US-12616635-B2 - Percussion apparatus for sputum clearance

US12616635B2US 12616635 B2US12616635 B2US 12616635B2US-12616635-B2

Abstract

A percussion apparatus for sputum clearance includes a percussion unit, a drive unit, and a control unit, the percussion unit includes a percussion member and an angle detector, the angle detector is configured to detect an included angle between the reference plane and a horizontal plane, the control unit is electrically connected with the drive unit, and when the included angle conforms to a preset angle, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the percussion unit to periodically percuss, which greatly saves the manpower and increase the efficiency of sputum clearance.

Inventors

Shin-Da Lee
Bor-Tsang WU
Liang-Wen HANG
Yun-Chu Ho

Assignees

METABRAIN TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220331
Priority Date: 20210401

Claims (7)

1 . A percussion apparatus for sputum clearance, including: a percussion unit, including a percussion member and an angle detector, the angle detector being configured to detect an included angle between a reference plane and a horizontal plane; a drive unit; and a control unit, electrically connected with the drive unit, wherein when the included angle conforms to a preset angle, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the percussion unit to periodically percuss, wherein the percussion unit further includes a sound receiver, and when a received signal of the sound receiver conforms to a preset sound wave characteristic and the included angle conforms to the preset angle, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the percussion unit to periodically percuss, and wherein the percussion member is cup-shaped, the percussion member includes a cup bottom which is adjacent to the sound receiver and a cup side portion which is connected with the cup bottom and gradually expands outward; wherein the sound receiver is located between the reference plane and the angle detector, and the sound receiver is more adjacent to the cup bottom than the angle detector.
2 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 1 , wherein the percussion member which is driven by the drive unit to periodically percuss in a normal direction normal to the reference plane.
3 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 1 , wherein the preset angle ranges between 0-45 degrees.
4 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 2 , wherein the percussion unit further includes a main body, and the angle detector and the sound receiver are disposed on the main body.
5 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 4 , wherein an end of the cup side portion remote from the cup bottom defines the reference plane.
6 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 5 , wherein the cup side portion is configured to contact a region of a user, and the region and the reference plane are in parallel.
7 . The percussion apparatus for sputum clearance of claim 1 , wherein the angle detector is a mercury switch, a gyroscope, a tilt switch or a ball switch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an assistive apparatus, and especially to a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance. Description of the Prior Art Generally, patients with respiratory diseases often suffer from the problem of sputum accumulation in the lungs, which makes the inflamed regions difficult to heal. The patients have to rely on others to assist in manual sputum clearance to expectorate the sputum. However, only experienced persons can accurately identify the regions where the sputum exists; it is necessary to identify the positions to be patted and to carry out sputum clearance at a proper angle; and the operation of sputum clearance is very labor-intensive. As a result, it is difficult to completely eliminate the problem of sputum accumulation. The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages. To achieve the above and other objects, a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance is provided, including: a percussion unit, including a reference plane and an angle detector, the angle detector being configured to detect an included angle between the reference plane and a horizontal plane; a drive unit; and a control unit, electrically connected with the drive unit, wherein when the included angle conforms to a preset angle, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the percussion unit to periodically percuss. To achieve the above and other objects, a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance is provided, including: a wearable member; a plurality of percussion units, disposed on the wearable member, each of the plurality of percussion units including a reference plane and an angle detector, the angle detector being configured to detect an included angle between the reference plane and a horizontal plane; a drive unit; and a control unit, electrically connected with the drive unit, wherein when any one of the included angle associated one of the plurality of percussion units conforms to a preset angle, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the associated one of the plurality of percussion units to periodically percuss. The advantages of the present invention are: through at least one percussion unit, the control unit 4 can use the angle detector to allow the user to adjust the angle of the body to draw sputum at the proper angle; the sound receiver can be used to more accurately identify the body region where the sputum is located; and the drive unit can be used to drive the percussion unit to periodically percuss to assist sputum clearance. Compared with the conventional manual sputum clearance, it can greatly save the manpower and increase the efficiency of sputum clearance, so it can indeed achieve the purpose and object of the present invention. The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a drawing of a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance according to a first preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a drawing showing application of the percussion apparatus for sputum clearance according to the first preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a drawing of a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance according to a second preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a drawing showing application of the percussion apparatus for sputum clearance according to the second preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a front view of a percussion apparatus for sputum clearance with an external device according to a third preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a rear view of the percussion apparatus for sputum clearance with the external device according to the third preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a drawing of a percussion unit according to the third preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a stereogram of the percussion unit according to the third preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the third preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a drawing showing positional relationship of percussion units on the front of the human chest and at the front side of lung lobes; and FIG. 11 is a drawing showing positional relationship of percussion units on the back of the human body and at the rear side of lung lobes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a first preferable embodiment of the present invention. A percussion app