Method and apparatus for alleviating asthma attacks
OwnerWen Yuan Cheninventor
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for alleviating asthmatic attacks minimizes heat and water loss in the respiratory tract of the asthma sufferer. A portable embodiment of the apparatus includes an elongated tube having a fibrous material dispersed around the inner surface for holding water, a heating filament cylindrically coiled against the fibrous material and interconnected with a battery attached to the sufferer, and fiber wrapped around the filament for conveying the water located in the fibrous material to the surface of the filament for evaporation. The method for alleviating asthmatic attacks includes the steps of heating and evaporating water, heating the atmospheric air, and inspiring the heated atmospheric air and vaporized water.
Claims13
Respirator apparatus adapted for use by an asthma sufferer in alleviating asthma attacks, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongated tubular body defining a central passage extending axially through the body including air intake means at one end of said central passage and means for storing air within said central passage,
- means including a water absorbent layer disposed in outer concentric relation to said central passage cooperative with said storing means for passing vaporized water from said absorbent layer, through said tubular body and into the air stored within said central passage,
- heating means interposed between said water absorbent layer and said central passage for heating and vaporizing water adapted to be stored in said absorbent layer to a predetermined temperature and humidity level for intermixture with the air stored in the central passage, and
- delivery means at the end of said central passage opposite to said intake means being operative in response to inhalation by the asthma sufferer for delivering the intermixture of vaporized water and air into the respiratory tract.
Portable respirator apparatus adapted to be located on the body of a person for modifying air prior to inhalation, said apparatus comprising:
- an enongated, disposable tubular body having an outer cylindrical shell and an inner spaced concentric coiled support in surrounding relation to a central air passage extending axially through said body,
- air intake means at one end of said central passage and valve means at the opposite ends of said central passage operative to act as a temporary closure across the opposite end of said passage whereby to store air induced to flow through said air intake means within said central passage,
- water retention means in the form of a water absorbent layer interposed between said outer shell and said coiled support containing water in said water absorbent layer,
- heating means disposed along the inner surface of said water absorbent layer in outer concentric relation to said central air passage being operative to vaporize water from said water absorbent layer through said coiled support while permitting it to mix with the air stored in said central passage, and
- said valve means being operative in response to inhalation by the asthma sufferer to permit the air stored in said central passage to pass into the respiratory system of the asthma sufferer while inducing the flow of additional air through said air intake means into said central passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.