Diabetes treatment systems and methods

• US 7,204,251 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Lurie, Keith G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell; Teena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Shumaya
• Application Number:
  US10/401,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20050199237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/202.28, 128/202.29, 128/203.11, 128/205.13, 12820514-20517, 12820524-20525, 128/206.21, 128/207.12, 128/207.14, 128/207.16, 137906-909, 600/484, 600/485, 600/500, 600/529, 600533- 83
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5089 Gas sensors, e.g. for oxygen or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/207 partial O2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• 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 16/208 : Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 : Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 : electrical
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/042 : comprising compounds containing carbon and hydrogen only

Abstract

A method for treating a breathing person suffering from diabetes utilizes a valve system that is interfaced to the person'"'"'s airway and is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person'"'"'s lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing cardiac output and blood circulation in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the treatment of a person suffering from diabetes, the device comprising:

a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with the person'"'"'s airway; and

a valve system that is operable to regulate respiratory gas inflow through the housing and into the person'"'"'s lungs due to spontaneous inhalation, the valve system assisting in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to increase blood flow back to the person'"'"'s chest and thereby enhance vital organ perfusion and function;

wherein the valve system is configured to permit respiratory gases to flow to the person'"'"'s lungs due to spontaneous inhalation when the negative intrathoracic pressure reaches a pressure in the range from about −

3 cm H₂O to about −

10 cm H₂O in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the valve system is further configured to regulate respiratory gas flow from the person'"'"'s lungs during spontaneous exhalation to further assist in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to enhance vital organ perfusion and function.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the valve system is configured to permit respiratory gases to flow from the person'"'"'s lungs due to spontaneous exhalation when the intrathoracic pressure is in the range from about 0 cm H₂O to about 7.5 cm H₂O.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein valve system comprises an inflow valve that is selected from a group of valves consisting of a fish mouth valve, a spring-poppet valve, a ball valve, a flexible plug valve, a slotted airway resistance valve, a movable disk valve, a compressible airway valve, an iris valve and a sequential series of adjusting valves.

5. A device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one physiological sensor that is attachable to the patient to monitor at least one physiological parameter of the person while spontaneously breathing through the valve system.

6. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a facial mask coupled to the housing.

7. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece coupled to the housing.

8. A device for facilitating the treatment of a person suffering from diabetes, the device comprising:

a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with the person'"'"'s airway; and

a valve system that is operable to regulate respiratory gas inflow through the housing and into the person'"'"'s lungs due to spontaneous inhalation, the valve system assisting in manipulating intrathoracic pressures to increase blood flow back to the person'"'"'s chest and thereby enhance vital organ perfusion and function; and

at least one physiological sensor that is attachable to the patient to monitor at least one physiological parameter of the person while spontaneously breathing through the valve system;

wherein the valve system is configured to permit respiratory gases to flow to the person'"'"'s lungs due to spontaneous inhalation when the negative intrathoracic pressure reaches a pressure in the range from about −

3 cm H₂O to about −

10 cm H₂O in order to treat the person suffering from diabetes.