EP1377347B1 - Training device for the respiratory system and method of control for the supply of fresh air - Google Patents

Abstract

The respiratory training device comprises a shell housing (1) with a detachable respiratory air channel (2) connected therewith, a mouthpiece (3), an air bag (5) and a control device (14). In the respiratory air channel (2) a valve configuration is installed and specifically a piston valve. This piston valve is equipped with a valve body, which is freely movable and does not have a fixed connection to the respiratory air channel (2). In the housing part (1) and/or in the housing of the valve configuration force-generating means are available, which retain the valve body in the sealing position and determine the necessary opening forces for the valve. All parts, which are in contact with respiratory air, can be removed and cleaned simply.

Description

The invention relates to a training device for the respiratory function with a mouthpiece, a subsequent to the mouthpiece breathing air channel with an inlet / outlet for air, connected to the breathing air duct flexible air bag and a valve assembly for controlling the amount of discharged air discharged from the breathing air duct and the Entry of fresh air into the breathing air duct and a method for the operation of such a device.

Training devices of this type serve to strengthen the respiratory muscles. On the one hand, this can serve therapeutic purposes, on the other hand, healthy persons can also improve the respiratory functions and increase the respiratory effort. The latter is of interest to athletes, for example. Devices of this type are known, for example from WO 9917842.

The device described in WO 9917842 has a tubular respiratory air channel, which is provided at one end with a mouthpiece. At the end remote from the mouthpiece of the breathing air duct this is branched, wherein a portion of the channel opens into a flexible bag and is connected thereto. The second branch of the breathing air channel is connected to a valve arrangement, via which spent air can flow out of the breathing air channel or fresh air can be sucked into the breathing air channel. When the valve assembly is a spring reed valve (Reed type), which opens at a predetermined negative pressure and allows the intake of fresh air through the breathing air duct. At normal pressure in the breathing air duct closes the valve and is further designed so that it reaches a certain Overpressure in the breathing air channel in turn opens and allows a flow of spent breathing air from the breathing air channel into the environment. The basic function of the previously known training device is that the person using the device breathes only through the mouthpiece and thus the training device. During each respiratory cycle, a portion of the exhaled air is stored in the bag and, when it is full, the resulting overpressure opens the valve and exhausts the remaining volume via the valve. When switching from exhalation to inhalation, the valve closes and the person breathing through the mouthpiece first inhales the entire contents of the bag's volume. Only when the bag is empty, created in the breathing air duct, the desired negative pressure and the valve opens again and allows the additional inhalation of fresh air. The volume of the bag connected to the breathing air channel is determined person-specifically. In addition, the previously known device has a control device which indicates which frequency should be used for breathing and a control device for monitoring the CO ₂ content of the respiratory air. During the training process, the CO ₂ content in the breathing air should remain constant in a predetermined, non-harmful area. The components of the training device through which respiratory air flows are contaminated during each training session and must be able to be cleaned. In particular, in the therapeutic use of the device, the affected parts must be sterilized. In the prior art devices, these processes cause difficulties, in particular, the cleaning of the valve assembly is difficult and associated with considerable effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a training device for the respiratory function, which is simple in construction, in which the moving and the respiratory air in contact parts can be removed without tools, which come in contact with breathing air parts of the device if necessary can be sterilized and in which the valve arrangement and the function of the valve is largely independent of the position of the valve.

This object is achieved by the features defined in claim 1 and in claim 20. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent after the features of the dependent claims.

The inventive use of a piston valve in the valve assembly leads to several advantages. The housing part of the piston valve can form an integral part of the breathing air duct and the valve body can be arranged and guided directly in the interior of the breathing air duct. As a result, an optimal flow of the breathing air in the direction of the flow axis in the air passage space of the breathing air duct and the valve housing part is ensured. The valve body has a piston which seals against a sealing surface on the air passage space and is slidably guided via guide parts in the air passage space and displaceable in both directions of the flow axis. The valve body has no mechanical connections to the housing part of the piston valve, but there are additional force-generating means which position the valve body relative to the housing part of the piston valve in the sealing position. These force-generating means also generate the forces to return the valve body from a deflected position back to the sealing position. The force which is exerted on the valve body by the force-generating means is predetermined so that the valve body can be displaced from the sealing position into an open position when the air bag is full or empty due to the overpressure or underpressure in the breathing air channel.

The force-generating means are advantageously magnetic elements, while on the one hand in the valve body at least one component made of a magnetic material is arranged. On the other hand, at least one component for generating a magnetic field or at least one component made of a magnetic material is installed in the housing part of the valve. The components for generating the desired magnetic forces are arranged in the sealing position of the valve body approximately in a common radial plane to the longitudinal axis of the air passage space. The component for generating a magnetic field in the housing part The valve is expediently formed by a permanent magnet or by an electromagnet whose magnetic field can be regulated by changing the current. The use of magnetic fields to generate the necessary holding and restoring forces has the great advantage that the forces can be transferred contactlessly to the valve body. The entire construction of the valve assembly is very simple, since no additional power transmission elements are necessary. In addition, the magnetic components or the components for generating a magnetic field can be completely encapsulated, so that a safe cleaning and, if necessary, a sterilization of the respiratory air in contact with components is possible. The only movable component is in this arrangement, the valve body with the piston, which is freely displaceable in the air passage space of the breathing air duct.

Further advantages are that the use of magnetic elements as force-generating means allows several advantageous embodiments. It is possible, in the valve body, a component made of magnetically hard material, such as a permanent magnet to install and install in the housing part of the piston valve, an annular member made of a magnetically soft material, such as iron. But it is also possible to use in the valve body, a component made of magnetically soft material, such as iron, and in the housing part of the piston valve one or more components of magnetically hard material, such as permanent magnets to use. A particularly compact solution is obtained when both the valve body and in the housing part of the piston valve, the magnetic elements made of a magnetically hard material, eg in both cases of permanent magnets exist. Conveniently, two components made of magnetically hard material are installed in this case in the housing part of the valve or in the areas of the housing part, wherein these components are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the air passage space. A significant advantage of all these embodiments is that the magnetic elements or their polar arrangements and the predetermined strength of the magnetic field allow accurate positioning of the valve body in the sealing position and indeed with the desired holding force. When opening or moving the valve body From the sealing position into an open position, constant or decreasing forces act on the valve body via the opening path, so that a very rapid complete opening of the air passage space in the valve is possible. This in contrast to the known spring-loaded diaphragm valves or spring-tongue valves, in which the opening movement is opposed to a progressively increasing force. Therefore, the inventive valve arrangement allows a more accurate determination and delimitation of the air volume, which in addition to the contents of the bag volume exhaled from the training device or inhaled into the training device and thus in the lungs of the exercising person.

The use according to the invention of a piston valve now also makes it possible to integrate the housing part of the piston valve in one piece into the respiratory air channel, i. To combine all components that are in contact with breathing air into a single component. This component, namely the breathing air duct, is releasably held in a jacket housing in such a way that it can be easily removed and cleaned. Since the valve body is guided freely in the breathing air duct, it can be easily removed from this and all these components can be cleaned in the simplest way. Conveniently they consist of a material which is resistant to sterilization processes.

In the jacket housing, in which the breathing air duct is releasably held, the components of magnetic material or the components for generating a magnetic field, which are associated with the housing part of the piston valve and sensors for determining the position of the valve body are arranged expediently. This jacket housing also includes a handle for holding the training device and the transmission organs for the data determined by the position sensors and any other facilities. Since the jacket does not come into contact with the breathing air, it does not need to be sterilizable and its shape can be made in a wide range, because the requirements for the possibilities for cleaning are much lower.

The training device according to the invention can be used for two different training variants of breathing. Namely for endurance training or strength training. Endurance training works with the respiratory rate and depth of breathing. In resistance training, in addition, the resistance, which is opposed to the respiratory processes, changed. For this purpose, the force-generating means in the region of the housing part of the piston valve are interchangeable or electromagnets are used whose power supply is adjustable. By using different strength means for generating power, the opening force of the piston valve can be changed. This has the consequence that the force generated by the respiration to open the valve is also changed. The same effect has the change of the magnetic field when using electromagnets.

When using an electromagnet in the region of the housing part of the piston valve, there is the further advantage that this valve arrangement can be switchably equipped. For this purpose, the electromagnet is linked to a control unit. This control unit then controls the opening and closing of the piston valve as a function of the predetermined respiratory rates or respiratory cycles.

A further advantageous solution results when resilient elements are used as the force-generating means. In this case, at least one resilient element is connected on the one hand to an end region of the valve body and on the other hand to the housing part of the piston valve or the respiratory air channel. Even with this arrangement results over the known solution a simplified structural design and the advantages of the freely movable valve body with the piston remain. As spring elements coil springs can be used in a known manner, which are designed so that they can be easily removed with the valve body and cleaned.

For certain applications, it may be expedient to provide two parallel-acting piston valves and each one of the valves to assign the inhalation function or the exhalation function. The first piston valve then controls the amount of exhaust air discharged from the breathing air passage, and the second of the piston valves regulates the amount of fresh air entering the breathing air passage. Both with the use of one as well as two piston valves, the displacement of the valve body is advantageously limited by end stops. These end stops determine the opening positions of the piston valve for the discharge of spent air from the breathing air passage and for the entry of fresh air into the breathing air passage.

Further advantages result from the arranged in the housing part of the piston valve or in the jacket housing sensors, which serve to determine the position of the valve body in the air passage space. By means of these sensors, it is determined whether the valve body is in one of the opening positions and it is determined the period in which the piston valve is opened. The opening times of the piston valve are monitored and registered and serve to monitor the correct ratio between the volume of respiratory air in the bag and the air flowing out or in via the piston valve.

When using a magnetic element of the inventive type in the valve body, it is expedient to install a Hall sensor in the housing part of the piston valve or in the shell on both sides of the sealing position of the valve body as sensors. These Hall sensors react in a known manner to changes in the magnetic field by movements of the valve body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the air passage channel and can thus generate corresponding position signals. The Hall sensors can be replaced in a conventional manner by reed sensors, optical sensors or pressure sensors. The sensors are connected to a sensor and via an interface and a data line to a control unit. The term control device is to be interpreted in the broadest sense and includes, for example, the use of a computer. This controller includes, for example, a Respiratory training target data input unit, a microprocessor, a data memory, and at least one control and monitoring information display device. The desired limits or control values for the respiratory cycles are specified via this control unit. By comparison with the measured data, the sensors arranged in the area of the valve arrangements, the respiratory activities of the person using the training device are determined and these data are compared with the target data. In the event of deviations from the target data, the control unit automatically determines the necessary corrections and displays them via the display device. The person using the exerciser then has to change their respiratory processes, in particular the frequency and / or depth of respiration, until they agree with the target data. If the deviations exceed a predetermined level, then an alarm function is triggered via the control unit, since then the CO ₂ content in the inhaled and exhaled air no longer corresponds to the target values. Since in this inventive use of at least one piston valve, the open positions and thus the opening times of the valve body and from these the ratios of the moving air volume to each other can be determined accurately, the arrangement of a CO ₂ sensor is not necessary. As a result, an additional simplification of the training device is achieved and also the handling by the training or to be treated persons is simplified. Due to the special design of the valve body, the training device is relatively insensitive to position and also facilitates handling in this regard.

When using the respiratory training device according to the invention by a person for therapeutic purposes, or for training the respiratory function according to claim 20, individual personal requirements must be defined. These are based on experience. First, the vital capacity is measured and used to determine the volume of bag desired for training. The bag volume corresponds in the standard case 50% of the volume of vital capacity. Further details for determining the bag volume are known from WO 9917842 and are also used here accordingly. From empirical values for a so-called respiratory minute volume, a correction factor for the training state the affected person and the bag volume, the respiratory rate is calculated. A product of the two factors exercise state and respiratory minute volume is divided by the bag volume. For this purpose, more detailed information in WO 9917842 are included and additionally applicable. During training, the affected person breathes through the training device, which is inhaled at first a portion of the respiratory air volume is removed from the air bag and then a part of the air volume is supplied via the valve assembly from the ambient air with emptied bag. The valve arrangement is opened by the negative pressure generated in the respiratory air channel as a result of the inhalation process. When changing from inhalation to exhalation process closes the valve assembly and it is first a part of the air volume supplied to the air bag and stored therein. After the bag has been filled, an overpressure is created as a result of the exhalation process in the respiratory air channel and the valve arrangement is opened again, and a portion of the exhaled air is released via the latter into the ambient air. Since the respiratory rate and the bag volume are interdependent, the CO ₂ content in the respiratory air is kept approximately constant via these device functions or inhalation cycles. This prevents hyper or hypoventilation from occurring. It is now particularly advantageous if the respiratory frequency is preset to a control unit as the target value. The control device is to be understood as devices which have at least one microprocessor or, for example, comprise a computer. About the controller, or its processor, the duration of each inhalation or exhalation cycle is determined from the predetermined respiratory rate. At the valve assembly, the duration of the open state of the valve assembly is measured and the corresponding measured values are transmitted to the control unit. By comparing the calculated cycle times of the inhalation or expiration process and the opening duration of the valve arrangement, a ratio value is determined and compared with a predetermined stored value. This predetermined stored value is known from experience curves, which were determined at approximately constant CO ₂ content of the respiratory air. If the calculated ratio deviates from the stored and predetermined value, the control unit uses a display device generates a correction and / or alarm indication, and the person using the training device must adapt their breathing procedures to the values given by the device. For persons with average training, it proves to be advantageous to set the ratio between the calculated cycle duration of the inhalation or expiration process and the opening duration of the valve arrangement to approximately 2: 1. If force-generating means which are regulatable or controllable are used on the valve arrangement for positioning the valve body on the valve arrangement, there is the further advantage that corrections of the respiratory processes can also be made by regulating the opening times of the valve arrangement. The desired opening times of the valve arrangement are predetermined at the control unit, which generates corresponding control pulses for the force-generating means. As a function of these control pulses, the force-generating means perform the corresponding opening and closing operations of the valve arrangement, which are then only partially or not at all influenced by the positive or negative pressure in the breathing air duct. This embodiment of the training device and the corresponding control specifications are provided in particular for use under expert supervision, so that compliance with the correct respiratory data is guaranteed.

Fig. 1

eine Gesamteinsicht des erfindungsgemässen Trainingsgerätes für die Atmungsfunktion und des zugehörigen Steuergerätes,

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch den Atemluftkanal im Trainingsgerät mit dem Kolbenventil,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ventilkörpers des Kolbenventils,

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch den Atemluftkanal des Trainingsgerätes,

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt durch eine schematisch dargestellte Ventilanordnung mit Federn als krafterzeugende Mittel, und

Fig. 6

einen Querschnitt durch eine schematische Darstellung eines Atemluftkanales mit zwei Kolbenventilen.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

an overall view of the inventive training device for the respiratory function and the associated control unit,

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the breathing air duct in the exercise device with the piston valve,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the valve body of the piston valve,

Fig. 4

a cross section through the breathing air channel of the training device,

Fig. 5

a cross-section through a valve arrangement shown schematically with springs as a force-generating means, and

Fig. 6

a cross-section through a schematic representation of a breathing air duct with two piston valves.

In the illustration according to FIG. 1, the entire training device for the respiratory function is shown. It essentially consists of a jacket 1, a breathing air duct 2 inserted into this jacket housing 1, a mouthpiece 3 which is connected to the breathing air duct via a connection pipe 8 and an air bag 5. The training apparatus is provided with a cable or data line 13 Control unit 14 connected. In the illustrated example, the controller 14 includes a processor and data storage, which may also be part of a portable or stationary computer connected to the controller. The jacket housing 1 has a handle 7, with which the training device can be manually held in the required and desired manner. When using the training device, the mouthpiece 3 is taken by a person who uses the device for training or therapeutic purposes in the mouth and after closing the airway over the nose, the breathing is completely on the exercise machine. In this case, the breathing air flows through the connection pipe 8 in the breathing air channel 2. This breathing air channel 2 is Y-shaped branches into two channels, wherein a branch pipe 9 leads to the air bag 5 and the actual breathing air channel 2 to an inlet and outlet opening 4 for respiratory or fresh air. In the breathing air channel 2, a valve assembly 6 is arranged, which is described in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4. The air bag 5 is detachable via a connection element 12, connected to the branch pipe 9 and there are air bags 5 with different volumes available, which are used depending on the lung vital capacity of the exercising person. In the case of a breathing cycle which, for example, begins with an exhalation process, the valve arrangement 6 initially closes the inlet and outlet openings 4, so that first the flexible air bag 5 is filled with expired air. As soon as the air bag 5 is full, an overpressure is created in the respiratory air channel 2 and the valve arrangement 6 opens the flow of respiratory air to the inlet / outlet opening 4. The remaining part of exhaled air then flows via this outlet opening 4 into the ambient air. In the subsequent inhalation process is the valve assembly 6 for the time being closed again and it is therefore first inhaled breath contained in the air bag 5 again. As soon as the air bag 5 is empty, a negative pressure is created in the connection pipe 8 and in a part of the breathing air channel 2, which opens the valve arrangement 6. For the remaining inhalation cycle 4 fresh air is now inhaled via the inlet opening. As a result, these processes are now repeated cyclically for each respiratory cycle. These processes and the resulting training or therapeutic effects are described in detail in the international patent application WO 9917842, cited as state of the art, and in the publication Quarterly Journal of the Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich (1997) 142/4, pages 153-159. In order to perform the desired training or therapeutic procedures correctly, the respiratory rate per minute is set via the control unit 14 and its input unit 15. In the example shown, the respiratory processes effectively performed by the exercising person are displayed on a display element 17 and speech outputs are displayed on a second display element 16, which is designed as a display, for example correction or error indications. In the case of respiratory processes of the exercising person, which deviate from the specifications beyond an admissible deviation, the control unit 14 or its display elements 16, 17 display alarm signals. In order to ensure the correct operation of the training device, the vital capacity of the lung of the person to be trained or to be treated therapeutically must first be determined in a known manner. Subsequently, the volume of the air bag 5 to be used and the respiration rate with which the person is to breathe can be determined by calculation or with the aid of tables. The respective training condition and the desired training sequence must be taken into account. For normal training procedures, pouches 5 are provided with volumes of 0.5 l to 3.5 l, in 0.5 l increments. For a well-trained male, for example, the following data will result. The vital capacity is determined to be 5 l and the volume of the air bag 5 with 50% of the vital capacity is 2.5 l. The respiratory minute volume depends on size and weight and is for example 150 l. The calculated respiratory rate is then between 20 and 24 cycles / min.

2 shows a longitudinal section through the upper region of the jacket 1 and the respiratory air channel 2 inserted therein with the valve arrangement 6. According to the invention, the valve arrangement is a piston valve 6, which has considerable advantages over the known valves. The breathing air channel 2 is detachably inserted into the jacket housing 1 and is releasably secured in the jacket housing 1 by means of the connecting element 10 and the closing element 11. The connecting element 10 is arranged on the side on which the connecting pipe 8 for the mouthpiece 3 is located. At the breathing air channel 2, an external thread 18 is arranged and the connecting element 10 has an internal thread 44. Via a sealing ring 19 which simultaneously forms a retaining shoulder, the connecting pipe 8 is connected by means of the connecting element 10 with the breathing air channel 2. The breathing air channel 2 is Y-shaped and has an air passage space 26 and a flow channel 30 branching off from it. The flow channel 30 leads, as already described, to the air bag 5, which is connected via the connecting element 12 to the branch pipe 9 of the breathing air channel 2. In the averted from the connection pipe 8 part of the breathing air channel 2, the piston valve 6 is arranged after the branching of the flow channel 30. This piston valve 6 consists of a housing part 22, which forms an integral part of the breathing air channel 2. On the jacket of the air passage chamber 26, a sealing surface 27 is arranged in the region of the housing part 22, which extends in the direction of the flow axis 28 only over a partial area, for example 9 mm in the illustrated example, wherein the diameter of the air passage space 26 is approximately 23 in the region of the sealing position mm. Before and after this sealing surface 27, the air passage chamber 26 has a larger cross section than in the sealing area. In the region of the housing part 22, a valve body 23 is inserted into the air passage space 26. This valve body has a piston 24 and a guide part 25 and 46. The valve body 23 is slidably guided via the piston 24 and the guide member 25 in the air passage space 26 of the breathing air passage 2 and freely movable in the direction of the arrows 31. The movement of the valve body in the direction of the arrows 31 and in the direction of the flow axis 28 in the air passage space 26 is by end stops 42, 43 limited, which are shown in Fig. 4. The installation and removal of the valve body 23 takes place from that side of the breathing air duct 2, on which the inlet / outlet opening 4 is arranged. For this purpose, an external thread 20 is arranged on the breathing air channel 2 at this end region, which cooperates with an internal thread 45 on the closing element 11. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the flow axis 28 of the air passage chamber 26 coincides in the region of the piston valve 6 with the longitudinal axis 36 of the breathing air channel 2. By removing the connecting element 10 and the closing element 11 and the connecting element 12, the various components of the training device can be separated from each other in a simple manner. The breathing air channel 2 is simply shaped and has no complicated shape elements, which can be poor or impossible to clean. Also, the valve body 23 is shaped so that it can be cleaned optimally. This also applies to the other components, which come into contact with breathing air, namely the mouthpiece 3, the connecting pipe 8 and, for example, the closing element 11. All these components can be made of a material which can be sterilized if necessary. The installation and removal of the valve body 23 can be done in the simplest way, since it has no direct mechanical connection to the housing part 22 and respiratory air channel 2. This leads to a considerable simplification of the cleaning and handling of the device. The arrangement according to the invention also makes it possible for each person who uses the training device to assign those parts which are contaminated with respiratory air specifically, ie, personally.

The jacket housing 1 and the control unit 14 can be used by different, ie several people, since it does not come into contact with breathing air. In the normal case, a superficial cleaning is sufficient. This embodiment according to the invention enables a cost-effective use of such respiration training devices, in particular in therapeutic use, where several different persons are treated in succession. For a new use of the respiratory training device all parts in contact with breathing air can be easily replaced and the device is immediately available again.

FIG. 3 shows a valve body 23 according to the invention, which is part of the piston valve 6. The guide member 25 adjoins the piston 24 on the one hand and the guide member 46 on the opposite side, respectively. The two guide members 25 and 46 consist essentially of 4 symmetrically arranged ribs, between which flow channels 47, 48 for the air are located. In the end region 41 of the guide member 25, which is averted from the piston 24, the guide member 25 has a larger diameter than the piston 24. Between the piston 24 and the end portion 41, the diameter of the ribs of the guide member 25 is reduced and stop surfaces 49 are formed , Also, the diameter of the ribs of the guide member 46 is reduced relative to the piston 24.

4 shows a cross-section through the breathing air channel 2 along the axis 36 according to FIG. 2. In this illustration, the force-generating means 29 are shown, which hold the valve body 23 in the sealing position or determine the opening forces for the piston valve 6 and in the area of the housing part 22 is arranged. In the example shown, the force-generating means 29 consist of magnetic elements, wherein the valve body 23 contains a component 32 made of a magnetic material and in the region of the housing part 22 of the valve 6 means are arranged with two components 34 of a magnetic material. In the sealing position of the valve body 23, these magnetic elements 32, 34 are positioned in a common radial plane 35 to the flow axis 28 of the air passage space 26. The two components 34 are permanent magnets, ie magnetic elements made of a magnetically hard material. Also, the magnetic member 32 in the valve body 23 is formed by a permanent magnet or consists of a magnetically hard material. The axes of the magnetic elements 32 and 34 are approximately parallel to the flow axis 28 and the pole arrangements are aligned identically. The two magnetic components 34 are arranged in the shell casing 1 symmetrical to the flow axis 28 and abut against the housing part 22 of the piston valve 6. By that of the two magnetic elements 34th generated magnetic field 32 in the piston 24 and valve body 23 is positioned approximately in the plane 35 and thus the valve body 23 is held in the sealing position. The acting magnetic forces are determined in a known manner so that the valve body 23 is deflected only at a desired negative or positive pressure in the direction of arrows 31 from the sealing position. But it is also possible to use in the casing 1 and in the region of the housing part 22 of the piston valve 6 instead of the permanent magnets 34, electromagnets 33, which are activated by electrical currents. The corresponding power supply and control signal supply takes place from the control unit 14 via the cable 13 and other connecting lines, not shown, in the jacket housing 1. This arrangement makes it possible to change the opening forces for opening the valve, as it may be useful in a strength training. In addition, however, there is also the advantage that the valve opening times can be influenced and controlled by the control unit. This may be desirable for professional use of the device. A further possible embodiment consists in the fact that in the valve body 23, the magnetic element is formed of a permanent magnet 32 and in the housing part 1, the magnetic elements of a magnetically soft material, such as iron, are formed, wherein expediently, an annular element is used. The same arrangement is also possible conversely by the magnetic member 32 in the valve body 23 made of magnetically soft material, such as iron, and the two magnetic components 34 in the region of the valve housing 22 made of a magnetically hard material, ie consist of a permanent magnet. All of these arrangements fulfill the desired functions according to the invention. On both sides of the sealing position between the piston 24 and the sealing surface 27 on the housing part 22, two sensors 37, 38 are arranged at a distance from the sealing plane 35 in the jacket housing 1. In the example shown are Hall sensors, by means of which changes in the magnetic field, which arise in displacements of the valve body 23 and its magnetic component 32, can be determined. The same functions could also be detected by reed sensors, optical sensors or pressure sensors. By means of these sensors 37 or 38, it is determined whether the valve body 23 in the opening position for the inhalation of fresh air or in the opening position for the expulsion of breathing air through the opening 4 is located. The opening position for the inflow of fresh air through the opening 4 is determined by a stop 42 at the end of the sealing surface 27 and a stop 49 on the ribs of the guide member 25. About the sensor 37, this opening position and the duration of the opening is detected. The opening position of the valve body 23 for the flow of spent air through the opening 4 is determined by the end portion 41 on the guide member 25 and the inner surface of the end member 11, which forms an end stop 43. This opening position is associated with the sensor 38, which detects the opening state and the duration of the opening. During these movements in the direction of the arrows 31 from the sealing position into the respective opening position, the valve body 23 slides in the air passage space 26, whereby this sliding movement generates very little friction losses. The arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that the forces necessary to deflect the valve body 23 out of the sealing position into the opening position are not progressively increasing the farther the body is deflected, but this force either remains constant or decreases. The resulting advantage is that the valve body 23 is immediately deflected completely in the open position when the holding force in the sealing position is exceeded and thus the complete flow area for the air is released. Thus, the flow rates of air are determined in a sufficiently accurate manner by the opening times of the piston valve 6 and there are no additional sensors for determining the CO ₂ content of the air necessary.

FIG. 5 essentially shows the respiratory air channel 2 and the piston valve 6 in a schematic representation. The jacket 1 and the other attachments are not shown. Again, the housing part 22 of the piston valve 6 is an integral part of the breathing air channel 2. The housing part 22 has the sealing surface 27 and the valve body 23 is correspondingly arranged the piston 24. The design of the valve body 23 and the sealing surface 27 corresponds to the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 2. The force-generating means 29 are in this embodiment, however, not by magnetic elements, but formed by the two coil springs 39 and 40. The forces of these two coil springs 39 and 40 hold the valve body 23 in the sealing position and allow a deflection in the direction of the two arrows 31. This results in the same operation as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. This embodiment can be used in certain cases, where the most cost-effective device is desired and also a progressive increase of the opening forces on the valve body 23 can be tolerated, ie a device with a lower working accuracy is allowed. The advantages of the piston valve according to the invention nevertheless remain.

The training device according to the invention can also be equipped with two piston valves 6 'and 6 ", as also schematically illustrated in Fig. 6. A breathing air channel 2' has two laterally branching pipe sections 50, 51, each of which at its outer end The breathing air channel 2 likewise has a branch pipe 9 which leads to the air bag 5. A valve body 23 is arranged in the two pipe sections 50, 51, the embodiment of which corresponds to the valve body according to FIG Both valve bodies 23 have a piston 24, in which a magnetic component is installed in the form of a permanent magnet 32. The necessary sealing surface 27 ', which cooperates with the piston 24, is arranged on the inner casing of the tube pieces 50, 51. In the area of this sealing surface 27 'are in the pipe sections 50 and 51 each two diametrically opposed magnetic components in the Form of permanent magnet 34 installed. In this embodiment, the two valve bodies 23 can be deflected from the sealing position only in one direction into an open position.

In this case, the valve 6 "in the pipe section 50 has the function of allowing the intake of fresh air through the opening 52. The opening position of the valve body 23 is determined via the sensor 37 and the opening time is also determined only the function of allowing the outflow of spent air through the opening 53 when the air bag 5 is filled in. Again, the opening position and the opening time become the valve body 23 is determined via the sensor 38. This arrangement with two piston valves 6 'and 6 "makes it possible to set different opening forces for the opening time for the aspiration of fresh air or for the opening time for the outflow of breathing air into the environment.This can be useful for certain training and / or therapy programs Be interested.

$$\mathrm{Frauen}:\mathrm{MVV}=\left(0.842\times \mathrm{Grösse}\right)-\left(0.685\times \mathrm{Alter}\right)-4.868$$

Dabei ist die Grösse in cm und das Alter in Jahren einzusetzen.In the method according to the invention for monitoring the supply of fresh air to the respiration training device, basic data are used in some cases, which were determined in test series on test persons. In particular, the vital capacity is dependent on the individual and the respiratory limit value is person- and gender-dependent. For the computational determination of the respiratory rate of a certain person, the following procedure is necessary. First, the vital capacity (V _c ) is measured in a known manner. The volume of the air bag 5 is set to be 50% of the vital capacity. In addition, the breathing limit value (MVV) is determined according to the following function: $$\mathrm{Men}:\mathrm{MVV}=\left(1193\times \mathrm{Size}\right)-\left(0816\times \mathrm{Age}\right)-37949$$

$$\mathrm{women}:\mathrm{MVV}=\left(0842\times \mathrm{Size}\right)-\left(0685\times \mathrm{Age}\right)-4868$$

The size in cm and the age in years is to be used.

For endurance training, a minute ventilation (AMV) is recommended, which is 60% of the breathing limit (MW).

The respiratory rate (1 / min) is determined according to the function $$\mathrm{respiratory\; rate}=\mathrm{AMV}/1.5\times \mathrm{bag\; volume}$$

Training in the range of these values ensures that the exercising person does not have too much CO ₂ (hypocopic) or too little CO ₂ (hypercopic) in the breathing air. Depending on the determination of the limit values for the CO ₂ content in the respiratory air, constants adjusted in the formulas must be used. These functions and table values apply to healthy average individuals. For untrained persons, other groups of people or, for example, sick persons, individual clarifications and adjustments are necessary.

Claims (22)

1. Training device for the respiratory function with a mouthpiece (3), a respiratory air channel (2) adjoining the mouthpiece (3) with an inlet/outlet opening (4) for air, a flexible air bag (5) connected to the respiratory air channel (2) and a valve configuration (6) for regulating the outlet quantity of consumed air from the respiratory air channel (2) and the inlet quantity of fresh air into the respiratory air channel (2), characterised in that the valve configuration comprises at least one piston valve (6), this piston valve (6) comprising a housing part (22) with an air passage volume (26) and a sealing face (27) disposed on the shell of this air passage volume (26), a valve body (23) being disposed in the air passage volume (26) of the housing part (22) and this valve body (23) being guided by sliding in the air passage volume (26) and being freely displaceable in the direction of the flow axis (28) of the air in the air passage volume (26) from a sealing position into a position in which at least a partial cross-section of the air passage volume (26) is open, this valve body (23) comprising a piston (24) with an outer sealing region and a guide part (25) for the slide guidance in the air passage volume (26), the sealing region of the piston (24) in the sealing position of the valve body (23) cooperating with the sealing face (27) on the shell of the air passage volume (26) and closing the cross-section of the air passage volume (26) and force-generating means (29) being available for positioning the valve body (23) in this sealing position.
2. Training device according to claim 1, characterised in that the force-generating means (29) are magnetic elements, the valve body (23) comprises at least one structural component (32) made of a magnetic material and there is disposed in proximity to the housing part (22) of the valve (6) at least one structural component (33) for generating a magnetic field or at least one structural component (34) made of a magnetic material, these parts (32, 33/34) in the sealing position of the valve body (23) being approximately in a common radial plane (35) relative to the flow axis (28) of the air passage volume (26).
3. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that the structural component for generating a magnetic field in the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) is a permanent magnet (34) or an electromagnet (33).
4. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that the structural component (32) made of magnetic material in the valve body (23) consists of a magnetically hard material, for example a permanent magnet, and in the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) is disposed an annular structural component (34) made of a magnetically soft material, for example iron.
5. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that the structural component (32) made of magnetic material in the valve body (23) consists of a magnetically soft material, for example iron, and the structural component (34) made of magnetic material in the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) consists of a magnetically hard material, for example a permanent magnet.
6. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that the structural component (32) made of magnetic material in the valve body (23) and the structural component (34) made of magnetic material in the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) consist of a magnetically hard material, for example a permanent magnet.
7. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that at least two structural components (34) made of magnetically hard material, in particular permanent magnets, are mounted in the housing part (22) of the valve (6) and these structural components (34) are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the air passage volume (26).
8. Training device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) is integrated in one piece into the respiratory air channel (2), the flow axis (28) of the air passage volume (26) extends approximately in the direction of the longitudinal axis (36) of the respiratory air channel (2) and this respiratory air channel (2) is detachably retained in a shell housing (1).
9. Training device according to claim 8, characterised in that the respiratory air channel (2) with the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) and the valve body (23) consist of a material which is resistant to sterilisation processes.
10. Training device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the structural components (34) made of magnetic material or the structural components (33) for generating a magnetic field, which are associated with the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6), and sensors (37, 38) for determining the position of the valve body (23), are disposed in a shell housing (1) and the respiratory air channel (2) and the housing part (22) for the piston valve (6) with the valve body (23) are detachably inserted into this shell housing (1) and are fastened therein.
11. Training device according to any of one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the force-generating means (29, 33, 34) in proximity to the housing part (22) of the valve (6) are exchangeable and means (33, 34) with varying generation of force can be inserted.
12. Training device according to claim 1, characterised in that the force-generating means (29) are resilient elements (39, 40) and at least one resilient element (40) of this type is connected on the one hand to an end region (41) of the valve body (23) and on the other hand to the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6).
13. Training device according to either claim 2 or claim 12, characterised in that the valve configuration comprises two piston valves (6', 6'') acting in parallel, wherein a first of the piston valves (6') serves to control the outlet quantity of consumed air from the respiratory air channel (2') and a second of the piston valves (6'') to control of the inlet quantity of fresh air into the respiratory air channel (2').
14. Training device according to any one claims 1 to 7 or claim 12, characterised in that the displacement path of the valve body (23) in the air passage volume (26) is delimited by two end stops (42, 43), wherein these end stops (42, 43) in the direction of the flow axis (28) each have a given spacing relative to the sealing position of the valve body (23) in the housing part (22) and a first stop (43) determines the opening position of the piston valve (6) for the outflow of consumed air from the respiratory air channel (2) and the second other stop (41) determines the opening position of the piston valve (6) for the inflow of fresh air into the respiratory air channel (2).
15. Training device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or claim 12 or claim 13, characterised in that in the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) and in the displacement range of the piston (24) of the valve body (22) at least one sensor (37, 38) is disposed for determining the position of the valve body (22) in the air passage volume (26) .
16. Training device according to claim 15, characterised in that mounted in the housing part (22) on either side of the sealing position of the valve body (22) is a respective Hall sensor (37, 38), wherein these two Hall sensors (37, 38) generate signals due to changes in the magnetic field by the movements of the valve body (23) in the direction of the flow axis (28) of the air passage channel (26).
17. Training device according to claim 15, characterised in that the sensor (37, 38) is connected to a measuring transducer and this measuring transducer is connected via an interface and a data line (13) to a control device (14).
18. Training device according to claim 17, characterised in that the control device (14) comprises an input unit (15) for target data of the respiratory training, a microprocessor, a data memory and at least one indicator element (16, 17) for control and inspection information.
19. Training device according to claim 2, characterised in that the structural component for generating a magnetic field in proximity to the housing part (22) of the piston valve (6) is an electromagnet (33) and this electromagnet (33) can be switched on and off via a control device (14).
20. Method for monitoring the supply of fresh air on a training device according to claim 1, when used by a person for training the respiratory function, wherein during inhalation firstly a portion of the air volume is removed from an air bag (5) and subsequently, when the bag (5) is empty, a portion of the air volume is supplied via a valve configuration (6) from the ambient air and, during exhalation, a portion of the air volume is firstly supplied to the air bag (5) and stored therein and after the bag is filled a portion of the exhaled air is released via the valve configuration (6) to the ambient air and before starting the training a bag volume is determined specific to an individual and a respiratory frequency specific to the individual is calculated and this respiratory frequency is preset in a processor as a target value via an input unit (15) in a control device (14), characterised in that the processor determines the length of time for an inhalation or exhalation cycle, the length of time the valve configuration (6) is open during each inhalation and exhalation cycle is measured and transmitted as a measured value to the processor, the ratio of the calculated cycle length of the inhalation or exhalation process to the length of time the valve configuration (6) is open is determined and compared to a predetermined stored value specific to an individual and in the event of discrepancies between the measured value and the stored value a correction and/or an alarm indication is generated by the processor via a display device (16) and thus the CO₂ content of the respiratory air is kept approximately constant.
21. Method according to claim 20, characterised in that the ratio of the calculated cycle length of the inhalation or exhalation process to the opening length of the valve configuration (6) is fixed at approximately 2:1.
22. Method according to either claim 20 or claim 21, characterised in that the opening times of the valve configuration (6) are predetermined, the control device (14) generates corresponding control pulses and on the valve configuration (6) controllable means (33) carry out opening and closing processes of the valve (6) as a function of these control pulses.

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