Oscillating positive respiratory pressure device

Abstract

An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus and a method of performing oscillating positive respiratory pressure therapy. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, and a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber. The restrictor member has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the flow path at the inlet, and includes at least one blocking segment. Rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position and a closed position. Respiratory pressure at the chamber inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position. By exhaling into the apparatus, oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy is administered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber;   a chamber inlet in communication with the chamber;   a chamber outlet in communication with the chamber;   an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet; and,   a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber, the restrictor member having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the exhalation flow path at the inlet, the restrictor member having at least one blocking segment;   wherein the restrictor member is movably positioned with respect to the inlet such that rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position where the exhalation flow path at the inlet is unrestricted and a closed position where the exhalation flow path at the inlet is restricted, and wherein exhalation pressure at the inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft connecting a source of rotational energy to the restrictor member. 
     
     
         3 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the source of rotational energy comprises a motor adapted to rotate the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber and operatively connected to the shaft, the second restrictor member having at least one blocking segment, wherein the shaft is moveable along its axis of rotation to position the second restrictor member with respect to the inlet such that rotation of the shaft moves the second restrictor member between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a number of blocking segments on the restrictor member and a number of blocking segments on the second restrictor member are different. 
     
     
         6 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a turbine operatively connected to the restrictor member and adapted to rotate the restrictor member in response to receiving a flow of air. 
     
     
         7 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a turbine housing surrounding the turbine, the turbine housing having a compressed air inlet configured to receive compressed air from a compressed air source and an exhaust outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a respiratory portal in fluid communication with the inlet, the respiratory portal including a mouthpiece and a nebulizer port. 
     
     
         9 . The oscillating positive respiratory apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mouthpiece is proximate the nebulizer port. 
     
     
         10 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising an inhalation flow path defined between the mouthpiece and the nebulizer port, wherein the inhalation flow path does not traverse the exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restrictor member is configured to rotate in response to exhaled air traversing the exhalation flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restrictor member is configured to move between the open position and the closed position independent of the exhalation pressure at the inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restrictor member is removably mounted within the interior chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber;   a chamber inlet in communication with the chamber;   a chamber outlet in communication with the chamber;   an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet; and,   a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber, the restrictor member having at least one blocking segment and a plurality of vanes configured to rotate the restrictor member in response to exhaled air traversing the exhalation flow path;   wherein the restrictor member is positioned with respect to one of the inlet or the outlet such that rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position where the exhalation flow path at the one of the inlet or the outlet is unrestricted and a closed position where the exhalation flow path at the one of the inlet or the outlet is restricted, and wherein exhalation pressure at the inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position.   
     
     
         15 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one blocking segment has a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the one of the inlet or the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a one-way valve configured to allow air to enter the interior chamber through a valve opening. 
     
     
         17 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein a center of gravity of the restrictor member is radially offset from an axis of rotation of the restrictor member. 
     
     
         18 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein an axis of rotation of the restrictor member is substantially perpendicular to the exhalation flow path at the one of the inlet or the outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one blocking segment is configured to move between the open position and the closed position independent of the exhalation pressure at the inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a respiratory portal in fluid communication with the inlet, the respiratory portal including a mouthpiece and a nebulizer port.