REHABILITATION DEVICE

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a universal portable device used in the respiratory rehabilitation of respiratory diseases such as COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis, Chronic Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis, which enables the determination and adjustment of patient-specific parameters.

The State of the Art Regarding the Invention (Prior Art)

Respiratory rehabilitation is defined as an evidence-based, multidisciplinary and comprehensive initiative for chronic respiratory patients with respiratory complaints and restricted daily life activities. The multidisciplinary team includes a physician, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, nurse, psychologist, dietician and/or other appropriate specialists. Respiratory rehabilitation contributes to standard therapy to help relieve and control complaints, improve functional capacity, and reduce medical and economic problems of damage caused by lung disease.

In the state of the art, the patent numbered 5,018,517 is related to a portable positive pressure oscillation device used in respiratory rehabilitation. The first part of the device consists of air inlet and outlet whereas the second part consists of a cone-shaped channel. There is a steel ball in the conical channel, and during the exhalation the steel ball vibrates by shifting. This device, which is known as Flutter device today, is an alternative method to traditional physiotherapy and has been used in respiratory diseases with chronic sputum production in recent years (LJzmezoglu, 2010). Flutter device, which is a simple hand tool enabling removal of mucus from the airway by positive expiratory pressure oscillation (Thompson et al. 2002), consists of Mouth piece (1), Conical channel (2), Steel ball (3) and Perforated cover (4) components (Figure 1).

The patent numbered US 2018/0256839 Al is a similar portable positive pressure oscillation device used in respiratory rehabilitation, which consists of at least one chamber, an inlet receiving the inhaled air, an outlet exhausting the exhaled air and a duct between the inlet and outlet sections. In accordance with the inhaled air flow, the air flow regulator moves between the first zone where the air flow is restricted and the second zone where the air flow is more free (Figure 2).

The patent numbered US 2018/0353715 A1 is also related to a respiratory device used in respiratory rehabilitation, consisting of an inlet receiving the inhaled air, an outlet exhausting the exhaled air and a moving part reacting according to the threshold value of the inhaled air (Figure 3).

The above-mentioned mechanical respiratory rehabilitation devices in the state of the art have disadvantages having fixed parameters, thereby not allowing the determination and adjustment of patient-specific parameters.

Brief Description and Objectives of the Invention

The current invention is related to a universal portable device that meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates the disadvantages and provides some additional advantages, enabling the determination and adjustment of patient-specific parameters.

The primary aim of the invention is to design and develop a portable prototype device with adjustable parameters so as to apply physiotherapy in respiratory diseases such as COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis, Chronic Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis.

The invention is intended to be used in respiratory rehabilitation of diseases causing problems in respiratory tract such as COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis, Chronic Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis.

The device designed and prototyped with this invention enables to determine patient- specific parameters and to increase the mobilization of mucus as the patient exhales through the device many a time.

The invention applies the appropriate resonance frequency to the lungs of the patient by determining the resonance frequency of the lungs automatically or manually with sensitive pressure sensors and by adjusting the control (opening and closing periods) of the electro pneumatic valves through the microprocessor control.

With the invention, the airway is exposed to vibration, whereby the mucus is loosened, flows upward and is thrown from the walls of the airway. In this way, it is facilitated to discard secretions that are difficult to discard or that cannot be discarded in a normal way, thereby accelerating the treatment. Furthermore, the invention contributes to much easier excretion of the secretions by applying positive pressure pulses to the lungs whose severity can be adjusted optionally during the blowing of the patient.

With the invention, the parameters of blowing resistance value, positive pressure flow rate, application period, oscillation frequency- the duration the air duct stays open and closed, the pulse width modulation rate (PWM) of the duration can be adjusted.

Definitions of the Figures Describing the Invention

The figures are presented below to gain a better understanding of the working mechanism of the universal-portable device used in the respiratory rehabilitation, developed with the present invention, which enables the determination and adjustment of patient-specific parameters.

Figure 1: Internal Structure of Mechanical Flutter (Prior Art)

Figure 2: Perspective View of a Mechanical Respiratory Rehabilitation Device (Prior Art)

Figure 3: Perspective View of Another Mechanical Respiratory Rehabilitation Device (Prior Art)

Figure 4: Principle Scheme of the Invention Device

Definitions of the Components/Parts/Pieces That Make Up the Invention

The components/parts/pieces of the device are numbered separately and each number is provided with a description below to clarify the working principle of the universal-portable device used in the respiratory rehabilitation, developed with the present invention, which enables the determination and adjustment of patient-specific parameters.

1. Mouth Piece (Prior Art)

2. Conical Channel (Prior Art)

3. Steel Ball (Prior Art)

4. Perforated Cover (Prior Art)

A, B: Solenoid coil connection areas of Electro Pneumatic valve

Cl: Check Valve Dl: Pressure Balloon

DB1: Flowmeter FI, F2: Filters Kl: Compressor

PI, P2: Analog Pressure Sensors (Analog Pressure Gauge)

VI: 1st Valve V2: 2nd Valve 1: Inlet of the valve 2: Valve outlet 3: Blowing Hose Inlet 4: Microprocessor 5: Potentiometers 6: Speed Control Card 7: Breadboard 8: Power Supply 9: Graphic LCD Screen 10: Blow Out Output 11: Outer Guardian

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention comprises a blowing hose inlet (3) to be blown by the patient with a sterile mouthpiece attached, the flow meter (DB1) used to determine the capacity of the lung by measuring the amount of blown air, 1st Valve (VI), which controls the air blown by the patient with pulse width modulation and allows the lungs to enter the resonance, 2. nd valve (V2), which during the patient's blow, when 1st valve is closed, opening up to the defined period, applying positive pressure pulses to the patient's lungs, provides the increase of the excretion effectiveness of secretion, as well as in patients whose lung muscles are weakened, prevents the patient from suffocating by separating the muscles from each other because of the adherence of the lung inner walls to each other during blowing, analogue pressure sensors (PI, P2) used to measure the patient's blowing pressure and pressure values in the balloon, potentiometers (5) used to give the control parameter values to the microprocessor (4), the pressure balloon (Dl) prevents the adhesion of the lung whose muscles have become weak by giving positive pressure to the patient and enables the storage of positive pressure to the patient and finally a DC motor compressor (Kl) supplies compressed air to the pressure balloon (Dl), microprocessor control card (4) that controls the hardware and runs the software algorithm, the solenoid coil connection areas of the Electro Pneumatic valve (A, B), where the signal controlled by the microprocessor, comes from the speed control card (6) used in the flow/speed control of the compressor, the voltage regulator, voltage dividers, driver transistor and the breadbord (7) which is the card that contains the peripheral interfaces in which various resistors are attached, AC / DC 220V /24 V, which requires mains voltage as a power source (8), and optionally enables the operation of the system, 14.4 V 5000mAh LiPo battery that ensures the portable operation of the device free from the power supply or mains voltage, GLCD screen (9) with backlight which displays operating parameters of the device, blowing outlet (10) that allows the air blown by the patient to be thrown into the atmosphere, filters (FI, F2) that prevent secretions from escaping into the device during the patient's blowing and a plastic-aluminum box which is an external protector (11) containing the device components.

In one implementation, a respiratory treatment device comprises at least one blowing hose inlet (3) that the patient will blow with a sterile mouthpiece installed, at least one flow meter (DB1) used to determine the capacity of the lung by measuring the amount of air blown, at least one valve (VI) that controls the air blown by the patient with pulse width modulation and allows the lungs to enter the resonance, at least one valve (V2), which during the patient's blow, when at least one valve is closed, opening up to the defined period, applying positive pressure pulses to the patient's lungs, provides the increase of the excretion effectiveness of secretion, as well as in patients whose lung muscles are weakened, prevents the patient from suffocating by separating the muscles from each other because of the adherence of the lung inner walls to each other during blowing, at least one analog pressure sensor (PI, P2) used to measure the patient's blowing pressure and pressure values in the balloon, at least one potentiometer (5) used to deliver control parameter values to the microprocessor (4), at least one pressure balloon (Dl), which prevents the adherent of the lungs wich have weak muscles by giving positive pressure to the patient and provides the patient to store positive pressure, at least one DC motor compressor (Kl) providing compressed air to the pressure balloon (Dl), at least one microprocessor control card (4) that controls the hardware and runs the software algorithm, at least one power supply (8) that ensures the operation of the system, at least one pressure balloon (Dl), which prevents the adherent of the lungs wich have weak muscles by giving positive pressure to the patient and provides the patient to store positive pressure, at least one filter (FI, F2) that prevents secretions from escaping into the device during the patient's blowing, and an external protector (11).

After the patient is blown from the blowing hose inlet (3) the amount of blown air is measured by the DB1 flowmeter used to determine the capacity of the lung and is transmitted to the microprocessor (4) that controls the hardware and runs the software algorithm to calculate the patient's lungs capacity. When the blowing pressure reaches the pressure value defined by the sensitive analog pressure gauge (analogue pressure sensor) (PI), the waiting device starts operating. The 2nd valve (V2) at the valve outlet (2), which is normally closed, starts to open and close by the microprocessor (4) in a certain period and ensures the air to be cut and opened. The pressure changes occurring in the PI sensor are analyzed by the controller and pulse width modulation is applied to the opening and closing interval of the valve. When necessary, the period is changed automatically, allowing the lungs to resonate at a frequency appropriate for the patient's lung. To facilitate the removal of the sections that are desired to be removed from the lungs; When 1st valve (VI) is in closed position, 2nd valve (V2) opens for defined time. It applies the compressed air in the pressure balloon (Dl) to the patient's lungs in the form of micro pulses instantly and causes the resonance to increase. During the blowing due to muscle weakness, it enables the lung walls that may remain adherent to be filled with air again. This will prevent the patient from drowning, as well as increase the effectiveness of removing secretions. The operation control of the compressor (Kl), which presses air into the Dl pressure balloon, is automatically performed by the microprocessor acording to the value read from the P2 pressure sensor. The air released as a result of the patient's blowing enters through the valve inlet (1), passes through the 1st Valve (VI) and follows the valve outlet path (2) and is released into the atmosphere with the F2 filter. The opening and closing periods of the 1st valve (VI) can be done either manually with the potentiometers (5) on the device, or can be done automatically by resonating the lungs when PI sensor data is processed. With the check valve (Cl), the compressed air in the pressure balloon is prevented from escaping into the atmosphere when the compressor (Kl) stops. With the check valve (Cl), the compressed air in the pressure balloon is prevented from leaking into the atmosphere when the compressor (Kl) stops. The intensity and period of the pressure pulses to be applied to the patient are provided by processing the values of the P2 pressure sensor and controlling the 2nd Valve (V2).

Because the lung size and lung status of each patient are different, the resonance frequencies required for the secretions will also differ. During breathing, the data of the sensitive pressure sensor is analyzed by the software and applied to the patient by automatic detection of the optimum resonance frequency. Internal view and principle diagram of the device is shown in Figure 4. The device can work with mains voltage as well as it can work for days with the recharged 14.4V / 5000mAh LiPo battery thanks to its step-up DA-DA converter, independently from the mains.