SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING AUTONOMIC FUNCTION
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a method for modulating a person'"'"'s autonomic function comprises 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. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system, wherein during inhalation the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to transiently decrease intrathoracic pressure and thereby modulate the person'"'"'s autonomic function.
139 Citations
35 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. A method for altering a person'"'"'s intracranial pressure to thereby modulate the person'"'"'s autonomic tone, the method comprising:
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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 transiently decrease intrathoracic pressure, decrease intracranial pressure and thereby modulate the person'"'"'s autonomic tone;
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 −
2 cm H2O to about −
30 cm H2O. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for repetitively increasing a person'"'"'s sympathetic tone to prevent hypotension, the method comprising:
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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 improve blood flow to the muscles and brain, and to increase the person'"'"'s sympathetic tone to prevent hypotension;
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 −
2 cm H2O to
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35. A method for repetitively increasing a person'"'"'s sympathetic tone to prevent hypotension, the method comprising:
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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 improve blood flow to the muscles and brain, and to increase the person'"'"'s sympathetic tone to prevent hypotension;
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 −
2 cm H2O to about −
30 cm H2O; and
measuring one or more physiological parameters before and after a period of inhalation through the valve system to thereby evaluate the patient'"'"'s condition based on a change of such measured parameters.
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Specification