Device and method for opening an airway

• US 7,762,263 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sommetrics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 5I Sciences
• Inventors: Nelson, John, Aarestad, Jerome, Rose, Richard, Palmer, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HICKS, VICTORIA J
• Application Number:
  US12/002,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 128/848, 128/845, 128/846, 602/18
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A device and a method for creating and/or maintaining an obstruction free upper airway. The device is configured to fit under the chin of a subject adjacent to the subject'"'"'s neck at an external location corresponding approximately with the subject'"'"'s internal soft tissue associated with the neck'"'"'s anterior triangle. The device is capable of exerting negative pressure on the surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, displacing the soft tissue forward and enlarging the airway.

Claims

1. A therapeutic apparatus for relieving obstruction to the upper airway of a patient, comprising:

a vessel having an edge and an internal surface, the edge being configured to seat against the chin and neck of the patient to define a chamber at an external location approximately at the internal soft tissue of the patient associated with the anterior triangle of the neck, said edge comprising an extension integral with and extending away from the chamber which reduces skin contact pressure, wherein said extension comprises an elastomeric seal;

a vacuum pump inlet for receiving a negative pressure into the chamber to apply a force to a surface of the neck of the patient to draw the surface into the chamber; and

a pressure control device for controlling the applied force within the range of about 0.5 kg to about 6.68 kg.

2. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applied force is within the range of about 0.61 kg to 6.14 kg.

3. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applied force is within the range of about 0.74 kg to 5.65 kg.

4. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applied force is within the range of about 0.91 kg to 5.2 kg.

5. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applied force is within the range of about 1.11 kg to 4.78 kg.

6. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, further including a tube for connecting the vessel to the pressure control device.

7. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control device exerts negative pressure within the interior chamber in the range of about 7.62 cm to 60.96 cm of water.

8. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vessel being dimensionally adapted to define an interior chamber for covering the anterior triangle of from about 32.90 cm² to about 210.58 cm² in surface area.

9. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge includes adhesive surface.

10. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises a material having resilient memory.

11. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the material comprises a silicone, urethane or rubber.

12. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dynamic pump configured to generate negative pressure within the chamber.

13. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the dynamic pump comprises a regenerative pump or a centrifugal pump.

14. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positive displacement pump configured to generate negative pressure within the chamber.

15. A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the positive displacement comprises a vane pump, a diaphragm pump, or a linear pump.

16. A method of applying a force to relieve obstruction of the upper airway of a patient, comprising:

placing a vessel against a surface of a patient'"'"'s neck to seat a sidewall edge of said vessel under the chin of the patient to form a chamber at an external location corresponding approximately with the patient'"'"'s internal soft tissue associated with the neck'"'"'s anterior triangle, said sidewall edge comprising an extension integral with and extending away from the chamber which reduces skin contact pressure, wherein said extension comprises an elastomeric seal; and

applying a force in the range of from about 0.5 kg to about 6.68 kg to the interior of the chamber to pull the neck'"'"'s anterior triangle toward the interior chamber.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising locating the vessel over the anterior triangle of the patient'"'"'s neck to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising locating the vessel over the anterior triangle of the patient'"'"'s neck to reduce snoring.

19. A method of reducing snoring, comprising:

placing a vessel against a surface of a subject'"'"'s neck to seat a sidewall edge of said vessel under the chin of the subject adjacent to the subject'"'"'s neck to form a chamber at an external location corresponding approximately with the subject'"'"'s internal soft tissue associated with the neck'"'"'s anterior triangle, said sidewall edge comprising an extension integral with and extending away from the chamber which reduces skin contact pressure, wherein said extension comprises an elastomeric seal;

attaching the opening to a vacuum source, the vacuum source having a microprocessor and at least one acoustic sensor connected thereto;

applying a force over the anterior triangle of the patient'"'"'s neck within the range of about 0.5 kg to about 6.68 kg;

identifying a signal corresponding with an acoustic signature of the subject with the at least one acoustic sensor;

registering the signal;

processing the signal with a microprocessor attached to the vacuum source to detect a signal representative of a volume of snoring; and

maintaining the level of pressure created at the vacuum source to reduce snoring.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein the acoustic sensor comprises a microphone.