Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A chest enclosure for use in producing assisted ventilation of the lungs of a patient, comprising a chest covering tunnel member of a stiff, but flexible plastic material, a wall member at each end of the tunnel member, having a concave radially inner periphery for sealing against the front surface of a patient's body and being of an air-impremeable, flexible cushioning material, one or more bands of flexible, air-impermeable material extending from each longitudinally running edge of said tunnel member for wrapping in mutually overlapping relationship around the chest region of a patient's back, means for fastening at least one of said bands to hold said bands in said overlapping relationship, and an air passageway into said enclosure for connection in use to an air oscillator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A chest enclosure for use in producing assisted ventilation of the lungs of a patient, comprising a chest covering tunnel member of a stiff, but flexible plastic material, a wall member at each end of the tunnel member, having a concave radially inner periphery for sealing against the front surface of a patient's body and being of an air-impremeable, flexible cushioning material, one or more bands of flexible, air-impermeable material extending from each longitudinally running edge of said tunnel member for wrapping in mutually overlapping relationship around the chest region of a patient's back, means for fastening at least one of said bands to hold said bands in said overlapping relationship, and an air passageway into said enclosure for connection in use to an air oscillator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the tunnel member is formed from plastics sheet by bending.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the end of the tunnel member nearer the patient's neck in use has a central forwardly extending tongue portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said plastics material is from 0.5 to 3 mm thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said bands is shorter than the other and wherein one of said bands is thicker than the other, wherein the longer band is the thicker one and, wherein said fastening means acts to apply sealing tension to said outer band generally in line with each end of the tunnel members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fastening means includes a pair of strap members running generally parallel to one another from one side of the tunnel member, each fixed to the outer band and extending therebeyond, and each co-operating with joining means attached to the opposite side of said tunnel member, and wherein said joining means are hook and loop type VELCRO pads and co-operating hook and loop type VELCRO material is provided on said strap members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic material is polycarbonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic material is transparent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tunnel member is transparent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wall members are of closed-cell foam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said wall members each have a radially outer portion of relatively hard foam material and a radially inner portion of relatively soft foam material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said bands has a width which is substantially equal to the entire length of each edge of said tunnel member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 12, wherein said bands are of closed-cell foam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein two of said bands are utilized and one of said bands is shorter than the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein two of said bands are utilized and one of said bands is thicker than the other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 15, wherein said thicker band is the longer of said two bands.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said bands are utilized wherein one band is innermost and a second band is outermost in which the innermost band is in said overlapping relationship in use and is wider at its free end than the outer said band wherein the outer band overlaps said free end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 17, wherein the free end of said outer band is attachable by said fastening means to an opposite side of said tunnel member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An enclosure as claimed in claim 18, wherein said fastening means acts to apply a sealing tension to said outer band substantially in line with each end of said tunnel member.