HK1068822B - Respiratory therapy device for keeping free the natural respiratory tract of a human body - Google Patents

Description

Respiratory therapeutic apparatus for keeping respiratory tract smooth

Technical Field

The invention relates to a respiratory therapeutic apparatus for keeping the natural respiratory tract of a human body smooth, which consists of a pump for generating continuous negative pressure and an input pipe. This apparatus is used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Another effect is to prevent snoring.

Background

For respiratory therapy, so-called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) instruments are known for generating a positive airway pressure, as described, for example, in US 5655522. Such an apparatus provides breathing air in a mask. The pressure of this air is continuously increased by a few hundred pascals (hPa) relative to the atmospheric pressure. If a patient breathes in this artificial atmosphere, his airways open up sufficiently due to the positive relative pressure to breathe. The CPAP-meter therefore only acts as a "pneumatic upper support/support" for the airway. The breathing process itself is based entirely on self-breathing.

Snoring is a reflection of the relaxation and narrowing of the respiratory tract. When passing through the throat at high flow velocities, there is a drop in air pressure, since the distance between the air molecules increases with increasing velocity. As the tissues relaxed there collapse (kollabieren) and the airways become completely blocked. The negative pressure caused by the flow is thus eliminated, the airway is opened and the air is recirculated until it reaches a certain speed. This quickly leads to the next blockage. Snoring sounds are created due to the rapid alternation of airway obstruction and opening. The CPAP-meter increases the air pressure relative to the normal atmospheric pressure (relative pressure) to such a large extent that the pressure drop caused by the flow no longer causes an obstruction, thereby preventing the formation of snoring.

If the mechanism responsible for snoring exceeds a certain severity, respiratory drive is lost. The disease requiring treatment, "obstructive sleep apnea", now occurs, with at least 1% of people suffering from the disease. This disease is treated primarily with CPAP-instrumentation. Mechanical assistance methods or surgical treatment are other, but ancillary treatment possibilities.

A disadvantage of the known CPAP apparatus is that it has an internal flow resistance which the patient must overcome with his respiratory muscles. This creates an additional burden, since the internal resistance of the instrument is superimposed on the airway resistance of the patient.

Another disadvantage is that the air is heated as it passes through the instrument, whereby its relative humidity is reduced. As a result, the air draws moisture from the mucosa. Since dry mucous membranes are not only uncomfortable, but also lose their protective function, air humidification is required in the case of respiratory therapy. The CPAP apparatus is therefore equipped with a built-in air humidifier or with an air humidifier as an auxiliary device connected between the CPAP apparatus and the patient.

Further disadvantages of CPAP-meters are loud operating noise, encumbrance by the mask, health risks and high energy consumption.

From EP- ｃA-030740, ｃA respirator is also known, which also treats sleep apneｃA and consists of ｃA bell-shaped element and ｃA blower, which are connected to one another by way of supply lines. An industrial valve and a control device for controlling the fan function are connected to the supply line. The bell is placed over the chest of the person and a rhythmic alternation between negative and positive pressure is created under the bell. This rhythm coincides with the natural breathing rhythm of the person, thereby positively supporting the breathing process.

The main drawback of this respirator is that it is not suitable for preventing snoring.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method of this type and a corresponding respiratory therapy device which allow breathing of an open atmosphere. Other objects are to eliminate the mask, reduce the operating noise, improve the hygiene and reduce the energy consumption.

This object is achieved firstly by a method for preventing snoring, in which the upper respiratory tract of a person is kept open at all times, characterized in that: atmospheric pressure is supplied to the respiratory tract and artificial negative pressure is supplied to the peripheral region of the respiratory tract, wherein a continuous pressure difference exists between the atmospheric pressure inside and the negative pressure outside.

The object is also achieved by a respiratory therapy apparatus for maintaining a natural airway of the human body free, consisting of a pump for generating a continuous negative pressure and an inlet tube, wherein the pump is an air suction pump which is connected via a suction hose to a pressure-stabilizing hollow body which surrounds the human body while maintaining the natural airway free and forms a negative pressure chamber at least in the peripheral region of the airway.

In one embodiment of the respirator, the pressure-stabilizing hollow body is designed as a hood which, with its edges, surrounds the anterior cervical region from the jaw, on both sides of the mandible, along the cervical and clavicular regions to the upper sternum, and is designed in such a way that it covers the skin region bounded by its edges in a dome-shaped manner at a distance from the skin.

In a further embodiment of the respirator, the pressure-stabilizing cap is made of a material which is pressure-resistant in the direction perpendicular to the surface and flexible in the direction of the surface extension in order to allow a movement of the head.

In a further embodiment of the respiratory therapy device, the pressure-stabilizing cap consists of a preferably internally arranged base body consisting of a stable skeleton and an elastic skin on the surface of the base body.

In another embodiment of the respiratory therapy apparatus, the skin is composed of rubber or other elastomer.

In a further embodiment of the respiratory therapy apparatus, the suction pump is equipped with a pressure regulating device for generating and maintaining a pre-adjustable negative pressure.

The present invention obviates the disadvantages of the prior art.

Atrophy of the respiratory tract in the larynx is prevented by one placing the entire body or preferably a part of the body, such as the front soft neck, in a cavity under reduced relative pressure, because the higher static pressure of the normal atmosphere thus armours the respiratory tract. In a physical sense, this method is the inverse of the CPAP principle known from the prior art. The patient can thus breathe normal atmosphere and has the advantage that an obstructive breathing mask is no longer necessary.

Since the breathing air does not have to flow through the mechanical components and there is no additional breathing resistance, the breathing muscles are not burdened. Since breathing the normal atmosphere does not require additional air humidification, the expense of an air humidifier is eliminated.

Since the respiratory therapy device according to the invention no longer provides respiratory air but only requires a negative relative pressure in a cavity, the respiratory hose is also eliminated, so that a thin suction hose can be provided. However, the air pump does not have to carry a large air volume, but rather only the air volume which flows into the vacuum chamber as a result of the leak-tightness of the vacuum chamber. The power required by the air extractor is therefore small and can also be supplied by batteries. In addition, the entire air extractor is made very small, so that sound insulation is good.

There are also advantages in terms of safety. Shutdown of the air extractor does not automatically result in CO₂And (5) sucking back. In this case the signs of obstructive sleep apnea will reappear, but no further things will happen. There are sanitary advantages in that the breathing air no longer flows through the accessory devices, such as the hose and the mask, and therefore no condensation water is formed. The cleaning cycle in time can be considerably lengthened. There is no concern about using the same instrument with different patients.

Since the instrument is simple in construction, can be manufactured economically, it is not dangerous to use, and it can be used without the prescription of a doctor, for example, to prevent snoring. The known devices are mostly composed of an object that must be worn in the mouth or on the teeth. In this case, if, for example, the anti-snoring ring used falls off and is swallowed, a slight accident may result.

Drawings

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment. The figures show a structure that can be conveniently implemented.

Detailed Description

The exemplary device consists of a neck cover 1, a suction hose 2 and a suction pump 3. The neck cover 1 is a semi-open chamber which is domed in tension on the front (frontal) neck region. The edge of the neck shield 1 defines the region starting from the jaw, along the two sides of the mandible, to the side of the neck and from there back forward and downward to the upper end of the sternum in a loop. Along the loop is a sealing means 6 which in the situation of use is applied to the skin. In this way the open side of the neck shield is closed by the patient's skin, forming a closed cavity 7.

The surface of the neck cover is made such that it is rigid in a direction perpendicular to its surface, but flexible in the direction of extension of the surface. Thus, the neck cover surface can expand and contract when the head part does pitching motion, and can be laterally twisted when the head part does rotating motion. In the present exemplary embodiment, this property can be achieved in that the outer skin of the neck cover 1 consists of an elastic skin 5, which consists for example of rubber or another elastomer, on a base body consisting of a stable skeleton 4.

At a suitable point, preferably in the lower region of the neck cover 1, a pipe-nipple-shaped air outlet pipe 8 is provided, which opens from the outside through the outer casing of the neck cover 1 into the closed cavity 7 and is connected to the suction side of the suction pump 3 via the suction hose 2. For the purpose of a snug and correctly fitting stability of the neck cover 1, a strap 9 is provided, which can also be equipped with a catch, in particular a snap catch (klettverseschluss).

In use, the suction pump 3 generates a constant negative pressure of a few hPa in the closed space 7 via the suction hose 2 connected to the air outlet line 8. This is achieved by means of a pressure-regulated suction pump or by adjusting the suction machine to a certain rotational speed. If a leak develops between the patient's skin and the sealing means 6, the amount of leakage flowing into the closed cavity 7 is withdrawn. If the suction pump 3 or the suction machine used has means for regulating the pressure, the head movement does not cause a change in the negative pressure in the closed cavity 7 either.

Since the neck cover 1 is clamped over the entire frontal neck region, an artificial negative pressure atmosphere is created at this location with the closed cavity 7, and the patient's respiratory tract is opened by the pressure of the normal atmosphere. The pressure drop caused by the airflow in the throat area of the patient no longer causes collapse of the airway. No snoring will occur anymore. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea can breathe freely and have healthy sleep again.

Attached figure reference number list

1 pressure stabilizing cover 2 suction hose

3 air pump 4 skeleton

5 cavity surface 6 sealing means

7 negative pressure cavity 8 air exhaust pipe

9 neck strap

Claims (6)

1. A respiratory therapeutic apparatus for keeping the natural respiratory tract of a human body unblocked, consisting of a pump for generating a continuous negative pressure and an input tube, characterized in that: the pump is an air suction pump (3) which is connected to a pressure-stabilizing hollow body via a suction hose (2), said hollow body enclosing the human body while keeping the natural breathing opening free and forming a negative pressure chamber (7) at least in the peripheral region of the respiratory tract.

2. The respiratory treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the pressure-stabilizing hollow body is designed as a cover (1) which, starting from the jaw, surrounds with its edges the anterior cervical region from the mandible, on both sides along the cervical and clavicular regions to the upper sternum, and is designed in such a way that it covers the skin region delimited by its edges in a dome-shaped manner at a distance from the skin.

3. The respiratory treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the pressure-stabilizing jacket (1) is made of a material which is pressure-resistant in the direction perpendicular to the surface extension and flexible in the direction of the surface extension to allow movement of the head.

4. The respiratory treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the pressure stabilizing cover (1) consists of a built-in base body consisting of a stable framework (4) and an elastic outer skin (5) on the surface of the base body.

5. The respiratory treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: the skin is composed of rubber or other elastomer.

6. The respiratory treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the suction pump (3) is equipped with a pressure regulating device for generating and maintaining a pre-adjustable negative pressure.