ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE NASAL DEVICES

• US 20090308398A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ventus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ventus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Wong, Michael Pou, Doshi, Rajiv, Lai, Danny Yu-Youh, Sather, Elliot, Ferdinand, Arthur, Favet, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US12/485,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20090308398A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/085 Fixing means therefor
• 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 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics

Abstract

Described herein are adjustable-resistance respiratory devices, and particularly nasal devices that have an adjustable expiratory resistance while providing a greater resistance to exhalation than to inhalation. The resistance to exhalation may be manually adjustable by a user or remotely adjustable by a third party. For example, described herein are nasal devices having a greater resistance to exhalation than inhalation that includes one or more resistance-modifying members for modifying the resistance of a nasal device. A resistance modifying member may include a cover, a shutter or an adjustable valve for opening/closing a leak pathway through the nasal device. An adjustable-resistance nasal respiratory device may include a control or controls for adjusting the resistance to exhalation. Methods of adjusting the resistance of a nasal device, and systems including nasal devices allowing the resistance to be optimized and/or adjusted are also described.

Claims

1. An adjustable resistance nasal device comprising:

an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;

a holdfast configured to secure the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nostril;

a leak pathway through the nasal device that is separate from the airflow resistor and is configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation; and

a control configured to adjust the expiratory resistance through the nasal device.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a resistance modifying member configured to modify the leak pathway, wherein the resistance modifying member is controlled by the control.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a shutter configured to at least partially occlude the leak pathway.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a cover configured to expose or cover the leak pathway.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cover comprises a pull tab.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises an adjustable valve regulating the leak pathway.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate the expiratory resistance selected by the control.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the leak pathway is a constrictable leak pathway configured so that the size leak pathway may be adjusted by the control.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the control is configured to allow manual adjustment of the expiratory resistance.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the control is configured to allow remote adjustment of the expiratory resistance.

11. The device of claim 2, further comprising a driver to drive the resistance modifying member.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect intranasal pressure.

13. An adjustable resistance nasal device comprising:

an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;

a holdfast configured to secure the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nasal cavity;

a leak pathway through the nasal device that is separate from the airflow resistor and configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation; and

a resistance modifying member configured to allow adjustment of airflow through the leak pathway.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising an adjustable control configured to adjust the expiratory resistance through the nasal device by controlling the resistance modifying member.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the adjustable control is a manual control.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the adjustable control is a remote control.

17. The device of claim 13, removable and replaceable cover configured to occlude the leak pathway.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises an adjustable valve.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a removable cover.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a shutter.

21. The device of claim 13, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate the expiratory resistance.

22. An adjustable resistance nasal device comprising:

an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation, wherein the airflow resistor comprises a plurality of flap valves;

an adhesive holdfast configured to secure the nasal device to a subject'"'"'s nose;

a leak pathway through the nasal device that is separate from the airflow resistor and configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation; and

a resistance modifying member comprising a removable tab configured to adjust airflow through the leak pathway.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the airflow resistor and adhesive holdfast form a flexible, substantially planar device.

24. The device of claim 22, further comprising an indicator to indicate the expiratory resistance.

25. An adjustable resistance nasal device system comprising:

a nasal device having an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation, a holdfast configured to secure the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nasal cavity, and a leak pathway through the nasal device configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation; and

a resistance-modifying member configured to secure to the nasal device and at least partially occlude the leak pathway.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the resistance modifying member is a snap-on resistance modifying member configured to mechanically secure to the nasal device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the resistance modifying member is an adhesive resistance modifying member configured to adhesively secure to the nasal device.

28. An adjustable resistance nasal device comprising:

an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;

a holdfast configured to secure the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nasal cavity; and

a constrictable leak pathway through the nasal device configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the constrictable leak pathway comprises an inflatable bladder.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the constrictable leak pathway comprises a swellable material.

31. A method of controllably adjusting the resistance of a nasal device, wherein the nasal device comprises an airflow resistor configured to have a greater resistance to exhalation than inhalation, a holdfast for securing the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nasal cavity and a leak pathway separate from the airflow resistor that is configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation, the method comprising adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an indicator of the resistance to exhalation.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway comprises at least partially occluding or opening the leak pathway.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising adjusting a control on the nasal device to adjust the airflow through the leak pathway.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising adjusting a control that is remote from the device to adjust the airflow through the leak pathway.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising driving an actuator to adjust the airflow through the leak pathway.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising manipulating a resistance modifying member to adjust airflow through the leak pathway.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a cover that may be removed or applied to the leak pathway to adjust airflow through the leak pathway.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises a shutter configured to at least partially occlude the leak pathway.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the resistance modifying member comprises an adjustable valve regulating the leak pathway.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway comprises opening or closing the leak pathway.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway comprises constricting or dialing the leak pathway.

43. A method of controllably adjusting the resistance of a nasal device, wherein the nasal device comprises an airflow resistor configured to have a greater resistance to exhalation than inhalation, a holdfast for securing the nasal device in communication with a subject'"'"'s nasal cavity and a leak pathway separate from the airflow resistor that is configured to be open during both exhalation and inhalation, the method comprising:

adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway; and

indicating the resistance to exhalation.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising adjusting the airflow through the leak pathway in response to the resistance to exhalation.