Respiration apparatus including a jacket having a collapsible bladder supported in the abdominal area of the patient. Pressurization means are connected to the bladder by conduit means; including a control valve having an exhaust port. Control means which may include cascaded fluidic amplifiers, controls flow of pressurization air through the valve and includes a sensing element for sensing the patients respiration cycle. The control means is responsive to a positive signal, caused by initial exhalation to direct air flow to the bladder to depress the abdominal muscles and assist the patient in exhaling. The control means is also responsive to a negative signal, caused by initial inhalation, to close the control valve and exhaust the bladder out the exhaust port.
A device for providing assistance to persons with emphysema and problems relating to breathing. Essentially the invention provides means for applying pressure to the abdominal and lower rib region which assists in forcing air from a person's lung. The pressure is applied during the exhalation phase of the breathing cycle and the pressure applying means is activated by the person's efforts to exhale. The pressure is released upon completion of the exhalation phase avoiding interference with the inhalation phase.
An improved detector and monitor for use with the detector are disclosed for detecting and monitoring a physiological rhythmic signal. When detecting respiration the detector or the monitor is adapted to distinguish between airflow response to inhalation and airflow responsive to exhalation.
A portable chamber for enclosing a portion of the body for treatment with oxygen or other gas at pressures slightly above atmospheric and the control circuits for operating the chamber are disclosed. In its basic configuration, the chamber of the invention is designed to enclose a portion of the body, such as a leg or arm, but can be enlarged to enclose the entire body, except the head of the patient. In its basic design, the chamber of this invention is constructed in two parts that mate to form the chamber. When mated, one end of the chamber is closed and the other end is open to receive the part of the body being treated. The open end contains a sleeve that encircles the body part being treated to form an air tight seal. A gasket arrangement is provided to seal the two parts when mated. The control circuits or elements are fluidic elements. These fludic elements are housed in a control box and coupled to the chamber by means of appropriate couplers mounted on the closed end of the chamber. A humidifier is also attached to the closed end of the chamber on the outside of the chamber.
A portable chamber for enclosing a portion of the body for treatment with oxygen or other gas at pressures slightly above atmospheric and the control circuits for operating the chamber are disclosed. In its basic configuration, the chamber of the invention is designed to enclose a portion of the body, such as a leg or arm, but can be enlarged to enclose the entire body, except the head of the patient. In its basic design, the chamber of this invention is constructed in two parts that mate to form the chamber. When mated, one end of the chamber is closed and the other end is open to receive the part of the body being treated. The open end contains a sleeve that encircles the body part being treated to form an air tight seal. A gasket arrangement is provided to seal the two parts when mated. The control circuits or elements are fluidic elements. These fluidic elements are housed in a control box and coupled to the chamber by means of appropriate couplers mounted on the closed end of the chamber. A humidifier is also attached to the closed end of the chamber on the outside of the chamber.
The apparatus of the present invention comprises means for regulating intermittent flow of respiratory fluid to a patient during oxygen therapy. The invention utilizes laminar fluidic elements in the control circuit for regulating the operation of an oxygen flow valve.
