Sip/Puff Switch^TM

The Sip/Puff solutions are ideal for people who have limited or no motor capability to operate switch activated devices, including computers, augmentative communication devices, adapted toys, environmental control systems and devices accessed or controlled by scanning. Sip/Puff technology is also popular for wheel chair navigation.

For people effected with severe motor disabilities, manipulating a standard switch can be difficult, tiring and in some cases impossible. With Origin Instruments Sip/Puff offerings users can easily activate and have control over devices through a simple "sip" and/or "puff" into a mouth tube.

There are several ways to configure a sip and puff switch solution. We provide two head mounted and one externally mounted user interface soultions. Of the head mounted options there is a single user version and a multi-user version. The multi-user version has individually packaged and easily replaceable, filtered mouthpieces designed for situations where multiple people will be using the same Sip/Puff Switch. For situations where head mounting is not desired, the flexible shaft (gooseneck) interface is available. The flexible shaft interface features screw-on filtered mouthpieces.

The device that turns the sips and puffs into electrical signals for a computer or AAC device is available in two forms. If a simple switch closure over a standard 3.5-mm connector is desired then the passive Sip/Puff Switch is the proper choice. If a USB output is desired then the Breeze sensor is the proper choice. Breeze has an electronic pressure sensor and a built-in USB interface. With Breeze you attach the Headset or gooseneck to the simple twist connector and plug Breeze directly into a standard Mac or PC. A simple and elegant solution.

The Sip/Puff Switch components are sold separately and in the following bundles.

• Single User Headset with Sip/Puff Switch
• Gooseneck with Sip/Puff Switch
• Single User Headset with Breeze
• Gooseneck with Breeze
• Multi-User Headset with Sip/Puff Switch
• AirVoter™ – A multi-user version optimized for voting machine access

Single User Headset with Sip/Puff Switch

• Sip/Puff pressure switch
• Two 5–foot cables, one mono and one stereo
• Padded headset with attached mouth tube and 6-foot (1.8-meter) tube with pneumatic connector
• Three replacement mouth tubes with integral stainless steel forming wire
• Documentation

Click to buy Sip/Puff Switch with Headset

Gooseneck with Sip/Puff Switch

• Sip/Puff pressure switch
• Two 5–foot cables, one mono and one stereo (not shown)
• Gooseneck with universal clamp
• 6–foot (1.8–meter) tube with pneumatic connector
• Four filtered mouthpieces
• Documentation

Click to buy Sip/Puff Switch with Gooseneck

Single User Headset with Breeze

• Breeze Sensor
• Two 5–foot cables, one mono and one stereo
• Padded headset with attached mouth tube and 6-foot (1.8-meter) tube with pneumatic connector
• Three replacement mouth tubes with integral stainless steel forming wire
• Three in-line filters
• Documentation

Click to buy Breeze with Headset

Gooseneck with Breeze

• Breeze Sensor
• Two 5–foot cables, one mono and one stereo
• Gooseneck with universal clamp
• 6–foot (1.8-meter) tube with pneumatic connector
• Four Filtered Mouthpieces
• Documentation

Click to buy Breeze with Gooseneck

Multi-User Headset with Sip/Puff Switch Package

The Sip/Puff Switch for Multiple Users provides healthcare institutions, assessment centers, hospitals, etc. with a means to support multiple users while reducing concerns over sanitation. "Sip" and "Puff" test buttons are integrated to assist in application testing. Click here for more information on the Multi-User Headset with Sip/Puff Switch.

• Sip/Puff pressure switch
• Padded headset with quick connect for replaceable mouthpieces
• 6–Foot (1.8-meter) tube with pneumatic connectors
• Two 5–Foot cables, one mono and one stereo
• Five sealed mouthpieces with gloves and instructions
• Convenient storage case with latch and padded foam compartments
• Documentation

Click to buy Multi-User Sip/Puff Switch

Passive Sip and Puff Pressure Switch

All user interface solutions can be attached to the separate, dual pressure switch using a simple twist-on pneumatic connector. The two pressure switches have normally open contacts that close when the user sips or puffs on an attached mouthpiece. These low voltage and low current signaling switches are designed for connection to an electronic device – they are not designed to switch power loads.

• Sip and puff pressure thresholds are approximately 3-inches water column below and above ambient pressure
• Switches carry 40-milliamps at AC/DC–30 volts or less with a resistive load, for millions of cycles
• Dual pressure switch has two 3.5-mm (1/8-inch headphone) connectors. One connector provides both sip and puff events with a stereo cable
• Simple slide switch can be used to change the sense of Sip and Puff signals on the stereo connector
• Passive pressure switches do not require batteries or external power
• Enclosure has integrated "sip" and "puff" test switches

Click to buy Sip/Puff Switch

Breeze Pressure Sensor

All user interface solutions can be attached to the separate, Breeze sensor using a simple twist-on pneumatic connector. The electronic pressure sensor in Breeze will sense a sip or puff and convert these events to mouse button clicks or joystick button presses, and pass these to the connected USB host device (typically a PC or Mac computer).

• Sip and puff pressure thresholds are approximately 3-inches water column below and above ambient pressure
• Mouse Button Emulation
• Joystick Button Emulation
• Extremely Low Latency
• Works with Standard Windows, Mac and Linux USB Human Interface Device (HID) drivers
• USB Powered
• Real time gauge pressure can be reported as joystick X and Y values (± 4 kPa)
• 2- by 0.8- by 0.5-inches (51- by 20- by 13-mm)
• Weighs ½-ounce (14-grams)

Click to buy Breeze

Gooseneck Mouthpiece

The filtered mouthpiece has a simple twist on connector.

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In-line Filter

This filter is required for the Breeze and the Passive Sip/Puff Switch when they are used without the Origin Instruments Headset or a filtered mouthpiece. The Origin Instruments Headset is designed such that gravity will generally minimize saliva moving past the headset. If saliva routinely gets past the headset then an in-line filter should be inserted next to the Breeze of Passive Sip/Puff Switch. There is no need to insert more than one filter. For example, the gooseneck mouthpiece has an in-line filter and therefore a second filter should not be inserted.

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Headset Mouthtube

The headset mouthtube has a stainless steel forming wire to position the tube in a convenient location next to the mouth. For best results the plastic tubing should slip up to the plastic mount for the headset's stainless steel tube.

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Mounting

The flexible shaft is delivered with an adjustable mechanical mounting arm that is articulated in four degrees of freedom. The mounting arm includes an integrated adjustable clamp that supports hard-mounting to table tops, shelves, or cylindrical rods of up to 1.5-inches (38 mm diameter). The flexible shaft incorporates a standard 1/4-20 thread for use with the delivered universal mount, tripods or other special mounting hardware.

The universal mounting arm is composed of two separate pieces, a ball and joint assembly and a clamp. The ball and joint assembly aligns with the clamp using an orientation pin that fixes it in one of eight 45-degree orientations

The single axis joint can be locked in one of thirteen positions (15-degree increments) over a range of 180-degrees as shown in the illustration.

The ball and socket provides additional capability to fix the universal mount at almost any angle. The clamp v-groove facilitates attaching the clamp to a cylindrical object. Clamps with larger openings are available.

Additional Resources

Download Sip/Puff Product User Guides