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US 7,582,065 B2Granted
Air pulse generator with multiple operating modes
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsNicholas P. Van Brunt, Eric L. Stechmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved air pulse generator produces high frequency chest wall oscillations (HFCWO) and has an improved air pulse generator. The air pulse module has a reduced size and improved shape for ease of use by a patient.
Claims25
An air pulse generator for use with an inflatable garment configured to be positioned about a patient's torso for applying a high frequency chest wall oscillation (“HFCWO”) therapy to the patient, the air pulse generator comprising:
- a housing having a first interior region;
- an air pulse module carried by the housing, the air pulse module having a shell situated in a first portion of the first interior region, the air pulse module shell defining a second interior region, the air pulse module having first and second diaphragms coupled to the shell, the first and second diaphragms being movable toward and away from each other in a cyclical manner to produce oscillating pressure having an oscillation frequency, the oscillating pressure being communicated from the second interior region to the inflatable garment positioned about the patient's torso for applying the HFCWO therapy to the patient;
- a control system carried by the housing and coupled to the air pulse module, the control system being configured to control operation of the air pulse module so that the oscillating pressure and the oscillation frequency automatically change over time during the operation of the air pulse module according to at least one of a plurality of software-supported operating modes, store software for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes, the control system including a circuit board situated in a second portion of the first interior region and the movement of the first and second diaphragms moving air within the second portion of the first interior region to enhance cooling of the circuit board;
- and
- a user interface carried by the housing and coupled to the control system, the user interface being usable to enter inputs to the control system to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface allows a user to operate the air pulse module in a manual mode to select an oscillation frequency and a session time.
2 more elements
An air pulse generator for use with an inflatable garment configured to be positioned about a patient's torso for applying a high frequency chest wall oscillation therapy (“HFCWO”) to the patient, the air pulse generator comprising:
- a housing having a first interior region;
- an air pulse module carried by the housing, the air pulse module having a shell situated in a first portion of the first interior region, the air pulse module shell defining a second interior region, the air pulse module having first and second diaphragms coupled to the shell, the first and second diaphragms being movable toward and away from each other in a cyclical manner to produce oscillating pressure having an oscillation frequency, the oscillating pressure being communicated from the second interior region to the inflatable garment positioned about the patient's torso for applying the HFCWO therapy to the patient;
- a control system carried by the housing and coupled to the air pulse module, the control system being configured to control operation of the air pulse module so that the oscillating pressure and the oscillation frequency automatically change over time during the operation of the air pulse module according to at least one of a plurality of software-supported operating modes, store software for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes,, the control system including a circuit board situated in a second portion of the first interior region and the movement of the first and second diaphragms moving air within the second portion of the first interior region to enhance cooling of the circuit board;
- and
- a user interface carried by the housing and coupled to the control system, the user interface being usable to enter inputs to the control system to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface comprises a display and a plurality of buttons, some of the buttons being up buttons, and some of the buttons being down buttons.
2 more elements
An air pulse generator for use with an inflatable garment configured to be positioned about a patient's torso for applying a high frequency chest wall oscillation (“HFCWO”) therapy to the patient, the air pulse generator comprising:
- a housing having a first interior region;
- an air pulse module carried by the housing, the air pulse module having a shell situated in a first portion of the first interior region, the air pulse module shell defining a second interior region, the air pulse module having first and second diaphragms coupled to the shell, the first and second diaphragms being movable toward and away from each other in a cyclical manner to produce oscillating pressure having an oscillation frequency, the oscillating pressure being communicated from the second interior region to the inflatable garment positioned about the patient's torso for applying the HFCWO therapy to the patient;
- a control system carried by the housing and coupled to the air pulse module, the control system being configured to control operation of the air pulse module so that the oscillating pressure and the oscillation frequency automatically change over time, with the oscillation frequency being a frequency between about 5 Hertz and about 20 Hertz, during the operation of the air pulse module according to at least one of a plurality of software-supported operating modes, store software for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes, the control system including a circuit board situated in a second portion of the first interior region and the movement of the first and second diaphragms moving air within the second portion of the first interior region to enhance cooling of the circuit board;
- and
- a user interface carried by the housing and coupled to the control system, the user interface being usable to enter inputs to the control system to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode.
2 more elements
An air pulse generator for use with an inflatable garment configured to be positioned about a patient's torso for applying a high frequency chest wall oscillation (“HFCWO”) therapy to the patient, the air pulse generator comprising:
- a housing having a first interior region;
- an air pulse module carried by the housing, the air pulse module having a shell situated in a first portion of the first interior region. the air pulse module shell defining a second interior region, the air pulse module having first and second diaphragms coupled to the shell, the first and second diaphragms being moveable toward and away from each other in a cyclical manner to produce oscillating pressure having an oscillation frequency, the oscillating pressure being communicated from the second interior region to the inflatable garment positioned about the patient's torso for applying the HFCWO therapy to the patient;
- a control system carried by the housing and coupled to the air pulse module, the control system being configured to control operation of the air pulse module so that the oscillating pressure and oscillation frequency automatically change over time, with the oscillation frequency being a frequency between about 5 Hertz and about 20 Hertz, during the operation of the air pulse module according to at least one of a plurality of software-supported operating modes, store software for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes, the control system including a circuit board situated in a second portion of the first interior region and the movement of the first and second diaphragms moving air within the second portion of the first interior region to enhance cooling of the circuit board;
- a user interface carried by the housing and coupled to the control system, the user interface being usable to enter inputs to the control system to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode;
- and
- a display carried by the housing and coupled to the control system, the display being operable to display information about the operating modes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.