Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Vibrator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-08
2001-02-20
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3733)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Vibrator
C600S587000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the dislodging or loosening of mucus in a person's lungs.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease which damages vital organs, especially the lungs and pancreas, by clogging them with mucus. Drugs exist which can ameliorate its effects, but physical management of the disease is nevertheless very important.
Mucus is continually produced in the lungs and keeps the airways moist. Particles of dust, dirt or bacteria lodge in the mucus, which is cleared in the healthy lung and swallowed. This process happens all the time and is the way that the lungs keep themselves clear and free of infection.
The mucus produced by cystic fibrosis sufferers contains less water than it should and hence is sticky. As a result, the process of cleaning of the lungs is inefficient or absent leading to build-up of bacteria, dirt and mucus in the lungs. Infection as a result is more likely.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current physical management relies on using motion of the lungs to dislodge mucus. This can be induced by controlled breathing, and by shaking or clapping of the front, back and/or sides of the chest with the hands. The mechanism by which motion causes clearing of the lungs is not completely understood, but it is probable that it is at least partly because mucus is a thixotropic fluid, that is, one which becomes more fluid when vibrated.
Physical movement of the chest by means of clapping or shaking is likely to be a very inefficient way of causing vibration of the lungs, since the chest wall will resist movement. It is labour intensive and usually requires a partner to administer. In addition, it has to be carefully taught and practised, since the possibility exists of injury if administered too forcefully. This is particularly important in young children and babies who may be unable to give any indication as to its acceptability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has evolved from a realisation that a property of sound in water may be used to stimulate the lungs in a much more efficient and controllable manner. Sound in water interacts with the body much more strongly than sound in air due to the similar physical properties of water and body tissue. Sound in water may easily pass into and out of the body. However, when a body immersed in water is subjected to sound, the lungs become resonant and vibrate strongly. This is because the lungs contain air and can store potential energy when the air is compressed. Also, the water next to the chest acts as a mass, which can score kinetic energy. As a result, a fundamental pulmonary resonance exists, typically at a frequency of about 80 Hz, for the submerged body exposed to sound. At higher frequencies, higher order resonances of the lungs may occur, for instance where one lung is compressing as the other lung is contracting. At high enough frequencies, resonances of other air containing structures of the body may occur. However, no equivalent vibratory resonance occurs in the non-air containing structures of the body, and hence the possibility exists of using this property of sound to vibrate the lung selectively through selection of the correct frequency of the sound, thus enabling relief for sufferers of cystic fibrosis.
Furthermore, it has been found that there additionally exists a Helmholtz resonance of the lungs at a frequency of about 16 Hz in a submerged adult, and correspondingly higher for a child, involving the compressibility of the air in the lungs and the mass of air in the airways and the mass of the water around the chest. At this frequency, a strong resonance of the lungs may be excited, with oscillatory flow of air in the airways, into and out of the lungs occurring along with a large displacement of the lungs and chest wall. This resonance consequently may also may be very beneficial in dislodging mucus.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for dislodging or loosening mucus in a person's lungs, comprising a bath arranged to receive the person and a liquid such that the person's chest is immersed in the liquid, and means for vibrating the liquid so that the vibrations, which are preferably substantially sinusoidal, are transmitted to the person's lungs.
The vibrating means may preferably be arranged so that it can produce vibrations at the pulmonary resonant frequency of the person's lungs, which may be in the range of 40 to 160 Hz. Alternatively, the vibrating means may preferably be arranged so that it can produce vibrations at the Helmholtz resonant frequency of the person's lungs, which may be about 16 Hz for an adult and correspondingly higher for a child.
In one embodiment, the vibrations have a static frequency. In this case, the apparatus may further include means to adjust the static frequency, for example manually.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes means to cause the frequency of the vibrations to be swept over a particular range.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus further includes means to cause the frequency of the vibrations to be random or pseudo-random within a particular frequency range.
In yet another embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for detecting a level of the vibrations transmitted to the person's body, and means for tuning the vibrating means so that the frequency of the vibrations approximates a resonant frequency of the person's body. In this case, the detecting means preferably comprises a liquidproof accelerometer and means for attaching the accelerometer to the person's chest.
The vibrating means is preferably disposed, in use, in front of or behind the person's chest.
The vibrating means may be disposed inside the bath. Alternatively, it may be disposed outside the bath and be arranged to transmit the vibrations to the liquid through a wall of the bath.
The bath may be arranged so that the person can sit up in the bath, with the vibrating means being disposed to one side of the bath. Alternatively, the bath may be arranged so that the person can lie in the bath, with the vibrating means being disposed at the bottom of the bath.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dislodging or loosening mucus in a person's lungs, comprising the steps of immersing the person's chest in a liquid, such as water; and vibrating the liquid so that the vibrations are transmitted to the person's lungs.
Preferably, at least some of the vibrations have at least one frequency which is generally equal to a resonant frequency of the person's lungs.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention is used in the method of the second aspect of the invention.
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Sheridan & Ross P.C.
Subacoustech Limited
Yu Justine R.
Yu Mickey
LandOfFree
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