Methods and devices for improving breathing in patients with pulmonary disease
First Claim
1. A device for treating a patient with a breathing disorder, the device configured to fit substantially within a patient'"'"'s mouth and comprising at least one aperture providing fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the patient'"'"'s mouth through the mouthpiece, the device further comprising an obstructing member configured to be held substantially within the patient'"'"'s mouth that obstructs at least a portion of the aperture, the obstructing member configured to limit exhalation air flow more than inhalation air flow through the aperture wherein the obstructing member is configured to allow air to flow through a small area of the aperture in an exhalation direction and through a larger area of the aperture in an inhalation direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and kits for enhancing breathing in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease are described. The methods and apparatus rely on increasing flow resistance to expiration in a manner which mimics “pursed lip” breathing which has been found to benefit patients suffering from this disease. In a first example, a device is implanted in a trachea or bronchial passage to increase flow resistance, preferably selectively increase resistance to expiration relative to inspiration. In a second embodiment, a mouthpiece is provided, again to increase resistance to expiration, preferably with a lesser increase in flow resistance to inspiration. In a third embodiment, the patient'"'"'s trachea or bronchial passage is modified by the application of energy in order to partially close the lumen therethrough.
146 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A device for treating a patient with a breathing disorder, the device configured to fit substantially within a patient'"'"'s mouth and comprising at least one aperture providing fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the patient'"'"'s mouth through the mouthpiece, the device further comprising an obstructing member configured to be held substantially within the patient'"'"'s mouth that obstructs at least a portion of the aperture, the obstructing member configured to limit exhalation air flow more than inhalation air flow through the aperture wherein the obstructing member is configured to allow air to flow through a small area of the aperture in an exhalation direction and through a larger area of the aperture in an inhalation direction.
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7. A device for use in treating a patient with a breathing disorder, the device comprising a body defining an inside surface and an outside surface and configured to fit substantially within a patient'"'"'s mouth;
- the body comprising an aperture in a front portion thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between the inside surface and the outside surface; and
a valve device configured to be held substantially within the subject'"'"'s mouth and further configured to limit expiratory fluid flow directed from the inside surface to the outside surface more than inspiratory fluid flow from the outside to the inside surface, wherein the aperture has a first area and a second area that is larger than the first area, wherein the valve is configured to permit fluid flow through only the first area in a direction from the inside surface to the outside surface, and through both the first area and the second area in a direction from the outside surface to the inside surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- the body comprising an aperture in a front portion thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between the inside surface and the outside surface; and
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17. A device for treating a patient with a breathing disorder, the device comprising:
- a housing configured to be held in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the housing enclosing at least one valve configured to create a first flow resistance to inspiration and a second flow resistance to partially obstruct expiration, wherein the first flow resistance is less than the second flow resistance, further wherein the valve is configured to create a third flow resistance to expiration when a pressure of said expiration exceeds a threshold pressure.
- View Dependent Claims (18)
Specification