Head and/or Neck-Mounted Aerosol-Based Respiratory Protection Device

Abstract

The invention refers to a head and/or neck-mounted respiratory protection device (10) comprising a body-wearable elongated mount (12) for attaching the respiratory protection device (10) to the head and/or neck of a user, a reservoir (14) for storing a bioactive substance (30), and an aerosol generating device (16) connected to the reservoir (14) to receive the bioactive substance (30). The aerosol generating device (16) is configured for generating an aerosol comprising the bioactive substance (30) and for dispensing said aerosol into a respiration area in front of the mouth and nose of the user in order to provide a sterilising atmosphere therein. The invention further refers to a corresponding method of controlling a respiratory protection device.

Claims

1. A respiratory protection device comprising: a body-wearable elongated mount for attaching the respiratory protection device to the head and/or neck of a user, wherein the mount has a fixation end and a dosing end, wherein the fixation end is attachable to the head and/or neck of the user, and wherein the elongated mount is shaped such that, when the respiratory protection device is attached to the head and/or neck of the user at the fixation end, the dosing end is arranged in a proximity of a respiration area located, at least in part, in front of a mouth and nose of the user; a reservoir for storing a bioactive substance; an aerosol generating device connected to the reservoir to receive the bioactive substance stored in the reservoir, wherein the aerosol generating device is arranged at the dosing end of the elongated mount, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured for generating an aerosol comprising the bioactive substance and for dispensing the aerosol into the respiration area; a control unit for controlling the aerosol generating device, such that the aerosol generating device dispenses the aerosol comprising the bioactive substance into the respiration area when activated by the control unit; and a respiratory activity sensor configured for detecting respirator activity in a surrounding environment of the respiratory protection device, wherein the respiratory activity sensor is operatively connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is further configured for activating the aerosol generating device when the respiratory activity sensor detects the respiratory activity and configured for controlling one or more aerosol parameters for the aerosol generating device that dispenses the aerosol comprising the bioactive substance, wherein the one or more aerosol parameters include a quantity of dispensed bioactive substance, a duration time of dispensing the aerosol, a dispensing intensity, a dispensing directionality, or combinations thereof.

2-4. (canceled)

5. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises or is connectable to a processing unit configured for analyzing and/or classifying the detected respiratory activity, and wherein the control unit is further configured for controlling the one or more aerosol parameters according to an analysis result and/or a classification result obtained by the processing unit.

6. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating device is further configured for selectively dispensing the aerosol comprising the bioactive substance in a first direction and/or in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further operatively connected to the reservoir and configured for monitoring one or more reservoir parameters, wherein the one or more reservoir parameters comprise a quantity of bioactive substance and/or a type of bioactive substance contained in the reservoir.

8. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connectable or connected to an external interface device and is configured for transmitting to the external interface device the one or more aerosol parameters and/or the one or more reservoir parameters, and/or is configured for receiving from the external interface device an input for adjusting the one or more aerosol parameters and/or an activation input triggering the activation of the aerosol generating device.

9. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the respiratory activity sensor comprises an air pressure sensor, an air flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a humidity sensor or combinations thereof.

10. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the respiratory activity sensor comprises a microphone.

11. The respiratory protection device of claim 10, further comprising a sound processing device connected to the microphone, wherein the sound processing device is configured for generating a sound detection signal based on sound detected by the microphone and for transmitting the sound detection signal to an external device.

12. (canceled)

13. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is: at least partially integrated within the mount at the fixation end; removably or fixedly attached to the mount at the fixation end; at least partially integrated within the aerosol generating device; removably or fixedly attached to the aerosol generating device at the fixation end; and an independent reservoir connected to the aerosol generating device by means of one or more connection hoses for transmitting the bioactive substance.

14. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is an exchangeable reservoir.

15. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a pressurizable reservoir.

16. (canceled)

25. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises one or more flow directing structures for directing a flow of the aerosol dispensed by the aerosol generating device, wherein the flow directing structures are configured for directing the flow of the aerosol in a first direction and/or in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

26. A method of controlling a respiratory protection device, the respiratory protection device comprising: an aerosol generating device for dispensing an aerosol comprising a bioactive substance into a respiration area located, at least in part, in front of the mouth and nose of a user; and a respiratory activity sensor for detecting respiratory activity in a surrounding environment of the respiratory protection device, wherein the method comprises: detecting respiratory activity in said surrounding environment of the respiratory protection device by means of the respiratory activity sensor, and generating an activation signal for activating the aerosol generating device in response to the respiratory activity sensor detecting respiratory activity, and analyzing and/or classifying the respiratory activity detected by the respiratory activity sensor, wherein the activation signal is generated for controlling one or more aerosol parameters for the aerosol generating device that dispenses the aerosol according to an analysis result and/or a classification result, wherein the one or more aerosol parameters include a quantity of dispensed bioactive substance, a duration time of dispensing the aerosol, a dispensing intensity, a dispensing directionality, or combinations thereof.

27-28. (canceled)

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the analyzing and/or classifying the respiratory activity detected by the respiratory activity sensor comprises detecting one or more of exhalation activity, inhalation activity, speaking activity, breathing activity, sneezing activity, coughing activity, spitting activity or any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the analyzing and/or classifying the respiratory activity detected by the respiratory activity sensor comprises detecting whether the respiratory activity originates from a user of the respiratory protection device, wherein the respiratory protection device is attached to the head and/or neck of the user, or from a person other than the user situated in an environment of the user.

31-32. (canceled)

33. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is at least partially integrated within the mount at the fixation end.

34. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is at least removably or fixedly attached to the mount at the fixation end.

35. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is at least partially integrated within the aerosol generating device.

36. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is at least removably or fixedly attached to the aerosol generating device at the fixation end.

37. The respiratory protection device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is at least an independent reservoir connected to the aerosol generating device by means of one or more connection hoses for transmitting the bioactive substance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a respiratory protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a respiratory protection device according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a respiratory protection device according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0069] FIG. 4 schematic illustrates the working principle of a respiratory protection device according to the invention.

[0070] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating a method of controlling a respiratory protection device according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0071] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated apparatus and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur now or in the future to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0072] FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic illustrations of exemplary embodiments of the respiratory protection device 10. These figures are best understood in combination with FIG. 4, showing a schematic illustration of the working principle of a respiratory protection device 10 worn by a user P1. Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals are used for identifying the same elements.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a respiratory protection device 10 according to embodiments of the present invention. The respiratory protection device 10 comprises an elongated mount 12 that extends from a fixation and 12a to a dosing end 12b. The fixation end 12a of the elongated mount 12 is configured for being attached to the head and/or neck of a user of the respiratory protection device 10. In the embodiment shown, the fixation end 12a has a hook-like shape adapted for being attached to the ear of the user by lying on and around the upper part of the ear flap of the patient (see also FIG. 4). The straight section of the elongated mount 12 has a length of about 15 cm.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 4, the mount 12 is shaped such that, when the respiratory protection device 10 is attached to the head and/or neck of the user P1 by the fixation end 12a, the mount 12 extends along the face of the patient and the dosing end 12b is arranged below the fixation end (considered in the vertical direction) and in a proximity of a respiration area R located in front of the mouth and nose of the user P1. When the user P1 inhales, air from the respiration area R may enter through the mouth and nose of the user P1. When the user P1 exhales, air may be expelled from the mouth and nose of the user P1 into the respiration area R.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 1, the respiratory protection device 10 further comprises a reservoir 14 configured for storing a bioactive substance 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bioactive substance is a liquid substance comprising a liquid antiviral bioactive agent pressurised with O.sub.2. The reservoir 14 is integrated within the mount 12, formed as a cavity at the fixation end 12a of the mount 12 and configured for receiving the bioactive substance 30. The reservoir 14 comprises a valve 9 for refilling the reservoir 14 with bioactive substance 30 and/or for extracting bioactive substance from the reservoir 14 when necessary.

[0076] The respiratory protection device 10 further comprises an aerosol generating device 16 arranged at the dosing end 12b and fixedly attached thereto. The aerosol generating device 16 is connected to the reservoir 14 by a connection hose 15 that establishes a fluid connection between the reservoir 14 and the aerosol generating device 16. The connection hose 15 is guided through a lumen 11 formed within the elongated mount 12.

[0077] The aerosol generating device 16 can receive the bioactive substance 30 stored in the reservoir through the connection hose 15 and is configured for generating an aerosol comprising the bioactive substance 30 and for dispensing the aerosol into the respiration area R shown in FIG. 4.

[0078] The respiratory protection device 10 further comprises a control unit 18 that is integrated within the mount 12 and is configured for controlling the aerosol generating device 16. The aerosol generating device 16 dispenses the aerosol into the respiration area R when activated by the control unit 18 by means of a corresponding control instruction transmitted through an electric wire 13 by means of which the control unit 18 is connected to the aerosol generating device 16. Like the connection hose 15, the electric wire 13 is guided through the lumen 11 formed in the interior of the elongated mount 12.

[0079] The control unit 18 is further connected to a reservoir sensor 7 arranged in the reservoir 14 and configured for detecting a filling level of the reservoir 14. When the reservoir 14 is empty or the biological substance 30 is below a predefined filling level, the control unit 18 can produce a corresponding warning signal for letting the user know that the reservoir 14 has to be refilled with biological substance through the valve 9.

[0080] The respiratory protection device 10 further comprises a respiratory activity sensor 20 arranged at the dosing end 12b of the mount 12 and fixedly attached to the aerosol generating device 16. The respiratory activity sensor 20 is configured for detecting respiratory activity in a surrounding environment of the respiratory protection device 10, for example respiratory activity in the respiration area R illustrated in FIG. 4. The respiratory activity sensor 20 is operatively connected to the control unit 18 by means of the electric wire 13. When the respiratory activity sensor 20 detects respiratory activity, a detection signal is sent to the control unit 18 transmitting information about the detected respiratory activity. The control unit 18 is configured for activating the aerosol generating device 16 in response to said detection signal sent by the respiratory activity sensor 20, i.e. when the respiratory activity sensor 20 detects respiratory activity.

[0081] The aerosol generating device 16 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a spraying device configured for generating an aerosol comprising the pressurised liquid bioactive substance 30 contained in the reservoir 14 and for spraying the aerosol into the respiration area R. The spraying device 16 comprises a first spraying head 24a comprising a first set of nozzles 26a oriented in a first direction di and a second spraying head 24b comprising a second set of nozzles 26b oriented in a second direction d2. The first direction d2 and the second direction d2 are opposite to each other.

[0082] The elongated mount 12 is made of a bendable shape-retaining material that allows adjusting a position and orientation of the aerosol generating device 16 such that the first direction d1 points towards the mouth and nose of the user P1 and the second direction d2 points away from the mouth and nose of the user P2 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0083] The spraying device 16 of FIG. 1 comprises a first one-way spraying valve (not shown in FIG. 1) and a second one-way spraying valve (not shown in FIG. 1) for controlling the access of the biological substance 30 into the spraying heads 24a and 24d of the spraying device 16, respectively, through the connecting hose 15. Each spraying valve is opened and closed by a piezo actuator that is electrically controlled by the control unit 18. When the control unit 18 sends an activation signal to the spraying device 16 through the electrical wire 13, the piezo actuator opens the respective spraying valve and thereby causes the pressurised bioactive substance 30 to be sprayed into the respiration area R in the form of an aerosol.

[0084] The control unit 18 can selectively activate the spraying device 16 for spraying the aerosol in the first direction d1 through the first set of nozzles 26a of the first spraying head 24a and/or in the second direction d2 through the second set of nozzles 26b of the second spraying head 24b. Thereby, the control unit 18 can selectively control whether the aerosol is dispensed in the first direction d1 towards the mouth and nose of the user P1 and/or in the second direction t2 away from the mouth and nose of the user P1 (see FIG. 4).

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a respiratory protection device 10 according to the invention having basically the same structure as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fixation end 12a, instead of having a hook-like shape allowing the respiratory protection device 10 to be worn by a user as an ear-held device, comprises a clipping structure 3 configured for attaching the fixation end 12a to a band that the user may wear around their head, for example a headband or an elastic band of a protective eyewear item, or to the temple of an eyewear item worn by the user.

[0086] A further difference of the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 with respect to the embodiment represented in FIG. 1 is that the reservoir 14 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is provided as a replaceable capsule configured for being removably attached to the mount 12 at the fixation end 12a. A valve mechanism 5 is provided at an interface between the mount 12 and the reservoir 14 through which the bioactive substance 30 can flow from the reservoir to the aerosol generating device 16 over the connection hoe 15 in a controlled manner. The valve mechanism 5 is controlled by the control unit 18. Further, a reservoir sensor 6 is provided at said interface between the mount 12 and the reservoir 14 and allows the control unit 18 to monitor a quantity of bioactive substance 30 and a type of bioactive substance contained in the reservoir 14. The bioactive substance 30 is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a liquid substance containing an antiviral and antibacterial agent pressurised with NO.

[0087] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 16 is a VMT nebuliser comprising a nebulising chamber formed in the interior of the nebuliser 16 (not shown in FIG. 2). When the bioactive substance 30 flows from the reservoir 14 to the nebuliser 16, it is received in the nebulising chamber. The nebuliser 16 further comprises first and second vibrating membranes 21a and 21b configured for vibrating when activated by the control unit 18 to generate the aerosol, which is then nebulised into the respiration area. When the first vibrating membrane 21a is activated, the aerosol is nebulised in the first direction d1 through openings formed in a first pinhole mask 23a. When the second vibrating membrane 21b is activated, the aerosol is nebulised in the second direction d2 through openings formed in a second pinhole mask 23b. The first and second pinhole masks 23a, 23b determine, through the size and number of their openings, a droplet size and size distribution of the aerosol. The nebuliser further comprises orientable wings 17 that are orientable with different angles to direct the flow of the aerosol.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a respiratory protection device 10 according to the invention having basically the same structure as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein the fixation end 12a also has a hook-like shape allowing the respiratory protection device 10 to be worn by a user as an ear-held device.

[0089] However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 16 is configured as a replaceable one-use device that is removably attached to the dosing and 12b of the mount 12. The reservoir 14 is formed by an interior cavity of the aerosol generating device 16 and contains the bioactive substance 30, which in this embodiment is a powder-based substance, although in other embodiments it can be a liquid substance. Other than in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respiratory activity sensor 20 is directly attached to the dosing end 12b of the mount 12 and not to the aerosol generating device 16.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 16 is a powder aerosol generating device that is configured for generating the aerosol by creating an air flow through the reservoir 14 by means of a babe vibrating rating movement of a piezoelectric vibrating actuator 25 that is driven by the control unit 18. When the control unit 18 sends an activation signal to the aerosol generating device 16 through the electrical wire 13, the piezoelectric vibrating actuator 25 vibrates and generates an air flow that carries away part of the powder contained in the reservoir 14 within the aerosol generating device 16, thereby generating the aerosol. The aerosol is dispensed in the first and second directions d1, d2 through openings formed in respective permeable regulating membranes 27. The permeable regulating membranes 27 determine, through the size and number of their openings, a droplet size and size distribution of the aerosol. The flow of the aerosol is directed in the first and second directions d1, d2 by respective tapered channels 29, which have a cross-section that increase from an interior to an exterior of the aerosol generating device 16.

[0091] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 18 of the respiratory protection device 10 is connectable, by means of a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, to an external interface device 70, in this case a smart phone. A control app installed in the external interface device 70 allows the user P1 wearing the respiratory protection device 10 to use the external interface device 70 as an input device for manually setting one or more aerosol parameters such as dispensing intensity or dispensing time duration, for reading a quantity of bioactive substance 30 left in the reservoir 14 as detected by the control unit 18, and for manually triggering the activation of the aerosol generating device 16. Further, the respiratory activity sensor 20 of any of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 may be or comprise a microphone, and the respiratory protection device 10 can operate as an audio input device for the external interface 70, for example as a conventional hands-free microphone for having a telephone conversation using the smart phone 70.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4, in a proximity of the user P1, there is another person P2 other than the user.

[0093] In any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the respiratory activity sensor 20 can comprise an air pressure sensor, an air flow sensor and a humidity sensor for detecting air flows associated to respiratory activity and for determining a velocity, flow quantity and a humidity of the corresponding air flow.

[0094] Based on the velocity, flow quantity and a humidity detected by the respiratory activity sensor 20, a processing unit, which can be a processing unit integrated in the control unit 18 or in the external interface device 70, analyses the detected respiratory activity and allows the control unit 18 to generate an activation signal for activating the aerosol generating device 16 in a manner adapted to the detected respiratory activity.

[0095] The processing unit is configured for determining whether the detected respiratory activity corresponds to respiratory activity of the user P1 or of the other person P2 (cf. FIG. 4) and whether it corresponds to exhalation activity, inhalation activity, speaking activity, breathing activity, sneezing activity, coughing activity, spitting activity and any combination thereof.

[0096] Based on the type of respiratory activity determined by the processing unit, the control unit 18 of the respiratory protection device 10 generates an activation signal according to a corresponding signal generation scheme for activating the aerosol generating device, respectively, according to a different aerosol generation scheme. For each signal generation scheme, the activation signal may be configured for causing the aerosol generating device to dispense the aerosol according to a different combination of: quantity of dispensed bioactive substance, duration time of the dispensing, dispensing intensity and dispensing directionality.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a corresponding method 100 of controlling the respiratory protection device 10 in the situation represented in FIG. 4.

[0098] If the user P1 or the other person P2 produces an air flow corresponding to respiratory activity, this is detected at 102 by the respiratory activity sensor 20, which determines the velocity, flow quantity and humidity of the corresponding air flow.

[0099] The processing unit analyses, at 104, the velocity, flow quantity and humidity of the air flow detected by the respiratory activity sensor 20, and based thereon, determines whether the detected respiratory activity corresponds to respiratory activity of one of different types of respiratory activity TYPE 1, TYPE 2 TYPE 3 or TYPE 4. TYPE 1 corresponds to exhalation coughing activity of the person P2, TYPE 2 corresponds to exhalation sneezing activity of the user P1, TYPE 3 corresponds to inhalation breathing activity of the user P1 and TYPE 4 corresponds to inhalation breathing activity of the person P2.

[0100] The activation signal is generated at 106 by the control unit 18 according to a particular signal generation scheme depending on the type of respiratory activity to which the detected respiratory activity is associated. For respiratory activity associated to TYPE 1, TYPE 2 TYPE 3 or TYPE 4, the activation signal is respectively generated according to a corresponding signal generation scheme SCHEME 1, SCHEME 2, SCHEME 3 or SCHEME 4.

[0101] An activation signal according to SCHEME 1 is configured for causing the aerosol generating device 16 to dispense a quantity Q1 of bioactive substance, during a dispensing time T1, with a dispensing intensity V1 and in the first direction d1.

[0102] An activation signal according to SCHEME 2 is configured for causing the aerosol generating device 16 to dispense a quantity Q2>Q1 of bioactive substance, during a dispensing time T2>T1, with a dispensing intensity V2>V1 and in the second direction d2.

[0103] An activation signal according to SCHEME 3 is configured for causing the aerosol generating device 16 to dispense a quantity Q1 of bioactive substance, during a dispensing time T3>T1, with a dispensing intensity V3<V1 and in the first and second directions d1 and d2.

[0104] An activation signal according to SCHEME 4 is configured for causing the aerosol generating device 16 to dispense a quantity Q2 of bioactive substance, during a dispensing time T2, with a dispensing intensity V1 and in the second direction d2.

[0105] The aforementioned types of respiratory activity and signal generation schemes are exemplary. Other combinations are possible.

[0106] Although preferred exemplary embodiments are shown and specified in detail in the drawings and the preceding specification, these should be viewed as purely exemplary and not as limiting the invention. It is noted in this regard that only the preferred exemplary embodiments are shown and specified, and all variations and modifications should be protected that presently or in the future lie within the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the claims.