Method and apparatus for ventilatory therapy
First Claim
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1. A method of providing ventilatory assistance to patients afflicted with impaired spontaneous respiration capability comprising the steps of:
- providing a continuous supply of breathing gas to the airway of such a patient;
coincident with said providing step, maintaining the airway pressure of such a patient substantially constantly at an elevated base pressure level above ambient atmosphere pressure in a manner to permit substantially continuous spontaneous respiration while the patient'"'"'s airway pressure is maintained at said elevated base pressure;
intermittently reducing the airway pressure of such a patient from said elevated base pressure level to a threshold pressure level not substantially less than ambient atmospheric pressure;
maintaining the airway pressure of such a patient substantially at said threshold pressure level for a time period of predetermined duration; and
returning the airway pressure of such patient to said elevated base pressure level.
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Abstract
A novel respiratory method and apparatus permits ventilatory therapy in patients requiring respiratory assistance by establishing a substantially continuous positive airway pressure to enhance functional residual capacity, and a periodic release of the substantially continuous positive airway pressure reduces airway pressure at intervals to permit passive reduction in lung volume below functional residual capacity to thereby enhance alveolar ventilation and carbon dioxide excretion.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of providing ventilatory assistance to patients afflicted with impaired spontaneous respiration capability comprising the steps of:
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providing a continuous supply of breathing gas to the airway of such a patient; coincident with said providing step, maintaining the airway pressure of such a patient substantially constantly at an elevated base pressure level above ambient atmosphere pressure in a manner to permit substantially continuous spontaneous respiration while the patient'"'"'s airway pressure is maintained at said elevated base pressure; intermittently reducing the airway pressure of such a patient from said elevated base pressure level to a threshold pressure level not substantially less than ambient atmospheric pressure; maintaining the airway pressure of such a patient substantially at said threshold pressure level for a time period of predetermined duration; and returning the airway pressure of such patient to said elevated base pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a method of providing external ventilatory assistance to a patient afflicted with impaired spontaneous respiration capability which includes substantially continuous spontaneous patient inspiration and expiration while the patient'"'"'s airway pressure is substantially constantly maintained at a pressure level greater than ambient atmospheric pressure, the improvement comprising;
stimulating the alveolar ventilation and carbon dioxide excretion functions of the patient'"'"'s respiratory system by intermittently reducing said elevated airway pressure to a pressure level not subtantially less than ambient atmospheric pressure for a period of predetermined duration.
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9. In an apparatus for providing ventilatory assistance to patients afflicted with impaired spontaneous respiration capability, the combination comprising:
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interfacing means adapted for sealed engagement with the airway of such a patient for delivery of a breathing gas to such patient; a breathing gas supply means cooperable with said interfacing means for delivery of breathing gas to the airway of such a patient; pressure control means cooperable with said interfacing means to maintain a substantially constant elevated pressure level above ambient atmospheric pressure within the airway of such a patient; pressure release means cooperable with said interfacing means to permit controlled momentary release of said elevated pressure level from the airway of such a patient; and control means cooperable with said pressure release means to provide repetitive intermittent cycles of momentary airway pressure reduction from said elevated pressure level to a reduced airway pressure level, and return of such patient'"'"'s airway pressure from said reduced pressure to said substantially constant elevated pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In an apparatus for providing a substantially constant elevated airway pressure level above ambient atmospheric pressure to the airway of a patient to maintain a selected functional residual capacity within the lungs of such patient, the improvement comprising:
pressure release means repetitively operable to momentarily reduce the airway pressure of such a patient from said substantially constant elevated pressure level to a reduced airway pressure level no less than ambient atmospheric pressure and to subsequently permit return of such patient'"'"'s airway pressure to said substantially constant elevated pressure level to thereby define an intermittently repeated interval of predetermined limited duration during which such patient'"'"'s airway pressure is maintained at a reduced pressure level less than said substantially constant elevated pressure level.
Specification