Abstract:
An active respiratory therapeutic device for clearing breathing passages, loosening and breaking up mucus plugs and phlegm in a patient&#39;s sinuses, trachea, bronchial passages and lungs while a patient is breathing normally through the device is disclosed. The apparatus preferably includes a C shaped curved hollow housing having a closed end portion and an open threaded end portion. The open end portion forms at least part of an acoustic coupling chamber. A generally funnel shaped tapered mouthpiece tapers to a small end portion sized to be inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth. The mouthpiece forms another part of the acoustic coupling chamber. An acoustic signal generator housed within the hollow housing generates and directs acoustic vibrations into and through the coupling chamber. The mouthpiece preferably includes a valve permitting a patient to breathe through the mouthpiece while at the same time coupling the acoustic coupling chamber into the patient&#39;s airways.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/576,511, filed on Oct. 9, 2009, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,082,920, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/286,489, filed on Nov. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,617,821, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure generally relates to respiratory devices and more particularly to a vibrating device and method that assist in breaking up and dislodging accumulated fluids and solids generated or residing in a patient&#39;s lungs, respiratory tract or sinuses, and/or assist in opening constricted airway passages and sinus passages. 
     2. General Background 
     People and other animal patients that have lung diseases such as, among other things, cystic fibrosis, bronchiactasis, acute and chronic asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis, have a difficult time breaking up, dislodging, and expelling mucus, phlegm and other secretions and infectious materials that develop and/or reside in the lungs, sinuses and respiratory track. The presence of this material in the lungs, bronchial and tracheal passages, and sinuses, provides an excellent media for growth of bacteria. For treatment of the condition, rotation of antibiotics is often used to treat the bacterial infections that result. Postural drainage with induced vibration, percussive therapy and/or the use of a mechanical device such as a flutter valve are often used to help the patient dislodge this mucus material. Likewise, people and animals with constrictive airway diseases such as asthma and sinusitis have difficulty opening airway and sinus passages. 
     Several active acoustic respiratory therapy devices are described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,058,932, 6167,881, 5,893,361, and 5,829,429. Each of these devices develops a series of acoustic vibrations, e.g. audible tones at various magnitudes and frequencies, which are directed through a patient&#39;s mouth and airways directly into the lungs, rather than through the damped tissue of the patient&#39;s chest wall as has heretofore been a standard percussive therapeutic practice. 
     SUMMARY 
     An acoustic respiratory therapy device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a number of novel improvements. One embodiment includes an elongated curved hollow housing having a closed end portion that may be optionally vented to atmosphere and an open end portion, the open end portion forming at least one part of an acoustic coupling chamber, a mouthpiece having one end adapted to fit onto the open end portion of the housing, and another end shaped to provide for delivery of acoustic energy generated by the device to the particular patient, whether the patient be human or other animal. In other embodiments, the closed end portion may be vented to the atmosphere, and the mouthpiece may have one end adapted to fit on the open end portion of the housing and the other end designed on any number of rigid or flexible shapes to provide for delivery of acoustic energy generated by the device to the patient. 
     The particular shape of the other end portion of the mouthpiece is preferably determined by the anatomy of the particular patient involved, whether human or other animal. For example, for humans, the other end may taper to an oval end that the patient can comfortably hold in his or her mouth. Alternatively, for example, in the case of large domestic animals, the other end of the mouthpiece may be shaped to fit into a patient&#39;s nasal passage or other delivery site. 
     The mouthpiece forms another part of the acoustic coupling chamber. In some embodiments the mouthpiece may include a valve operable to permit a patient breathing through the mouthpiece to inhale through a valve opening and exhale through a bypass passage around the valve while coupling the acoustic coupling chamber into the patient&#39;s mouth, nasal passage, or other delivery site. In other embodiments, however, the valve may be unnecessary. 
     An acoustic signal generator is housed within the hollow housing that has an acoustic transducer directing acoustic energy into and through the coupling chamber into a patient&#39;s airways when the mouthpiece is coupled into the patient&#39;s airways. 
     The valve in the device preferably is removable and has an elongated housing body having one or more passages extending from an open end of the housing to an exit aperture and a valve opening spaced from the exit aperture. A flexible valve disc is disposed in the valve opening that is operable to permit passage of a gas such as air through the valve opening in a first direction and block passage of the gas through the valve opening in a second direction. The valve allows passage of the gas in the second direction through restrictive openings to generate a back pressure during exhalation. 
     Stated another way, an exemplary embodiment is an apparatus for assisting a patient in opening constricted airway passages and/or in loosening phlegm, mucus and other secretions and potentially infectious materials collected in a patient&#39;s nasal passages, lungs, bronchial and/or tracheal passages that has an elongated curved hollow housing having a closed end portion and an open threaded end portion, the open end portion forming at least part of an acoustic coupling chamber. The closed end portion may optionally be open to atmosphere. 
     A generally funnel shaped tapered mouthpiece having a large end is adapted to fit onto the open end portion of the housing. The mouthpiece tapers to a smaller end portion sized to be inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth. The mouthpiece forms another part of the acoustic coupling chamber. The housing encloses a programmable acoustic signal generator preferably housed within a web portion of the housing between the closed end portion and the open end portion. The hollow housing has an acoustic transducer in the open end portion directing acoustic energy, typically in the form of acoustic vibrations, e.g. pressure pulses, into and through the coupling chamber into the patient&#39;s airways when the mouthpiece is held in the patient&#39;s mouth, nose, or other delivery site. The acoustic signal generator may include a microprocessor on a printed circuit board mounted in the web portion of the housing. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the web portion of the housing has a plurality of apertures therethrough aligned with contact pads on the internal printed circuit board for connecting a programmable computer to the apparatus, e.g., the microprocessor in the signal generator so that the generator may be programmed with predetermined acoustic profiles for optimal operation of the apparatus for a particular patient. 
     An embodiment of the apparatus preferably has a removable valve in the mouthpiece that has an elongated valve housing body having one or more passages extending from an open end of the valve housing to an exit aperture and a valve opening spaced from the exit aperture. A flexible valve disc is disposed in the valve opening which is operable to permit passage of a gas such as air through the valve opening in a first direction and block passage of the gas through the valve opening in a second direction. The valve allows passage of the gas in the second direction through restrictive openings to generate a back pressure during exhalation. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right side view of one embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a patient&#39;s end view of the embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial right side view as in  FIG. 1  of the mouthpiece portion of the apparatus showing air flow during inhalation. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial right side view as in  FIG. 4  showing air flow during exhalation. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view as in  FIG. 1  with portions broken away showing the internal structures of the acoustic chamber and mouthpiece in section. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of a system for programming the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  without disassembly of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an assembled side view of a mouthpiece in accordance with another embodiment for use in certain applications adapted to be attached to the housing shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded side perspective view of the mouthpiece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a separate perspective inside view of an upper baffle section of the mouthpiece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a separate perspective inside view of the lower baffle section of the mouthpiece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a separate perspective view of the nose section of the mouthpiece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a separate perspective view of the attachment ring of the mouthpiece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of an acoustic respiratory therapy apparatus  100  is shown in side views in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6  and in a patient end view in  FIG. 3 . The apparatus  100  has an elongated curved hollow housing  102  having a substantially closed end portion  104  and an open end portion  106 . This open end portion  106  is preferably threaded. The housing  102  encloses an acoustic generator  108  and the open end portion  106  forms part of an acoustic coupling chamber  110 . 
     A generally funnel shaped tapered mouthpiece  112  forms the other part of the acoustic coupling chamber  110 . The mouthpiece  112  preferably has a large threaded end  114  that is adapted to fit onto the open threaded end portion  106  of the housing  102 . The mouthpiece  112  preferably tapers to a smaller end portion  116  sized to be comfortably inserted into and held in a patient&#39;s mouth. For other animal patients, the mouthpiece may have a different shape consistent with the particular patient&#39;s physiology. The mouthpiece  112  preferably includes a valve  118  operable to permit a patient breathing through the mouthpiece  112  to inhale through a valve opening  120  and exhale through one or more bypass passages  122  around the valve  118  while coupling the acoustic coupling chamber  110  through the patient&#39;s mouth into the patient&#39;s airways. 
     This mouthpiece  112  may have a different shape than as shown in  FIGS. 1-8  for different applications. For example, for use with animals or infants, the mouthpiece  112  may be shaped to cover both the patient&#39;s nose and mouth, or only through the patient&#39;s nose. As used in this specification, a patient&#39;s airways includes all of the passages into and out of the patient&#39;s lungs including the mouth, nose, trachea, bronchial tubes and the lung alveoli. The mouthpiece  112  shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and  8  is preferably formed of a generally rigid plastic material such as a polypropylene copolymer but may alternatively be formed of other materials to suit the application. For example, the end portion  116  may be formed of a softer material joined to the large end  114 . 
     The joint between the mouthpiece  112  and the housing  102  is shown in the drawings as preferably a threaded connection as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . The threaded connection may involve internal threads on the housing open end  106  and mating external threads on the mouthpiece  112 . Other suitable connections may alternatively be utilized. For example, an interlocking bayonet type arrangement such as is often utilized in cameras to join a lens to a camera body could be used. 
     In the embodiment  100  shown in the Figures, the housing  102  is an injection molded “C” shaped curved hollow plastic body having a curved back  124  between the closed end portion  104  and the open end portion  106 . The housing  102  is preferably made of an injection molded plastic material, but may alternatively be formed of other materials and using other processes. The closed end portion  104  may alternatively vent to atmosphere so as to dissipate heat generated during charging and discharging of a battery  142 . The housing  102  preferably has a hollow web portion  126  spanning between the end portions  104  and  106 . This web portion  126  preferably houses portions of the acoustic generator  108 , specifically a microprocessor  128  mounted on a control circuit board  130  therein for selectively controlling the volume, frequency, pulse and repetition rate of the acoustic vibrations generated by the acoustic generator  108 . 
     An elongated slide switch  132  is mounted to the curved back  124  of the housing  102 . This slide switch  132  can be moved up and down along the curved back  124  and may be used to change the pitch or frequency of the acoustic vibrations generated. The slide switch may be used to control other device functions or have no control function at all, depending on the intended patient use. Other placements and configurations of the slide switch  132  are alternatively envisioned. Placement of the switch  132  along the curved back  124  has been found during testing to be a comfortable and convenient location for a human patient. 
     The web portion  126 , as is shown in  FIG. 2 , has a pair of operational control buttons  134  and  136 , and a series of indicators  138  and  140 . The control button  134  is used to turn power to the control circuits of apparatus  100  on and off. Control button  136  is multi-functional. It is to be understood that the particular functions of the individual control buttons  134  and  136  are merely exemplary and thus the particular function assigned may be different than as described herein. In the particular embodiment of the apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the button  136  preferably is used to select a desired mode of operation, select a frequency mode, select a desired repetition rate and select desired volume. This button  136  may be further defined to provide for additional functional modes programmed into the microprocessor  128  described below. The relative volume, relative frequency, and battery charge level are selectively indicated by the series of indicators  140 . The mode of operation is indicated by the series of indicators  138 . As previously mentioned, analog adjustment of frequency is preferably controlled by the slide switch  132 . However, any of the control buttons and/or side switch may alternatively be provided with such functionality. 
     The acoustic generator  108  comprises a power supply, a programmable microprocessor  128 , audio amplifier circuitry and controls on the circuit board  130 , and an acoustic transducer  144 . The power supply is preferably a rechargeable battery  142  such as a metal nickel hydride or lithium ion battery pack that can be recharged through an appropriate charger connector  143  ( FIG. 3 ). Although not shown, the section  104  may have spaced openings or vents to provide some air circulation cooling during battery pack recharging as well as heat dissipation during use of the apparatus  100 . 
     In the embodiment  100  illustrated, the transducer  144  is an audio speaker. This transducer  144  has a magnet  146  around a moving voice coil (not shown) coupled to a flexible audio cone  148 . Movement of the voice coil back and forth produces the acoustic vibrations in front of the cone  148  that are directed through the coupling chamber  110  into a patient&#39;s airways. The audio cone  148  thus forms part of the boundary of the coupling chamber  110 . A plurality of ventilation slit openings  150  in the housing  102  behind the transducer  144  facilitates convective removal of heat generated by the acoustic generator  108  during operation and heat generated in the battery  142  during recharging operations. 
     The acoustic transducer  144  is captured in the housing  102  by crush ribs  147  and abuts against an annular ledge  149  in the housing  102  adjacent the open end portion  106 . Behind the crush ribs  147  is a wall  151  that prevents sound from being transmitted into the end portion  104  of the housing and out through the ventilation openings  150 . The wall  151  thus divides the housing  102  and physically separates the acoustic transducer  144  from the acoustic generator  108  in the housing  102 . 
     In the embodiment  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the right side of the web portion  126  of the housing  102  has a unique series of aligned pin holes  152  therethrough. These pin holes  152  are positioned directly adjacent an underlying set of contact pads  154  on the circuit board  130 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a system  200  for programming the apparatus  100  is schematically shown. The system  200  includes a personal computer  202 , a probe connector  204  connected to a port on the computer  202 . The connector  204  has a series of spaced parallel connection pins  206 . The probe connector  204  is positioned such that the pins  206  pass through the holes  152  in the web portion  126  of the housing  102  to contact the pads  154 . The personal computer  202  can then be used to provide instructions to the microprocessor  128  to provide, for example, control parameters for a predefined series of acoustic waveforms to be generated by the transducer in an automated mode of operation of the acoustic generator  108 . 
     This configuration of the housing  102  with the series of aligned holes in the web portion  126  uniquely permits external management and programming of the acoustic generator  108  without having to disassemble the apparatus  100 . Thus a respiratory therapist or physician can program the apparatus  100  to deliver a predetermined or customized sequence of acoustic pulses/vibrations to the user that optimally dislodges and loosens phlegm in the patient&#39;s lungs and airways. 
     The apparatus  100  may alternatively be equipped with a Bluetooth, infrared, or other wireless transceiver or receiver coupled with or integrated onto the circuit board  130  that is coupled to the microprocessor  128  so that the acoustic generator  108  can be remotely programmed without the necessity for physical interconnection with the computer  202  through the pin holes  152 . Such a wireless connection with the microprocessor  128  can facilitate automatic control of the pulse rate, volume, frequency and/or mode of operation of the apparatus  100  in response to feed-forward or feedback from an external wireless transducer  129  before, during or after operation of apparatus  100 . The wireless transducer  129  may be an electronic stethoscope, blood oxy-meter, or other such device monitoring performance of the patient&#39;s breathing during operation of the apparatus  100 . 
     To protect the acoustic generator  108  components from contamination by fluid and particulate matter transmitted by the patient into the coupling chamber  110 , a disposable diaphragm  160  is sandwiched between the mouthpiece  112  and the housing  102 . This diaphragm  160  spans the coupling chamber  110 , provides a barrier to such matter, and permits free transmission therethrough of the acoustic vibrations produced by the acoustic transducer  144 . The diaphragm  160  has a pliable, deformable resilient annular rim  162  and an acoustically transmissive resilient plastic sheet  164  stretched over, across and fastened to the rim  162 . This sheet  164  is preferably a thin polyethylene film that is heat staked to the rim  162 . The rim  162  of the diaphragm  160  preferably has a peripheral annular groove  166  that fits over a complementary annular ridge  168  formed in the large end  114  of the mouthpiece  112 . The open end portion  106  of the housing  102  has an annular flat flange  170 . This flat flange  170  presses against the rim  162  of the diaphragm  160  when the housing  102  is joined to the mouthpiece  112  with the diaphragm  160  sandwiched therebetween as is shown in the partial sectional view of  FIG. 6 . In alternative embodiments of the apparatus  100 , the disposable diaphragm  160  may be incorporated permanently into the mouthpiece  112 . In such an alternative, the entire mouthpiece  112  would preferably be disposable. 
     The preferably threaded joint between the housing  102  and the mouthpiece  112  contains two acoustic barriers to external transmission of the acoustic vibrations produced by the generator  108 . A first barrier is formed by the diaphragm rim  162  that is sandwiched between the flange  170  and the ridge  168 . This first barrier dampens sounds from passing between the threaded end  114  and the threads  190  on the open end  116 . Second, the open end  106  has an annular lip  192  spaced from the threads  190  that fits into a corresponding annular recess  194  around the open end  114  of the mouthpiece  112  that prevents dampened sound from escaping the joint. The provision of these two separate barriers permits the apparatus  100  to be used by a patient in close proximity to bystanders without disrupting such activities as watching television or conducting relatively normal voice conversations. 
     Valve  118  is preferably a separate, removable insert member  176  slidably disposed in a recess  180  formed in the mouthpiece  112 . The valve member  176  is preferably an injection molded body having a series of passages  178  leading from the open end  116  of the mouthpiece  112  to an underside of the valve opening  120  and to the bypass openings  122 . The valve opening  120  is closed by a flexible rubber or plastic valve disc  184 . As is best shown in  FIG. 4 , as a patient inhales through the apparatus  100 , fresh air is brought through the valve  118  through the openings  122  and the valve opening  120  past the valve disc  184 , through the passages  178  as shown by the directional flow arrows  186 , and out of the mouthpiece  116  into the patient&#39;s airways. During exhalation, air flows in the direction shown in  FIG. 5 . Exhaled hair enters the mouthpiece  116  as shown by arrow  188 , flows through the passages  178 , and out through the bypass openings  122 . 
     Since the bypass openings  122  present a smaller cross sectional area for exhaust than a combination of the bypass openings  122  plus the valve opening,  120 , exhaled air flow is restricted, causing a positive back pressure into the patient&#39;s lungs. The presence of a small back pressure against exhalation has been found to enhance breakup and subsequent expulsion of the phlegm and mucus buildup in a patient&#39;s lungs and airways. The amount of back pressure is regulated by the size and number of bypass openings  122 . In the presently preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , three openings  122  are provided in the removable valve  118 . The valve  118  is removable for cleaning, and may be replaced with another valve  118  having larger or smaller bypass openings  122  as may be needed by a particular patient. 
     Another configuration of the body  176 , not shown, may include a fitting, such as a socket, for attachment on the valve  118  of a medicinal inhalation device over the valve opening  120 . Such a configuration would permit an inhaler to be administered in conjunction with use of the apparatus  100 . Alternatively, the valve  118  may be of a configuration to entirely enclose a medicinal inhalation device, as the valve  118  is removable from the mouthpiece  112 . Thus the configuration of the valve  118  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8  is merely exemplary. 
     Although the apparatus  100  is primarily configured for use by human patients, it may be used for a variety of other patients, such as horses, dogs, cats, or other animals with respiratory diseases that cause nasal passage, bronchial and/or lung congestion. For example, the apparatus  100  may be used directly on horses. A horse does not normally breathe through its mouth. A horse breathes through its two nostrils. In the equine application, the mouthpiece  112  may be used without the valve  118 . In this case a blank valve insert may be provided on the mouthpiece  112  that does not have breathing passages through it as above described. In this case, the patient, the horse, breathes through one nostril while the apparatus  100  provides acoustic vibrations through the other nostril. 
       FIGS. 9 through 14  show an exemplary mouthpiece  300  that may be utilized with bovine, equine, and other animal patients for which a valve  118  is not needed. This mouthpiece  300  simply replaces the mouthpiece  112  shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and  8 . The remainder of the apparatus  100  is as described above. In actuality, the illustrated mouthpiece  300  is actually inserted into a large animal patient&#39;s nostril rather than the patient&#39;s mouth. The terminology of “mouthpiece”, therefore, is used generically herein to designate that portion of the apparatus  100 , that, when attached to the housing  102 , directs the acoustic energy into a patient&#39;s airways. 
     The mouthpiece  300  consists of a base ring  302 , an upper baffle section  304 , a lower baffle section  306 , and a flexible tip section  308 . The upper baffle section and lower baffle sections snap fit together as is shown in  FIG. 9 . Together the upper and lower baffle sections  304  and  306  are inserted into and retained by the ring shaped base ring  302  such that the joined sections  304  and  306  may be rotated within the ring shaped base ring  302 . The ring shaped base  302 , in turn, is threaded onto the open threaded end  106  of the housing  102  as above described with reference to the embodiment  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     The upper and lower baffle sections  304  and  306  each include a preferably rigid internal shelf  310  and  312  respectively, axially spaced from each other such that, when the mouthpiece  300  is inserted into an animal&#39;s nostril, fluid expelled from the patient&#39;s nasal cavities has to follow a tortuous path toward the diaphragm  162  and thus will generally be caught by at least one of the baffles ( 310  and/or  312 ) rather than reaching and impinging on the replaceable diaphragm  160 . The lower baffle  312  preferably also has a central notch  313  to permit passage of the acoustic energy therethrough so that the baffles do not substantively diminish the acoustic energy transmission, while still providing a mechanism to catch the expelled fluidic materials. 
     The flexible, tapered, tubular tip section  308  is separately shown in  FIG. 13 . The tip section  308  is formed of a soft latex or silicon plastic material. The proximal end  313  of the tip section  308  preferably has an annular internal groove  314  that receives tapered annular barb portions  316  formed at the distal end  325  of the mated upper and lower sections  304  and  306  to assemble the mouthpiece  300  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The tip section  308  is preferably made relatively soft and flexible to interface with the patient&#39;s nasal tissues comfortably without danger of irritation or injury. In addition, the rear end of the tip section  308  preferably elastically stretches to permit the barb portions  316  to enter the groove  314  to retain the tip section  308  on the assembled baffle sections  304  and  306 . 
     The base ring  302  is separately shown in  FIG. 14 . This base ring  302  is an annular, substantially rigid plastic body having an internally threaded end  318  sized to thread onto the externally threaded end  106  of the housing  102  shown in  FIG. 8 . The other open end of the base  302  has an internal annular flange  320 . The external surface of the base ring  302  has a series of spaced protrusions  322  that facilitate assembly of the base ring  302  onto the housing  102 . 
     Referring back now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the upper and lower sections  304  and  306  mate together along mating tongue and groove edges  324  and  326 . The large ends  328  and  330  of these sections  304  and  306  together form an annular, externally tapered, sleeve  332  that has a series of spaced cutouts or notches  334 . This tapered sleeve  332  snaps into and engages with the annular flange  320  in the other open end of the base ring  302 . The base ring  302  thus retains the upper and lower sections  304  and  306  together and permits the joined upper and lower sections  304  and  306 , together with the tip  308 , to be rotated about the ring base  302 , and thus the housing  102 . Thus, referring to  FIG. 9 , if the mouthpiece  300  were fastened to the housing  102 , the tip  308  may be rotated to orient the tip  308  up, down, or at any angle while retaining the base ring  302  stationary on the housing  102 . 
     The upper and lower sections  304  and  306  mate together preferably in a tongue and groove fashion. However, in alternative embodiments, this joint between the mating sections may be a butt joint since the base ring  302  and the tip section  308  actually hold these sections  304  and  306  together. Also, in other alternative embodiments, the baffles  310  and  312  may be eliminated or have a shape other than that shown. The base ring  302  and the upper and lower sections  304  and  306  are preferably made of a substantially rigid plastic material, preferably one that may be autoclaved. The tip section  308  may have a shape other than as specifically shown, depending on the particular animal for which it is designed. 
     While the apparatus has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, other housing shapes than housing  102  are envisioned. For example, the housing  102  need not be a curved “C” shape with the electronics carried in a web portion between portions  104  and  106 . Other functions, placements and configurations of the control buttons or Control mechanisms may be utilized. In addition, other shapes and configurations of the housing  102  are envisioned. 
     Further, the control mechanisms and buttons may be replaced by automated functionality in alternative embodiments. It is intended that this disclosure cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. All patents and other printed publications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.