US 11,925,457 B2
Device for encouraging and guiding a spirometer user and its method
Ming-Feng Wu, Taichung (TW); Yu-Hsuan Chen, Taichung (TW); Kuo-Chih Su, Taichung (TW); and Chun-Hsiang Wang, Taichung (TW)
Assigned to TAICHUNG VETERANS GENERAL HOSPITAL, Taichung (TW); and CENTRAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Taichung (TW)
Filed by Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung (TW); and Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung (TW)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/177,321.
Claims priority of application No. 109105251 (TW), filed on Feb. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0251513 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/097 (2006.01); A61B 5/087 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/097 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0875 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for encouraging and guiding a spirometer user, comprising the steps of:
a preparing step: preparing a housing, a main valve, a visual assembly, and a sound making assembly wherein the housing includes a guiding channel, a first outlet channel, a second outlet channel, and an inlet channel; the guiding channel communicates with one of the first outlet channel, the second outlet channel, and the inlet channel; the second outlet channel includes at least one vent hole; the main valve is disposed to communicate with the guiding channel, the first outlet channel, the second outlet channel or the inlet channel for regulating, directing or controlling fluid flow through the guiding channel, the first outlet channel, the second outlet channel or the inlet channel; the visual assembly includes a check valve disposed in the second outlet channel, and at least one movable member that is moveably disposed on the corresponding at least one vent hole; and the sound making assembly includes a check valve disposed at an end of the inlet channel, and a sound maker;
a spirometer testing step: switching the main valve to communicate the guiding channel with the first outlet channel and said fluid flowing through the guiding channel by exhaling and said fluid further flowing to the first outlet channel through the main valve so as to conduct a spirometer test; and
an encouraging and guiding step: switching said main valve to communicate the guiding channel with the second outlet channel and the fluid flowing through the guiding channel by exhaling, the fluid further flowing to the at least one vent hole through the main valve, the second outlet channel, and the check valve; and each movable member moves up and down repeatedly; and switching the main valve to communicate the guiding channel with the inlet channel and said fluid flowing through the channel by inhaling, said fluid further reversely flowing through the inlet channel and through the check valve, and said fluid flowing through the sound maker.