This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A series of panels are mounted in the frame such that the series of panels extend around the patient's lower chest and abdominal area. A flexible sheet wrapped around the outside of the panels and is long enough to extend up to the patient's upper chest and down to the patient's thighs and wide enough to envelop the supine patient's lower chest and abdominal area. Sealing members are to seal the flexible sheet over the frame and panels and around the patient's lower chest and pelvis, wherein a chamber is formed between the patient and said device when the patient is enveloped by the device. An air inlet coupling extends through one of the panels and is attachable to a suction source which is configured to generate negative pressure of between about −5 to about −10 cm H.sub.2O inside the chamber.

This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A pressure sensor is mounted to the frame for measuring a pressure inside the chamber and is connected to a display for displaying the pressure inside the chamber. An active pressure controller is connected to the pressure sensor, and a vacuum pump is in flow communication with inside the chamber and connected to the active pressure controller. The device includes a top up pump in flow communication with inside the chamber and connected to the active pressure controller which is programmed to instruct the vacuum pump to provide negative pressure in the chamber to start decompressing the chamber, and to instruct the top up pump to maintain the negative pressure in the chamber.

A relief valve in which a valve body is automatically properly opened/closed by pressure of gas while having a simple device structure, and a device including the relief valve. In a valve-closed state, a first pressure receiving surface portion receives pressure of gas from a valve hole to smoothly open a valve body, and in an open position after the valve is opened, a pressure receiving area is enlarged to a second pressure receiving surface portion, and the first pressure receiving surface portion and the second pressure receiving surface portion are surrounded by a peripheral wall portion formed on a back surface of the valve body. Thus, the valve body continuously receives the pressure with the pressure of the gas being reduced, thereby allowing the valve-opened state of the valve body to be stably maintained to set pressure.

An adjustable respirator shell, suitable for being worn on a human body trunk, includes a body, a belt and a buffer. The body includes a protrusive portion and a contact portion. The protrusive portion has an opening connecting a fluid pressure controller, and the contact portion is to contact the human body trunk. The belt, connecting the body, is to surround the human body trunk so as to fasten the adjustable respirator shell on the human body trunk. The buffer covers a circumference of the contact portion, and the contact portion contacts the human body trunk via the buffer. In addition, the buffer includes at least one cushion.

This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A series of panels are mounted in the frame such that the series of panels extend around the patient's lower chest and abdominal area. A flexible sheet wrapped around the outside of the panels and is long enough to extend up to the patient's upper chest and down to the patients thighs and wide enough to envelop the supine patient's lower chest and abdominal area. Sealing members are to seal the flexible sheet over the frame and panels and around the patient's lower chest and pelvis, wherein a chamber is formed between the patient and said device when the patient is enveloped by the device. An air inlet coupling extends through one of the panels and is attachable to a suction source which is configured to generate negative pressure of between about 5 to about 10 cm H.sub.2O inside the chamber.

This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A pressure sensor is mounted to the frame for measuring a pressure inside the chamber and is connected to a display for displaying the pressure inside the chamber. An active pressure controller is connected to the pressure sensor, and a vacuum pump is in flow communication with inside the chamber and connected to the active pressure controller. The device includes a top up pump in flow communication with inside the chamber and connected to the active pressure controller which is programmed to instruct the vacuum pump to provide negative pressure in the chamber to start decompressing the chamber, and to instruct the top up pump to maintain the negative pressure in the chamber.

A pulmonary expansion therapy (PXT) device may be a handheld device that covers specific lung fields and may generate negative pressure fields locally. The device also may provide vibratory/percussion therapy for airway clearance. The PXT may generate a localized negative pressure field non-invasively to the exterior of the chest wall, thereby increasing the functional residual capacity in underlying lung fields. As a result, increased ventilation and perfusion to the targeted internal lung field may be achieved by creating a decrease in the external barometric pressure relative to the more positive intrinsic airway pressures. The PXT device also may improve lung compliance by enabling a medical professional to grab and elevate the chest wall to compensate for the dysfunction of the respiratory musculature responsible for lifting the chest wall. In some embodiments, once a targeted functional residual capacity (FRC) has been established, vibration or percussion may be applied.

A pulmonary expansion therapy (PXT) device may be a handheld device that covers specific lung fields and may generate negative pressure fields locally. The device also may provide percussion therapy for airway clearance. The PXT may generate a localized negative pressure field non-invasively to the exterior of the chest wall, thereby increasing the functional residual capacity in underlying lung fields. As a result, increased ventilation and perfusion to the targeted internal lung field may be achieved by creating a decrease in the external barometric pressure relative to the more positive intrinsic airway pressures. The PXT device also may improve lung compliance by enabling a medical professional such as a Respiratory Therapist/Care provider to grab and elevate the chest wall to compensate for the dysfunction of the respiratory musculature responsible for lifting the chest wall during normal breathing. In some embodiments, once a targeted functional residual capacity (FRC) has been established, percussion may be applied with increased effectiveness due to greater oscillatory movement of chest wall.

An adjustable respirator shell, suitable for being worn on a human body trunk, includes a body, a belt and a buffer. The body includes a protrusive portion and a contact portion. The protrusive portion has an opening connecting a fluid pressure controller, and the contact portion is to contact the human body trunk. The belt, connecting the body, is to surround the human body trunk so as to fasten the adjustable respirator shell on the human body trunk. The buffer covers a circumference of the contact portion, and the contact portion contacts the human body trunk via the buffer. In addition, the buffer includes at least one cushion.

A relief valve in which a valve body is automatically properly opened/closed by pressure of gas while having a simple device structure, and a device including the relief valve. In a valve-closed state, a first pressure receiving surface portion receives pressure of gas from a valve hole to smoothly open a valve body, and in an open position after the valve is opened, a pressure receiving area is enlarged to a second pressure receiving surface portion, and the first pressure receiving surface portion and the second pressure receiving surface portion are surrounded by a peripheral wall portion formed on a back surface of the valve body. Thus, the valve body continuously receives the pressure with the pressure of the gas being reduced, thereby allowing the valve-opened state of the valve body to be stably maintained to set pressure.