BREATHING PROTECTOR

Abstract

A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person is described. The breathing protector includes at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and an air filter, such that an air flow will pass through the HME and the air filter when the air flow passes through the inlet to the outlet. A housing is provided with an upper part and a lower part. According to an example, the inlet is provided in the upper part and the outlet is provided in the lower part. The upper part is provided with a closing member that when activated closes the communication between the inlet and the outlet via a closing valve.

Claims

1. A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, comprising: at least one inlet and at least one outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from a surrounding environment of said person through the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, into trachea of said person, a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and an air filter, such that the air flow will pass through the HME and the air filter when the air flow in use passes through the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, a housing including an upper part and a lower part, wherein the at least one inlet is provided in the upper part of the housing and the at least one outlet is provided in the lower part of the housing, and wherein the HME and the air filter are enclosed by the housing, wherein the upper part of the housing is provided with a closing member that may be activated to close a communication of the air flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet via a closing valve proximally of the air filter.

2. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the HME is arranged in the lower part of the housing.

3. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the air filter is arranged in the upper part of the housing.

4. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the air filter is an electrostatic filter.

5. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is provided with at least one inlet.

6. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is composed of a non-flexible material.

7. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the upper part of the housing is composed of a non-flexible material.

8. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is connected to the closing valve arranged distally of the lower part of the housing, wherein a first opening is provided between the closing valve and the lower part of the housing.

9. The breathing protector according to claim 8, wherein the closing member is provided with a protrusion arranged centrally of the closing member and the protrusion is provided with hooks at a proximal end of the protrusion, wherein the hooks of the protrusion snap-fit into an opening in the closing valve.

10. The breathing protector according to claim 8, wherein the closing member during activation is arranged to cooperate with the closing valve to close the communication of the air flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet of the housing.

11. The breathing protector according to claim 8, wherein the HME comprises of a HME foam.

12. The breathing protector according to claim 11, wherein the HME foam is structured and arranged to act as a return spring for the closing valve.

13. The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein the air filter is arranged in a three-dimensional structure, such that a filtering effect is obtained in more than one plane.

14. The breathing protector according to claim 13, wherein the air filter is pleated, folded, curved, or arched, such that the three-dimensional structure is provided.

15. The breathing protector according to claim 1, further comprising a rim having a circumference of said lower part of the housing, the air filter being attached to the rim, wherein the air filter covers a cross section area of the rim, and wherein the air filter is arranged in a three-dimensional structure.

16. A method for humidifying and filtering air, during breathing through a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, said method comprising: passing air from surroundings into a trachea of said person through a breathing protector including a housing with an upper part comprising at least one inlet and with a lower part comprising at least one outlet, the breathing protector further including a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and an air filter, filtering said air by passing said air through the air filter, the air filter having a surface area being larger than an area enclosed by the at least one inlet, and moisturizing said air when passing said air through the HME.

17. A method for closing a breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, comprising: providing a housing including an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part of the housing is provided with at least one inlet and the lower part of the housing is provided with at least one outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from a surrounding environment of said person through the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, into a trachea of said person, a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and an air filter, the air filter enclosing the at least one inlet, such that the air flow passes through the HME and the air filter when the air flow in use passes through the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, the upper part of the housing further including a closing member connected to a closing valve arranged distally of the lower part of the housing, wherein a first opening is provided between the closing valve and the lower part of the housing, and closing the first opening by pressing the closing member onto the lower part of the housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein closing the first opening includes the closing member cooperating with the closing valve to close a communication of air flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming the closing member from a non-flexible material.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the closing member is connected to the closing valve via a snap-fit connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0014] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a breathing protector according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a breathing protector according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a breathing protector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a breathing protector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description focuses on an embodiment of the present invention applicable to a breathing protector and in particular to a breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, where said stoma is communicating with trachea of said person. However, the invention is not limited to this application but may be applied to other technical fields in which one wishes to remove particulate matter from an air stream while also moisturizing said air stream and providing the possibility to close said air stream.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a breathing protector is provided. The breathing protector is for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person. Said breathing protector having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said inlet to said outlet, into trachea of said person. The breathing protector comprises a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) 3 and an air filter 4, such that said air flow will pass through said air filter 4 and said HME 3 when said air flow in use passes through said inlet to said outlet.

[0020] The air filter 4 is capable of filtering particulate matters, and in one embodiment, the air filter 4 is an electrostatic filter.

[0021] The breathing protector, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a housing. Said housing comprises of an upper part 1a and a lower part 1b. The upper part 1a of the housing having at least one inlet 7, 8 and the lower part of the housing having at least one outlet 12. The HME 3 and the air filter 4 of the breathing protector are enclosed by said housing. Thus, when air is passing from the surroundings through the stoma, wherein or over which the breathing protector is arranged, the air passes in via the at least one first inlet 7, 8 of the upper part 1a of the housing, through the air filter 4 and the HME 3, into trachea of the patient through the at least one outlet 12 of the lower part 1b of the housing. As the air filter 4 and the HME 3 are enclosed by said housing, a minimized contamination of the air filter 4 may be assured and thus prolonging the filtering effect of the breathing protector, since the fingers and the neck of the user are prevented from coming in contact with the air filter 4.

[0022] With further reference to FIG. 1, the lower part 1b of the housing may have an accommodation, this accommodation may accommodate the HME 3. Accordingly, the HME 3 may be arranged in the lower part 1b of the housing. The air filter 4 may be arranged in the upper part 1a of the housing. Said air filter 4 may thus cover said at least one inlet 7, 8. Accordingly, when air is passing from the surroundings through the stoma, wherein or over which the breathing protector is arranged, the air passes in via the at least one inlet 7, 8 of the upper part 1a of the housing, through the air filter 4 and the HME 3 into trachea of the patient through the at least one outlet 12 of the lower part 1b of the housing.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper part 1a of the housing is provided externally the air filter 4, which may be attached to, held by or integrated with, a rim 5. The upper part 1a of the housing is further provided with a closing member 6. The closing member 6 is not an integral part of the upper part of the housing 1a, but is separated from the upper part 1a of the housing. The closing member 6 is thus a separate closing member 6. The closing member 6 is preferably arranged centrally within the upper part 1b of the housing and can be activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet 7, 8 and said at least one outlet 12. The closing member 6 is positioned distally, i.e. away from the user, of the air filter 4. Accordingly, it may be possible to achieve a closing action by activating the closing member 6 instead of blocking airflow by holding a finger on the air filter 4 of the breathing protector. Thus, the air filter 4 may be relieved from undue contamination from the finger. The closure of the breathing protector is activated by the patient when the patient intends to speak. Furthermore, by the proposed breathing protector where the closing member 6 is a separate closing member 6 positioned in an opening of the upper part 1b of the housing, the opening in the housing will form a guiding rim for the finger, which will facilitate correct positioning of the finger during closure.

[0024] The closing member 6 is preferably made of a hard, non-flexible material preventing the closing member 6 from deforming and instead enabling the closing member 6 to react instantly to an applied force. The applied force enabling the closing member 6 to be activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet 7, 8 and said at least one outlet 12. Accordingly, it may be possible to achieve a closing action of the breathing protector by applying a low force. The upper part 1b of the housing is preferably also made of a hard, non-flexible material preventing the upper part 1b of the housing from deforming. This may protect the internal structure of the breathing protector and may further prevent any unnecessary pressure to be applied to the air filter 4. Further, it creates a strong and sealed snap-fit which facilitates manufacturing of the device.

[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing of the breathing protector further houses a closing valve 10 arranged above the lower part 1b of the housing, wherein a first opening 11 is provided between the closing valve 10 and the lower part 1b of the housing. The closing valve 10 is thus arranged above, i.e. distally of, the HME 3, but below, i.e. proximally of, the air filter 4. Accordingly, when air passes from the surroundings through the stoma into trachea, air first enters into the housing via the at least one first inlet 7, 8 of the upper part 1a of the housing, through the air filter 4, through the first opening 11 and then through the HME 3 into trachea through the at least one outlet 12 of the lower part 1b of the housing. The closing member 6 is activated through an applied force in a proximal direction, i.e. in a direction towards the user. The force in the proximal direction will then move the closing valve 10 in the same proximal direction, until it reaches a closing valve seat 2, where after the closing valve 10 seals against the closing valve seat 2 and closes the communication between the at least one inlet 7, 8 and the at least one outlet 12.

[0026] In one embodiment, the closing member 6 is connected to the closing valve 10. The closing member 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 is connected to the closing valve 10 by reaching through the air filter 4. The closing member 6 is then provided with a protrusion 13. The protrusion 13 is arranged centrally of the closing member 6, and extends in the proximal direction. At the proximal end of the protrusion 13, the protrusion 13 is provided with hooks that may snap-fit into an opening 14 in the closing valve 10, proximally of the air filter 4. The air filter 4 is sealably fixed to the closing valve 10 and the closing member 6. In this way, the filtering effect provided by the air filter 4 may be kept high, while allowing for a reliable closing mechanism of the breathing protector. Also, the breathing protector may be closed by activating the closing member 6, which activates the closing valve 10, but without squeezing the air filter 4.

[0027] Accordingly, the closing member 6 is arranged to cooperate with the closing valve 10 during activation in order to close the communication between the at least one inlet 7, 8 and the at least one outlet 12 of the housing of the breathing protector. The closing effect may be obtained when the closing valve 10 closes the first opening 11. The proposed embodiment provides a breathing protector that builds more in height than on the diameter, which results in a more compact design. A more compact design may be advantageous as a larger user population generally accepts these. Furthermore, the proposed embodiment provides the possibility for a patient to close the breathing protector, such as during speech, with a low force. The structure of the disclosed breathing protector, with an externally accessible closing member 6, provides a distinct and well-defined closing while still providing a breathing protector with an air filter 4. The structure of the breathing protector provides tactile confirmation of a closing state, i.e. an open or a closed state, of the breathing protector.

[0028] The lower part 1b of the housing is provided with a closing valve seat 2, surrounding said HME 3. The structure of the closing member 6 and the closing valve 10 allows the closing valve 10 to be pressed down, inwardly, to closingly fit with the closing valve seat 2 of the lower part 1b of the housing, when the closing member 6 is pressed proximally, i.e. towards the user of the breathing protector. A closing effect is obtained when the closing valve 10 is pressed against the closing valve seat 2, such that the first opening 11 is closed and not allowing air to pass through the first opening 11. By achieving closing action from pressing down the closing member 6 instead of blocking airflow by holding a finger on the filter of the filter breathing protector, the air filter may be relieved from undue contamination from the finger.

[0029] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the closing member 6 is provided with at least one inlet 9. Thus, the filtering area, provided by said air filter 4 may be increased as air may flow into the breathing protector through a larger number of inlets and thus providing the breathing protector with a larger inlet surface area. This may in turn decrease the resistance to airflow through the device, improving the overall functionality of the breathing protector, thus making the device more tolerable for the user during heavy breathing.

[0030] The air filter 4 is arranged in a three-dimensional structure with respect to the first opening 11. Thus, the filtering effect, provided by said air filter 4, is obtained in more than one dimension. In this way the filtering effect may be obtained in a large surface area while still providing the possibility to keep the size of the breathing protector small. Thus, the breathing protector may be kept from being bulky to the person wearing the breathing protector, while still providing a maximum filtering effect. The term “three-dimensional structure” is not intended to be limited to several sheets or layers, but is rather intended to illustrate a three-dimensional structure in contrast to a two-dimensional structure, such as a planar sheet or layer. Thus, the thickness of such a planar sheet or layer is not considered to be a three-dimensional structure in this respect.

[0031] The air filter 4, according to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, is arranged in a three-dimensional structure with respect to the first opening by clamping the air filter 4 between a rim 5 and the lower/proximal housing part 1b. This rim 5 may have a substantially circular or ring shape. Thus, the air filter 4 then covering the cross section area of the rim 5, i.e. extending from the outer edges of the rim 5 to the opposite outer edges of the rim 5. The air filter 4 may thus be arranged to enclose the closing valve 10 within the housing, such that the air filter 4 will have a larger surface area than the area of the first opening 11 between the closing valve 10 and the lower part 1b of the housing. In this respect, the term surface area is not intended to include porosity of the air filter 4, but merely the outer area of the air filter 4, i.e. the circumferential area of the air filter 4. Effective area is instead used to define the surface area including the porosity of the air filter 4. In this way the effective area of the air filter 4 may be increased by the three-dimensional structure without increasing the pressure drop over the air filter 4, while only being limited by the cross section area of the rim 5 in respect of the size of the breathing protector. This increase in effective area, while only being limited by the cross section area of the rim 5, provides a high filtration efficiency such as more than 95%.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention the air filter 4 is pleated, folded, curved, arched, or in other ways provided with a three-dimensional structure, to provide a maximized filtering effect in a smaller size of the breathing protector.

[0033] The material of the HME 3 should include flow passages therein, and should have an open structure in which the flow passages are randomly oriented. The material may comprise paper, foamed plastics, wadding made of different fibres, or combinations thereof. It may also be impregnated with a moisture absorbing substance. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the pores or interstices in the material do not have any special direction, such that the breathing air easily may pass through the material in a number of directions in order to achieve the intended deflection.

[0034] In one advantageous embodiment, the material of the HME 3 may be a HME foam. In such embodiments, the HME 3 may additionally functioning as a return spring for the closing valve 10. The resiliency of the HME foam allows the closing valve 10 to return to an open state of the breathing protector when pressure thereupon ceases. Thus, the user may press the closing member 6 to close the first opening 11 by said closing valve 10. Then the user may turn the breathing protector into a speaking mode/state, when the user wishes to speak, and simply release the pressure on the closing member 6 when the user wants to quit speaking and returning breathing protector into breathing mode/state.

[0035] In the embodiments described above, a breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person has been described. This breathing protector is configured with at least one inlet 7, 8, 9 and at least one outlet 12, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said inlet to said outlet 12, into trachea of said person. It is obvious to the skilled artisan, even if it has not been specifically disclosed, that the inlets and outlets may be divided into an increased amount by merely dividing the specific inlets and outlets already disclosed. Furthermore, this breathing protector comprises a HME 3 and an air filter 4, such that said air flow will pass through said HME 3 and said air filter 4 when said air flow in use passes through said inlet 7, 8, 9 to said outlet 12. Also, the breathing protector, according to the disclosures above, comprises a closing member 6 that may be activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet 7, 8, 9 and said at least one outlet 12.

[0036] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for humidifying and filtering off bacteriological matter, during breathing through a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person. The method comprises passing air from the surroundings into trachea of said person through a breathing protector having a housing with an upper part 1a comprising at least one inlet 7, 8 and with a lower part 1b comprising at least one outlet 12. The breathing protector comprises a HME 3 and an air filter 4. The method filtering off bacteriological matter by passing the air through the air filter 4. The air filter 4 have a surface area which is being larger than an area enclosed by the at least one inlet 7, 8. Thereafter, the method comprises moisturizing the air when the air is passed through the HME 3.

[0037] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for closing a breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person. The breathing protector have a housing, which comprises of an upper part 1a and a lower part 1b. The upper part 1a of the housing is provided with at least one inlet 7, 8 and the lower part 1b of the housing is provided with at least one outlet 12, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through the at least one inlet 7, 8 to the at least one outlet 12, into trachea of said person. The breathing protector comprises a HME 3 and an air filter 4. The air filter 4 encloses the at least one inlet 7, 8, such that said air flow will pass through the HME 3 and the air filter 4 when said air flow in use passes through the at least one inlet 7, 8 to the at least one outlet 12. The upper part 1a of the housing further comprises a closing member 6 connected to a closing valve 10 arranged above, i.e. distally of, the lower part 1b of the housing. A first opening 11 is then provided between the closing valve 10 and the lower part 1b of the housing. The method comprises closing the first opening 11 by pressing the closing member 6 onto the lower part 1b of the housing.

[0038] The elements and components of the embodiments of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the invention may be implemented in a single unit, or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.

[0040] In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms “a”, “an”, “first”, “second” etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.