# US 2019/0167502 A1 · Method of making a wearable thorax percussion device

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- Number: US 2019/0167502 A1
- Document ID: US20190167502A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/268,928
- Filed: 2019-02-06
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-29
- Assignees: Hill-Rom Services Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: Hill-Rom Services Pte. Ltd.
- Inventors: Marten Jan DeVlieger; Mark Sasha Drlik; Ryan David Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167502A1

## CPC

- A61H 1/008: {Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation}
- A61H 23/006: {Percussion or tapping massage (hand percussion A61H23/06)}
- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 23/0218: {with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement}
- A61H 2201/1619: Thorax
- A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces
- A61H 2201/1697: Breathability of the material
- A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof
- A61H 2205/084: Chest
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A wearable thorax percussion device for dislodging mucous buildup in the airways of a human patient, the device comprising frame elements and electromechanical actuators retained by the frame elements to intermittently percuss the thorax, and an electronic controller and power source for generating and modulating an electrical signal to energize the actuator. The frame elements may be interconnected by a garment, or fasteners and elastic or adjustable strapping.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

A method of making a wearable thorax percussion device, the method comprising
providing a frame element including a generally flat, rigid layer having a first end and a second end and having a first hole therethrough;
providing a first layer and a second layer of foam material, the first layer of foam material having a second hole therethrough, the second layer of foam material having a third hole therethrough;
sandwiching the frame element between the first and second layers of foam material with the first, second, and third holes being aligned; and
installing an electromechanical actuator such that the electromechanical actuator extends through the first, second, and third holes with first and second portions of the electromechanical actuator extending beyond the first and second layers of foam material, respectively.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising operatively connecting an electronic controller and a power source to the electromechanical actuator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the frame element, the first and second layers of foam material, and the electromechanical actuator are included in a front section of the wearable thorax percussion device located adjacent a front of a person's thorax when the person wears the wearable thorax percussion device and further comprising coupling the electronic controller and the power source to a rear section that is located adjacent a rear portion of the person's thorax when the person wears the wearable thorax percussion device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising interconnecting the front section and rear section with a plurality of straps.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein at least one strap of the plurality of straps is elastic or adjustable, or elastic and adjustable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the frame element, the first and second foam layers of material, and the electromechanical actuator are included in a first front section of the wearable thorax percussion device located adjacent a right side of a front of a person's thorax when the person wears the wearable thorax percussion device and further comprising constructing a second front section that is substantially the same as, but symmetrical with, the first front section, the second front section being located adjacent a left side of the person's thorax when the person wears the wearable thorax percussion device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising attaching a front fastener to the first and second sections, the front fastener including first and second portions that are releasably coupleable to retain the wearable thorax percussion device on the person when the first and second portion of the front fastener are coupled together while the person is wearing the wearable thorax percussion device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the frame element has at least some flexibility to conform to a shape of a person's thorax when the person wears the wearable thorax percussion device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the generally flat, rigid layer of the frame element comprises a plastics material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the electromechanical actuator includes a reciprocating member that moves along an axis that is generally perpendicular with the generally flat, rigid layer of the frame element.

### Claim 21 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the frame element has a fourth hole therethrough, the first layer of foam has a fifth hole therethrough, and the second layer of foam hax a sixth hole therethrough, the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes being aligned; and further comprising installing a second electromechanical actuator such that the second electromechanical actuator extends through the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes with portions of the second electromechanical actuator extending beyond the first and second layers of foam.

### Claim 22 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer of foam material comprises a viscoelastic foam layer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first layer and the second layer of foam material each comprises a respective viscoelastic foam layer.

### Claim 24 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a first fabric layer over the first layer of foam material.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a second fabric layer over the second layer of foam material.

### Claim 26 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third holes are generally round in shape and wherein a portion of the electromechanical actuator received in the first, second, and third holes is generally cylindrical.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the first, second, and third holes have diameters that are generally equivalent.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the electromechanical actuator that extends beyond the first foam layer has an annular part with a diameter larger than the diameters of each of the first, second, and third holes.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the first and second portions of the electromechanical actuator that extend beyond the first foam layer and second foam layer, respectively, each have an annular part with a diameter larger than the diameters of each of the first, second, and third holes.

### Claim 30 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein frame element has at least one retainer to retain the electromechanical actuator in place when the electromechanical actuator is installed.