Respiratory muscle endurance training device and method for the use thereof

Abstract

A respiratory muscle endurance training device (RMET) includes a chamber and a patient interface. In one implementation, one or both of a CO 2 sensor or a temperature sensor can be coupled to the chamber or patient interface to provide the user or caregiver with indicia about the CO 2 level in, or the temperature of, the chamber or patient interface, and/or the duration of use of the device. In another implementation, the RMET may have a fixed volume portion adjustable to contain a measured portion of a specific patient's inspiratory volume capacity. Methods of using the device are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
 an adjustable chamber adjustable between at least a first interior volume and a second interior volume, said adjustable chamber comprising an output end; and   a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 1  wherein said chamber further comprises an input end and a one-way inhalation valve disposed proximate said input end of said chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 2  further comprising a one-way exhalation valve disposed proximate said input end of said chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 1  further comprising a flow indicator moveable in response to one or both of an inhalation and exhalation. 
     
     
         5 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 1  wherein said adjustable chamber comprises first and second tubular members, wherein said first and second tubular members interface and are moveable relative to each other between at least a first and second position so as to define said first and second interior volumes. 
     
     
         6 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 1  further comprising a CO 2  sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface. 
     
     
         7 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 6  wherein said CO 2  sensor comprises a Fenem colorimetic indicator disposed on an interior of one of said chamber and said patient interface. 
     
     
         8 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface. 
     
     
         9 . The respirator muscle endurance training device of  claim 8  wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on an exterior of said at least one of said chamber and said patient interface. 
     
     
         10 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
 a chamber comprising an output end;   a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber, said patient interface and said chamber defining an interior space; and   a CO 2  sensor interfacing with said interior space and comprising user indicia adapted to indicate at least one of a level of CO 2  in said interior space or a length of time of usage by a user.   
     
     
         11 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
 a chamber comprising an output end;   a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber, said patient interface and said chamber defining an interior space; and   a temperature sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface and comprising user indicia adapted to indicate at least one of a temperature of said interior space, said chamber and said patient interface or a length of time of usage by a user.   
     
     
         12 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
 determining a suitable interior volume of an adjustable chamber for a user;   adjusting said adjustable chamber to said interior volume, wherein said chamber comprises an output end; and   successively breathing through a patient interface coupled to said output end.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said suitable interior volume comprises a first interior volume and further comprising determining a suitable second interior volume and adjusting said chamber from said first interior volume to said second interior volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising measuring a CO 2  level in said interior volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said CO 2  level or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising measuring a temperature of one or more of said interior volume, said chamber and said patient interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said temperature or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface. 
     
     
         18 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
 providing a chamber coupled to a patient interface, said chamber and said patient interface defining an interior volume;   successively breathing through said patient interface; and   measuring a CO 2  level in said interior volume.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said CO 2  level or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface. 
     
     
         20 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
 providing a chamber coupled to a patient interface, said chamber and said patient interface defining an interior volume;   successively breathing through said patient interface; and   measuring a temperature of one or more of said interior volume, said chamber and said patient interface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said temperature or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface. 
     
     
         22 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
 a patient interface for transferring a patient's exhaled or inhaled gases;   a fixed volume chamber in communication with the patient interface, wherein the fixed volume chamber is sized to retain a portion of a patient's exhaled gases; and   a variable volume chamber in connection with the fixed volume chamber, wherein the variable volume chamber is configured to be responsive to the patient's exhaled or inhaled gases to move from a first position to a second position.   
     
     
         23 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 22 , further comprising a variable orifice positioned on the variable volume chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 23 , wherein the variable orifice is adjustable to permit a portion of the patient's exhaled gases to escape during patient exhalation. 
     
     
         25 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of  claim 24 , wherein the portion comprises 40 percent.