Self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure systems and methods for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders
First Claim
1. A system to aid respiration of an individual, comprising:
- a mask comprising a first mask inlet valve and a mask outlet valve, wherein the first mask inlet valve is configured for one-way flow into the mask;
a self-contained airflow manifold comprising an air inlet valve and a positive pressure source configured to be worn by the individual and comprising a controller configured to intermittently operate the positive pressure source to increase positive air pressure in the mask to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of a respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle;
an air path connecting the airflow manifold to the mask;
wherein the positive pressure source is configured to supply positive air pressure from the air inlet valve to the first mask inlet valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods provide a self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure system for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders. The systems and methods provide an air flow director that can be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway. The systems and methods provide an airflow regulation assembly that can also be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director. The airflow regulation assembly includes a source of positive pressure. The airflow regulation assembly intermittently operates the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system to aid respiration of an individual, comprising:
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a mask comprising a first mask inlet valve and a mask outlet valve, wherein the first mask inlet valve is configured for one-way flow into the mask; a self-contained airflow manifold comprising an air inlet valve and a positive pressure source configured to be worn by the individual and comprising a controller configured to intermittently operate the positive pressure source to increase positive air pressure in the mask to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of a respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle; an air path connecting the airflow manifold to the mask; wherein the positive pressure source is configured to supply positive air pressure from the air inlet valve to the first mask inlet valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification