RESPIRATORY MUSCLE ENDURANCE TRAINING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE USE THEREOF
A respiratory muscle endurance training device (RMET) includes a chamber and a patient interface. In one implementation, one or both of a CO 2 sensor or a temperature sensor can be coupled to the chamber or patient interface to provide the user or caregiver with indicia about the CO 2 level in, or the temperature of, the chamber or patient interface, and/or the duration of use of the device. In another implementation, the RMET may have a fixed volume portion adjustable to contain a measured portion of a specific patient's inspiratory volume capacity. Methods of using the device are also provided.
1 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
an adjustable chamber adjustable between at least a first interior volume and a second interior volume, said adjustable chamber comprising an output end; and
a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber.
2 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 1 wherein said chamber further comprises an input end and a one-way inhalation valve disposed proximate said input end of said chamber.
3 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 2 further comprising a one-way exhalation valve disposed proximate said input end of said chamber.
4 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 1 further comprising a flow indicator moveable in response to one or both of an inhalation and exhalation.
5 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 1 wherein said adjustable chamber comprises first and second tubular members, wherein said first and second tubular members interface and are moveable relative to each other between at least a first and second position so as to define said first and second interior volumes.
6 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 1 further comprising a CO 2 sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface.
7 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 6 wherein said CO 2 sensor comprises a Fenem colorimetic indicator disposed on an interior of one of said chamber and said patient interface.
8 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface.
9 . The respirator muscle endurance training device of claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on an exterior of said at least one of said chamber and said patient interface.
10 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
a chamber comprising an output end;
a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber, said patient interface and said chamber defining an interior space; and
a CO 2 sensor interfacing with said interior space and comprising user indicia adapted to indicate at least one of a level of CO 2 in said interior space or a length of time of usage by a user.
11 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
a chamber comprising an output end;
a patient interface connected to said output end of said chamber, said patient interface and said chamber defining an interior space; and
a temperature sensor coupled to at least one of said chamber and said patient interface and comprising user indicia adapted to indicate at least one of a temperature of said interior space, said chamber and said patient interface or a length of time of usage by a user.
12 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
determining a suitable interior volume of an adjustable chamber for a user;
adjusting said adjustable chamber to said interior volume, wherein said chamber comprises an output end; and
successively breathing through a patient interface coupled to said output end.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein said suitable interior volume comprises a first interior volume and further comprising determining a suitable second interior volume and adjusting said chamber from said first interior volume to said second interior volume.
14 . The method of claim 12 further comprising measuring a CO 2 level in said interior volume.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said CO 2 level or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface.
16 . The method of claim 12 further comprising measuring a temperature of one or more of said interior volume, said chamber and said patient interface.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said temperature or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface.
18 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
providing a chamber coupled to a patient interface, said chamber and said patient interface defining an interior volume;
successively breathing through said patient interface; and
measuring a CO 2 level in said interior volume.
19 . The method of claim 14 further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said CO 2 level or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface.
20 . A method of training a user's respiratory system comprising:
providing a chamber coupled to a patient interface, said chamber and said patient interface defining an interior volume;
successively breathing through said patient interface; and
measuring a temperature of one or more of said interior volume, said chamber and said patient interface.
21 . The method of claim 14 further comprising indicating to one or both of a user and a caregiver one or both of said temperature or a length of time of said successively breathing through said patient interface.
22 . A respiratory muscle endurance training device comprising:
a patient interface for transferring a patient's exhaled or inhaled gases;
a fixed volume chamber in communication with the patient interface, wherein the fixed volume chamber is sized to retain a portion of a patient's exhaled gases; and
a variable volume chamber in connection with the fixed volume chamber, wherein the variable volume chamber is configured to be responsive to the patient's exhaled or inhaled gases to move from a first position to a second position.
23 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 22 , further comprising a variable orifice positioned on the variable volume chamber.
24 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 23 , wherein the variable orifice is adjustable to permit a portion of the patient's exhaled gases to escape during patient exhalation.
25 . The respiratory muscle endurance training device of claim 24 , wherein the portion comprises 40 percent.