JPS6040040A - Inhalator used in inhaling air into human lung - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a device for measuring human respiration.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for measuring air sutures entering a person's lungs.

In this technology, devices for respiratory movements of a person or for the implementation of respiratory control are known.

These types of devices are used, for example, in the Tunbul
No. 3,811,671, Rousseau (Ru
U.S. Patent No. 4,086,918 (S no.), U.S. Patent No. 3,695,60 (Tan5on)
No. 8 and Russo U.S. Pat. No. 4,06
No. 0,074. Such devices include discharging air into or shedding air from an enclosed chamber.

Also known are devices for the purpose of measuring the amount of air entering or leaving a person's lungs. Such devices are sometimes called spirometers. A particular example is Macmillan (
U.S. Patent No. 3.722.5 to MeMI Ilan)
No. 06, U.S. Patent No. 3.6 to Rand et al.
No. 35,214 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,247 to Futuskin et al.

Many spirometer devices are expensive and cumbersome. Although newer portable devices are now available, there remains a need for a volumetric spirometer that is accurate, reliable, relatively inexpensive, and easily transportable.

With the above in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for measuring the amount of air inhaled by a person's lungs.

Another object of the invention is to provide for measuring or testing human respiratory capacity with an easily portable, lightweight and durable device, in addition to being accurate and reliable. be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inhalation device that provides relatively large air volume measurements in a relatively compact device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a complete inhalation device that directs the rate and amount of inhalation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a first means for indicating the amount of inhalation;
and a second means for indicating the rate of inhalation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inhalation device having first and second chambers communicating with an inhalation conduit through an aperture having a predetermined ratio of the relative dimensions of the apertures.

Yet another object of the invention is that upon inhalation, most of the air is inhaled through a chamber communicating with the atmosphere, and a small portion of the air is taken from another chamber having means for indicating the total amount of inhaled air. It's coming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inhalation device having at least two chambers communicating with an inhalation conduit.

Yet another object of the invention is to have at least two chambers in communication with the suction tube, at least one chamber having a movable piston assembly and a counterweight counteracting the frictional forces encountered by the piston assembly. An object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation device that is provided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inhalation device having a piston assembly movable within a chamber and counterweight means for counteracting the frictional resistance to the piston assembly that varies with the inhalation rate. .

Another object of the invention is to provide an inhalation device having movable piston means within the chamber and a unique sealed arrangement between the piston means and the chamber.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following description:
And it will become clear in part from the description. The objects and advantages particularly pointed out in the claims,
realized and obtained by methods, apparatus and processes.

Briefly stated, the invention consists of the following major elements or parts. That is, it comprises a first hollow cylindrical chamber in which the piston is suitably located and movable, which chamber communicates with the atmosphere at an outlet, and preferably in which a counterweight is located and which communicates with the atmosphere. an open second hollow chamber and an inhalation tube assembly in free communication with the first and second hollow chambers forming a flow path terminating in a mouthpiece through which the patient can inhale to move the piston. We are prepared.

The relationship between the suction tube assembly and the first and second chambers is such that the majority of the suction air comes from the atmosphere through the second chamber and a small portion comes from the first chamber in a predetermined manner. This relationship allows a large amount of air to be inhaled with a relatively compact device.

The first chamber has a piston assembly that directs the amount of air drawn in by the piston in the chamber.

A feature of the invention is to divide the airflow to the user so that a fixed ratio of the total flow comes from a chamber containing a movable piston that acts as a volumetric chamber, as will be described more fully below; or to allocate it as prescribed. Such airflow division is accomplished by two ports, one port leading to the chamber containing the piston and the other port leading to the other chamber which then communicates with the atmosphere. Preferably, the port leading to the atmosphere has a fairly large area, so that when the user inhales through the inhalation tube,
Most of the airflow comes through the relatively large port, and only a small portion of the airflow comes from the volumetric chamber through the relatively small port. As the air above the piston is removed by suction, the piston rises to a height that can relate to the total amount inhaled. This arrangement is desirable because it allows the use of relatively small inhalation devices. Without this arrangement, it would be necessary to use a relatively large device to allow for the desired amount of air to be drawn.

Because the piston has weight and friction, it slows down the airflow from the volumetric chamber. To compensate for this resistance, the preferred embodiment includes a counterweight in the device to apply an equivalent or nearly equivalent amount of drag to the airflow through the relatively large tate of the breathing tube assembly. The counterweight is constructed and arranged to take into account the effect of frictional drag acting on the amount of air being inhaled.

The invention consists of the novel parts, steps, structures and improvements shown and described herein.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the invention in detail.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As specifically shown, the present invention has a pace 2 that is attached to an inhalation structure. In addition to serving as a pace, this pace 2 can also function as a stand to maintain the inhalation unit or structure in an upright position. A pair of upright or vertical columns 4 and 6 are attached to pace 2 in the usual manner. The vertical columns 4 and 6 consist of a two-piece molded structure (see FIG. 2), the two pieces being hermetically sealed together by a frame indicated generally at 8.

The entire device with all functions and moving parts can be made of lightweight molded plastic as will be described subsequently.

The inner wall of the vertical column 4 is preferably at least partially brushed to reduce surface area and to reduce resistance to the piston described below.

The frame 8 has three vertical legs 10, 12, 14'.
and a connecting horizontal leg 16. As explained later,
Frame 8 is used to hermetically assemble parts 9 and 11 which, when assembled, form vertical columns 4 and 6 and associated structures.

As can be seen in Figures 2, 9 and 10, the parts forming columns 4 and 6 have flanges extending from the column parts and spaced apart from the flanges n.
forms a space in between.

The legs 10, 14 and 16 of the frame 8 have three spaced apart flanges u, 26 and portions (see FIG. 2).

As shown in detail, 1 column 4 and 6 Fran Rin
is fitted between the flanges 27I of the outer legs 10 and 14, and the flange retainer is in a sealed state with the flange.

The inner or adjacent portions of columns 4 and 6 form flanges 32
It has a recess (capital) formed by. The inner or central leg 12 of the frame 8 has a pair of flanges 34 which project into the space between the recesses and sealingly engage the spaced apart flanges 32 forming the recess I. do.

The lower ends of columns 4 and 6 have flaps 35 (FIG. 2) or the like which are adapted to fit within appropriate openings in the pace to form a unitary structure.

Columns 4 and 6 are in fluid communication by a passageway extending between columns 4 and 6, as seen in FIGS. 1, 7, and 11. While the column 4 is cylindrical in shape, the column 6 has a somewhat triangular cross-section over a considerable length.

The shape of the lowest part of the column 6 is also cylindrical.

The vertical column 4 opens to the atmosphere by a series of openings or holes 38 in the pace as seen in Figure 1.theta.

The bottom of the other vertical column 6 is also open to the atmosphere by a series of vertical openings 42 located after the column 6 (6th round).

According to the invention, means are provided for positioning a vertically movable piston in a sealed manner within a vertical column.

As specifically shown, this means includes a piston assembly 44 (FIGS. 1 and 13-14) slidably mounted within a vertical cylindrical column 4. As previously pointed out, the position of the piston also serves as an indicator of the purity of the inhaled air.

The piston assembly consists of a base member 46 having a centrally located stud 48 extending upwardly. The stud 48 has an intermediate piston part blade and a top piston part 52 mounted thereon. These piston assembly parts are cylindrical in shape and have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the vertical column 4, so that the piston assembly can slide freely within the vertical column 4.

The intermediate and top pistons are mounted in the preform as shown in FIG.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to prevent leakage between the piston assembly and vertical column 40 so that there is a seal between the piston assembly and vertical column 40.

As specifically shown, this means has a relatively thin gauge film made of ethylene vinyl acetate or polyethylene film that is part of the piston assembly;
The means also include a portion that engages the wall of the column 4 to form a seal between the piston assembly and the vertical column 40.

As shown, a thin flexible film disk 8 has a hole that fits into the stun r 48 and extends radially outwardly to extend beyond the outer surface of the piston assembly. A thin flexible disc 54 is slit radially from its outer periphery (FIG. 15, 56) to form a plurality of flap profiles.

As seen in FIG. 13, piston assembly part 46
, 50 and 520 are downwardly sloped, the radial end of flap 58 is also downwardly sloped. Due to the downward slope, the diameter of the disc decreases and the flaps overlap (Figure 14).

As can be seen from the drawings, there are two such thin disc-shaped films located between the parts of the piston assembly. However, the invention is not limited to any particular number of such film discs.

A flexible thin disk is constructed in a generally flat configuration as shown in FIG. 15, and assumes the shape shown in the drawing when assembled into the piston assembly.

Film disks are more effective and less expensive than conventional sealing rings. Its effectiveness is due to the fact that when the piston moves upward, the flap contour flattens and
This is due to the tendency of the flaps to overlap and trap air between them.

In this manner, the flap arrangement creates an effective seal and substantially reduces normal drag forces as the flap provides little resistance to movement of the piston assembly.

As will be explained later, the piston assembly moves upward during inhalation. Holes 38 in the base 2 through which air can be expelled by pushing air between the holes in the pace member 2
(FIG. 2), gravity causes the piston assembly to slowly fall to its lowest position.

According to the invention, a relatively small proportion of the air comes from within the device and a relatively large proportion of the air comes from the atmosphere.
Providing means for inhaling air into the person's lungs. This means
This is important in that it allows a relatively large amount of air to be inhaled using a device that is very compact in size. In other words,
If all, or substantially the maximum amount, of the air inhaled comes from within the device, a device with a larger volume will be required.

In one embodiment of the present invention, approximately 4,000 ML of air can be inhaled in a device that is only 10' inches high (and has a chamber diameter of approximately 2 and 1/4 inches (2y4")). can do.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, on the vertical column 4 there is a mark indicating the amount of intake air determined by the vertical position of the piston. As shown, its mark (
It is clear that a variety of markings can be used, although the markings range from 500 ML to 4,000 ML.

As specifically shown, the frame 8 includes vertical legs 12.
There are horizontal supports 62, 64 extending between and 14 (FIG. 2). Horizontal supports ti2, 64 support circular port assembly members 66. The port member has a front and rear groove 88 between the port supports. The circular boat member closure also has a circular groove 70. The port member assembly has a relatively small port 72 and a relatively large port 74. As will be explained later, the bows 72, 74 communicate with the various chambers of the inhaler (FIG. 5).

One wall of the vertical column 6 and the suction boat 16 are integral, and a flexible tube 78 is removably attached to this suction port 76, the flexible tube having a suction port 80 at its end.
Can be made of polyethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate with The halves 9 and 11 of the columns 4 and 6 each have a flat sealing member 81 which fits in a tight seal in a groove. As in the case of the groove, the flat sealing member is in two sections. Inlet port 76 has a circular rim 82 extending toward and into sealing engagement with channel 70 in the port member (FIGS. 1 and 2).

In this way, a first chamber 91 (FIG. 11) is formed above the sealing member 81, which includes part of the column 6 and all of the column 4. A second chamber 93 is formed below the closed shelf 81 which communicates with the atmosphere through the vertical opening 42.

Air is drawn in from the first chamber 91 through port 72 and air is drawn in from the atmosphere through port 74 and second chamber 93.

According to the invention, counterbalance means are provided. With this counterbalance means: Well, at a relatively small flow rate, the counterbalance provides a relatively large resistance to the portion of air flowing through chamber 93 and port 74, thereby causing chamber 31 to move the piston. It is designed to increase the percentage of total air that flows through it. At relatively high flow rates, the counterweight provides lower resistance to air flow.

Such changes will increase compensation when more air is required due to leakage and friction effects at low flow rates, and decrease compensation when leakage and friction effects are reduced at large flow rates. become.

As specifically shown, the counterweight means (FIG. 12) has a cup-shaped member 83 which also forms a bottom wall 84 connected to a cylindrical portion 86.

From the cylindrical portion 86 a wall portion diverges outwardly, which wall portion then merges with a wall 90 which diverges slightly outwardly. The wall 90 is not vertical, but extends slightly outwardly from the perpendicular by 1 or 2 degrees hl.

At the distal end of wall 90 is a radially outwardly extending circular flange 92. A flange 94 extends radially inwardly from the inner wall of the vertical column 6;
flange 92 when the counterbalance means is in its rest position.
is listed. The second chamber 93 includes an upper chamber 95 and a lower chamber section 9 that are sealed to each other when the counterweight is in the rest position.
It is divided into 7 parts.

As previously mentioned, the counterweight means provide a resistance in the second chamber 93 to counterbalance the resistance in the first chamber 91 caused by the movement resistance encountered by the piston assembly in the vertical column 4. .

A second upper chamber 95 communicates with the suction tube via a large port 74. The lower part 97 of the second chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the vertical opening 42 (FIG. 6).

When air is removed from the upper part of the second chamber through the mouthpiece 80, the counterweight means 83 causes the cup-like member to move upwardly due to the reduction in atmospheric pressure, thereby causing the flange of the cup-like member to ) 2 and the flange 940.

As air is removed from the upper part 95 of the second chamber, the cup-shaped counterweight member 83 moves upwardly, thereby breaking the seal between flanges 92 and 94 and allowing air to escape vertically from the atmosphere. It can pass through the opening 42 to the lower part of the second chamber 97 and from the lower part of the chamber 97 to the upper part of the chamber 95. As the flow rate increases, the cup moves further up and the furan
The size of the opening between the pipes 02 and 94 and the wall 92 has been made wider, thus increasing the flange size for air flow.
and 94 is reduced. This is why the walls 90 are sloped slightly outward. When the air flow rate is relatively low, the orifice size decreases, thus increasing the resistance to air flow.

In this way, the counterweight means adjusts for the resistance of the piston assembly. The effect of resistance on the piston assembly at high flow values is less than the effect of resistance at low flow values. In the balance axis means of the invention these effects are compensated by the structure described above.

Further, when the counterbalance 83 is raised, most of the inhaled air passes through the opening 42 and the port 74 to the suction port 80.
It is understood that it flows to

The vertical column 60 surface also has a small transparent window 98 through which the counterweight means and in particular the cup-like member 82 can be visually observed. The window is formed by leaving window portion 98 unfrosted. This allows a technician or other observer to view the cup-shaped member 83 and determine whether the flow rate is constant or irregular. This is important in that it is generally believed that it is preferable for the flow rate to be constant rather than irregular, as can occur if air is suddenly jerked into the lungs.

The counterbalance means also serves to dictate the rate of inhalation, as the higher position of the cup-shaped member will dictate a higher flow rate, whereas the lower position will dictate a lower amount. Thus,
The inhalation device of the present invention has an inhalation rate dictated not only by the height of the cup-like member 83 of the counterweight (but also by the piston assembly in the vertical column 4, including the volume markings shown in FIG. indicates the amount of inhalation determined by the position of the

As previously mentioned, the ratio of the dimensions 72 and 74 is such that the open lower 4, which communicates with the atmosphere, is significantly larger than the open lower 20, which communicates with the chamber 91 in which the piston assembly 83 is located.

The range can vary from 4:1 to 15:1 depending on the situation. The ratio is preferably about 9=1.

For such an arrangement, if 400 ml is inhaled from chamber 93 and the port opening ratio is 9:1, then 400 ml represents -(1/10) of the inhaled air, and the total volume The intake air is 4,000 ML. Thus, for a total of 400 ML, 400 m1
comes out from the first chamber 91, and 36ooML comes from the atmosphere. In this way, the relative dimensions of the opening lowers 2, 74 determine the imprinting of the mark on the vertical column 4.

In one of the legs of the frame is located a slidable pointer 100 that can be used to indicate the inhalation volume. If desired, additional guidance can be used to compare past and current inhaled doses.

In operation, the user inserts the mouthpiece 80 into his or her mouth and inhales. Air is removed from first chamber 91 through port 72, causing piston assembly 44 to rise within vertical column 4. Adjust the height of the piston to piston assembly 4.
This can be recorded by the position of the height indicator 100 at the highest point of 4.

The intake of air also causes the counterbalance member to rise and atmospheric air is drawn through the opening or port 74 in an amount that depends on the dimensional ratio between the open lower 2 and 74.

When suction ceases, the piston assembly slowly falls to the bottom of the vertical column 4.

To ensure that the intake air is substantially free of pollution,
A filter 102 can be located within the intake port.

The present invention is useful for therapy, for building pulmonary absorptive capacity in athletes, or for recovery purposes, and could also be used for entertainment.

As previously mentioned, parts of the device of the present invention can be made from a variety of plastics. Thus, for example, the vertical columns can be made of polycarnate, polystyrene or styrene-acrynitrile. base, guidelines,
The counterbalance and mouthpiece can be made of polyethylene or polypropylene. The outer frame can be made of ethylene-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene or polyurethane thermoplastic rubber. It will, of course, be understood that other different materials can be used for the parts described above, if desired.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a perspective view of the spirometer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the spirometer of FIG. 1 before assembly, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the spirometer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spirometer of the present invention. A front view of the spirometer of FIG. 1 with the mouthpiece assembly in the rest position, FIG. 5 a partial view showing one of the features of the invention, and FIG. 6 a view from the opposite side of that shown in FIG. Figure 7 is a front view of the spirometer in Figure 1, Figure 7 is a view from the left side of the spirometer in Figure 1, Figure 8 is a view from the right side of the spirometer in Figure 1, Figure 9 is a view of the spirometer in Figure 1. is a cross-sectional view of the spirometer taken along line 9-9 shown in FIG.
Figure 0 is a cross-sectional view of the spirometer taken along line 10-10 shown in Figure 4, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the spirometer taken along line 11-H shown in Figure 3.
12 is a cross-sectional view of the spirometer taken along line 12-12 shown in FIG. 4;
14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a view of the gasket forming part of the piston assembly. 2...Pace member, 4.6...Vertical column, 8...
- Frame, 42... Vertical opening, 44... Movable piston assembly, 54... Film-like disk, μs...
fledge, θ...circular port assembly member, 72...relatively small I-to 0.74...relatively large port),
'76...Suction port, 78...Suction pipe, 8 (1.
... Suction port, 83... Cup-shaped member, 91... First hollow cylindrical chamber, 93... Second hollow chamber. Applicant's agent Kiyoshi Inomata Cleaning of the drawings (no changes to the inner U) et al. No. 148173 2. Title of the invention Inhalation device used to inhale air into a person's lungs 3. Relationship with the person making the amendment Case 4: 'jWl' Applicant Chi Applicant Cheese Blow-Pump Pore Tet Showa 58
November 81, Column of patent applicant's petition, power of attorney - drawings. 8. Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an inhalation device used for inhaling air into a person's lungs, a first hollow cylindrical chamber slidably receives a piston and has an outlet communicating with the atmosphere; a movable piston assembly within a cylindrical chamber, at least one second hollow chamber sealed so as not to communicate with the first chamber and in communication with the atmosphere, and in communication with the first and second hollow chambers; a breathing tube assembly for inhaling air from the first and second chambers; and connection means for connecting the breathing tube assembly to the first and second chambers for inhaling air from the first and second chambers. Apparatus, characterized in that during the intake of air, a small portion of the air comes from the first chamber and a major part comes from the atmosphere through the second chamber. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second connecting means has a first port opening in communication with the first chamber and a second port opening in communication with the second chamber. 3. The area ratio of the second I-to opening to the second hoard opening is:
3. Device according to claim 2, in the range from 4:1 to 15:1. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the area ratio of the second port opening to the second port opening is about 9:1. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston assembly is slidably mounted in the first chamber. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the breathing tube assembly includes a flexible tube and a mouthpiece. 7. The surface of the first chamber is provided with:
2. A device according to claim 1, having a calibrated inscription. 8. Device according to claim 1, comprising counterbalancing means for compensating the drag effect caused by the movement of the piston through the cylindrical chamber. 9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein counterweight means is located in the second chamber and is adapted to indicate the proportion of air flowing through the device. 10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the piston assembly includes a thin flexible film disk-like member sealing the piston assembly. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piston assembly has a plurality of telescopingly mounted parts, and the disc-shaped member is located between the telescoping parts. 12. An inhalation device used for inhaling air into a person's lungs, comprising: a first hollow cylindrical chamber adapted to receive a slidable piston; and a slidable piston assembly mounted within said chamber. a third chamber, the piston having means for sealing the piston in the first chamber during movement in the first chamber, and a third chamber below the piston for communicating the first chamber with the atmosphere. an opening means for the first chamber, a sealing means for the twentyth chamber that seals the first chamber from the second chamber, an opening means for communicating the second chamber with the atmosphere, and a cooperative relationship with the sealing means; a hole support member, the hole support member comprising:
A relatively small first chamber communicating with the first chamber? - and,
It has a relatively large second port communicating with the second chamber, and when air is inhaled, most of it passes through the second chamber and comes out from the relatively large second part, and a small part of the air is inhaled. An apparatus comprising an inlet tube assembly in communication with the bore support member such that air passes from the first chamber through the second chamber. 13. The second chamber has means for indicating the suction flow rate;
An apparatus according to claim 12. 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the means for indicating the flow rate is a counterweight means. 15. The counterweight means divides the second chamber into upper and lower parts 1j
15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device is configured to: 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the piston assembly has a plurality of telescoping parts. 17. The piston assembly includes a thin flexible disk-shaped member positioned between the telescoping parts to provide a seal between the piston assembly and the first chamber. The device described. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the disc-shaped member is radially elongated to form a plurality of flaps around its periphery. 19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the flaps around the disc-shaped member overlap. 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the telescoping parts are configured such that the overlapping flaps of the three disc-like members extend downwardly. 21. At least one comparison with a plurality of parts adapted to be assembled in a telescoping manner and a plurality of slits forming a plurality of flaps located between the telescoping parts and adapted to form a gasket. A piston assembly consisting of a thin flexible disc.