Device in particular and inhalating device for treating the lung and the respiratory tracts

Claim 2

An inhaling device for treating the lung and the respiratory tracts of humans or animals, comprising a pressurized gas source, an atomizer connected with said gas source in a pressure conveying manner, a mouthpiece connected with the atomizer and a spent air flue wherein a valve for periodically interrupting the flow of exhaled air is arranged in the region of the spent air flue and further comprising valve actuating means comprising an electromagnet connected to a control unit for energizing said electromagnet and connected to said valve for operating said valve and a spring element connected to said valve and acting against said electromagnet.

Claim 3

In an inhaling and exhaling device for treating the lung and respiratory tracts of humans and animals, said device comprising: a housing having a gas chamber therewithin and an opening outside said chamber extending to the atmosphere; an atomizer connected to said chamber for supplying gas and atomized medication to said chamber; a source of gas under pressure above atmospheric pressure connected to said atomizer for supplying gas to said atomizer; and mouthpiece means on said housing and having a passageway leading to said chamber whereby inhalation gas passes along a path extending from said chamber and out of said mouthpiece means and exhalation gas passes along a path extending from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber; wherein the improvement comprises: valve means periodically operable from externally of said housing and in said path extending from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber, said valve means being alternately operable from an open position which permits gas to flow along said path from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber and to a closed position which prevents the flow of gas along said path from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber and said valve means comprises a spent air flue extending from said chamber to adjacent said opening, a valve for opening and closing said spent air flue and valve actuating means connected to said valve and mounted on said housing; and a control unit connected to said valve means for periodically operating said valve means from its open position to its closed position, and vice versa, independently of the gas pressure at said mouthpiece means whereby the flow of gas through said mouthpiece means is periodically interruptible while the human or animal is exhaling.

Claim 4

In an inhaling and exhaling device for treating the lung and respiratory tracts of humans and animals, said device comprising: a housing having a gas chamber therewithin and an opening outside said chamber extending to the atmosphere; an atomizer connected to said chamber for supplying gas and atomized medication to said chamber; a source of gas under pressure above atmospheric pressure connected to said atomizer for supplying gas to said atomizer; and mouthpiece means on said housing and having a passageway leading to said chamber whereby inhalation gas passes along a path extending from said chamber and out of said mouthpiece means and exhalation gas passes along a path extending from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber; wherein the improvement comprises: valve means periodically operable from externally of said housing and in said path extending from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber, said valve means being alternately operable from an open position which permits gas to flow along said path from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber and to a closed position which prevents the flow of gas along said path from said mouthpiece means toward said chamber and said valve means comprises a spent air flue extending from said chamber to adjacent said opening, a valve for opening and closing said spent air flue and valve actuating means connected to said valve and mounted on said housing; and a control unit connected to said valve means for periodically operating said valve means from its open position to its closed position, and vice versa, independently of the gas pressure at said mouthpiece means whereby the flow of gas through said mouthpiece means is periodically interruptible while the human or animal is exhaling.

Claim 5

A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein when said valve is open, air is permitted to flow into said chamber from said opening.

Claim 6

A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve actuating means comprises at least one electromagnet.

Claim 7

A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said valve actuating means comprises a first electromagnet for closing said valve and a second electromagnet for opening said valve.

Claim 8

A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said valve has a valve stem, a first ferromagnetic part at one end of said stem and adjacent and engageable with an end of said spent air flue and a second ferromagnetic part at an opposite end of said stem, said first electromagnet being adjacent said second ferromagnetic part for closing said valve with energization of said first electromagnet and said second electromagnetic being adjacent said first ferromagnetic part for opening said valve with energization of said second electromagnet.

Claim 9

A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the period at which said control unit moves said valve means between its open position and its closed position is up to about 10 Hz.

Claim 10

A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said atomizer has a manually operable lever for actuation of said atomizer.