Respiratory therapy device and method

Abstract

A respiratory therapy device including a housing and an interrupter valve assembly. The housing includes a patient inlet, an exhaust outlet, a chamber, and a supply inlet. The interrupter valve assembly is associated with the housing and includes a control port fluidly connecting the patient inlet and the first chamber, and a valve body adapted to selectively obstruct fluid flow through the control port. In a passive mode, positive fluid flow to the supply inlet does not occur, and the interrupter valve assembly interacts with exhaled air create an oscillatory PEP effect. In an active mode, fluid flow to the supply inlet occurs and the interrupter valve assembly operates to create a CHFO effect. The respiratory device can serve as a passive oscillatory PEP device, and when connected to a positive pressure source, as an active device.

1 . A device for providing respiratory therapy to a patient during at least a portion of a patient breathing cycle including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, the device comprising:
 a housing including a patient inlet, an exhaust outlet, first and second chambers fluidly disposed between the patient inlet and the exhaust outlet, and a first pressurized fluid supply inlet;   an interrupter valve assembly associated with the housing and including a control port fluidly connecting the patient inlet and the first chamber, and a valve body adapted to selectively obstruct fluid flow through the control port; and   a control assembly associated with the housing and including a passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, the control assembly adapted to selectively open and close the passage.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to:
 operate in a first, passive mode when the passage is open in which fluid flow to the first pressurized fluid supply inlet does not occur and the interrupter valve assembly interacts with exhaled air to create an oscillatory positive expiratory pressure effect during the expiratory phase, and   operate in a second, active mode when the passage is closed in which fluid flow to the pressurized fluid supply inlet occurs and the interrupter valve assembly interacts with the fluid flow to create a continuous high frequency oscillation effect.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly includes a plurality of control ports and the valve body is configured to selectively obstruct respective ones of the control ports. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly further includes a rotatable drive shaft maintaining the valve body such that rotation of the drive shaft causes the valve body to selectively obstruct the control port. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly further includes a drive mechanism for rotating the drive shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the drive mechanism includes first and second lobe bodies maintained within the second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber acts upon the lobe bodies to cause rotation thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second chamber forms an outlet opening fluidly connected to the exhaust outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the housing further forms a relief port arrangement in the first chamber apart from the control port, the device further including a valve structure controlling fluid flow through the relief port arrangement such that when a fluid pressure within the first chamber exceeds a predetermined level, the valve structure fluidly opens the relief port arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing further forms an exhaust chamber defining the exhaust outlet and fluidly connected to the first chamber via the relief arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the exhaust chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber via an outlet opening. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressurized fluid inlet is fluidly connected to the first chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device further includes a nozzle having an inlet side fluidly open to the first pressurized fluid inlet and an outlet side fluidly open to the control port, and further wherein the valve body is movable between the nozzle outlet side and the control port to selectively obstruct fluid flow from the nozzle outlet side to the control port. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly further includes a drive shaft carrying the valve body such that with rotation of the drive shaft, the valve body selectively covers the control port, and a drive mechanism for rotating the drive shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the drive mechanism is maintained in the second chamber and, a second pressurized fluid supply inlet fluidly connectable to a source of pressurized fluid is formed in the housing, and further wherein in the device is adapted such that in the active mode, fluid flow from the second pressurized fluid supply inlet to the second chamber drives the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the drive mechanism includes first and second lobe bodies maintained in the second chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the control assembly includes:
 a plate disposed between the first and second chambers for selectively opening and closing the passage.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further forms an inhalation relief port arrangement and the device further includes a one-way valve structure assembled to the inhalation relief port arrangement for permitting flow of ambient air into the patient inlet during the inspiratory phase. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly further includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the valve body in an open position in which the control port is open such that the device is operable in a third, continuous mode in which positive fluid flow to the pressurized fluid supply inlet occurs to create a continuous positive airway pressure effect. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly further includes a drive mechanism for controlling a position of the valve body relative to the control port, the drive mechanism including a cantilever beam. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the drive mechanism further includes a vibrating motor mounted to a leading end of the beam. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing respiratory therapy to a patient during at least a portion of a patient breathing cycle including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, the method comprising:
 providing a respiratory therapy device including:
 a housing including a patient inlet, an exhaust outlet, first and second chambers fluidly disposed between the patient inlet and the exhaust outlet and a pressurized fluid supply inlet, and 
 an interrupter valve assembly for selectively interrupting fluid flow to or from the patient inlet, and 
 a control assembly associated with the housing and including a passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; and 
   selectively operating the control assembly to open the passage in a passive mode of operation and close the passage in an active mode of operation.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the passive mode of operation is characterized by a level of oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy being a function of a breathing effort of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the active mode of operation is characterized by a level of continuous high frequency oscillation therapy being independent of a breathing effort of the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the interrupter valve assembly includes at least one control port fluidly connecting the patient inlet with a chamber, a valve body selectively obstructing the control port, and a drive mechanism controlling a position of the value body relative to the control port, and further wherein administering oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy includes actuating the drive mechanism in response to expiratory airflow from the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the drive mechanism includes first and second lobe assemblies, the first lobe assembly maintaining the valve body, and further wherein administering oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy includes expiratory airflow from the patient causing the lobe assemblies to rotate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pressurized fluid supply inlet is fluidly connected to the interrupter valve assembly, and the interrupter valve assembly includes at least one control port fluidly connecting the patient inlet with a chamber, a valve body selectively obstructing the control port, and a drive mechanism controlling a position of the valve body relative to the control port, and further wherein administrating continuous high frequency oscillatory therapy includes fluid flow from the pressurized fluid source actuating the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 selecting a mode of operation of the device prior to administering a therapy and operating the control assembly based on the selected mode of operation.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control assembly further includes a control tab selectively opening and closing the passage, and further wherein selecting a mode of operation includes changing a position of the control tab relative to the passage. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 locking the interrupter valve assembly in an open state;   fluidly coupling the source of pressurized fluid to the pressurized fluid supply inlet; and   administering continuous positive airway pressure therapy to the patient via the device in a CPAP mode of operation.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the CPAP mode of operation is characterized by the interrupter valve assembly remaining stationary. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the device further includes a nebulizer port fluidly coupled to the patient inlet fluidly between an inlet end of the patient inlet and the interrupter valve assembly, the method further comprising:
 fluidly coupling a nebulizer to the nebulizer port; and   supplying aerosolized fluid to the patient during at least one of the active mode of operation and the passive mode of operation.