Huff cough simulation device

Abstract

A respiratory treatment device having an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device and an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device. A blocking member is moveable between a closed position where the flow of air through the device is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the device is less restricted. A biasing member is configured to bias the blocking member toward the closed position, wherein a level of bias decreases as the blocking member moves from the closed position to the open position.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of performing a respiratory treatment, the method comprising:
 receiving a flow of exhaled air into a device having an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device and an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;   blocking the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet by positioning a blocking member in a closed position where the flow of air from the inlet to the outlet is restricted;   applying a biasing force to the blocking member, the biasing force resisting movement of the blocking member from the closed position to an open position;   decreasing the biasing force in response to a threshold pressure in the device; and,   unblocking the flow of exhaled air through the device by moving the blocking member to the open position, where the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet is less restricted than where the blocking member is in the closed position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising selectively adjusting the biasing force when the member segment is in the closed position. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein decreasing the biasing force occurs as the blocking member moves from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising applying the biasing force with a pair of magnets. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising selectively adjusting a distance between a first magnet and a second magnet of the pair of magnets. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising applying an opening force to the blocking member, the opening force being less than the biasing force, when the blocking member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising increasing the opening force as the blocking member moves from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising decreasing the opening force as the blocking member moves from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising applying the opening force with at least one magnet. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising applying the opening force with at least one spring. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising maintaining the blocking member in the open position, once the blocking position moves from the closed position to the open position, when there is no flow of exhaled air through the device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising maintaining the blocking member in the open position, once the blocking position moves from the closed position to the open position, until a closing force is applied by a user to the blocking member. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising generating a negative pressure in the device to apply the biasing force to the blocking member. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising administering respiratory treatment in response to a flow of air inhaled by a user. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein one of a nebulizer, a metered dose inhaler with a valved holding chamber, or a dry powder inhaler administers the respiratory treatment in response to the flow of air inhaled by the user 
     
     
         36 . A method of performing a respiratory treatment, the method comprising:
 receiving a flow of exhaled air into a device having an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device and an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;   blocking the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet by positioning a blocking member in a closed position where the flow of air through the device is restricted;   applying a biasing force to the blocking member, the biasing force resisting movement of the blocking member from the closed position to an open position;   unblocking the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet by moving the blocking member to the open position, where the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet is less restricted than where the blocking member is in the closed position; and,   maintaining the blocking member in the open position, once the blocking member has moved from the closed position to the open position, when there is no flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising returning the blocking member form the open position to the closed position in response to a closing force applied by a user to the blocking member. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising applying an opening force to the blocking member, the opening force being less than the biasing force, when the blocking member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising decreasing the biasing force as the blocking member moves from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         40 . A method of performing a respiratory treatment, the method comprising:
 receiving a flow of exhaled air into a device having an inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the device and an outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the device;   blocking the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet by positioning a blocking member in a closed position where the flow of air from the inlet to the outlet is restricted;   applying a biasing force to the blocking member, the biasing force resisting movement of the blocking member from the closed position to an open position;   decreasing the biasing force in response to a threshold pressure in the device;   unblocking the flow of exhaled air through the device by moving the blocking member to the open position, where the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet is less restricted than where the blocking member is in the closed position; and,   maintaining the blocking member in the open position, once the blocking member has moved from the closed position to the open position, until a closing force is applied by a user to the blocking member.