IE53175B1 - Improvements in or relating to an apparatus for medical treatment - Google Patents

Description

The present iiwenfcion relates to apparatus for medical treatment and more particularly to apparatus for treatment of ailments associated with the nasal mucosa, such as the common cold, (viral rhinitis) and allergic rhinitis.

According to the broadest aspect of this invention there is provided 5 apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the nasal mucosa of a patient comprising: means for providing a supply of air under pressure; a water reservoir; and a patient borne outlet member which comprises a remote travelling unit, the travelling unit being connected to the means for providing and the water reservoir and comprising: controllable means for heating the air; means for injecting water from the reservoir under pressure into the stream of air; and a nozzle containing a temperature sensor, for control of said controllable means, from which a stream of heated, humidified air can be directed towards the nostrils of the patient on a non-contacting, non-invasive basis.

It is envisaged that the patient will principally be a human being, and it has now been found that if a stream of heated humidified air of appropriate temperature, humidity and flow rate is directed towards the nostrils of a patient, the symptoms of a common cold or allergic rhinitis.can be greatly reduced.

Preferably said patient borne outlet member is provided with means for mounting said nozzle on the head of the patient with the outlet of said nozzle spaced from the nostrils of the patient. Preferably the water is added to the stream of air after the air has been heated.

Preferably the said injecting means are adapted to inject water droplets into the stream of air, for example perpendicularly to the direction of the stream of air, said water droplets being in a size range of 4 fo 8 microns. -3Preferably the travelling unit Includes means for heating the water before it is injected into said stream of air, and the means for heating the water may preferably be integral with the means to heat the air. The means to heat the air, and thus the means to heat the water, may comprise an electric heater.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the nasal mucosa of a patient for treatment of the common cold or of allergic rhinitis, the apparatus comprising; a container adapted to contain water; means for providing a supply of air under pressure; pressurizing means for applying at least a part of said supply of air under pressure to said container for causing a pressurized flow of water to issue therefrom; and a remote outlet member receiving at least a portion of said supply of air under pressure and said pressurized flow of water via a flexible conduit, said outlet member comprising means for heating at least said portion of said supply of air, means for supplying said pressurized flow of water to said supply of air after heating thereof for providing a humidified heated streom of air, ond outlet means through which the stream of heated humidified air can flow.

Preferably said outlet member also comprises means for heating said pressurized flow of water before supplying it to said supply of air.

' Conveniently said outlet member Is adapted to supply a generally uniformly sized spray of water droplets to said stream of air, said water droplets being in o size range of 4-8 microns diameter.

The apparatus may also comprise a headset including a supporting portion for mounting the headset on a patient's head with said outlet member located such that said stream of air leaves said outlet means ........ -4approximately 1 to 1.5 cm from the patient's nostrils, and preferably said pressurizing means and said producing means are operative such that in operation of the apparatus the kinetic energy of said stream of air is such that when released approximaely 1 to 1.5 cm from the patient's nostrils it flows into the nostrils to about 3 cm without requiring inhalation.

Said supplying means may comprise dual water injector means, and may be adapted to inject water under pressure in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air leaving said heating means.

Said means to provide a supply of air under pressure may comprise a 10 linear motor driven compressor including a stationary coil and core defining a gap, a pair of permanent magnets of opposite magnetization direction mounted side by side on a movable armature for reciprocal motion in said gap, a flexible diaphragm pump, and means for coupling said pump to said movable armature for driving of said pump. Such a device may provide a stream of humidifed heated air approximately 33 iiters/minute.

Preferably said outlet member also comprises temperature sensing means arranged to sense the temperature of said humidified heated stream of air, and conviently also comprises temperature control means cooperating with said temperature sensing means and said heating means for maintaining the temperature of said stream of air at a temperature above 42°C and which does not cause appreciable patient discomfort Said temperature control means may be operative for maintaining said stream of air at a temperature between 42° and 44°C, such as a. temperature of 43°C plus or minus 0.5°C.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for the treatment of ailments associated with the nasal mucosa; 53.175 -5FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of the interconnections between various component parts of the apparatus of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a sectional illustration of a head-mountable delivery assembly forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed illustration of a portion of the assembly shown in Figure 3; FIGURE 5 is an illustration of the assembly of Figure 3 mounted onto the head of a patient; and FIGURES 6A, 6B and 6C are sectional illustrations illustrating an air compressor particularly useful in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference letters on the section lines in Figure 6C indicating the relationship between the drawings.

Reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate an apparatus in accordance with the invention for the local heating of the nasal mucosa in the treatment of the common cold (viral rhinitis) and allergic rhinitis. Disposed within a housing 10 there Is provided a reservoir 12 for water or any other suitable liquid, which is coupled via a pressure sealed conduit 14 to a source of positive air pressure 16 and is also coupled via a pressure sealed conduit 18 to an outlet member or headset 20.

The housing 10 is of generally square or rectangular configuration and may be formed of a plastics material and is designed to be portable. The water reservoir 12 typically comprises a container having a removable top element 22 which forms a pressure seal with the container when in place. The pressure sealed conduit 14 may typically comprise a rigid angled portion 24 coupled to the top element 22 and a flexible portion 26 for providing pressure sealed engagement with the top element notwithstanding the required movement thereof during refilling of the reservoir 12.

Disposed within conduit 14 and extending therefrom into reservoir 12 are a pair of water supply conduits 28 which terminate adjacent the bottom of reservoir 12 and which, in use of the apparatus carry water under a 3175 pressure of approximately 2Kg/cm to the outlet member 20.

It Is to be understood that the system of conduits 14 and 18 and the ' Interiors of the water reservoir 12 and the outlet member 20 are maintained (during operation of the apparatus) under positive pressure by virtue of air 5 pressure maintained within the positive air pressure source 16 by compressor means which will be described hereinafter in greater detail. Thus conduits and 18 serve multiple functions, both as pressure conduits and as outer sheaths for water and electrical supply conduits which pass therethrough. Consequently, in operation of the device air under pressure is supplied to the space in the sealed reservoir 12 above the water line, and thus causes water to flow under pressure, through the conduits 28. Also air, under pressure, is supplied directly to the outlet member or headset 20.

A standard electrical plug 30 arranged for engagement with a wall socket is coupled to electrical conductors and to a switch 32 which governs the operation of the apparatus. The electrical supply is provided to the air pressure source 16 via switch 32 for operation thereof and to a temperature control circuit 34 which governs the operation of a heating apparatus in the outlet member 20. The temperature control circuitry 34 is connected to the outlet member via a pair of conductive leads 36 which are coupled to temperature sensing devices located in the outlet member and via a pair of conductive leads 38 which supply current to heating elements located in the outlet member.

The .construction of the outlet member or headset 20 will now be described in detail with additional reference to Figures 3 and 4. The outlet member or headset 20 is remotely and flexibly connected to the remainder of the apparatus and is provided with integral heating and spray producing apparatus which are located adjacent a delivery point of an output stream of heated humidified air.

The outlet member or headset 20 comprises a housing 40 which may conveniently be moulded from a plastics material. Disposed within the housing 40 is a connector socket 42 for securing the adjacent end of pressure sealed conduit 18 in a sealing manner such that an interior portion 44 of the housing 40 is in communication with the interior of the conduit 18 and can -7thus be maintained at a positive air pressure, as desired.

A heater 46 is disposed in air flow communicating relationship with the said interior portion 44 so as to permit a pressurized flow of air from the Interior portion 44 to flow through the heater, the air thus being heated. The heater 46 receives an electrical input via conductors 48, which are coupled at connectors 50 to electrical current carrying wires 52 which form extensions of the leads 38 and which extend thereto from conduit 18. Only one conductor 48, one conductor 50 and one wire 52 are shown in Figure 3, for the sake of simplicity of illustration. The heater 46 is also operative to heat water supplied thereto under pressure via water supply conduits 28. The water supply conduits 28 extend through the said interior portion 44 to respective connectors 54 which couple them to heater input conduits 56. The heated water leaves the heater via output conduits 58 which extend to respective valve assemblies 60. The valve assemblies 60 comprise screw operated stems 62 which govern the output water pressure and output water quantity. It is noted that heater 46 is formed of a heating element having longitudinally extending channels for permitting air flow therethrough, and further channels, which do not communicate with the air flow channels for permitting the flow of water (or other appropriate liquid) therethrough.

The heated water leaves the valve assemblies 60 at a desired output pressure and is supplied via respective valve outlet conduits 64 to injection needles 66 which are disposed in opposite facing parallel orientation so as to provide a spray of heated water perpendicular to a flow of air passing therepast from the heater. The flow of air passes an intermediate funnel type member 68 and a baffle 70 having a pair of air flow apertures 72 before reaching the needles 66. The thus humidified air flow then passes through twin channels 74 along which are disposed temperature measuring devices 76, such as thermocouples. The temperature measuring devices 76 are connected via conductors 78 and 80 to the leads 36 for connection to the temperature control circuitry 34.

Reference is now made to Fig 5 which illustrates the outlet member 20 or headset as described above mounted on a flexible or rigid head engaging support apparatus in a rigid manner such that the outlets of channels 74 are disposed no further than 5 cms and preferably less than 3 -8'53175 ems, and most preferably approximately 1-1.5 cm from the nostrils of a patient. A chin support (not shown) may be mounted on outlet member. The outlet member is operative to direct a heated and humified stream of air to. the nasal mucosa in a manner such that the outlet member does not touch the nostrils of the patient. The heated humidified air is not provided to the patient under pressure, as such, but instead the kinetic energy of the stream of heated humidified air is caused to be such that it flows into the nostrils for a distance of about 3 cm without requiring inhalation by the patient. Thus it may be appreciated that use of the presently described apparatus does not involve inhalation, or active participation by the patient undergoing treatment.

In operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention generally uniform size droplets in a size range of 4-8 micron diameter are provided at a temperature of 43°C plus or minus 0,5°C, this temperature being maintained by the temperature control circuit 34,and typically an air flow of approximately 33 liters per minute is supplied to a patient's nostrils by the apparatus.

Reference is now made to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C which illustrate an air compressor useful as the source of pressurized air for the apparatus described above. The compressor has a relatively low power consumption while providing a stable output of pressurized air.

The compressor comprises a moving magnet motor 80 including a fixed coil 82 which is securely mounted on a housing 84. A pair of flat magnets 86 and 88 having their axes of magnetization aligned along their smallest dimension and in respective opposite directions is disposed in a gap defined by the core 92 of an electromagnet 94 which includes coil 82. Magnets 86 and 88 are mounted on an armature 96 which is mounted for reciprocal axial motion in gap 90. The armature 96 is mounted at one end of a spring 98 which is seated in a suitable recess formed in the housing 84, and is connected at the opposite end to a moving diaphragm pump 100 which may be of conventional construction and which will not be described in detail herein.

The motion of the armature 96 is constrained to axial motion by 33175 -9means of guide assemblies 102 comprising guide posts 104 which are fixedly mounted to the armature 96 and which slide with respect to corresponding slidable bearing surfaces 106 which are fixed with respect to the housing.

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the nosal mucosa of a patient comprising: means for providing a supply of air under pressure; a water reservoir; and a patient borne outlet member which 5 comprises a remote travelling unit, the travelling unit being connected to'the means for providing and the water reservoir and comprising: controllable means for heating the air; means for injecting water from the reservoir under pressure into the stream of air; and a nozzle containing a temperature sensor, for control of said controllable means, from which a stream of heated, 10 humidified air can be directed towards the nostrils of the patient on a noncontacting, non-invasive basis.

2. , Apparatus according to Claim I, wherein said outle' member is operative to provide a flow of heated, humidified air at generally c'mospheric pressure within the nostrils of the patient. 15

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said patient borne outlet member is provided with means for mounting said nozzle on the head of the patient with the outlet of said nozzle spaced from the nostrils of the patient.

4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 3, wherein said injecting means are adapted to inject water droplets into the stream of air, said woter 20 droplets being in a size range of 4 to 8 microns.

5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 4, wherein said injection means inject said water droplets in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said stream.

6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said travelling 25 unit comprises means for heating water from said water reservoir prior to its injection.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said means for heating the water is integral with the means to heat the air. -118. Apparatus according to cny one of the preceding claims, wherein the means to heat the air is an electric heater.

8. 9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nozzle is operative to provide said stream of heated humidified air at a pressure whereby the kinetic energy of the stream is sufficient to carry said stream interiorly of the nostrils of the patient.

9. 10. An apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the nasal mucosa of a patient for treatment of the common cold or of allergic rhinitis, the apparatus comprising: a container adapted to contain water; means for providing a supply of air under pressure; pressurizing means for applying at least a part of said supply of air under pressure to said container for causing a pressurized flow of water to issue therefrom; and a remote outlet member receiving at least a portion of said supply of air under pressure and said pressurized flow of water via a flexible conduit, said outlet member comprising means for heating at least said portion of said supply of air, means for supplying said pressurized flow of water to said supply of air after heating thereof for providing a humidified heated stream of oir, and outlet means through which the stream of heated humidified air can flow. ti. An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said outlet member also comprises means for heating said pressurized flow of water before supplying it to said supply of air.

10. 12. An apparatus according to Claim 10 or II and wherein said outlet member is adapted to supply a generally uniformly sized spray of water droplets to said stream of air, said water droplets being in a size range of 4-8 micron diameter.

11. 13. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein said apparatus also comprises a' headset including a supporting portion for mounting the headset on a patient’s head with said outlet member located such that said stream of air leaves said outlet means approximately I to 1.5 cm from the patient's nostrils. -1214. An apparatus according to any one of Claims I Oto 13 wherein said pressurizing means and said producing means are operative such that in operation of the apparatus the kinetic energy of said stream of air is such that when released approximately I to 1.5 cm from the patient's nostrils it ® flows into the nostrils to about 3 cm without requiring inhalation.

12. 15. An apparatus according to any one of Claims I Oto 14 wherein said supplying means comprise dual water injector means.

13. 16. An apparatus according to any one of Claims I Oto 15 wherein said supplying means comprises means for injecting water under pressure in a 10 direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air leaving said heating means.

14. 17. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means to provide a supply of air under pressure comprises a linear motor driven compressor including a stationary coil and core defining a gap, 15 a pair of permanent magnets of opposite magnetization direction mounted side by side on a movable armature for reciprocal motion in said gap, a flexible diaphragm pump, and means for coupling said pump to said movable armature for driving of said pump.

15. 18. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein

16. 20 said stream of humidified heated air is approximately 33 liiers/minute. 17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said outlet member comprises temperature sensing means arranged to sense the temperature of said humidified heated stream of air. 20. An apparatus according to Claim 17 comprising temperature control 2 5 means cooperating with said temperature sensing means and said heating means for maintaining the temperature of said stream of air at a temperature above 42°C and which does not cause appreciable patient discomfort.

17. 21. An apparatus according to Claim 20 wherein said temperature control means is operative for maintaining said stream of air at a temperature 30 between 42° end 44°C. 53.175 -1322. An apparatus according to Claim 21 and wherein said temperature control means is operative for maintaining said stream of oir at a temperature of 43°C plus or minus 0.5°C.

18. 23. An apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the 5 nasal mucosa of a patient substantially os herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures I to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

19. 24. An apparatus for delivering a stream of heated humidified air to the nasal mucosa of a patient substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures I to 5 of the accompanying drawings, together with 10 Figures &a, 6b and 6c.