. Description of the Related Art
People who have lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiactasis and chronic bronchitis have a difficult time breaking up, dislodging, and expelling mucus and phlegm which develops in the lungs. The presence of this material in the lungs and bronchial and tracheal passages provides an excellent media for growth of bacteria. For treatment of the condition, rotation of antibiotics is used to treat the bacterial infections that result. Percussive therapy and the use of a mechanical device called a flutter valve are used to help the patient dislodge this mucus material.
Such percussive devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,018,517 and 5,451,190 to Liardet. This device, as are other flutter valve devices available and in use today is self powered. That is, the patient exhales into the device which sets up vibrations which feed back through the patient's air ways to break up and dislodge the phlegm. However, this activity is energy consumptive and very draining to the patient. Often, because of a debilitating condition from the effects of pneumonia, for example, the patient has great difficulty blowing into these self powered mechanical devices with sufficient force to achieve any substantive success at dislodging accumulated phlegm.
An active vibratory device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,403 to Endo. This device comprises an oscillator for generating an electrical signal at a frequency optimally effective for the patient, an audio amplifier, and a speaker connected, through a closed gas volume, to a vibratory diaphragm which is placed against the patient's body, typically the patient's chest or back. The vibration is then transferred from the speaker, through the closed gas volume, to the diaphragm, then to the surface of the patient's body to treat such problems as shoulder discomfort, arthritis, asthmatic spasms and improve blood circulation. The major disadvantage with this approach when the lungs are the target is that by placing the unit on a user's back or chest, the intervening body tissue substantially attenuates the vibration before it reaches the target area of the lungs and bronchial tubes.
Therefore there is an urgent need for a device that can efficiently and effectively transmit acoustic vibrations to the sites of phlegm buildup in the patient's lungs. There is also a need for a device which does not usurp the patient's energy during device operation so that this energy can be reserved for effective expulsion of dislodged phlegm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus in accordance with the present invention meets the above identified needs.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a powered apparatus for directly assisting a patient in breaking up phlegm and mucus plugs in the alveoli and bronchial tubes.
It is another object of the invention to provide an acoustical apparatus that the patient may adjust to achieve optimal breakup of phlegm and mucus plugs.
It is another object of the invention to provide a powered apparatus which a patient can use while breathing in a normal manner yet provide efficient transmission of vibrations directly through the patient's airways to effectively breakup and loosen phlegm and mucus buildup in the patient's lungs.
These and other objects and features of the invention are achieved by an electrically powered apparatus which comprises a housing, a power supply, a variable frequency oscillator and an audio amplifier in the housing connected to the power supply, a speaker connected to the amplifier and facing an elastic diaphragm in the housing forming a portion of a sonic coupling air chamber in the housing, and a passage from the air chamber to a mouthpiece adapted to be held in a user's mouth while breathing through the air chamber. The housing has a plurality of relatively small holes around the peripheral wall of the chamber to permit the user's breath to exit the sonic coupling chamber and through which the user can draw fresh air into his or her lungs during operation of the apparatus.
The mouthpiece of the apparatus is inserted into the user's mouth and the user breathes normally through his or her mouth. The user turns on the apparatus and the speaker produces a series of sonic pulses which are directed into the user's lungs through the passage. The apparatus includes controls for varying the repetition rate and the frequency of the transmitted sound pulses so that the user can select the particular optimum combination for his or her condition. The apparatus may be used for as long as needed. The user need only remove the mouthpiece while coughing to expel loosened phlegm and mucus. Thus the apparatus of the invention may be either battery powered by a few conventional batteries or may be powered from normal house current. The apparatus may also include rechargeable batteries for use while traveling. These and other features and advantages will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing figures.
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Dawson Glenn K.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
VibraLung LLC
Wahl John R.
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