Oscillatory chest wall compression device with improved air pulse generator with improved user interface

1. An air pulse generator comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing, the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode wherein the air pulse module produces a composite pressure having a steady state pressure component and an oscillating pressure component.

2. The air pulse generator of claim 1 , wherein the oscillating pressure component has at least one frequency between about 5 Hertz and about 25 Hertz.

3. The air pulse generator of claim 1 , wherein the steady state pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure so that the composite pressure is above atmospheric pressure during operation of the air pulse module.

4. An air pulse generator comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing, the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface comprises a display showing the status of the air pulse module and the user interface includes a plurality of buttons, some of the buttons being arranged above the display and some of the buttons being arranged below the display, the buttons arranged above the display are being up buttons, and the buttons arranged below the display being down buttons.

5. The air pulse generator of claim 4 , wherein the up and down buttons allow a user to change at least one of an operating mode, a steady state pressure, a frequency of the oscillating pressure, and a session time.

6. The air pulse generator of claim 5 , wherein, when the display is showing operating mode choices, the up and down buttons are programmed to wrap around.

7. The air pulse generator of claim 5 , wherein, when the display is showing the steady state pressure or the frequency of the oscillating pressure or the session time, the up and down buttons are programmed to not wrap around.

8. An air pulse generator-comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing, the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, and

a control switch including a connection plug and a control bulb, the housing including a port to removably receive the connection plug.

9. The air pulse generator of claim 8 , wherein the control switch includes a tube connecting the connection plug to the control bulb.

10. The air pulse generator of claim 8 , wherein the control switch acts as a toggle switch when the control bulb is depressed and released.

11. The air pulse generator of claim 8 , wherein, in an on/off mode of the control switch, the control switch is perceived by the control as an on/off button, and activation of the control switch activates or deactivates the air pulse module.

12. The air pulse generator of claim 8 , wherein, in a normally-off mode of the control switch, the control switch is perceived by the control as a normally-off switch, and constant activation of the control switch is required for continued operation of the air pulse module.

13. The air pulse generator of claim 8 , wherein, in a pause mode of the control switch, the control switch is perceived by the control as a pause switch, and activation of the control switch suspends operation of the air pulse module.

14. An air pulse generator comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing, the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface allows a user to operate the air pulse module in a manual run mode to select an oscillation frequency, a steady state pressure and a session time.

15. The air pulse generator of claim 14 , wherein the oscillation frequency can be set to a first value ranging from about 5 Hertz to about 25 Hertz, the steady state pressure can be set to a second value ranging from about 0 inches of water to about 10 inches of water, and the session time can be set to a third value ranging from about 0 minutes to about 99 minutes.

16. An air pulse generator comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface allows a user to operate the air pulse module in a sweep run mode wherein the user interface allows a user to sweep the oscillation frequency over a range of frequencies while maintaining the same steady state pressure.

17. The air pulse generator of claim 16 , wherein, in a high sweep range, the oscillation frequency is swept between about 10 Hertz to about 20 Hertz, wherein, in a normal sweep range, the oscillation frequency is swept between about 7 Hertz to about 17 Hertz, and wherein, in a low sweep range, the oscillation frequency is swept between about 5 Hertz to about 15 Hertz.

18. An air pulse generator comprising:

a housing;

an air pulse module coupled to the housing, the air pulse module being configured to produce oscillating pressure in a plurality of operating modes;

a control coupled to the housing, the control being configured to control operation of the air pulse module, store programs for each mode that control the air pulse module to operate according to a corresponding protocol for each mode and respond to inputs for selecting modes; and

a user interface coupled to the housing and usable to enter inputs to the control to select a mode such that the air pulse module operates according to the protocol corresponding to a selected mode, wherein the user interface allows a user to operate the air pulse module in a step run mode wherein the user interface allows a user to step the oscillation frequency over a range of frequencies while maintaining the same steady state pressure.

19. The air pulse generator of claim 18 , wherein, in a high step range, the oscillation frequency is stepped through the following frequencies: 10 Hertz, 13 Hertz, 16 Hertz and 19 Hertz, wherein, in a normal step range, the oscillation frequency is stepped through the following frequencies: 8 Hertz, 11 Hertz, 14 Hertz and 17 Hertz, and wherein, in a low step range, the oscillation frequency is stepped through the following frequencies: 5 Hertz, 8 Hertz, 11 Hertz and 14 Hertz.