Methods of treating a disorder by inhibiting expiration

• US 8,291,909 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theravent, Inc
• Original Assignee: Ventus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Doshi, Rajiv, Hatanaka, Motohide, Howard, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Tarla
• Application Number:
  US12/885,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110005530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/205.27, 128/205.29, 128/206.11, 128/207.18
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/085 Fixing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/106 in a path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• 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 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/06 Nose filters

Abstract

Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disorder comprising:

placing a nasal device in communication with the subject'"'"'s nasal cavity, wherein the nasal device comprises an airflow resistor that inhibits exhalation through the nose more than it inhibits inhalation through the nose; and

securing the nasal device in communication with the subject'"'"'s nasal cavity without covering the subject'"'"'s mouth and sealing the nasal device to the subject'"'"'s nose or face,

wherein the disorder being treated is selected from the group consisting of;

sleep apnea, snoring, heart failure, pulmonary edema, cystic fibrosis, reflux disease, asthma, hiatal hernia, hypertension, cardiac valve disease, and Barrett'"'"'s esophagus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing comprises adhesively securing the nasal device to the subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing comprises inserting the nasal device at least partially into the subject'"'"'s nose.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing the nasal device comprises aligning the airflow resistor with one or both nostrils.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing the subject to wear the nasal device while sleeping.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting exhalation through the nose more than inhalation through the nose while the subject is sleeping.

7. A method of treating a subject, the method comprising:

securing a nasal device in communication with the subject'"'"'s nasal cavity without covering the subject'"'"'s mouth and sealing the nasal device to the subject'"'"'s nose or face, wherein the nasal device comprises an airflow resistor that inhibits exhalation through the nose more than it inhibits inhalation through the nose, the nasal device comprising a holdfast, and further wherein the nasal device is secured in communication with the subject'"'"'s nasal cavity so that the holdfast is at least partly outside of the subject'"'"'s nose; and

increasing the resistance to exhalation through the nose more than the resistance to inhalation through the nose to treat the subject.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of securing comprises adhesively securing the nasal device to the subject.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of securing comprises inserting the nasal device at least partially into the subject'"'"'s nose.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of securing comprises aligning the airflow resistor with one or both nostrils.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising instructing the subject to wear the nasal device while sleeping.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising inhibiting exhalation through the nose more than inhalation through the nose while the subject is sleeping.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of increasing the resistance comprises increasing the resistance to exhalation through the nose more than the resistance to inhalation through the nose to treat COPD.