United States Patent Office
The present invention relates, in general, to improvements in artificial respiration apparatus and, in particular to improvements in artificial respiration apparatus of the portable type which is adapted to fit over the frontal portion of the patient's abdominal and higher regions.
Prior art abdominal belts caused the phenomenon known as paradoxical breathing. In such breathing there is an expiratory motion in abdominal breathing and an inspiratory motion in the intercostal breathing because the inflated belt depressed the viscera and pushed up the diaphragm of the patient. This is an expiratory movement but at the same time the raising of the patient's diaphragm tended slightly to raise the rib cage which, in turn, cause an inspiratory movement.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to minimize such paradoxical breathing.
Another object is the provision of a belt respirator device which greatly improves the efficiency of the patient's breathing.
Another object is the provision of a belt respirator which provides increased support for the weakened back muscles of polio patients, or the like, and therefore obviates the necessity for utilizing separate girdles or similar garments in connection with abdominal belt respirators.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a respirator belt which is readily adjustable in size and is adapted to encompass a great range of different patient sizes.
A further object is the provision of a belt of the indicated type which is more comfortable to wear than belts of the prior art.
A further object is the provision of an abdominal belt of the above character formed of a plurality of panels in which the inadvertent misplacement or loss of one of the panels is obviated.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of generally improved artificial respiration apparatus which is light in weight, easy to apply to the patient, and physically comfortable to the patient.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:
Fig. 1 is a front view of an abdominal belt, formed according to the present invention, shown in position on a patient;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the abdominal belt shown in position on a patient;
Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the rear panel of the abdominal belt looking at the inner surface thereof;
Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the front panel of the abdominal belt looking at the outer surface thereof;
Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the bladder utilized in the abdominal belt of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary detail view taken in the area of arrow 7 of Fig. 3 showing the opposite surface of the
5 indicated area of Figure 3;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8—8 of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 9—9 of Fig. 4.
10 Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown an abdominal belt 10, pursuant to the present invention, for producing artificial respiration in body encircling relation on the patient P, said abdominal belt being adapted to be operatively associated with a suitable
15 respirator pumping apparatus for rhythmically varying the air pressure applied to the abdominal belt. Said pumping apparatus may be of any suitable type and is preferably of the type illustrated and described in Patent Number 2,762,366, issued September 11, 1956 to Huxley
20 and Eckman, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As hereinafter described in detail, the abdominal belt respirator 10, which is adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation, comprises a front panel 12 constituted by an inflatable casing
25 14, which is adapted to be fitted over the front portion of the patient's abdominal region, and a rear panel 17 which is adapted to be secured to the front panel 12 and fitted over the back of the patient. The casing 14 is adapted to have the air pressure therein rhythmically
30 varied by means of the described air pump for inducing artificial respiration.
The front panel 12 is formed of the superposed outer and inner layers 16 and 18 respectively which are formed of a flexible fabric material, for example, a suitable
35 textile fabric. The inner or body engaging layer 18 is formed of a softer fabric material than the outer layer 16, said layers constituting the casing 14 and defining a pocket 20 therebetween. The layers 16 and 18 are secured together along the upper and lower edges 22 and
40 24, respectively, thereof as by the stitching 26 which also serves to secure a reinforcing or finishing strip 28 about the outer layer 16. The pocket 20 is open at the opposite ends 30 thereof, as best shown in Fig. 8 for the insertion and removal of a bladder 32 therefrom.
4g The bladder 32, which may be formed of any suitable flexible fluid impervious material, for example rubber plastic or the like, comprises a pair of opposing walls 34 and 36 which are shaped as best shown in Fig. 5. More specifically, the upper edge 38 of the bag is linear but the
5q bottom and side edges thereof have a curved or arcuate conformation, as indicated at 40, to provide a relatively deep and wide bladder adapted to extend from the groin of the patient upwardly sufficiently to cover the lower rib cage which is generally indicated by the reference
55 numeral 42, as best shown in Figure 6. In order to secure the bladder 32 in position in the pocket 20 of the casing 14, the bladder is provided with the flaps 44 which are formed preferably of the same material as the bladder and which extend laterally from the wall 36
60 thereof, as best shown in Fig. 5. Each flap 44 is provided with a pair of snap fastener elements 46 releasably engaged with companion snap fastener elements 48. It will be apparent that the companion snap fastener elements 46 and 48 releasably secure the bladder in the
Q5 pocket 20.
In order to inflate and deflate the bladder 32, provision is made for a tube 50 which extends from the bladder through a slit or opening 52 which is defined in the outerlayer 16 of the front panel. It will be understood that
70 the tube 50 is permanently affixed to the bladder at one end thereof and is provided at the opposite end thereof with a bayonet connection 54 to a suitable air conduit
