US 4,060,074 AGranted

Inhalation device

AssigneeChesebrough-Pond's Inc.

InventorRonald D. Russo

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Abstract

An incentive inhalation device which induces respiratory exercise and which is inexpensive, safe and easy to handle and operate. The device includes a container having a plurality of flow measurement chambers which are vertical when the device is in its upright position. In each chamber is housed a flow rate indicator, such as a light-weight article and ball, that normally rests at the bottom thereof. The bottom of each chamber is open to surrounding atmosphere and the top of each chamber is open to a common passageway. In operation, the patient or user withdraws air from the common air passageway and chambers. When the patient achieves a precalibrated flow rate the indicators sequentially rise to the top of each chamber. To prevent disruption of air flow into the passageway and surprise or shock to the user, means are provided in the last chamber to prevent the indicator from closing the last chamber to the common air passageway.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A self-supporting incentive inhalation device for inducing respiratory exercise, comprising:

a container having a plurality of transparent compartments in alignment along an axis of said container,
said compartments each having a top wall, a bottom wall, a vertical wall therebetween, and a chamber therewithin which extends from said bottom wall to said top wall,
a light-weight article in each of said chambers which is normally in the lower portions thereof,
a slot in each of said compartments which extends through the lower portion thereof and connects each of said chambers to the surrounding atmosphere at a point at least partially below each of said articles,
a passageway in said container which extends over said compartment top walls and has an outlet adjacent one of the outer of said chambers,
a restricted port in each compartment which extends through said top wall thereof and connects said chambers to said passageway,
a ridge in said last compartment depending from the top wall thereof to prevent said article therein from closing said last top port,
means connected to said outlet to allow a person to withdraw air from said chambers through said passageway, whereupon said article is said chamber adjacent said outlet rises to the top thereof and closes said top port when a person inspires air at a precalibrated flow rate, said article in each intermediate chamber sequentially rises to the top thereof and closes each intermediate top port when a person inspires predetermined additional amounts of air at a precalibrated flow rate, and said article in the last of said chamber rises to the top thereof and contacts said depending ridge therein when a person inspires still an additional predetermined amount of air at a precalibrated flow rate.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.