DELAYED RESISTANCE NASAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A nasal respiratory device generally configured to provide an increased resistance to nasal exhalation more than inhalation, the device comprising:
- an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage;
an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and
an airflow resistor bypass configured to suspend or reduce the increased resistance to exhalation applied by the airflow resistor, wherein the airflow resistor bypass is configured to be inactivated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Delayed resistance nasal devices include an airflow resistor that is configured to normally have a higher resistance to exhalation than inhalation, but the higher resistance to exhalation may be suspended, or delayed by activation of an airflow resistor bypass. Activation of an airflow resistor bypass bypasses or decreases the effect of the airflow resistor on nasal airflow through the nasal device, decreasing the resistance to exhalation. Methods of decreasing, suspending, or delaying the onset of the inhibition of the exhalation through such nasal respiratory devices are described.
143 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A nasal respiratory device generally configured to provide an increased resistance to nasal exhalation more than inhalation, the device comprising:
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an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage; an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and an airflow resistor bypass configured to suspend or reduce the increased resistance to exhalation applied by the airflow resistor, wherein the airflow resistor bypass is configured to be inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A nasal respiratory device configured to temporarily decrease resistance to exhalation through the device, the device comprising:
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an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage; an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and an airflow resistor bypass configured to transiently decrease the resistance to air exhaled through the opening for a delay period, after activation of the airflow resistor bypass. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A nasal respiratory device configured to decrease resistance to exhalation through the device for a delay period, the device comprising:
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an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage; an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and an airflow resistor bypass including a bypass channel and a bypass occluder, wherein the airflow resistor bypass is configured to transiently decrease the resistance to air exhaled through the opening for a delay period after activation of the airflow resistor bypass by opening the bypass channel through which air may be exhaled. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A nasal respiratory device configured to temporarily decrease resistance to exhalation through the device for a delay period, the device comprising:
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an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage; an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and an airflow resistor bypass including a bypass displacer, the airflow resistor bypass configured to transiently decrease the resistance to air exhaled through the opening for a delay period after activation of the airflow resistor bypass by engaging at least a portion of the airflow resistor with the bypass displacer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of temporarily decreasing resistance to exhalation through a nasal respiratory device, the nasal respiratory device having an airflow resistor configured to be positioned in communication with a nasal passage, wherein the airflow resistor is further configured to increase the resistance to exhalation through the device more than inhalation through the device, the method comprising:
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activating an airflow resistor bypass on the airflow resistor; and decreasing the resistance to air exhaled through the device for a delay period after activation of the airflow resistor bypass.
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34. A method of temporarily decreasing the resistance to exhalation through a nasal respiratory device, the method comprising:
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applying a nasal device at least partially over the subject'"'"'s nose without covering the subject'"'"'s mouth, wherein the nasal device includes an opening configured to communicate with the subject'"'"'s nasal passageway and an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation through the nasal device more than inhalation through the nasal device; and decreasing the resistance to exhalation through the nasal device, wherein the decrease in resistance to exhalation is sustained for a delay period after triggering. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of acclimating a subject to a nasal respiratory device, the method comprising:
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applying a nasal device at least partially over the subject'"'"'s nose without covering the subject'"'"'s mouth, wherein the nasal device includes an opening configured to communicate with the subject'"'"'s nasal passageway and an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation through the nasal device more than inhalation through the nasal device; and gradually increasing the resistance to exhalation through the nasal device.
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40. A nasal respiratory device having an activatable resistance to exhalation through the device, the device comprising:
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an opening configured to communicate with a nasal passage; an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening; and a control configured to activate and to inactivate the application of the increased resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than air inhaled through the opening by the airflow resistor.
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41. A method of controlling the resistance to exhalation through a nasal respiratory device, the nasal respiratory device having an airflow resistor configured to be positioned in communication with a nasal passage, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to exhalation through the device more than inhalation through the device, the method comprising:
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operating a control on the nasal device to permit the airflow resistor to inhibit exhalation through the device more than inhalation through the device; and operating the control on the nasal device to prevent the airflow resistance from inhibiting exhalation through the device more than inhalation through the device.
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Specification