Altitude adjustment method and apparatus

• US 20040003815A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kroll Family Trust, Yuan MEI Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kroll Family Trust
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,820,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/023 Rooms for the treatment of patients at over- or under-pressure or at a variable pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/103 the CO2 concentration

Abstract

A portable method and apparatus for allowing an individual to pre-adjust at sea level for future high altitudes is taught. The invention teaches the use of a small portable breathing gas control system to adjust the gas concentrations going to a subject'"'"'s face mask.

Claims

1. A device for acclimating an individual to high altitudes while sleeping, said device comprising:

a mask for placement on the individual'"'"'s face, said mask being arranged and configured to cover at least the individual'"'"'s nose and mouth;

said mask being soft and comfortable to avoid sleep interference;

said mask having a securement means to maintain its position during sleeping;

a gas exchange unit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid outlet of said gas exchange unit being in bidirectional fluid communication with said mask;

an element to retard the flow of oxygen into the gas exchange unit;

said element having sufficient material to retard the flow of oxygen for at least 4 hours;

to reduce the level of oxygen contained within said gas exchange unit to simulate high altitude ambient air while the user is sleeping.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the element to retard the flow of oxygen contains metallic iron.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the element to retard the flow of oxygen contains steel wool.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the element to retard the flow of oxygen contains acetic acid.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the element to retard the flow of carbon dioxide contains a metal hydroxide.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the element to retard the flow of carbon dioxide contains a metal carbonate.

5. A device for acclimating an individual to high altitudes while sleeping, said device comprising:

a mask for placement on the individual'"'"'s face, said mask being arranged and configured to cover at least the individual'"'"'s nose and mouth;

said mask being soft and comfortable to avoid sleep interference;

said mask having a securement means to maintain its position during sleeping;

a gas exchange unit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid outlet of said gas exchange unit being in bi-directional fluid communication with said mask;

an element to retard the flow of carbon dioxide from the mask into the gas exchange unit;

said element having sufficient material to retard the flow of carbon dioxide for at least 4 hours;

to reduce the level of oxygen contained within said gas exchange unit to simulate high altitude ambient air while the user is sleeping.