US00761.

8235B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,618,235 B2

Sacco (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 17, 2009
(54) DISPOSABLE SPIROMETER WITH PLASTIC (52) U.S. Cl. ................. 415/121.3; 415/915; 73/861.89;
NECTION MOULDED TURBINE 6OO/539
(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 600/539;
(75) Inventor: Paolo Boschetti Sacco, Rome (IT) 73/861.89,861.33, 861.85: 416/61; 415/912,
415/9, 193, 915
(73) Assignee: MIR S.R.L., Rome (IT) See application file for complete search history.
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this (56) References Cited
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 417 days. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,733,570 A * 3/1988 Peters .............. ... 73,861.33
(21) Appl. No.: 10/573,899 5,732,709 A * 3/1998 Tacklind et al. ............. 600,539
(22) PCT Filed: Feb. 18, 2004 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
(86). PCT No.: PCT/IT2004/OOOO68 EP O 369 506 5, 1990

S371 (c)(1), * cited by examiner

(2), (4) Date: Mar. 29, 2006 Primary Examiner Richard Edgar
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2005/037102 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Young & Thompson
57 ABSTRACT
PCT Pub. Date: Apr. 28, 2005 (57)
(65) Prior Publication Data A Small dimension throwaway turbine device for checking
the breathing flux, to be used in spirometric instruments,
US 2007/OO59 165A1 Mar 15, 2007 allowing an extreme simplification in project and realization,
and comprises a turbo-turbine (4) with an inlet deflector (1)
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data and an outlet deflector (3), and a single-piece mobile equip
Oct. 22, 2003 (IT) ......................... RM2003A0487 ment comprising a blade (2) and a rotation axis (5), realized
out of one single raw material.
(51) Int. Cl.
A6B 5/09 (2006.01) 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
U.S. Patent Nov. 17, 2009 US 7,618,235 B2

FIG.

FIG. 2
 US 7,618,235 B2
1. 2
DISPOSABLE SPIROMETER WITH PLASTIC kind of tester, on the contrary of others based onto different
INJECTION MOULDED TURBINE principles, is not influenced by the surrounding conditions,
the turbine flux tester realizes a highly accurate measuring
The present invention concerns a small dimension turbine system, reliable and that does not require calibration. This
device for checking the breathing flux, to be used in spiro kind of tester may therefore be used for a high number of
metric instruments, for allowing an extreme simplification in Spirometric tests without any decay of the result quality, and
project and realization, as said turbine is realized in one single needs, at the end of each test, to be sterilized for assuring the
construction phase, making use of one single, low cost raw hygiene.
material, so as to make possible a throwaway use. As an alternative, throwaway antibacterial filters may be
10 used coupled at the entrance of the turbine pipe, while the use
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of a throwaway mouthpiece is always necessary, because it
gets into contact with the mouth of the patient.
It is known that the technique of the spirometric measuring, The only possibility of error of said system may derive
i.e. the analysis of the breathing functionality, always pro from the presence of foreign bodies inside the turbine pipe,
vides a tester of the inspired and expired air volume or of the 15 like hairs or secretions of the patient, or fluff, coming from
speed or flux of the same. Usually, a device transforming the invisible suspensions in the air collected around the rotation
primary measuring obtained by the testing is transformed into axis. In both cases the measuring will be influenced by the
an electric signal by a device provided downstream of the friction that slows down, or in extreme cases might block, the
tester. movement of the mobile equipment. To these eventualities, a
The most commonly used physical phenomena onto which partial remedy is the adoption of filters upstream the mobile
the flux tester are based are two: the one exploiting the pres equipment.
Sure determined at the passage of a fluid according to the The device according to the present invention responds to
Venturi principle, and the one that obtains the measuring of the need of obtaining a throwaway tester to be used by each
the air volume from the rotation of a turbine placed in single patient for performing a session of spirometric tests,
between the flux. 25 usually consisting of a sequence of breathings. As the spiro
metric devices are used by a high number of different patients,
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Sometimes afflicted with contagious breathing pathologies, if
there is no throwaway tester it is at present necessary to
The tester devices known at present, working according to perform long and annoying sterilization operations of that
the principle of the turbine, are only of the kind thought for a 30 part of the tester which, during the measuring, gets into con
use for multiple tests and comprise: tact with the patient. The use of a throwaway tester therefore
a turbine pipe of infrared ray transparent polycarbonate, represents a considerable advantage not only for saving the
provided with an inlet deflector for obtaining the rota time necessary for the sterilization operations, but also for the
tion of the air passing through the pipe: absolute hygiene guarantee offered by the same, in line with
a mobile equipment consisting of a blade with a metal 35 the consolidated tendency of making use of throwaway
rotation axis; devices in the medical field, like syringes, needles, containers
two cavities out of semi-precious stones, like a synthetical for organic liquids, etc.
Sapphire, wherein the metal axis is housed and wherein For this purpose, throwaway testers are known at present
it may rotate with low friction; working according to the Venturi principle, while there is no
two adjusting screws of said cavities: 40 one working according to the turbine principle.
an outlet deflector out of polycarbonate, having the same Furthermore, the testing system making use of the Venturi
function than the inlet deflector. principle—whether throwaway or not shows a number of
Above mentioned components require assembling phases disadvantages with respect to the turbine system, like:
in under-assembling, as blade and axis, adjusting screw and it gets influenced by ambient circumstances of the test, like
cavity out of synthetic sapphire cavity, which—once 45 moisture, temperature and pressure, which in turn varies
assembled provide the turbine flux tester of known kind, the according to the altitude:
functioning whereof may be described as follows: it needs a calibration at the beginning of each series of tests
at determined ambient conditions;
the mobile equipment rotates at a speed directly proportional the electric signal is generated by a pressure transducer
to the speed of the expired or inspired air, and said rotation is 50 which usually is more expensive with respect to the
taken by two couples of infrared emitters/sensors which gen infrared reader used for reading the speed in the case of
erate impulses in a number proportional to the quantity of air a turbine system.
that passes through the turbine pipe.
As during a spirometric test the speed of the turbine may SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
reach peaks of 1000 revolutions per second, even if only for 55
few fractions of a second, the metal axis onto which the blade It is the aim of the present invention to realize a turbine
is mounted is out of a special alloy, and the rotation movement device of the throwaway kind, for taking the breathing flux
is Supported by two semi-precious stones, i.e. as already Such as to sum the particular features of each throwaway
mentioned two synthetic sapphires. For both said elements— tester with the special ones of the turbine tester, so as to show
axis and semi-precious stones—components of watchmaking 60 many and considerable advantages:
must be used, because until now they have proved to be the an extremely restrained production cost, essential for the
Sole that have permitted to assure the required measuring throwaway feature of the device;
precision for the spirometric device to stand the severe stan accuracy concerning the standards set by the ATS Ameri
dards provided for spirometric tests. Due to the use of said can Thoracic Society
precious components, modifications of the response typical 65 indifference to the surrounding factors:
of the tester and due to the wear of the parts—may be elimi interchangeability, without the need of performing each
nated. Furthermore, as the measuring performed with that time regulation of the calibration factors:
 US 7,618,235 B2
3 4
easy insertion and removing into and from the control a low environmental impact deriving from a lower quanti
unity; tative use of raw material and from the homogeneity of
compatibility with a low Surrounding impact; the same, which makes the recycling easier,
maximum hygiene without need of any disinfection opera the simplification of performance of the spirometric test
tion; due to the elimination of any operation of sterilization,
measured dimensions for reducing storing problems and cleaning etc.
transportation costs. The throwaway turbine device furthermore shows consid
erable benefits with respect to the conventional turbine
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS device:
10 absolute hygiene guarantee;
The present invention will be explained more in detail lower duration of the test because there are no dead times to
hereinbelow relating to the enclosed drawings in which an be dedicated to operations like cleaning, disinfection
embodiment is shown. and removing of the filters, etc.
FIG. 1 shows a scheme of a throwaway turbine device for The invention claimed is:
checking the breathing flux. 15
1. A small dimension throwaway turbine device for the
FIG. 2 shows the assembled throwaway turbine device. checking of breathing flux, characterized in only three com
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ponents realized in one single printing and injection produc
EMBODIMENTS tion phase out of plastic material, making use of always the
same raw material, comprising:
The enclosed figures show a small dimension turbine a mono-block mobile equipment (2), configured to rotate
device for checking the breathing flux, to be used in spiro about a rotation axis (5), formed exclusively of a plastic
metric instruments, consisting of only three components real material; and
ized in one single printing and injection production phase, a turbo-turbine (4), with an inlet deflector (1) and an outlet
making use of always the same raw material: a mobile mono 25
deflector (3), the inlet deflector (1) and the outlet deflec
block equipment or blade 2 out of plastic material, a turbo tor (3) formed exclusively of the plastic material,
turbine 4 with an inlet deflector 1 and an outlet deflector 3, wherein the mobile equipment consists of one single piece
wherein the mobile equipment consists of one single piece of the plastic material formed as a blade (2), a first
comprising said blade 2 and said rotation axis 5. extension, and a second extension, the first and second
It shall be underlined that the conventional turbine tester 30
extensions extending from opposite edges of the blade
consists of eight components which require a plurality of along the rotation axis (5).
special working phases, also because different raw materials 2. The throwaway device according to claim 1,
are used, and that the mobile equipment, assembled accord wherein, opposite-facing ends of the first and second
extensions each have a truncated-cone structure beveled
ing to the conventional turbine tester, requires a high employ with a 45° angle, and
ment of workers and use of watchmaking components. 35
wherein the inlet deflector (1) has a first cavity directly in
Furthermore, the axis of the mono-block mobile equip said inlet deflector, the outlet deflector (3) has a second
ment has a truncated-cone structure at the two ends, bevelled cavity directly in said outlet deflector, and each of the
at 45° so that the housing of the rotation axis of said blade is first cavity and the second cavity are configured to house
realized in two cavities or seats obtained directly in the one of the first extension and the second extension.
deflectors, without any other components like semi-precious 40
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation
stones of watchmaking. axis extends through a center of the inlet deflector (1) and the
Besides the already mentioned advantages, the present outlet deflector (3).
invention shows the following further advantages: 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said turbine is
simplicity in production because no assembling or under realized in one single production phase, making use of one
assembling are provided and no adjusting operation is 45
required, as it occurs for the Sapphire cavities by means single raw material.
of the special Screws; 5. The device according to claim 1,
the technology used for the production of the throwaway wherein each of the inlet deflector (1) and the outlet deflec
tester—thermoplastic injection printing is consoli tor (3) are circular, and
dated and allows a large scale production; 50 wherein the rotation axis extends through a center of the
the low cost, deriving on one side from the realization inlet deflector (1) and the outlet deflector (3).
simplicity and from the wide scale production technol 6. A turbine device for the checking of breathing flux,
ogy, and on the other side from the elimination of acces comprising:
sory components like antibacterial filters, mouthpiece a first deflector (1):
etc. Vice versa necessary for the conventional turbine 55 a second deflector (3); and
tester; a mono-block mobile equipment sandwiched between the
a greater accuracy in the measuring for an easier construc first deflector (1) and the second deflector (3), the mono
tion, and the elimination of under-assembling and of block mobile equipment consisting of a blade, a first
Successive assembling, as it is known that each working extension extending from a first edge of the blade, and a
phase has a determined tolerance and each of it implies 60 second extension extending form an opposite second
risks of error; edge of the blade,
the elimination of two factors which, in the case of the wherein the first deflector (1), the second deflector (3), and
conventional turbine tester, may in time reduce the mea the mono-block mobile equipment are made of a same
Suring accuracy: the deterioration due to the friction plastic material and made only of the same plastic mate
between the coupling Surfaces of the rotation axis and 65 rial.
the friction effect caused by the accumulation of foreign
bodies, fluff etc.;
 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

PATENT NO. : 7,618,235 B2 Page 1 of 1

APPLICATION NO. : 10/573899
DATED : November 17, 2009
INVENTOR(S) : Paolo BOSchetti Sacco
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Title Page:

The first or sole Notice should read --

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b)
by 502 days.

Signed and Sealed this

Fourteenth Day of December, 2010

David J. Kappos
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office