Patent GB-282457-A (GB)
Title: A breathing regulator
IPC: A61M16/00
Filed: 1927-12-19
Abstract: 282,457. Kortler, M. Dec. 19, 1927. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Dec. 19, 1927]. Spirometers; respiration, appliances for promoting .-Apparatus for use in respiratory exercises comprises a cord or the like 15, Fig. 1, wound upon a spring pulley 8 housed within a casing 52. The cord 15 is provided with a loop 54 connected with a loop 53 on the casing 52 by an elastic band passing around the chest, the connecting means including if desired a spiral spring or the like provided with a perspirationproof covering. The respiratory motions of the chest rotate the pulley 8 thereby oscillating a flexible pointer 6 loose on the pulley spindle. Connection between the pulley 8 and the pointer 6 is effected by a pair of plugs 11, screwed into any pair of a number of circumferential holes 9 in the pulley and engaging the pointer, the particular holes chosen being determined by the depth of respiration desired. The head 27 of the pointer 6 moves over guide 21 comprising an arc the ends 25, 26 of which are twisted laterally in opposite senses out of the plane of the guide. While the required depth of respiration is being maintained the pointer 6 disengages from the appropriate members 25 or 26 at the end of each oscillation, thereby producing an audible signal, and returns on the opposite side of the guide 21. If the breath inhaled or exhaled is inadequate the pointer returns on the same side of the guide 21 and actuates the hammer 34 or 44 of a bell 2 within the casing 52 thus warning the patient of incorrect breathing. The bell-hammer actuating mechanism comprises a pair of triplevers such as 35 pivoted to bell-crank levers carrying the hammer rods 33, 43. The bell hammers 34, 44 may be put out of action if desired by a pin 45 carried on a pivoted arm and pressed into contact with the hammer-rods. 33, 43, by a screw 48 turned by a milled head 50. A counting device may be fitted to one of the moving elements of the device to record the total of respirations or the imperfect respirations only. Also the hammer-rods 33, 43 may be made to operate an electric indicator within the view of an attendant. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) states that two bells, concentrically or otherwise disposed, one for each hammer 34, 44, may be provided, and describes in detail indicating and recording apparatus according to which (1) the hammer-rods 33, 43 may, when actuated, complete one or a pair of electric circuits including warning devices such as bells or coloured discs, Figs. 4 and 5 (Cancelled) (not shown), (2) correct breathing is indicated by the oscillation of a pivoted armature, actuated by the completion of an electric circuit through the pointer 6 at the end of each stroke, Fig. 6 (Cancelled) (not shown), (3) Appliances such as those last described may be applied to a number of patients, e.g. those in a. hospital, the indicators being mounted on a common observation board or a single indicator, connectable at will to any patient being provided (Figs. 8 and 9) (Cancelled) (not shown), (4) Means may be provided whereby complete and incomplete respirations may be registered separately- Such means comprises, for incomplete respirations (Fig. 10) (Cancelled) (not shown), an extension of the above mentioned armature which, normally so guided as to move over opposite sides of a plate during successive oscillations, returns, as the result of an incomplete movement, on the same side thereof, thereby contacting with an uninsulated side of a lever and completing a circuit containing an electromagnetic indicator. For registering complete respirations (Fig. 11 (Cancelled) (not shown) a switch-lever co-pivotal with the armature, and connected. therewith by a pin-and-slot connection is provided, the connection being such that the lever is actuated only by armature movements of maximum amplitude, to close an indicator circuit, (5) In the application of the above apparatus to groups of patients an automatic time-switch is provided permitting observation upon any selected patient for a definite period, e.g. one minute (Figs. 12 and 15 (Cancelled) (not shown). Alternatively or in addition the current flowing in the indicator circuits may be made to actuate armatures carrying pens whereby records of complete and incomplete respirations may be made on a paper web moved uniformly by pinned wheels engaging perforations in the web and driven by worm gearing from a common shaft (Figs. 16-20) (Cancelled) (not shown). This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.