Diabetes treatment systems and methods

• US 20050199237A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Lurie, Keith G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5089 Gas sensors, e.g. for oxygen or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/207 partial O2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/106 in a path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 : Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 : electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 : Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 : Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 : electrical
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/042 : comprising compounds containing carbon and hydrogen only

Abstract

A method for treating a breathing person suffering from diabetes utilizes a valve system that is interfaced to the person'"'"'s airway and is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing cardiac output and blood circulation in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.

Claims

1. A method for treating a person suffering from diabetes where vital organ perfusion is diminished, the method comprising:

interfacing a valve system to the person'"'"'s airway, the valve system being configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event;

permitting the person to inhale and exhale through the valve system, wherein during inhalation the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby enhancing vital organ perfusion and function in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the valve system is incorporated into a facial mask or a mouthpiece, and further comprising coupling the facial mask or the mouthpiece to the person'"'"'s face.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the valve system includes a pressure responsive inflow valve, and further comprising setting an actuating pressure of the valve to be in the range from about −

3 cm H₂O to about −

10 cm H₂O.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising coupling at least one physiological sensor to the patient to monitor at least one physiological parameter of the person while breathing through the valve system.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the valve system is further configured to prevent or decrease exhaled gases from exiting the person'"'"'s lungs during at least a portion of an exhalation event to further increase blood circulation and enhance vital organ perfusion and function.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the valve system includes a pressure responsive exhalation valve to prevent or decrease the exhaled gases from exiting the person'"'"'s lungs, and further comprising setting an actuating pressure of the exhalation valve to be in the range from about 0 cm H₂O to about 7.5 cm H₂O.

7. A device for facilitating the treatment of a person suffering from diabetes, the device comprising:

a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with the person'"'"'s airway; and

a valve system that is operable to regulate respiratory gas flow through the housing and into the person'"'"'s lungs due to inhalation, the valve system assisting in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to increase blood flow back to the person'"'"'s chest and hereby enhance vital organ perfusion and function;

wherein the valve system is configured to permit respiratory gases to flow to the person'"'"'s lungs when the negative intrathoracic pressure reaches a pressure in the range from about −

3 cm H₂O to about −

10 cm H₂O in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the valve system is further configured to regulate respiratory gas flow from the person'"'"'s lungs during exhalation to further assist in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to enhance vital organ perfusion and function.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein the valve system is configured to permit respiratory gases to flow from the person'"'"'s lungs when the intrathoracic pressure is in the range from about 0 cm H₂O to about 7.5 cm H₂O.

10. A device as in claim 7, wherein valve system comprises an inflow valve that is selected from a group of valves consisting of a fish mouth valve, a spring-poppet valve, a ball valve, a flexible plug valve, a slotted airway resistance valve, a movable disk valve, a compressible airway valve, an iris valve and a sequential series of adjusting valves.

11. A device as in claim 7, further comprising at least one physiological sensor that is attachable to the patient to monitor at least one physiological parameter of the person while breathing through the valve system.

12. A device as in claim 7, further comprising a facial mask coupled to the housing.

13. A device as in claim 7, further comprising a mouthpiece coupled to the housing.

14. A method for treating a person by manipulating internal pressures within the person, the method comprising:

interfacing a valve system to the person'"'"'s airway, the valve system being configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event or upward movement of the person'"'"'s chest;

continuously supplying a pressurized gas into the valve system so that a continuous positive pressure is supplied to the person'"'"'s lungs.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the valve system is incorporated into a facial mask or a mouthpiece, and further comprising coupling the facial mask or the mouthpiece to the person'"'"'s face.

16. A method as in claim 14, permitting the person to inhale and exhale through the valve system, wherein during inhalation the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person.

17. A method as in claim 14, further comprising repeatedly compressing the person'"'"'s chest.

18. A method as in claim 14, wherein the pressurized gas is supplied at a pressure in the range from about 0 cm H₂O to about 20 cm H₂O.

19. A device for increasing circulation, the device comprising:

a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening that is adapted to be interfaced with the person'"'"'s airway; and

a valve system that is operable to regulate respiratory gas flow through the housing and into the person'"'"'s lungs due to inhalation or rising of the person'"'"'s chest, the valve system assisting in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to increase blood flow back to the person'"'"'s chest and hereby enhance vital organ perfusion and function;

a positive pressure source that supplies a continuous supply of pressurized gas into the inlet opening where the pressurized gas passes through the outlet opening for delivery to the patient'"'"'s airway.

20. A device as in claim 19, wherein the valve system is configured to open permit respiratory gases to freely flow to the person'"'"'s lungs when the negative intrathoracic pressure reaches a pressure in the range from about −

2 cm H₂O to about −

15 cm H₂O.

21. A device as in claim 19, wherein the pressurized gas is supplied at a pressure in the range from about 0 cm H₂O to about 20 cm H₂O.

22. A device as in claim 19, further comprising a facial mask coupled valve system.

23. A device as in claim 19, wherein the positive pressure source comprises a ventilator.