DEVICE

Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to a mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device. While an application of the present disclosure is in the clearing of airway secretions by a person in need of such clearing, the disclosed device could find application in the improvement of breathing efficiency and the reduction of fatigue of respiratory muscles experienced by sportsmen and sportswomen. Additional application of the disclosed device could be found in training mountain climbers to manage the fatigue of respiratory muscles challenges associated with breathing at high altitude.

Background of the Invention

Build-up of airway secretions are observed in patients having acute infections including bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, asthma, chronic diseases including primary ciliary dyskinesia, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, panbronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, hematologic malignant conditions, inflammatory airway diseases, malignant lung conditions, and patients with compromised immunity as observed in human immunodeficiency virus infection, hypogammaglobulinemia, and organ transplantation. As will be appreciated, a person experiencing a build-up of such airway secretions is faced with both mental and physiological distress. Accordingly, there is a need for a device that promotes clearance of airway secretions, in particular a device that is readily available for use, is easy to keep clean, and readily sealable to prevent ingress of particulate matter and pathogenic materials.

Summary

For present purposes, airway secretions should be understood to include the secretions of submucosal glands, i.e., mucins and liquids, secretions associated with a pathologic state, secretions associated with the clearing of particulate matter, secretions having viscosity that exceeds that of a healthy physiologic state, and the like. The present disclosure in one aspect sets out a mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device. The device including a body. The body including a base, a stem, a mouth aperture at the base, and an aperture at one end of the stem opposite the base. The mouth aperture being configured for insertion into at least a portion of a mouth of a human, the body including a channel extending from the mouth aperture to the aperture at the end of the stem. The device also including a mouthpiece cap configured to lockably engage the base.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. In the present specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

It will be appreciated that reference herein to “preferred” or “preferably” is intended as exemplary only.

The claims as filed and attached with this specification are hereby incorporated by reference into the text of the present description.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the present disclosure and, together with the description, explain the advantages and principles of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device as herein disclosed.

Fig. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 . Fig. 3 illustrates another perspective view of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 5 illustrates an oblique view of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 showing a plane A-A.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-section through the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 5 through plane A-A.

Fig. 7 illustrates a side view of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 showing planes B-B and C-C.

Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-section through the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 7 through plane B-B.

Fig. 9 illustrates a cross-section through the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 7 through plane C-C.

Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a cone of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 11 illustrates another perspective view of a cone of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an end cap of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 13 illustrates a perspective view of mouthpiece cap of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 14 illustrates another perspective view of mouthpiece cap of the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device of Fig. 1 .

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of the disclosure refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain of the parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure relates to a mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device. Figs. 1 to 14 show a preferred embodiment of a mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device (10). The mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device (10) includes a body (12) having a base (14), a stem (16), a mouth aperture (18) at the base (14), and an aperture (20) at one end of the stem opposite the base (14). The mouth aperture (18) being configured for insertion into at least a portion of a mouth of a human (not shown). The body (12) includes a channel (22) extending from the mouth aperture (18) to the aperture (20) at the end of the stem (16). The mechanical positive pressure airway secretion clearing device (10) also having a mouthpiece cap (24) configured to lockably engage the base (14).

In a preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece cap (24) has an inner surface (25) with no flutes.

In a further preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece cap (24) has an outer surface (27) with no tabs.

In yet a further preferred embodiment, the body (12) only has one cone (27).

Preferably, the base (14) has a maximum width (28) and the stem (16) has a maximum length (30), the maximum width (28) of the base (14) being greater than a majority of the maximum length (30) of the stem (16).

In still a further preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece cap (24) includes a locking mechanism (32) integrally formed with the mouthpiece cap (24), the locking mechanism being configured to engage a portion of the base (14).

Preferably, the locking mechanism (32) is configured to engage an exterior surface of the base (14). In yet a further preferred embodiment, the body (12) is composed of an antimicrobial plastic material.

In still a further preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece cap (24) is composed of an antimicrobial plastic material.

In yet a further preferred embodiment, the mechanical positive pressure airway secretion-clearing device includes an end cap (34) configured to sealablely engage the aperture (20) at one end of the stem (16) opposite the base (14).

In still a further preferred embodiment, the end cap (34) is composed of an antimicrobial plastic material.

Preferably, the antimicrobial plastic is a synthetic plastic, which includes an integrated substance that is effective against microbial growth. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the integrated substance that is effective against microbial growth may be an antibacterial substance, an antifungal substance, an antiviral substance, an antiparasitic substance, or any combination of the afore-mentioned substances.

A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that the antimicrobial plastic may include an antimicrobial polymer synthesized from an antimicrobial monomer. Such an antimicrobial monomer may be an antimicrobial mechanism that may include, but is not limited to 2,4,4’-trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl-ether, 4-amino-n-(5-methyl-3- isoxazoly) benzenesulfonamide, a 8-hydroxyquinoline moiety, a benzimidazole derivative, a cationic biocide, a cell membrane disruptor, a copper moiety, a phenol group, a silver moiety, a sulfonium salt, a tin moiety, an oxidative halogen, and/or norfloxacin.

A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that the antimicrobial plastic may include antimicrobial polymers synthesized from preformed polymers having antimicrobial properties. Such antimicrobial polymers synthesized from preformed polymers having antimicrobial properties may include antimicrobial polymers that inhibit growth of bacteria and/or fungi. Such bacteria may include Gram-negative and/or Gram-positive bacteria. Such bacteria may include, but are not limited to, Bacillus sp., Escherichia sp., and/or Staphylococcus sp. Such fungi may include, but are not limited to, Aspergillus sp., Candida sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp. and/or Trichophyton sp.

A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that the plastic may be acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, or any suitable combination of any of the afore-mentioned plastics.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.