Oscillating positive expiratory pressure device

An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber;
• a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the chamber;
• a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the chamber;
• a restrictor member positioned in the housing, the restrictor member having an orifice formed through the restrictor member;
• an exhalation flow path defined between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, the exhalation flow path passing through the orifice of the restrictor member;
• and,
• wherein the orifice is expandable from a smaller size to a larger size in response to a first exhalation pressure at the chamber inlet, and resiliently contractable from the larger size to the smaller size in response to a second pressure at the chamber inlet
• wherein the orifice is configured to repeatedly expand and contract between the smaller size and the larger size during a flow of air along the exhalation flow path during a single period of exhalation such that an oscillating back pressure is transmitted to a respiratory system of a user.

A method of performing oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy, the method comprising:

• passing a flow of exhaled air along an exhalation flow path defined between an inlet and an outlet of a chamber in an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device;
• restricting the flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path by maintaining an elastic lip surrounding an opening through which the exhalation flow path passes in an engaged position with a contact surface;
• unrestricting the flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path by expanding the elastic lip to a disengaged position, wherein the elastic lip is not in contact with the deformable restrictor member;
• and,
• returning the elastic lip to the engaged position by resiliently contracting the elastic lip
• wherein the elastic lip is configured to repeatedly expand and contract between the engaged position and the disengaged position during the flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path during a single period of exhalation such that an oscillating back pressure is transmitted to a respiratory system of a user.