Percussion vibrator device for treatment of patients to assist expectoration of retained secretions

Claim 2

A mobile apparatus adapted for treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a housing enclosing a space, a drive means enclosed in said space by said housing, a percussion vibrator unit comprising a pad adapted to strike the chest of a patient at a frequency of about 3200 to about 8500 times per minute without injury to the chest, said pad having a 25% compression deflection of from about 5 psi to about 12 psi and a rigid supporting backing member secured thereto, and a reciprocating shaft secured to said pad assembly for transferring percussion vibratory motion to the assembly, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the said reciprocating shaft at a frequency of about 3200 to 8500 strokes per minute comprising a flexible shaft and means for drivably connecting the flexible shaft to the drive means and including an eccentrically-disposed element between the drive means and the reciprocating shaft, said housing having spaced brackets for suporting said flexible shaft and vibrating unit externally of the housing.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the amplitude is from about 0.0625 to about 0.1875.

Claim 6

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a percussion vibrator unit having a reciprocating member comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, said vibrator unit comprising a rigid shaft, a disc secured coaxially to one end of the shaft, a stub shaft secured to the opposite side of the disc at a position offset from the axis of the disc for eccentric rotation therewith, a reciprocating shaft, and means for coupling the reciprocating shaft to the eccentrically disposed shaft for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto with rotation of said disc, means for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 comprising a motor, a flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft, and a housing enclosing the motor and said pulley and belt assembly, and a second housing enclosing the movable parts of the vibrator unit.

Claim 7

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a percussion vibrator unit having a reciprocating member comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, said vibrator unit comprising a rigid shaft, a disc secured coaxially to one end of the shaft, a stub shaft secured to the opposite side of the disc at a position offset from the axis of the disc for eccentric rotation therewith, a reciprocating shaft, and means for coupling the reciprocating shaft to the eccentrically disposed shaft for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto with rotation of said disc, means for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 comprising a motor, a flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft, and a housing enclosing the motor and said pulley and belt assembly, and a second housing enclosing the movable parts of the vibrator unit.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rigid shaft and flexible shaft are connected by a quick disconnect assembly.

Claim 9

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a percussion vibrator unit having a reciprocating member comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, said vibrator unit comprising a rigid shaft, a disc secured coaxially to one end of the shaft, a stub shaft secured to the opposite side of the disc at a position offset from the axis of the disc for eccentric rotation therewith, a reciprocating shaft, and means for coupling the reciprocating shaft to the eccentrically disposed shaft for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto with rotation of said disc, and means for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 comprising a motor, a flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft.

Claim 10

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a percussion vibrator unit having a reciprocating member comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, said vibrator unit comprising a rigid shaft, a disc secured coaxially to one end of the shaft, a stub shaft secured to the opposite side of the disc at a position offset from the axis of the disc for eccentric rotation therewith, a reciprocating shaft, and means for coupling the reciprocating shaft to the eccentrically disposed shaft for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto with rotation of said disc, and means for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 comprising a motor, a flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft.

Claim 11

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, and means comprising a motor, flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 inch, and including an eccentricallydisposed element between the driving means and the resilient pad.

Claim 12

A percussion vibrating apparatus for the treatment of a patient to assist in expectoration of retained secretions in the lungs comprising a resilient pad adapted to strike a patient's chest without injury thereto at a high frequency, and means comprising a motor, flexible shaft and a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft for driving the vibrator unit at a frequency of from about 3200 to about 8500 excursions per minute at an amplitude of from about 0.0625 inch to about 0.1875 inch, and including an eccentricallydisposed element between the driving means and the resilient pad.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the peripheral edge joining the striking surface with the sides of the pad is rounded off.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for rotating the disc comprises a pulley and timing belt assembly drivably connecting the motor to the flexible shaft.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the said pad has a foam rubber member which strikes the patient, the 25% compression deflection of the said member being from about 5 psi to about 12 psi and 60% compression deflection being from about 40 psi to about 80 psi.