GB2325410A - Respiratory muscle training device - Google Patents
Respiratory muscle training device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2325410A GB2325410A GB9800744A GB9800744A GB2325410A GB 2325410 A GB2325410 A GB 2325410A GB 9800744 A GB9800744 A GB 9800744A GB 9800744 A GB9800744 A GB 9800744A GB 2325410 A GB2325410 A GB 2325410A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- body portion
- sleeve
- exhaust
- opening
- mouthpiece
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/18—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for improving respiratory function
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
- Massaging Devices (AREA)
- Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
The device comprises a mouthpiece 11 connected to a tubular body portion 12 and a tubular sleeve 13 movable on such portion, the body portion having a resistance opening 14 and guide means such as threads allowing the sleeve to move relative thereto and thereby obscure the resistance opening, the degree of obscurement being continuously variable between the fully obscuring and non-obscuring positions of the sleeve. In a modification, a threaded sleeve 33 is coaxial with the tubular body and adjustably obstructs an aperture 35 therein. The device may also have exhaust apertures 15, 36 which are opened and closed by means of a ball valve contained in an adjustable housing, the latter being capable of adjusting the distance the ball has to travel to seal off the exhaust opening(s) during inhalation of a user via the mouthpiece.
Description
RESPIRATORY MUSCLE TRAINING DEVICE
This invention relates to respiratory muscle training devices.
In US patent no. 4770413 is disclosed a respiratory muscle training device comprising a mouthpiece attached to a tubular body with a resistor sleeve coaxial with the body tube and having a number of resistance openings which align with a body tube opening and a selective one way flap exhaust valve which can be rotated 180 degrees to provide for inspiratory or expiratory training.
This arrangement has a number of drawbacks: 1) The design makes it expensive to injection mould.
2) The nature of its construction and components makes it difficult to
disassemble, clean and reassemble.
3) The size of the resistance opening is not infinitely and continuously
variable, fine adjustments to its size not being possible, whilst the process
of selecting a particular resistance setting might be problematic for an
elderly population with impaired dexterity.
4. The immediacy with which the exhaust valve shuts on commencing
inhalation places a disproportionately high load on the respiratory muscles
at the commencement of inhalation requiring them to jerk' into action,
which:
is potentially damaging to the respiratory muscles, particularly those
of the elderly population for whom the device is largely prescribed
is unfavourable to some users, particularly sports people, who prefer
the load to be experienced at a fractionally later stage during the
inhalation process.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device which may be simply and inexpensively manufactured entirely from plastic. It is simpler and safer to use, of greater benefit to healthier users, allows for the finest of adjustments to the size of the aperture even by those with impaired dexterity, is easier to disassemble and clean, whilst the simplicity and robustness of its components suggest that it should last a lifetime.
Accordingly, the invention provides in a first aspect a respiratory muscle training device comprising a mouthpiece connected to a tubular body portion, and a tubular sleeve movable on the body portion, the body portion containing a resistance opening and having guide means to enable the position of the sleeve to move relative to the body portion whereby the resistance opening can be obscured to a greater or lesser extent by the sleeve, the degree of obscurement being continuously variable between the fully obscured and the not obscured positions of the sleeve.
The guide means may consist of a screw thread arrangement between the tubular body portion and the sleeve whereby rotation of the sleeve or tubular body portion moves them linearly with respect to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The screw thread preferably extends on the outer surface of the tubular body containing the resistance opening.
Thus the body portion can be engaged to and co-operable with a corresponding thread on the inner surface of the sleeve such that when the sleeve is rotated it moves in a controlled and linear fashion backwards and forwards over the resistance opening
The device may comprise a one way exhaust ball valve wherein the distance the ball of the ball valve is required to travel in order to seal the exhaust aperture during inspiratory training is adjustable. It is also possible for said distance to be reduced to zero, such that the exhaust aperture is permanently though reversibly sealed, so allowing for expiratory training.
In a second aspect of the invention a respiratory device comprises a mouthpiece connected to a tubular body portion, the body portion having an adjustable resistance opening whereby the opening may be obscured to a greater or lesser extent, an exhaust opening communicating with the interior of the body portion and a one way ball valve to open and close the communication through the exhaust opening, the exhaust ball valve being contained in an adjustable housing whereby the distance the ball has to travel to seal off the exhaust opening during inhalation by a user of the mouthpiece is adjustable.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the device of the invention combines the features of both the first and the second aspects of the invention defined above.
In one embodiment the device may be of generally T' shape with the tubular body portion providing the cross-bar of the T' and the mouthpiece and its connection to the body portion providing the tail of the T'. In this embodiment the resistance opening may be on one arm of the cross-bar of the T' and the exhaust valve, if fitted, on the other arm of the cross-bar of the T'. The means to obscure the resistance opening may be a threaded sleeve in the form of an end-cap on the arm of the cross-bar of the T'.
In another embodiment the device may be generally linear with the mouthpiece at one end, the exhaust valve, if fitted, at the other end and the resistance opening located between them.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of one device of the invention from above, in
the fully closed position;
Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 opened and ready for use;
Figure 3 shows in cross-section the device as depicted in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 of a second device of the invention;
and
Figure 5 shows in cross-section the upper half of the device depicted in
Figure 4 as viewed from below.
Referring to Figure 1 the device 10 comprises a T-shaped tube arrangement, portion 11 of which serves as the mouthpiece through which the user breathes and tubular body portion 12 of which remains external to the mouth serving to control the flow of air through the device during inhalation and exhalation.
Referring to Figure 2 the restriction placed on the flow of air through the device during inhalation is adjusted by means of the screwcap 13 on one end of body portion 12. Unscrewing the screwcap 13 reveals an aperture 14 through which air enters during inhalation; the more of the screwcap 13 is unscrewed the greater the effective size of the aperture 14. Increasing the effective size of the aperture 14 reduces the load on the inspiratory muscles during inhalation making inhalation easier whilst reducing the effective size of the aperture 14 increases the load making inhalation harder. The thread of the screwcap 13 is sufficiently fine so as to ensure that fine adjustments to the effective size of the aperture 14 are possible.
During exhalation the air leaves the device primarily through the apertures 15 which are of a fixed size and collectively much larger than the aperture 14 so ensuring that the user can exhale freely.
Referring to Figure 3 the cross-section reveals the ball valve system which controls the flow of air through the apertures 15 during inhalation and exhalation. During inhalation air is drawn through the mouthpiece 11 in the direction of the arrow 16, so decreasing the pressure in the chamber 17 inside the tubular body. Whilst this momentarily causes some air to be drawn through the apertures 15, air which is drawn in through a small hole 18, in an end-cap 22 threaded on to the opposite end of body portion 12 to cap 13, soon forces a lightweight plastic ball 19 placed inside end-cap 22 in the direction of the arrow 20. The exhaust aperture 21 defined by annular shoulder 21A in the body portion is thereby sealed. The exhaust aperture might also feature a rubber washer to improve the seal. This sealing effect ensures that the air entering the mouthpiece is subsequently limited to that passing through the aperture 14.
The momentary delay : the action of the ball valve in sealing the exhaust aperture 21 allows ti;e user, on commencing inhalation, to gain some momentum before the resistance is met, this providing for both a safer and more pleasant experience. The duration of this delay may be increased by unscrewing the screwcap 22: the more the screwcap 22 is unscrewed, the greater the distance the ball 19 has to travel in order to seal the exhaust aperture 21 and so the greater the delay experienced before the resistance is met.
On exhaling through the device the pressure in the chamber 17 increases causing the ball 19 to return to its starting position as depicted in Figure 3 thereby allowing the air to escape freely through both the aperture 14 and the larger apertures 15.
Referring to Figure 4 the device comprises a generally linear tubular body 30 having an end portion 31 being connected to a rubber mouthpiece (not shown) through which the user breathes and a portion 32 remaining external to the mouth and serving to control the flow of air through the device during inhalation and exhalation. The restriction placed on the flow of air through the device during inhalation is adjusted by means of a threaded sleeve 33 coaxial to the tubular body which, being engaged to and co-operable with a corresponding thread 34 on the surface of the tubular body, when rotated clockwise or anticlockwise, adjustably obstructs an aperture 35 cut into the tubular body through which air enters during inhalation. Increasing the effective size of the aperture 35 reduces the load on the inspiratory muscles during inhalation making inhalation easier whilst reducing the effective size of the aperture 35 increases the load making inhalation harder. The thread of the sleeve 33 is sufficiently fine to ensure that fine adjustments to the effective size of the aperture 35 are possible.
During exhalation the air leaves the device both through the aperture 35 and an aperture 36 which is of a sufficient size to ensure the user is able to exhale freely.
Referring to Figure 5, the cross-section reveals the ball valve system which controls the flow of air through the aperture 36 during inhalation and exhalation. During inhalation air is drawn through the mouthpiece 31 in the direction of the arrow 37, so decreasing the pressure in the chamber 38. Whilst this momentarily causes some air to be drawn through the aperture 36, air which is drawn in through the holes 39 in a screw-threaded end-cap 43 soon forces lightweight plastic ball 40 in the body in the direction of the arrow 41 thereby sealing the exhaust aperture 42 defined by an annular shoulder 42A and ensuring that the air entering the mouthpiece is subsequently limited to that passing through the aperture 35.
The duration of the momentary delay in the action of the ball valve in sealing the exhaust aperture 42 which determines the degree of momentum achieved in the inhalation process before the resistance is met, may be increased by unscrewing the threaded screwcap 43 which is engaged to a corresponding thread 44 on the surface of portion 32: the more the screwcap 43 is unscrewed, the greater the distance the ball 40 has to travel in order to seal the exhaust aperture 42 and so the greater the delay experienced before the resistance is met. This ability to increase the delay is again important since it helps guard against the possibility of overstressing or perking' the respiratory muscles at the commencement of inspiration.
On exhaling through the device the pressure in the chamber 38 increases causing the ball 40 to return to its stating position as depicted in Figure 5 abutting a pin 45 in end-cap 43 thereby allowing the air to escape freely through both the aperture 35 and the larger aperture 36.
It will be noted that the inclusion of the one way exhaust valve is not essential to the device. The device might just include the sleeve 33 and aperture 35 arrangement with the end of the tubular body being sealed in which case the user, during inspiratory training, would be required to exhale through their nose.
The device may also be used for expiratory muscle training. To do so the cap 33 is rotated so as to cause the plastic ball 40 to seal the exhaust aperture. The user then breathes in through the nose and out through the device, the expiratory resistance being varied by adjustably obstructing the aperture 35 by rotating the sleeve 33 as described above.
The device may be prescribed for persons with respiratory problems, or anybody wishing to develop the strength and endurance of their respiratory muscles e.g.
singers, athletes, divers.
Claims (15)
1. A respiratory muscle training device (10) comprising a mouthpiece (11)
connected to a tubular body portion (12), and a tubular sleeve (13)
movable on the body portion, the body portion containing a resistance
opening (15) and having guide means (14) to enable the position of the
sleeve (13) to move relative to the body portion (12) whereby the
resistance opening (15) can be obscured to a greater or lesser extent by
the sleeve (13), the degree of obscurement being continuously variable
between the fully obscured and the not obscured positions of the sleeve
(13).
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the guide means (14) comprise a
screw thread arrangement between the tubular body portion (12) and the
sleeve (13) whereby rotation of the sleeve (13) or tubular body portion (12)
moves them linearly with respect to each other in the direction of the
longitudinal axis of the body portion.
3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein a screw thread extends on the
outer surface of the tubular body portion (12) in the region containing the
resistance opening (15).
4. A device according to Claim 1, 2, or 3, comprising an exhaust opening
(21, 15) providing communication with the interior of the body portion
and a one way exhaust ball valve (20) to open and close the
communication.
5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the exhaust ball valve (20) is
contained in an adjustable housing (22) whereby the distance the ball
(20) has to travel to seal off the exhaust opening (21, 15) during
inhalation by a user through the mouthpiece (11) is adjustable.
6. A device according to Claim 5, in which the distance the ball (20) has to
travel can be adjusted to zero, whereby the device can be operated for
expiratory training.
7. A device according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the adjustable housing
comprises a threaded end cap (22) rotatable over a threaded end portion
of the tubular body portion (12).
8. A device according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the ball valve (20)
engages against an annular shoulder inside said body portion to close the
communication (21) with the interior of the body portion.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body portion (12)
is of generally T' shape with the mouthpiece (11) being the tail of the T'.
10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the adjustable sleeve (13) is an
end-cap (13) fitted to one end of the cross-bar of the T'.
11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein the one-way exhaust ball valve
(20) is positioned at the end of the other cross-bar of the T'.
12. A respiratory muscle t training g device (10) comprising a mouthpiece (11) connected to a tubular body portion (12), the body portion having an
adjustable resistance opening (15) whereby the opening may be obscured
to a greater or lesser extent, an exhaust opening (21, 15) communicating
with the interior (17) of the body portion and a one way ball valve (20) to
open and close the communication through the exhaust opening, the
exhaust ball valve being contained in an adjustable housing (22) whereby
the distance the ball has to travel to seal off the exhaust opening during
inhalation by a user of the mouthpiece is adjustable.
13. A device according to Claim 12, in which the distance the ball (20) has to
travel can be adjusted to zero, whereby the device can be operated for
expiratory training.
14. A device according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the adjustable housing
comprises a threaded end cap (22) rotatable over a threaded end portion
of the tubular body portion (12).
15. A device according to Claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the ball valve (12)
engages against an annular shoulder (21A) inside the body portion (12) to
close the communication (21) with the interior of the body portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9710306.3A GB9710306D0 (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-05-21 | Chest exerciser |
GB9715070A GB9715070D0 (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-07-18 | Inspiratory muscle trainer |
GBGB9722565.0A GB9722565D0 (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-10-27 | Respiratory muscle trainer |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9800744D0 GB9800744D0 (en) | 1998-03-11 |
GB2325410A true GB2325410A (en) | 1998-11-25 |
Family
ID=27268848
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9800744A Withdrawn GB2325410A (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1998-01-13 | Respiratory muscle training device |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0984820B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE204495T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU7438598A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69801432D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2325410A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998052651A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU2013302941A1 (en) * | 2012-08-13 | 2015-04-02 | Halliday, Christopher I | Pulmonary system resistance training apparatus and methods |
USD875237S1 (en) | 2019-04-18 | 2020-02-11 | Firas Kasem Ghazzawi | Resistance breathing device |
US10780318B1 (en) | 2019-04-18 | 2020-09-22 | Firas Kasem Ghazzawi | Breathing device with exhale and inhale valve to create resistance |
CN110575650B (en) * | 2019-09-10 | 2021-02-12 | 安徽相王医疗健康股份有限公司 | A breathe training rehabilitation device for pneumoconiosis patient |
CN112691347B (en) * | 2021-02-20 | 2021-11-09 | 山东第一医科大学附属省立医院(山东省立医院) | Breathing training device with atomization function |
CN114432669B (en) * | 2022-02-17 | 2024-05-24 | 南京亮辉斌电子贸易有限公司 | Pediatric respiration training device |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2104385A (en) * | 1981-08-27 | 1983-03-09 | Bernhardt Rudolph Garbe | Respiratory test device |
US4770413A (en) * | 1987-04-27 | 1988-09-13 | Mba Healthcare Products, Inc. | Breathing exercise device |
WO1996024407A1 (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1996-08-15 | Hougen Everett D | A portable, personal breathing apparatus |
WO1996037147A1 (en) * | 1995-05-25 | 1996-11-28 | Harwill Industries (Pty.) Limited | Peak flow monitoring device |
WO1996038207A1 (en) * | 1995-05-30 | 1996-12-05 | Jose Morera Prat | Apparatus for respiratory exercises |
WO1996040376A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1996-12-19 | Hougen Everett D | A portable, personal breathing apparatus |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3695608A (en) * | 1970-08-17 | 1972-10-03 | Lourie Visual Etudes Inc | Device for practicing breath control |
US4739987A (en) * | 1985-10-28 | 1988-04-26 | Nicholson Marguerite K | Respiratory exerciser |
EP0513712B1 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1996-01-24 | Lugon, Guillermina | Pulmonary exercises device |
GB2278545B (en) * | 1993-04-21 | 1997-02-19 | Univ Loughborough | Inspiratory muscle training device |
-
1998
- 1998-01-13 GB GB9800744A patent/GB2325410A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-05-19 AU AU74385/98A patent/AU7438598A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-05-19 EP EP98921590A patent/EP0984820B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-05-19 AT AT98921590T patent/ATE204495T1/en active
- 1998-05-19 DE DE69801432T patent/DE69801432D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-05-19 WO PCT/GB1998/001310 patent/WO1998052651A1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2104385A (en) * | 1981-08-27 | 1983-03-09 | Bernhardt Rudolph Garbe | Respiratory test device |
US4770413A (en) * | 1987-04-27 | 1988-09-13 | Mba Healthcare Products, Inc. | Breathing exercise device |
WO1996024407A1 (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1996-08-15 | Hougen Everett D | A portable, personal breathing apparatus |
WO1996037147A1 (en) * | 1995-05-25 | 1996-11-28 | Harwill Industries (Pty.) Limited | Peak flow monitoring device |
WO1996038207A1 (en) * | 1995-05-30 | 1996-12-05 | Jose Morera Prat | Apparatus for respiratory exercises |
WO1996040376A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1996-12-19 | Hougen Everett D | A portable, personal breathing apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0984820A1 (en) | 2000-03-15 |
ATE204495T1 (en) | 2001-09-15 |
DE69801432D1 (en) | 2001-09-27 |
EP0984820B1 (en) | 2001-08-22 |
WO1998052651A1 (en) | 1998-11-26 |
GB9800744D0 (en) | 1998-03-11 |
AU7438598A (en) | 1998-12-11 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |