Portable breathing device
A pulsed breathing device has a base unit containing a motor and control circuit and a detachable head unit containing a valve, driven by the motor, which can interrupt the flow of air being breathed.
1. A breathing device which comprises:
a base unit;
a head unit detachably attached to the base unit;
a conduit in the head unit through which a user can breathe, the conduit having an axis; and
a valve mounted in the conduit, the valve comprising a plug, the plug having an axis and arranged to rotate about its axis and periodically block the flow of air down the conduit, wherein the axis of the plug is located at an offset to the axis of the conduit.
2. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and having a mouthpiece which can fit over the mouth and/or nose of a user so that a user breathes through the mouthpiece.
3. A breathing device as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the mouth piece is detachable.
4. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein there is a restrictor in the air inlet for restricting the flow of air.
5. A breathing device as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the restrictor is removable.
6. A breathing device as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the restrictor is adjustable.
7. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the valve produces regular periodic interruptions to the flow of air reaching the user and being breathed in by a user.
8. A breathing device as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the valve is a rotary valve which is driven by a motor in the base unit and the axle of the motor engages with the drive mechanism of the valve.
9. A breathing device as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the rotary valve comprises:
a housing containing a fluid flow path with a central axis;
a plug having a sealing face cooperating with said housing in the closed position to block the fluid flow path, and
a support shaft arranged to carry said plug and being rotatable on an axis which is normal to and spaced from the axis of said valve seat and located outside of the flow path so that rotation of the said shaft moves said plug relative to said housing.
10. A breathing device as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the valve comprises two discs, at least one of which can be rotated relative to the other, with each of the discs defining at least one opening therethrough, the discs being positioned in the air flow so that, as at least one of the discs rotates relative to the other, the openings in the two discs are periodically coincident so as to form a continuous air flow passage.
11. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the head unit of the device can be removed and can be sterilised without the sterilisation of the base unit.
12. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and incorporating a battery.
13. A breathing device as claimed in claim 12 and wherein the battery is rechargeable.
14. A breathing device as claimed in claim 13 and incorporating means to manually charge the battery.
15. A breathing device as claimed in claim 1 and having means to vary the speed of the valve.
16. A breathing device as claimed in claim 15 and wherein the means to vary the speed of the valve is arranged to do so according to a fixed cycle.
17. A breathing device as claimed in claim 15 and wherein the means to vary the speed of the valve is arranged to do so randomly.