Heart failure mask and methods for increasing negative intrathoracic pressures
First Claim
1. A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:
- sealing a facial mask around the patient'"'"'s mouth and nose, the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O;
the patient breathing while the mask is sealed to the face, wherein respiratory gases are substantially completely prevented from entering the patient'"'"'s lungs during inhalation until such time as the patient produces a pressure within the mask that is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O, whereupon the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gases into the lungs; and
mechanically altering the negative intrathoracic pressure of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides methods and devices for treating a patient suffering from heart failure. According to one exemplary method, a facial mask is sealed around the patient'"'"'s mouth and nose, with the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve. The threshold valve is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O. With this arrangement, the patient breathes while the mask is sealed to the face, with the respiratory gasses being prevented from entering the patient'"'"'s lungs during inhalation until the patient produces a pressure within the mask that is within the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O. At this point, the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gasses into the lungs.
149 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:
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sealing a facial mask around the patient'"'"'s mouth and nose, the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O; the patient breathing while the mask is sealed to the face, wherein respiratory gases are substantially completely prevented from entering the patient'"'"'s lungs during inhalation until such time as the patient produces a pressure within the mask that is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O, whereupon the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gases into the lungs; and mechanically altering the negative intrathoracic pressure of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for treating a patient that is suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:
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sealing a facial mask around the patients mouth and nose, the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O; the patient breathing while the mask is sealed to the face, wherein respiratory gases are substantially completely prevented from entering the patient'"'"'s lungs during inhalation for a time sufficient to allow a negative intrathoracic pressure that is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O to develop within the patient, whereupon the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gases into the lungs; and periodically ventilating the patient. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:
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during normal breathing of the patient, preventing respiratory gases from entering the patient'"'"'s lungs until a negative intrathoracic pressure that is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O is developed within the patient and then allowing respiratory gases to flow into the lungs; and periodically ventilating the patient. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A device for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the device comprising:
an endotracheal tube comprising an elongate body which is insertable into a patient'"'"'s airway, the tube further including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the endotracheal tube is in the range from about -3 cm H2 O to about -25 cm H2 O. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
Specification