Respiratory therapy device for keeping free the natural respiratory tract of a human body and the use thereof in order to prevent the sound of snoring

• US 20050098176A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoffrichter GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hoffrichter Medizintechnik Gmbm
• Inventors: Hoffrichter, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars

Abstract

In order to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, the inner respiratory tract is subjected to atmospheric pressure and the outer surrounding area of the respiratory tract is subjected to artificial low-pressure, the difference between the inner atmospheric pressure and the outer low-pressure remaining constant. The respiratory therapy device consists of a pressure stable hollow body which surrounds the human body while keeping free the natural respiratory opening. Set hollow body forms the low-pressure chamber (7) is connected to a suction pump (3) by a suction tube (2). The invention method and respiratory therapy device make it possible to breathe in a free atmosphere.

Claims

1. Method for maintaining the upper respiratory passages of the human opened through a compressed air rail,

characterized in that the respiratory passage is subjected to the pressure of the atmosphere and the extra corporal region of the respiratory passage is subjected to an artificial under pressure, wherein the difference between the inner atmospheric pressure and the outer under pressure is maintained constant.

2. Breathing therapy apparatus

characterized by a pressure stable hollow body, wherein the hollow body surrounds the human body under maintaining free the natural breathing opening and wherein the pressure stable hollow body forms an under pressure chamber (7) at least in the extra corporal region of the respiratory passage, wherein under pressure chamber (7) is connected to a suction pump (3) through a suction hose (2).

3. Breathing therapy apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that the pressure stable hollow body is formed as a cap (1), wherein the cap surrounds with its edge the front neck region starting, from the chin at the two sides of the lower jaw, the sides of the neck and tie area of the collar bone along up the upper end of the breast bone and is formed such that the cap covers the skin region bordered by the edge of the cap in a dome shape and with a distance to the skin.

4. Breathing therapy apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure stable cap (1) is made of a material, which is pressure stable in a direction perpendicular to the body surface and is such flexible in surface direction that motions of the head are permissible.

5. Breathing therapy apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure stable cap (1) comprises a preferably integrated under construction out of stabilizing skeleton braces (4) and an elastic skin 5 disposed above the skeleton braces (4), wherein the elastic skin comprises rubber or another elastomer.

6. Breathing therapy apparatus according to claim 2.