Carbon dioxide rebreathing apparatus
US4508116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1982 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/914
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A rebreather apparatus for negating temporary hearing threshold shifts due to noise exposure and other physiological conditions related to CO.sub.2 concentration. The rebreather is formed with three chambers. A mouthpiece communicates with a first chamber and this chamber has limited access to the second chamber sandwiched thereto. A third chamber is sandwiched to the second chamber and has limited communication with the second chamber. The third chamber has limited communication therefrom to the atmosphere thus providing an elongated air pathway from the atmosphere to the mouthpiece. This elongated pathway with the restrictions of the openings between chambers achieves an accumulation of carbon dioxide from a user's breath. Accordingly, air inhaled from the rebreather elevates the carbon dioxide content in the lungs of a user and thus in the blood stream of the user. This elevated carbon dioxide content has been shown to negate and/or prevent temporary hearing threshold shifts due to excessive noise exposure. In one embodiment the outer (third) chamber is collapsible during nonuse so that the rebreather may be carried in the pocket of the user and the second and third chambers hav…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.