High frequency chest wall oscillation system

Abstract

A therapy system is operable to deliver at least one respiratory therapy to a patient. For example, therapy system may be operable to deliver any one or more of the following therapies: a high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy, a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy, a nebulizer therapy, an intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) therapy, a cough assist therapy, a suction therapy, a bronchial dilator therapy, and the like. The therapy system is contained in a housing supported by a mobile stand.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing,   an air pulse generator operable to deliver a HFCWO therapy to a patient, the air pulse generator including a first pressure source carried by the housing, and   a vacuum source carried by the housing and configured to be coupled to a suction therapy device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source cooperates with the suction therapy device to provide a cough assist function. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source cooperates with the suction therapy device to provide vacuum wound therapy to a wound of a patient. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing,   an air pulse generator operable to deliver a HFCWO therapy to a patient, the air pulse including a blower carried by the housing, and   a pressure/vacuum source carried by the housing and coupled to a port located on a wall of the housing, the source supplying pressurized air to the port in a first mode of operation and supplying vacuum to the port in a second mode of operation.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second mode of the pressure/vacuum source is used to provide a cough assist function. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second mode of the pressure/vacuum source is used to provide vacuum wound therapy to a wound of a patient. 
     
     
         7 . A HFCWO therapy system for use with a plurality of patients, the system comprising:
 an air pulse generator operable to produce high frequency air pulses that are applied to a patient,   a controller operable to control the operation of the air pulse generator in accordance with a set of operating parameters,   a memory for storing the operating parameters for each of the plurality of patients, and   a user interface apparatus usable to select a patient from the plurality of patients for whom the system is used, the controller automatically operating the air pulse generator in accordance with the operating parameters associated with the selected patient.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the user interface apparatus comprises a display. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen display panel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display is signaled by the controller to display a plurality of user interface screens. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons: (i) a patient icon which, when selected, results in a patient screen being displayed to list information about patients for which the system is programmed for use; and (ii) a vest program icon which, when selected, result in a vest program screen being displayed to permit an operational mode of the system to be selected. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons: (i) a spirometry icon which, when selected, results in a spirometry screen being displayed to show data obtained by a spirometer coupled to the system; and (ii) a vest & spirometry icon which, when selected, results in a vest & spirometry screen being displayed to show data relating to breath volume attributable to normal patient breathing and breath volume attributable to the HFCWO therapy. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the plurality of user interface screens is a home screen having a plurality of icons, each icon being associated with a respective one of the user interface screens, and the plurality of icons include at least one of the following icons: (i) a data download icon which, when selected, results in a data download screen being displayed to permit data to be downloaded from the system to another device; and (ii) help icon which, when selected, results in a help screen being displayed on the display to permit a user to view portions of a user's manual on the display and to display a video on the display regarding how to use the system.