Method and apparatus for maintaining airway patency

• US 6,595,212 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sabrina F. Boyer
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Arnott
• Inventors: Arnott, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US09/550,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.19, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/203.28, 128/205-3-2, 128/200.22, 128/200.24, 128/201.27, 128/201.28, 128/205.25, 128/205.18, 128/205.24, 128/204.28
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0048 Mouth-to-mouth respiration teaching or training models G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory 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 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

A method is provided for effecting improved airway ventilation of a patient during sleep which involves delivering a burst or pulse of pressurized air through the patient'"'"'s nose and into the patient'"'"'s airway upon the termination of each breath exhalation. The apparatus of the invention includes an expandable-contractible chamber for collecting and then delivering a bolus of air through a nasal device providing sealed entry of the patient'"'"'s airway, and means responsive to the exhaled breath of the patient that triggers delivery of the bolus of air, all of the foregoing preferably being contained in a compact housing that is positionable near the head of the patient.

Claims

1. A method of relieving a patient of obstructive sleep apnea, comprising the steps of:

providing a means of directing exhaled breath from an airway of said patient to a first expandable chamber;

providing a second expandable chamber for collecting ambient air, wherein said second expandable chamber is operatively connected to said first expandable chamber by a linkage;

providing an energy storing means further connected to said linkage, wherein said energy storing means actively operates to store energy as a function of said first expandable chamber being expanded by said exhaled breath of said patient and movement of said linkage; and

utilizing energy from said energy storing means to contract said second expandable chamber and force air from said second expandable chamber and into said airway of said patient.

2. Apparatus for assisting breathing of a patient during sleep, comprising:

a containment housing for positioning adjacent to a head of said patient;

a bolus chamber within said containment housing for storing a bolus of air;

an exhalation chamber within said containment housing connected to said bolus chamber by a rigid linkage;

an energy storing means operatively linked to said rigid linkage and within said containment housing for forcibly displacing said bolus of air.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an entry port through which an exhaled breath from said patient may enter said exhalation chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a semi-flexible silicon disc inboard from said entry port adapted to coact with spaced apart valve seats.

5. Apparatus for assisting breathing of a patient during sleep, comprising:

a containment housing enclosing an exhalation chamber and a bolus chamber, both of which are expandable and contractible;

linkage means connectively linked between said exhalation chamber and said bolus chamber to expand and contract as a function of said expansion and said contraction of said exhalation chamber;

biasing means operatively connected to said linkage means to urge said linkage means to contract both said exhalation chamber and said bolus chamber;

said exhalation chamber having airflow communication means for conducting exhaled breath thereto from an airway of said patient whereby said exhalation chamber expands; and

said bolus chamber being adapted to receivably store fresh ambient air and having airflow communication means for directing a thrust of air therefrom and into said airway of said patient as both said exhalation chamber and said bolus chamber contract.

6. Apparatus for therapeutic respiratory control of a patient, including, in combination:

a mask for fitted placement against a face and over a nose of said patient;

a containment housing coupled in airflow communication to said mask;

an electrical energy source;

an airflow generating means within said containment housing capable of intermittently generating a pressurized airflow into said mask and in response to energy directed thereto from said electrical energy source;

wherein said airflow generating means comprises a flexible diaphragm;

normally-open switch means disposed to close as a function of said patient exhaling breath from said mask; and

,

a solenoid disposed within said containment housing to allow a plunger to flex said flexible diaphragm and thereby generate said pressurized airflow into said mask.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a thumb screw threaded into an accommodating aperture in said containment housing for airflow intensity regulation.

8. Apparatus for therapeutic treatment of a patient susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

a nasal device for attachment to said patient for inhalation and exhalation therethrough, and a housing enclosing;

a first expandable-contractible chamber for supplying momentary pressurized air to couplers, through a nose of said patient, and into a nasopharyngeal airway of said patient;

a second expandable-contractible chamber adapted to expand in response to an exhalation of said patient;

both said first expandable-contractible chamber and said second expandable-contractible chamber being linked by a linkage whereby expansion of said first expandable-contractible chamber causes expansion of said second expandable-contractible chamber;

an elastic element responsive to store energy as a function of said expansion; and

,

a medication retention reservoir in fluid communication with said first expandable-contractible chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said medication retention reservoir further comprises a metering device for monitoring a rate of dispersal of medication.