An exercise device for respiratory support

Abstract

The invention relates to an exercise device (1 ) and a data belt (2) designed to adjust the inspiration and expiration ratio and ensure a normal breathing pattern. The novelty of the invention is characterized by comprising at least one compression belt (10) positioned around the thoracic region of the user and shaped to at least partially encircle the body, and at least one actuation element (20) configured to partially modify the form of the mentioned compression belt (10).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] AN EXERCISE DEVICE FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to an exercise device for adjusting the inspiration and expiration ratio, mobilizing the diaphragm, ensuring the normal breathing pattern, and maintaining the normal length-tension relationship of the diaphragm.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] Manual therapy approaches have been among the methods used in recent years to alleviate respiratory tract problems. Thoracic manual therapy approaches are known to include stretching of the respiratory muscles, soft tissue massage, and muscle relaxation. The primary aim of these techniques is to increase the mobility of the rib cage and spine, thereby enhancing lung function and circulation. Manual therapy methods applied to the rib cage can be used as a treatment for respiratory disorders and diseases such as hyperventilation and hypocapnia.

[0007] Dysfunction occurs in the diaphragm, one of the primary muscles of respiration, in conjunction with chronic lung diseases. The shortening of the diaphragm alters its biomechanics, leading to an increase in respiratory workload and a decrease in functional capacity. Studies have shown that diaphragmatic mobilization, which consists of manual techniques, is effective in improving the length-tension relationship of the diaphragm and respiratory mechanics. This mechanical effect increases the contraction strength of the diaphragm and enables more effective relaxation. Consequently, a greater pressure gradient can be established between the thorax and abdomen. Additionally, it is effective in reducing tissue tension by utilizing the sensory effects of proprioception and the Golgi tendon organ.

[0008] Respiratory exercises such as thoracic expansion, diaphragmatic breathing, and pursed-lip breathing increase inspiratory capacity and rib cage mobility while reducing respiratory rate and dyspnea. The device enables integration with these exercises. By supporting diaphragm movement and adjusting inspiration / expiration duration, the device allows exercises to be performed more smoothly and easily. Additionally, with the applied pressure of the device, the user will perform the exercises with conscious awareness.

[0009] Another method preferred for reducing the perception of dyspnea and regulating ventilation is slow breathing. It has been reported that these exercises lead to a decrease in blood pressure, improvement in respiratory functions, and alleviation of chronic insomnia, chronic heart failure, and anxiety. They are particularly favored for autonomic regulation, and it has also been stated that breathing is essential not only for survival but also for disease prevention, improving quality of life, health, and energy balance. The patient performs this either through personal effort or with verbal guidance from a therapist. The developed device enables the regulation of respiratory frequency as well as the adjustment of the desired inspiration and expiration durations.

[0010] The known CN109938964B application in the literature describes a clinical exercise device used in the field of cardiovascular medicine. The clinical exercise device includes a connection strap, a compression cuff, a binding strap, a rotating plate, a tension spring, a placement cuff, a mounting plate, a motor, a rotating shaft, and a cam. The clinical exercise device used in the cardiovascular medicine field has an intelligent structure, strong functionality, and ease of use. By using the device, the patient's upper limbs can be exercised, and the patient can perform chest expansion exercises. As a result, the patient's cardiopulmonary blood vessels are stretched, enhancing the oxygen supply capacity of the cardiopulmonary system, improving cardiopulmonary functions, and significantly accelerating the patient's rehabilitation progress.

[0011] As a result of our research, although pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for patients with respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, as well as for patients with pulmonary involvement following COVID-19 and those who have undergone cardiovascular or thoracic surgery, there is no existing device system that facilitates diaphragmatic mobilization, supports expiration, regulates the inspiration / expiration ratio, and assists in performing respiratory exercises.

[0012] As a result, all the aforementioned issues have made it necessary to introduce an innovation in the relevant technical field.

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to an exercise device designed to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and introduce new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0015] One objective of the invention is to provide an exercise device that ensures diaphragmatic mobilization and the normal mobility of the thoracic cage.

[0016] Another objective of the invention is to provide an exercise device that supports expiration according to the user's needs or applies resistance during inspiration to enhance respiratory muscle strength.

[0017] Another objective of the invention is to provide an exercise device that allows the adjustment of the inspiration and expiration ratio and ensures a normal breathing pattern.

[0018] To achieve all the objectives mentioned above and those that will emerge from the following detailed description, the present invention is an exercise device designed to adjust the inspiration and expiration ratio and ensure a normal breathing pattern. Accordingly, its novelty lies in comprising at least one compression belt, which is positioned around the thoracic region of the user and is shaped to partially encircle the body, and at least one actuation element configured to partially modify the form of the compression belt. In this way, the user is assisted in achieving the desired respiratory functions.

[0019] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the mentioned compression belt comprises at least one first arm and at least one second arm, which are interconnected with at least one hinge, allowing rotational freedom relative to each other. The first arm and the second arm are partially rotatable relative to each other, and the compression belt is made of rigid and solid gray resin. In this way, the compression belt is manufactured in a form that encircles the user's body.

[0020] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the first arm and the second arm are symmetrical to each other. This ensures ease of both manufacturing and assembly of the compression belt.

[0021] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the compression belt comprises at least one large pad, at least four small pads, and at least one bellows. In this way, the user's body is protected against deformation while the exercise device is in operation.

[0022] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the actuation element is a linear motor. In this way, by altering the distance between the first arm and the second arm, pressure is applied to the thorax, thereby mobilizing the diaphragm.

[0023] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the compression belt is in the form of a suspension belt. This ensures that the compression belt is securely held in a predetermined position on the user's body.

[0024] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it includes at least one control unit for programmability and at least one display panel for user operation. In this way, the exercise device can be easily controlled by the user.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 shows a representative front view of the exercise device subject to the invention.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a representative perspective view of the exercise device subject to the invention. Figure 3 shows a front view of the data belt connected to the exercise device subject to the invention.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In this detailed description, the invention is explained with examples that are intended solely to enhance understanding of the subject and do not impose any limiting effects.

[0030] In Figure 1 , a representative perspective view of the exercise device (1 ) subject to the invention is presented. Accordingly, the exercise device (1 ) is used for improving and enhancing a person's respiratory functions. The primary users of the exercise device (1 ) may include patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, those requiring pulmonary rehabilitation after COVID-19, asthma patients, individuals with ankylosing spondylitis, thoracic scoliosis, patients requiring long-term respiratory physiotherapy after thoracic surgery, and patients in need of long-term respiratory physiotherapy following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

[0031] In Figure 2, a representative top view of the exercise device (1 ) subject to the invention is presented. Accordingly, the exercise device (1 ) primarily comprises at least one compression belt (10) and at least one actuation element (20). The mentioned compression belt (10) is positioned around the thoracic region of the user. The main reason for positioning the compression belt (10) around the thorax is that the lower respiratory organs are located in this region. The compression belt (10) is partially shaped to encircle the user's body. The compression belt (10) consists of at least two parts, including at least one first arm (1 1 ) and at least one second arm (12). The first arm (11 ) and the second arm (12) are interconnected with a hinge-like system featuring a zigzag design, allowing rotational freedom. The area enabling this rotational freedom in the compression belt (10) is positioned around the center of the user’s chest. The first arm (11 ) extends from the center of the chest towards the lateral side and back region, while the second arm (12) extends from the center of the chest towards the other lateral side and back region. The compression belt (10) is manufactured with at least two parts, including the first arm (11 ) and the second arm (12), to ensure ergonomic use for the user. The first arm (11 ) and the second arm (12) are designed to be partially symmetrical to each other. The connection strap (13) and the intermediate connection parts (14) establish the connection between the compression belt (10) and the actuation element (20). The first arm (11 ) and the second arm (12) extend towards the back region, while the connection strap (13) is adjustable according to the user’s needs. The bellows (15) is positioned at the moving end of the actuation element (20) to prevent potential irritation. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the compression belt (10) can be made of rigid and solid material. This enhances the compatibility of the compression belt (10) with the user's ergonomics.

[0032] The compression belt (10) includes at least four small pads (16), at least one large pad (17), and at least one bellows (15). The mentioned small pads (16) are preferably positioned on both the first arm (1 1 ) and the second arm (12), serving as cushioning elements in the areas that come into contact with the user. Similarly, at least one large pad (17) is positioned at the location where the motor housing contacts the user's back, fulfilling the same cushioning function.

[0033] The compression belt (10) is configured to be partially movable. For this purpose, the compression belt (10) is associated with the actuation element (20), which is housed inside the motor casing (20). The actuation element (20) is connected on one side to the first arm (1 1 ) and on the other side to the second arm (12) via the connection strap (13) and intermediate connection parts (14). In one possible embodiment of the invention, the actuation element (20) is a linear motor. The linear motor-type actuation element (20) is the HY01 -12-100 model, featuring a 100 mm stroke, 12VDC power, 100N force, and a speed of 90 mm / s. By activating the actuation element (20), its length can be altered. The change in length of the actuation element (20) brings the first arm (1 1 ) and the second arm (12) closer together or moves them apart. Through this movement of the first arm (11 ) and the second arm (12), the diameter of the compression belt (10) can be reduced or expanded. As a result, the device provides support for the user's inspiration and expiration. In another possible embodiment of the invention, the compression belt (10) can be designed in the form of a suspension belt. The suspension belt consists of two straps that secure the compression belt (10) over the user's shoulders. Additionally, actuators can be included in this suspension belt design to adjust the tension of the straps. This ensures that the compression belt (10) is positioned at a predetermined location on the user's body.

[0034] The exercise device (10) includes at least one control unit. The mentioned control unit is configured to manage the operation of the actuation element (20). For this purpose, the control unit may be a programmer known in the field. The control unit is connected on one side to at least one display panel (21 ) and on the other side to the actuation element (20). The display panel (21 ) allows the user to control the exercise device (1 ). Through the display panel (21 ), selections such as operation time, compression intensity, cycle period and etc. can be made, and accordingly, the control unit energizes the actuation element (20).

[0035] In Figure 3, the data belt (2) consists of an elastic belt (30), additional parts (31 ), and at least two buckles (32). The purpose of this data belt (2) is to collect the user's respiratory data. The elastic belt (30) is made of stretchable fabric to avoid applying excessive pressure to the area where the user wears the data belt (2) while allowing flexibility for accurate data collection. The additional parts (31 ) serve to maintain the integrity of the data belt (2), house the integrated sensor that collects respiratory data, and transmit this data to the control unit. The buckle (32) is included in at least two units to facilitate ease of wear and allow user-specific adjustments.

[0036] With this entire structure, diaphragmatic mobilization and the normal mobility of the thoracic cage are ensured, while the device provides expiration support according to the user's needs or applies resistance during inspiration to enhance respiratory muscle strength. By allowing the adjustment of the inspiration and expiration ratio, the device enables the establishment of a normal breathing pattern. Additionally, through the cognitive effect of the exercise device (1 ), conscious awareness is promoted. Since it allows the simultaneous treatment and monitoring of multiple patients, it aims to reduce the workload of healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the exercise device (1 ) enables automatic thoracic mobilization.

[0037] The scope of protection of the invention is defined in the claims provided in the annex and is by no means limited to the examples described in this detailed description. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may develop similar embodiments based on the explanations above without deviating from the main concept of the invention.

[0038] REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURES

[0039] 1 Exercise device

[0040] 2 Data belt

[0041] 10 Compression belt

[0042] 11 First arm

[0043] 12 Second arm

[0044] 13 Connection strap

[0045] 14 Intermediate connection parts

[0046] 15 Bellows

[0047] 16 Small pad

[0048] 17 Large pad

[0049] 20 Actuation element

[0050] 21 Display panel

[0051] 30 Elastic belt

[0052] 31 Additional parts

[0053] 32 Buckle

Claims

CLAIMS1. The invention is an exercise device (1 ) for adjusting the inspiration and expiration ratio and ensuring a normal breathing pattern, characterized by comprising at least one compression belt (10) positioned around the thoracic region of the user and shaped to at least partially encircle the body, and at least one actuation element (20) configured to partially modify the form of the mentioned compression belt (10).

2. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the mentioned compression belt (10) comprises at least one first arm (11 ) and at least one second arm (12), which are interconnected with rotational freedom relative to each other.

3. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the mentioned first arm (11 ) and second arm (12) are interconnected with partial rotational freedom.

4. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first arm (1 1 ) and the second arm (12) are complementary symmetrical to each other.

5. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a connection strap (13) and intermediate connection parts (14) that establish the connection between the actuation element (20) and the compression belt (10).

6. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the compression belt (10) is made of gray resin.

7. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the compression belt (10) comprises at least four small pads (16) and at least one large pad (17).

8. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the compression belt (10) comprises at least one bellows (15).

9. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuation element (20) is a linear motor positioned inside a motor housing(20).

10. The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the compression belt (10) is in the form of a suspension belt.11 . The exercise device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one control unit for programmability and at least one display panel(21 ) for user operation.

12. The data belt (2) is designed to obtain the user's respiratory data and enable the exercise device (1 ) to operate in synchronization with the user, characterized in that it is positioned near the region of the exercise device (1 ) and is shaped to partially encircle the user's body.

13. The data belt (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises an elastic belt (30) to measure flexibility occurring during respiration.

14. The data belt (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises additional parts (31 ) to maintain the integrity of the device and to collect and transmit respiratory data.

15. The data belt (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises at least two buckles (32) for maintaining the integrity of the data belt (2), facilitating ease of wear, and allowing user-specific adjustments.

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