Single patient use vest

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to chest compression devices and in particular to a high-frequency chest wall oscillator device.

0002Manual percussion techniques of chest physiotherapy have been used for treatment of a variety of diseases in order to remove the excess mucous that collects in the lungs. A non-exhaustive list of such diseases includes cystic fibrosis, emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis. To alleviate dependency on a caregiver to provide this therapy, chest compression devices have been developed to produce high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO), the most successful method of airway clearance.

0003The device most widely used to produce HFCWO is THE VEST^™ airway clearance system by Advanced Respiratory, Inc. (f/k/a American Biosystems, Inc.), the applicant of the present application. A description of the pneumatically driven system is found in the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6036662A"><text>Van Brunt et al. U.S. Patent No. 6,036,662</text></patcit>, which is assigned to Advanced Respiratory, Inc. Additional information regarding HFCWO and THE VEST^™ system is found on the Internet at www.thevest.com. Other pneumatic chest compression devices have been described by <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US4838263A"><text>Warwick in U.S. Patent No. 4,838,263</text></patcit> and by <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5543081A"><text>Hansen in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,543,081</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US6254556B"><text>6,254,556</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US6547749B"><text>6,547,749</text></patcit>.

0004Pneumatically driven HFCWO produces substantial transient increase in the air flow velocity combined with a small displacement of the chest cavity volume. This action, in turn, produces a cough-like shear force and a reduction in mucous viscosity which results in an outward motion of the mucous.

0005Previous non-disposable vests were designed for one person to use multiple times over many years. The durable material that is used makes the vest too expensive to be utilized for short-term use. For hospital use, as an example, generally the patient only uses the vest during one hospital visit. The vest cannot be used by multiple patients, because mucous may be expelled onto the vest by each patient, and previous vests could not be sterilized between uses.

0006Prior art disposable vests are attached to hoses through a connector that presents several problems. The connectors are large and bulky, which prevents efficient packaging and stacking of the vests. The connectors cannot be heat sterilized and interfere with x-ray imaging. In addition, the connectors attach to the hose such that air pulses from the hose are forced into and bounce off of the wall of an inflatable air bladder that is part of the vest. This effect can be heard by the patient and those in the vicinity of the patient. Therefore, there is a need for a more cost-effective and quieter vest designed for short-term, single-patient use.

0007<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US6267564B"><text>US 6,267,564</text></patcit> discloses a flexible bag for use in a medical infusion system. The bag includes a tube inserted through a slot in one face of the bag. The slot forms a fluid-tight seal around the tube.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0008The present invention is defined by the appended independent claim. In one embodiment, there is provided a connector for connection between an inflatable air bladder and a hose of a chest compression system. The connector is made of a thermoplastic elastomer that provides limited durability to the connector. A slot is formed in the thermoplastic elastomer to form an airtight seal between the air bladder and the hose. The slot is comprised of a slit with holes at its ends which allow for easy insertion of the hose into the slot. Tabs form at the intersection of the slit and the holes, but no air leakage occurs around the holes, because the holes have a diameter that allow the tabs to recede when the slot is stretched open for insertion by the hose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0009<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a patient undergoing HFCWO using a vest of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2a</figref> is a view of the outside surface of the vest prior to use.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2b</figref> is a view of the inside surface of the vest.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a front, cutaway view of the vest showing the hoses attached to the vest.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4a</figref> is a front view of the connector.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4b</figref> is a perspective view of the connector.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a cross section at 5 of <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> of the hoses inserted into the connector.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a cross section at 6 of <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> of the hoses inserted into the connector.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0010<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows patient P undergoing HFCWO using a system 10 with a vest 12 of the present invention. System 10 includes vest 12, hoses 14 and air pulse generator 16. Vest 12 fits around the chest of patient P. Hoses 14 connect at one end to vest 12 and at the other end to air pulse generator 16.

0011During treatment, air pulse generator 16 generates oscillatory air pulses which travel to vest 12 through hoses 14. The result is oscillatory chest compressions delivered to the chest of patient P for clearing mucus from the lungs of patient P.

0012<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2a</figref> shows the outside of vest 12 prior to use. Vest 12 includes belt 18, cover 20 with indicia 22, attachment 24 and hose tie 26. Cover 20 spans across the width of belt 18 and is sewn along the top and bottom edges. Cover 20 covers the area where hoses 14 connect to vest 12, which will later be discussed in detail. Indicia 22, shown as a dashed line on cover 20, indicates that cover 20 should be torn or cut prior to use. Attachment 24 is mounted at one end of belt 18 near cover 20. Hose tie 26 is attached on the other side of cover 20 to belt 18.

0013<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2b</figref> shows the inside of vest 12, which is inverted vertically relative to vest 12 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2a</figref>. Vest 12 includes belt 18, air bladder 28 (shaded region) and attachment 30. Air bladder 28 is attached at one end of belt 18 and preferably covers an area that is essentially on the direct opposite side of belt 18 from attachment 24 and cover 20. Attachment 30 is preferably near the opposite end of belt 18 from air bladder 28.

0014Prior to fitting vest 12 on patient P, cover 20 is checked to verify that cover 20 is intact. This provides indication that vest 12 is unused and has not been tampered with. If cover 20 is torn or cut, vest 12 should not be used. If cover 20 is intact, then it may be torn or cut as indicated by indicia 22. Indicia 22 can be any indicator showing that cover 20 must be torn or cut prior to use.

0015To fit vest 12 on patient P, belt 18 is wrapped around patient P such that air bladder 28 is on the inside of vest 12 and over the chest of patient P. Attachment 30 is then connected to attachment 24 to secure vest 12 in place. Preferably, attachments 24 and 30 are mates for a hook-and-loop type attachment, but any type of attachment may be used. Either or both of attachment 24 and 30 should be of a relatively large size so the circumference of vest 12 is adjustable to fit many sizes of people.

0016<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> shows hoses 14 connected to vest 12. To simplify the drawing, cover 20 is not shown but would be torn or cut at this point. Vest 12 and hoses 14 are shown cutaway. Vest 12 includes belt 18, attachment 24, hose tie 26 and connector 32.

0017In operation, hoses 14 are connected to vest 12 via connector 32. Hoses 14 are inserted through slots in connector 32 (discussed in detail below) that are in communication with air bladder 28 such that hoses 14 lay along belt 18 and are secured to belt 18 by hose tie 26. The openings of hoses 14 point in a direction essentially parallel to belt 18, the chest of patient P and/or connector 32. Hose tie 26 positions hoses 14 parallel to the same plane. Hose tie 26 is preferably comprised of a loop of hook-and-loop type material, but any type of attachment that secures hoses 14 to belt 18 may be used.

0018Having hoses 14 angled in this manner allows system 10 to be quieter during treatment compared to prior art disposable vests. Prior art disposable vests use connectors that force air into air bladder 28 at an angle that is essentially perpendicular to belt 18. The oscillatory air pulses that are forced into air bladder 28 bounce off the wall of air bladder 28, which creates noise. With the present invention having hoses 14 angled as described above, the air pulses no longer bounce off the wall of air bladder 28 resulting in a quieter system.

0019<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4a</figref> shows connector 32. Connector 32 includes slots 34 with slits 36 having edges 36a and 36b, holes 38, tabs 40, and finger grips 42. <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4b</figref> is a perspective view of connector 32 showing slot 34 and finger grips 42.

0020Connector 32 is shown in its preferred embodiment having two slots 34. However, connector 32 may have only one slot 34 or more than two depending on the number of hoses 14 which need to be connected to vest 12. Each slot 34 has slit 36 with flaps 36a and 36b at either side. Holes 38 are at the ends of slit 36 such that slot 34 is a continuous opening between slit 36 and holes 38. Tabs 40 form where flaps 36a and 36b meet with holes 38. Finger grips 42 are offset from the center of slots 34 and protrude perpendicularly from connector 32.

0021The openings formed by slots 34 allow hoses 14 to communicate with air bladder 28. To connect hose 14 to vest 12, patient P or someone else grasps finger grip 42 to stretch open slot 34 and inserts hose 14. Finger grip 42 is not required for this invention but makes it easier to insert hose 14 into slot 34. The dimensions and shape of finger grips 42 are not critical as long as they can be grasped. Finger grips 42 are preferably a protrusion of the same material as connector 32 and have a height of about 0.44 inch (1.12 cm) and a diameter of about 0.13 inch (0.33 cm).

0022<figref idref="f0005">Figs. 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0006">6</figref> are cross sections 5 and 6 of hose 14 inserted through slots 34, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>. <figref idref="f0005">Figs. 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0006">6</figref> include hoses 14, air bladder 28, connector 32 and flaps 36a and 36b. When hose 14 is inserted through slot 34, flap 36b stretches over hose 14 and is exposed to the outside. Flap 36a stretches under hose 14 and is substantially inside air bladder 28. Connector 32 is part of the wall of the air bladder that forms a substantially airtight seal around hose 14. Use of the word "airtight" herein, including in the claims, is intended to mean substantially airtight (i.e., some small amount of leakage not substantially affecting performance is permitted) and, while a perfectly airtight seal would still be considered "airtight" as that word is used herein, the word "airtight" is not intended to mean only perfectly airtight.

0023Holes 38 function to make insertion of hose 14 easier and decreases stress on the material forming the seal. The dimensions of holes 38 relative to the dimensions of slit 36 and hose 14 are a factor in forming an airtight seal. The diameter of holes 38 are such that when hose 14 is inserted into slot 34, slot 34 is stretched to a point where tabs 40 recede. When tabs 40 recede there is no air leakage around slot 34. In the preferred embodiment, a hose having a 1.25 inch (3.175 cm) outside diameter is inserted. The distance between the centers of holes 38 is about 1.225 inch (3.112 cm)., but the length of slit 36 may vary by up to approximately 5%. The width of the gap between flaps 36a and 36b is about 0.03 inch (0.076 cm). but can vary significantly. The diameter of holes 38 is about 0.187 inch (0.475 cm).

0024To this end, connector 32 must be made of an elastic sheet material. Latex, however, is not a preferred material for the present invention. Preferably, connector 32 is made from a thermoplastic elastomer, an example of which is 0.060 inch (0.152 cm) Versaflex CL30 Shore A 29D.

0025The durometer hardness rating of the material forming connector 32 is also a factor in obtaining an acceptable connector. The preferred material has limited durability, meaning it is durable enough for a single patient to use in the short-term, but since it is inexpensive enough for a cost-effective disposable vest, it will not last through multiple uses over the long-term. The preferred material above has a durometer hardness rating of about 29 on the Shore A scale but can range from about 20 to about 40.

0026The hardness and thickness of the material forming connector 32 have an inverse relationship, and the dimensions of holes 38 depend on this relationship. If the material is too soft, slot 34 lacks enough tension to form an airtight seal. Increasing the thickness of the material, however, will increase the amount of tension. Likewise, if the material is too hard, slot 34 will not conform to the proper shape change needed to create the seal, but decreasing the thickness of the material allows it to conform to the proper shape. Holes 38 allow more tolerance in varying the hardness and thickness of the material. As discussed above, the dimensions of holes 38 are a factor, but change, for each combination of hardness and thickness of the material. The dimensions are a factor because if holes 38 are too small, stresses and tears occur around slot 34. If holes 38 are too large, slot 34 leaks.

0027The length of slit 36 and width of the gap between flaps 36a and 36b can vary somewhat for each combination of hardness and thickness. In fact, the gap can be as small as a cut with a knife blade or large enough that slot 34 more closely resembles an oval. However, an actual oval shape is not preferred, because there is a tendency for gaps to form and leakage to occur where tabs 40 would otherwise be located.

0028For ease in hospital use, the material should also be able to withstand heat sterilization and not interfere with imaging on x-ray films. Consequently, vest 12 can be sterilized inexpensively, and patient P can wear vest 12 even while being x-rayed. Prior art vests utilized hard plastic connectors that showed through on x-ray films and would melt if heat sterilized. The preferred thermoplastic elastomer above possesses these advantageous qualities.

0029Lastly, because connector 32 is flat, it makes vest 12 much more cost effective for packaging and storing. Vests 12 can be packaged flat and stacked together. The connectors of prior art disposable vests are relatively large and bulky. Prior art vests cannot be packaged and stacked flat because of the connector. Therefore, a disposable vest having a connector of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art connectors to make a quieter and more cost effective chest compression system.

0030Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention.