CA2308728A1 - Low-oxygen respiration system - Google Patents
Low-oxygen respiration system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2308728A1 CA2308728A1 CA002308728A CA2308728A CA2308728A1 CA 2308728 A1 CA2308728 A1 CA 2308728A1 CA 002308728 A CA002308728 A CA 002308728A CA 2308728 A CA2308728 A CA 2308728A CA 2308728 A1 CA2308728 A1 CA 2308728A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mask
- air
- oxygen
- external air
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/0045—Means for re-breathing exhaled gases, e.g. for hyperventilation treatment
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/12—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different gases
- A61M16/122—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different gases with dilution
- A61M16/125—Diluting primary gas with ambient air
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/105—Filters
- A61M16/106—Filters in a path
- A61M16/107—Filters in a path in the inspiratory path
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/22—Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxide
Abstract
In a low-oxygen or hypoxic respiration system, the user breaths air stored in a substantially enclosed container, but an opening is provided in the mask or other part of the system so that a controlled amount of external air is introduced into the system. Therefore, as a result of the balance between the consumption of oxygen by the user and the replenishment of oxygen from the external air, the user can breath hypoxic or low-oxygen air for inhalation at the atmospheric pressure for an extended period of time. If desired, a carbon dioxide absorbing agent may be incorporated in the system so that an undesired increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the respiration air can be avoided.
Description
SPECIFICATION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
LOW-OXYGEN RESPIRATION SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a respiration system, and in particular to a hypoxic or low-oxygen respiration system which is beneficial for health maintenance, disease prevention and therapeutic purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been known that low-oxygen air or air having a relatively reduced oxygen content has beneficial effects on health. For instance, "High Altitude Medicine and Physiology", Michael P. Ward, published by Chapman and Hall Medicine, London, pp 71-73, contains the report by James S. Milledge and John B. West that malaria infection was very rare among the natives of Ethiopian highlands over 3,000 m in elevation, and this was attributed to the beneficial effects of low-oxygen air on health.
Similar reports are found in "Everest - The Testing Place", published by McGrawhill Book Co., Ltd. and "Antibody Formation in Rabbits Adapted to High Altitude", J. L. Trapani and R. T. Jordan, Fed. Proc., 1962-Vol. 21, No.
1., p. 25.
The inventor of this application previously proposed a simple and economical low-oxygen respiration system, and filed a Japanese utility model application on June 24, 1991 on this system. This application was allowed, and was published for opposition purpose under Japanese UM publication No. 7-24110 on June 5. 1995 (UM Registration No. 2,11,446).
This previously proposed respiration system comprises a mask adapted to be applied to the mouth and nose of a user and provided with a port, and a breathing air tank defining an enclosed chamber which communicates with this port. According to this prior invention, a carbon dioxide absorbing agent may be provided in the tank or any part communicating with it so that the carbon dioxide which is produced as a result of breathing is absorbed and prevented from increasing sharply. This prior patent publication additionally discloses an arrangement which comprises an exhalation pipe communicating the mask with the enclosed chamber via a carbon dioxide absorbing layer, and an inhalation pipe communicating the enclosed chamber directly with the mask. A one-way valve is provided in each of these pipes so that the exhaled air is conducted by the exhalation pipe, and the inhaled air is conducted by the inhalation pipe.
According to this arrangement, when the mask is applied to the mouth and nose of a user, and the user breaths the air inside the tank, the concentration of oxygen in the tank gradually diminishes, and a low-oxygen air, having an oxygen concentration of 10 to 20% and considered to be beneficial for health, is produced in the tank at the atmospheric pressure both easily and automatically.
When a carbon dioxide absorbing agent was placed in the tank, it favorably controlled the increase in the carbon dioxide content. When an inhalation pipe and an exhalation pipe each fitted with a one-way valve were used, these pipes conducted air only in one direction so that the exhaled air quickly mixed with the air in the enclosed chamber, and the a uniformly mixed air was provided for inhalation.
However, according to this prior respiration system proposed by the inventor of this application, as the user at rest breathed, the oxygen concentration relatively quickly diminished to a level below 10%, for instance within two or three minutes, as shown in Figure 5, when the capacity of the tank was about five liters, and some improvement was desired to maintain, for a more extended period of time, a low-oxygen air which has a oxygen concentration in the order of 10 to 15%, and is believed to be beneficial for health. The carbon dioxide absorbing agent was only capable of controlling the carbon dioxide concentration, and was quite ineffective in maintain the oxygen concentration at the desired level of 15 to 10% for a prolonged period of time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration for a relatively extended period of time with a highly simple structure.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration in a highly stable manner for an extended period of time.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration for a relatively extended period of time with a highly compact structure.
According to the present invention, such objects can be accomplished by providing a hypoxic respiration system, comprising: a mask adapted to be applied to a respiration opening of a user; a substantially enclosed container having a certain capacity and communicating with the mask; and an opening provided in the system far permitting a controlled introduction of external air into the mask.
Preferably, a canister is provided between the mask and the container, the canister containing an agent for absorbing carbon dioxide. The opening for introducing external air preferably has an area which is between 1/400 and of an entire surface area of the system. The opening for introducing external air may include a plurality of openings, and a shutter member may be provided in association with the openings for closing a selected number of the openings in an adjustable manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Now the present invention is described in the following with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
to Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a hypoxic respiration system embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the mask for a second embodiment of the hypoxic respiration system according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front view of the shutter member of the mask shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a third embodiment of the hypoxic respiration system according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a graph showing the rapid decrease in the oxygen concentration in the air for respiration according to the prior art; and Figure 6 is a graph showing a relatively constant oxygen concentration in the air for respiration over time achieved by the present invention.
I~FTA_1LED DESCRT_PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, a mask 1 according to the present invention is molded into a cup-shaped form from resilient and air-tight material such as natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride resin or polyurethane resin, and is adapted to be applied to the mouth and nose of a user. The part of the mask 1 facing away from the open end applied to the mouth and nose of the user is provided with a port 3.
If desired, the mask 1 may be adapted to be applied only to the mouth or nose of a user.
To the port 3 is connected an end Sa of a conduit 5 made of plastic and/or metallic material by a threaded engagement or any engagement suitable for air communication. The conduit 5 is bent into the shape of letter-L, and the other end Sb of the conduit 5 is connected to a breathing air container 7.
The breathing air container 7 defines an enclosed chamber for breathing air, and may consist of a balloon made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, paper or any other suitable material having a capacity of about four liters. The balloon is capable of inflating and deflating according to the inner pressure thereof.
The container 7 is provided with a communication opening 7a which is closely and firmly fitted onto the other end Sb of the conduit 5 in an air-tight manner.
The container 7 is additionally provided with an external air opening 9 which communicates the interior of the mask 1 with outside. The external air opening 9 allows external air to flow into the mask 1 so that the person wearing the mask is able to breath this external air to a certain extent. The external air opening 9 may consist of a single opening or a plurality of openings. In other words, this external air opening 9 allows introduction of a controlled amount of external air into the mask when the user inhales, and allows removal of a controlled amount of air from the mask when the user exhales.
Now the mode of operation of this system is described in the following.
First of all, the mask 1 is placed over the face of the user so that the mouth and nose of the user is covered by the mask 1 and the user is able to inhale air only from the interior of the mask 1. As the user inhales, the air in the container 7 is mainly introduced into the lung of the user, and a controlled amount of external air from the external air opening 9 is also introduced into the lung of the user.
When the user exhales, air having a reduced oxygen content released from the lung of the user is mainly introduced into the container 7 and a part of the exhaled air is released to the atmosphere from the external air opening 9.
The diameter of the external air opening 9 is relatively small. Therefore, the oxygen content of the air inside the mask gradually diminishes because of the consumption of oxygen in the lung and the limited replenishment of oxygen from the external air opening 9. Eventually, the oxygen content in the mask reaches a steady level as a balance is produced between the consumption and replenishment of oxygen in the mask. This final level can be changed by adjusting the diameter of the external air opening 9.
A male adult at rest typically consumes 250 ml/min of oxygen. It means that approximately 1,000 ml/min of air needs to be inhaled. The diameter of the external air opening 9 should be selected so that a lesser amount of oxygen may be made available to the user. Obviously, if the diameter is too large, a desired low-oxygen level may not be achieved at all or as soon as desired. Conversely, if the diameter is too small, the oxygen level drops below the desired level in a relatively short period of time or the desired low-oxygen level cannot be maintained as long a time period as desired.
According to the experiments conducted by the inventor, it was found that the opening area should be between 1/400 and 1/700 of the combined surface area of the mask 1, the conduit S and the container 7 to achieve a 18% oxygen level in about three minutes and maintain a low oxygen level of 15 to 16% for about 180 minutes or even indefinitely. Figure 6 shows the time history of the oxygen concentration of the air in the mask 1 when the combined surface area of the mask l, the conduit 5 and the container 7 was 2,489.12 cm2, and the opening area of the external air opening 9 was 4,396 cm2. The graph shows that a low-oxygen level of 15 to 16% was maintained for more than 180 minutes.
According to the present invention, a mask made of air-tight member and adapted to be applied to a respiration opening, such as a nose and mouth, is communicated with a container having a certain capacity, and a part of the system is provided with an opening for introducing external air at a controlled rate. Typically, as the user inhales, a certain amount of external air is introduced into the mask along with the low-oxygen air contained in the container. As the user exhales, the low-oxygen air produced by the consumption of oxygen by the user is returned to the container. Preferably, the container consists of an inflatable balloon. This arrangement allows a desired low-oxygen air to be maintained in the mask for a relatively long time period by using a compact container.
Breathing such low-oxygen air is believed to be effective in promoting anaerobic glycolysis or a metabolism for producing energy through decomposition of sugars, and improving the resistance of the body to illnesses.
This mechanism may be represented by the following formula.
(1/n) (C6HloOs)n + 3ADP + 3H3P04 ~ 2C3H603 + 3ATP
Breathing low-oxygen air can produce various beneficial therapeutic and preventive effects in connection with such illnesses as autonomic disorders, allergic dermatosis, respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, and habitual abortion.
In particular, by selecting the inner diameter to be 1/400 to 1/700 of the combined surface area of the mask 1 and the container 7, it was possible to maintain a low-oxygen level of 10 to 20% for more than 180 minutes.
There was only one external air opening in the foregoing embodiment, but any number of such openings may be formed as desired. In this case, the ratio of the total of the areas of the openings to the combined surface area of the system should be 1/400 to 1/700. The combined surface area includes those of the mask 1, the conduit 5, and the container 7. It is possible in this case to allow this ratio to be adjustable. The arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is an example of such an arrangement. A plurality of external air openings 9 are formed in the mask 1 substantially at a regular interval along an arcuate path, and a shutter member 11 is pivotally attached to the center of this arcuate path by a threaded bolt 13 so that a desired number of the external air openings 9 may be closed by the shutter member 11 by changing the angular position of the shutter member 11. By thus allowing the effective area of the external air openings 9, the amount of external air that is introduced into the mask 1 during the operation of the system may be adjusted, for instance, depending on the pulmonary capacity of the user and the mode of operation of the system.
As can be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, there are other possible arrangements for adjusting the flow rate of the air passing through the external air openings. There are other possible arrangements which can perform a similar function as the shutter member mentioned above. Even when the external air opening consists of a single opening, it is still possible to provide a suitable shutter member to allow the flow rate of the air passing through the external air opening to be adjusted.
The container 7 may also consist of an enclosed rigid tank made of plastic material or metallic material.
The external air opening 9 may be provided in any place between the mask 1 and the container 7, and may be formed, for instance, in the mask 1, the container 7 or the conduit 5 connecting the mask 1 and the container 7. When the external air opening 9 is provided in the container 7, the container 7 may not be an enclosed container in a strict sense any more. However, the external air opening 9 is normally extremely small, and would not give rise to any significant flow rate unless inhalation or exhalation is in progress. Therefore, even in such a case, the container 7 essentially functions as an enclosed container. When the container consists of a flexible balloon, the provision of the second hole in the container would not be desirable under normal circumstances.
Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which a canister 15 is connected between the conduit 5 and the container 7. The canister 15 is made of a suitable material such as plastics, glass or metallic material, and has two ends 15a and 15b that are reduced in diameter. One of the two ends 15a is threadably fitted into the corresponding end of the conduit 5, and the other end 15b is press fitted into a communication opening 7a of the container 7. This canister 15 receives a porous layer 17 which is incorporated with a carbon dioxide absorbing agent such as soda lime and extends across the interior of the canister 15 for removing carbon dioxide from the air passing through this canister 15. The part of the canister 15 adjacent to the one end 15a is provided with a relatively coarse filter 19 for preventing dust that may generate from the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 from reaching the mouth or nose of the user as he/she inhales. The canister 15 can be separated in the axial direction at a middle part thereof (although it is not shown in the drawing) so that the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 and the filter 19 may be replaced as required. This canister 15 is provided with a plurality of external air openings 9 adjacent to the two ends thereof and spaced from the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17.
According to this embodiment also, the mask 1 is applied to the mouth and nose of the user for use. As the user inhales, the air inside the container 7 is conducted to the interior of the mask 1 via the canister 15 and the conduit 5 while a controlled amount of external air is also introduced into the interior of the mask 1 from the external air openings 9. As the user exhales, the air expelled from the mouth and nose of the user and having a reduced oxygen content is conducted primarily into the container 7 while a small part of the exhaled air is expelled to the outside from the external air openings 9.
Although external air is supplied to the mask 1 at the time of inhalation, the inner diameter or the area of the external air opening is so small that the consumption of oxygen is initially slightly greater than the amount of oxygen which is introduced from the external air opening, and the oxygen concentration of the air in the container gradually diminishes. Eventually, the consumption of oxygen by the user and the introduction of fresh oxygen from the external air openings 9 balance out, and a desired oxygen concentration can be maintained in the system for an extended period of time or even indefinitely. At the same time, as the air passes through the canister 15 either from the container 7 or the mask 1, the carbon dioxide is removed therefrom by the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 in the canister 15 so that an undesired buildup of carbon dioxide within the system can be avoided.
Thus, this respiration system can produce a low-oxygen air for respiration at the atmospheric pressure, and can maintain the oxygen concentration within a desired range for an extended period of time. At the same time, this respiration system can prevent an undesired buildup of carbon dioxide within the system. The area of the external air openings should be 1/400 to of the combined surface area of the system including the mask, conduit, canister and container. Again, two or more external air openings may be provided, and a suitable shutter member may be provided for allowing the adjustment of the.
effective area of the external air openings.
_ g _ Some of known carbon dioxide absorbing agents change color as they absorb carbon dioxide. When such an agent is used, the canister may be at least partly made of transparent material so that the timing for replacing the carbon dioxide absorbing agent may be indicated in a simple manner. The carbon dioxide absorbing agent may also be provided anywhere between the conduit and the container 7 as well as in the canister 15. It is also possible to directly communicate the mask 1 with the container and thereby eliminate the conduit 5.
If a humidifier is connected to the conduit 5 in the respiration system of the present invention, a suitably humidity can be given to the air for inhalation for the comfort of the user. It is also possible to add a fragrance to the air for inhalation for the comfort of the user.
The present invention thus provides hypoxic or low-oxygen air for inhalation at the atmospheric pressure for an extended period of time, and, if desired, an undesired increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the respiration air can be avoided.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the appended claims.
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
LOW-OXYGEN RESPIRATION SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a respiration system, and in particular to a hypoxic or low-oxygen respiration system which is beneficial for health maintenance, disease prevention and therapeutic purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been known that low-oxygen air or air having a relatively reduced oxygen content has beneficial effects on health. For instance, "High Altitude Medicine and Physiology", Michael P. Ward, published by Chapman and Hall Medicine, London, pp 71-73, contains the report by James S. Milledge and John B. West that malaria infection was very rare among the natives of Ethiopian highlands over 3,000 m in elevation, and this was attributed to the beneficial effects of low-oxygen air on health.
Similar reports are found in "Everest - The Testing Place", published by McGrawhill Book Co., Ltd. and "Antibody Formation in Rabbits Adapted to High Altitude", J. L. Trapani and R. T. Jordan, Fed. Proc., 1962-Vol. 21, No.
1., p. 25.
The inventor of this application previously proposed a simple and economical low-oxygen respiration system, and filed a Japanese utility model application on June 24, 1991 on this system. This application was allowed, and was published for opposition purpose under Japanese UM publication No. 7-24110 on June 5. 1995 (UM Registration No. 2,11,446).
This previously proposed respiration system comprises a mask adapted to be applied to the mouth and nose of a user and provided with a port, and a breathing air tank defining an enclosed chamber which communicates with this port. According to this prior invention, a carbon dioxide absorbing agent may be provided in the tank or any part communicating with it so that the carbon dioxide which is produced as a result of breathing is absorbed and prevented from increasing sharply. This prior patent publication additionally discloses an arrangement which comprises an exhalation pipe communicating the mask with the enclosed chamber via a carbon dioxide absorbing layer, and an inhalation pipe communicating the enclosed chamber directly with the mask. A one-way valve is provided in each of these pipes so that the exhaled air is conducted by the exhalation pipe, and the inhaled air is conducted by the inhalation pipe.
According to this arrangement, when the mask is applied to the mouth and nose of a user, and the user breaths the air inside the tank, the concentration of oxygen in the tank gradually diminishes, and a low-oxygen air, having an oxygen concentration of 10 to 20% and considered to be beneficial for health, is produced in the tank at the atmospheric pressure both easily and automatically.
When a carbon dioxide absorbing agent was placed in the tank, it favorably controlled the increase in the carbon dioxide content. When an inhalation pipe and an exhalation pipe each fitted with a one-way valve were used, these pipes conducted air only in one direction so that the exhaled air quickly mixed with the air in the enclosed chamber, and the a uniformly mixed air was provided for inhalation.
However, according to this prior respiration system proposed by the inventor of this application, as the user at rest breathed, the oxygen concentration relatively quickly diminished to a level below 10%, for instance within two or three minutes, as shown in Figure 5, when the capacity of the tank was about five liters, and some improvement was desired to maintain, for a more extended period of time, a low-oxygen air which has a oxygen concentration in the order of 10 to 15%, and is believed to be beneficial for health. The carbon dioxide absorbing agent was only capable of controlling the carbon dioxide concentration, and was quite ineffective in maintain the oxygen concentration at the desired level of 15 to 10% for a prolonged period of time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration for a relatively extended period of time with a highly simple structure.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration in a highly stable manner for an extended period of time.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a hypoxic respiration system which can produce a desired low-oxygen air for respiration for a relatively extended period of time with a highly compact structure.
According to the present invention, such objects can be accomplished by providing a hypoxic respiration system, comprising: a mask adapted to be applied to a respiration opening of a user; a substantially enclosed container having a certain capacity and communicating with the mask; and an opening provided in the system far permitting a controlled introduction of external air into the mask.
Preferably, a canister is provided between the mask and the container, the canister containing an agent for absorbing carbon dioxide. The opening for introducing external air preferably has an area which is between 1/400 and of an entire surface area of the system. The opening for introducing external air may include a plurality of openings, and a shutter member may be provided in association with the openings for closing a selected number of the openings in an adjustable manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Now the present invention is described in the following with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
to Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a hypoxic respiration system embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the mask for a second embodiment of the hypoxic respiration system according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front view of the shutter member of the mask shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a third embodiment of the hypoxic respiration system according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a graph showing the rapid decrease in the oxygen concentration in the air for respiration according to the prior art; and Figure 6 is a graph showing a relatively constant oxygen concentration in the air for respiration over time achieved by the present invention.
I~FTA_1LED DESCRT_PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, a mask 1 according to the present invention is molded into a cup-shaped form from resilient and air-tight material such as natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride resin or polyurethane resin, and is adapted to be applied to the mouth and nose of a user. The part of the mask 1 facing away from the open end applied to the mouth and nose of the user is provided with a port 3.
If desired, the mask 1 may be adapted to be applied only to the mouth or nose of a user.
To the port 3 is connected an end Sa of a conduit 5 made of plastic and/or metallic material by a threaded engagement or any engagement suitable for air communication. The conduit 5 is bent into the shape of letter-L, and the other end Sb of the conduit 5 is connected to a breathing air container 7.
The breathing air container 7 defines an enclosed chamber for breathing air, and may consist of a balloon made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, paper or any other suitable material having a capacity of about four liters. The balloon is capable of inflating and deflating according to the inner pressure thereof.
The container 7 is provided with a communication opening 7a which is closely and firmly fitted onto the other end Sb of the conduit 5 in an air-tight manner.
The container 7 is additionally provided with an external air opening 9 which communicates the interior of the mask 1 with outside. The external air opening 9 allows external air to flow into the mask 1 so that the person wearing the mask is able to breath this external air to a certain extent. The external air opening 9 may consist of a single opening or a plurality of openings. In other words, this external air opening 9 allows introduction of a controlled amount of external air into the mask when the user inhales, and allows removal of a controlled amount of air from the mask when the user exhales.
Now the mode of operation of this system is described in the following.
First of all, the mask 1 is placed over the face of the user so that the mouth and nose of the user is covered by the mask 1 and the user is able to inhale air only from the interior of the mask 1. As the user inhales, the air in the container 7 is mainly introduced into the lung of the user, and a controlled amount of external air from the external air opening 9 is also introduced into the lung of the user.
When the user exhales, air having a reduced oxygen content released from the lung of the user is mainly introduced into the container 7 and a part of the exhaled air is released to the atmosphere from the external air opening 9.
The diameter of the external air opening 9 is relatively small. Therefore, the oxygen content of the air inside the mask gradually diminishes because of the consumption of oxygen in the lung and the limited replenishment of oxygen from the external air opening 9. Eventually, the oxygen content in the mask reaches a steady level as a balance is produced between the consumption and replenishment of oxygen in the mask. This final level can be changed by adjusting the diameter of the external air opening 9.
A male adult at rest typically consumes 250 ml/min of oxygen. It means that approximately 1,000 ml/min of air needs to be inhaled. The diameter of the external air opening 9 should be selected so that a lesser amount of oxygen may be made available to the user. Obviously, if the diameter is too large, a desired low-oxygen level may not be achieved at all or as soon as desired. Conversely, if the diameter is too small, the oxygen level drops below the desired level in a relatively short period of time or the desired low-oxygen level cannot be maintained as long a time period as desired.
According to the experiments conducted by the inventor, it was found that the opening area should be between 1/400 and 1/700 of the combined surface area of the mask 1, the conduit S and the container 7 to achieve a 18% oxygen level in about three minutes and maintain a low oxygen level of 15 to 16% for about 180 minutes or even indefinitely. Figure 6 shows the time history of the oxygen concentration of the air in the mask 1 when the combined surface area of the mask l, the conduit 5 and the container 7 was 2,489.12 cm2, and the opening area of the external air opening 9 was 4,396 cm2. The graph shows that a low-oxygen level of 15 to 16% was maintained for more than 180 minutes.
According to the present invention, a mask made of air-tight member and adapted to be applied to a respiration opening, such as a nose and mouth, is communicated with a container having a certain capacity, and a part of the system is provided with an opening for introducing external air at a controlled rate. Typically, as the user inhales, a certain amount of external air is introduced into the mask along with the low-oxygen air contained in the container. As the user exhales, the low-oxygen air produced by the consumption of oxygen by the user is returned to the container. Preferably, the container consists of an inflatable balloon. This arrangement allows a desired low-oxygen air to be maintained in the mask for a relatively long time period by using a compact container.
Breathing such low-oxygen air is believed to be effective in promoting anaerobic glycolysis or a metabolism for producing energy through decomposition of sugars, and improving the resistance of the body to illnesses.
This mechanism may be represented by the following formula.
(1/n) (C6HloOs)n + 3ADP + 3H3P04 ~ 2C3H603 + 3ATP
Breathing low-oxygen air can produce various beneficial therapeutic and preventive effects in connection with such illnesses as autonomic disorders, allergic dermatosis, respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, and habitual abortion.
In particular, by selecting the inner diameter to be 1/400 to 1/700 of the combined surface area of the mask 1 and the container 7, it was possible to maintain a low-oxygen level of 10 to 20% for more than 180 minutes.
There was only one external air opening in the foregoing embodiment, but any number of such openings may be formed as desired. In this case, the ratio of the total of the areas of the openings to the combined surface area of the system should be 1/400 to 1/700. The combined surface area includes those of the mask 1, the conduit 5, and the container 7. It is possible in this case to allow this ratio to be adjustable. The arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is an example of such an arrangement. A plurality of external air openings 9 are formed in the mask 1 substantially at a regular interval along an arcuate path, and a shutter member 11 is pivotally attached to the center of this arcuate path by a threaded bolt 13 so that a desired number of the external air openings 9 may be closed by the shutter member 11 by changing the angular position of the shutter member 11. By thus allowing the effective area of the external air openings 9, the amount of external air that is introduced into the mask 1 during the operation of the system may be adjusted, for instance, depending on the pulmonary capacity of the user and the mode of operation of the system.
As can be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, there are other possible arrangements for adjusting the flow rate of the air passing through the external air openings. There are other possible arrangements which can perform a similar function as the shutter member mentioned above. Even when the external air opening consists of a single opening, it is still possible to provide a suitable shutter member to allow the flow rate of the air passing through the external air opening to be adjusted.
The container 7 may also consist of an enclosed rigid tank made of plastic material or metallic material.
The external air opening 9 may be provided in any place between the mask 1 and the container 7, and may be formed, for instance, in the mask 1, the container 7 or the conduit 5 connecting the mask 1 and the container 7. When the external air opening 9 is provided in the container 7, the container 7 may not be an enclosed container in a strict sense any more. However, the external air opening 9 is normally extremely small, and would not give rise to any significant flow rate unless inhalation or exhalation is in progress. Therefore, even in such a case, the container 7 essentially functions as an enclosed container. When the container consists of a flexible balloon, the provision of the second hole in the container would not be desirable under normal circumstances.
Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which a canister 15 is connected between the conduit 5 and the container 7. The canister 15 is made of a suitable material such as plastics, glass or metallic material, and has two ends 15a and 15b that are reduced in diameter. One of the two ends 15a is threadably fitted into the corresponding end of the conduit 5, and the other end 15b is press fitted into a communication opening 7a of the container 7. This canister 15 receives a porous layer 17 which is incorporated with a carbon dioxide absorbing agent such as soda lime and extends across the interior of the canister 15 for removing carbon dioxide from the air passing through this canister 15. The part of the canister 15 adjacent to the one end 15a is provided with a relatively coarse filter 19 for preventing dust that may generate from the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 from reaching the mouth or nose of the user as he/she inhales. The canister 15 can be separated in the axial direction at a middle part thereof (although it is not shown in the drawing) so that the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 and the filter 19 may be replaced as required. This canister 15 is provided with a plurality of external air openings 9 adjacent to the two ends thereof and spaced from the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17.
According to this embodiment also, the mask 1 is applied to the mouth and nose of the user for use. As the user inhales, the air inside the container 7 is conducted to the interior of the mask 1 via the canister 15 and the conduit 5 while a controlled amount of external air is also introduced into the interior of the mask 1 from the external air openings 9. As the user exhales, the air expelled from the mouth and nose of the user and having a reduced oxygen content is conducted primarily into the container 7 while a small part of the exhaled air is expelled to the outside from the external air openings 9.
Although external air is supplied to the mask 1 at the time of inhalation, the inner diameter or the area of the external air opening is so small that the consumption of oxygen is initially slightly greater than the amount of oxygen which is introduced from the external air opening, and the oxygen concentration of the air in the container gradually diminishes. Eventually, the consumption of oxygen by the user and the introduction of fresh oxygen from the external air openings 9 balance out, and a desired oxygen concentration can be maintained in the system for an extended period of time or even indefinitely. At the same time, as the air passes through the canister 15 either from the container 7 or the mask 1, the carbon dioxide is removed therefrom by the carbon dioxide absorbing layer 17 in the canister 15 so that an undesired buildup of carbon dioxide within the system can be avoided.
Thus, this respiration system can produce a low-oxygen air for respiration at the atmospheric pressure, and can maintain the oxygen concentration within a desired range for an extended period of time. At the same time, this respiration system can prevent an undesired buildup of carbon dioxide within the system. The area of the external air openings should be 1/400 to of the combined surface area of the system including the mask, conduit, canister and container. Again, two or more external air openings may be provided, and a suitable shutter member may be provided for allowing the adjustment of the.
effective area of the external air openings.
_ g _ Some of known carbon dioxide absorbing agents change color as they absorb carbon dioxide. When such an agent is used, the canister may be at least partly made of transparent material so that the timing for replacing the carbon dioxide absorbing agent may be indicated in a simple manner. The carbon dioxide absorbing agent may also be provided anywhere between the conduit and the container 7 as well as in the canister 15. It is also possible to directly communicate the mask 1 with the container and thereby eliminate the conduit 5.
If a humidifier is connected to the conduit 5 in the respiration system of the present invention, a suitably humidity can be given to the air for inhalation for the comfort of the user. It is also possible to add a fragrance to the air for inhalation for the comfort of the user.
The present invention thus provides hypoxic or low-oxygen air for inhalation at the atmospheric pressure for an extended period of time, and, if desired, an undesired increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the respiration air can be avoided.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. A hypoxic respiration system, comprising:
a mask adapted to be applied to a respiration opening of a user;
a substantially enclosed container having a certain capacity and communicating with said mask; and an opening provided in said system for permitting a controlled introduction of external air into said mask.
a mask adapted to be applied to a respiration opening of a user;
a substantially enclosed container having a certain capacity and communicating with said mask; and an opening provided in said system for permitting a controlled introduction of external air into said mask.
2. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 1, further comprising a canister provided between said mask and said container, said canister containing an agent for absorbing carbon dioxide.
3. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 1, wherein said opening for introducing external air is provided in said mask.
4. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 2, wherein said opening for introducing external air is provided in said canister.
5. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 1, wherein said container comprises a flexible container capable of inflating and deflating depending on an inner pressure of said container.
6. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 1, wherein said opening for introducing external air has an area which is between 1/400 and 1/700 of an entire surface area of said system.
7. A hypoxic respiration system according to claim 1, wherein said opening for introducing external air includes a plurality of openings, and a shutter member is provided in association with said openings for closing a selected number of said openings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002308728A CA2308728A1 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-05-05 | Low-oxygen respiration system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002308728A CA2308728A1 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-05-05 | Low-oxygen respiration system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2308728A1 true CA2308728A1 (en) | 2001-11-05 |
Family
ID=4166172
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002308728A Abandoned CA2308728A1 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-05-05 | Low-oxygen respiration system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2308728A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006089427A1 (en) * | 2005-02-25 | 2006-08-31 | Thornhill Research Inc. | Method and apparatus for inducing and controlling hypoxia |
-
2000
- 2000-05-05 CA CA002308728A patent/CA2308728A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006089427A1 (en) * | 2005-02-25 | 2006-08-31 | Thornhill Research Inc. | Method and apparatus for inducing and controlling hypoxia |
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| FZDE | Dead |