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US 11,439,869 B2Granted
Positive expiratory pressure device
AssigneeTrudell Medical International
InventorsStephen Costella, Martin P. Foley, Alanna Kirchner, Robert Morton, Jason Collins, Jerry Grychowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A positive exhalation pressure device increases the pressure gradient in the airways, thereby increasing oxygen saturation levels and decreasing the severity of hypoxia. Various embodiments of the device may be inserted into the nasal and/or oral cavities, or configured as mask devices covering the nasal and/or oral cavities. In some embodiments, the resistance of the device may be varied.
Claims23
A positive expiratory pressure device comprising:
- a mask comprising a body shaped to cover the user's mouth and nose and defining an interior space,
- wherein the mask is configured with a first port that communicates directly between an ambient environment surrounding an exterior of the body and the interior space,
- wherein the at least one first port is configured with an inhalation valve and wherein the first port defines an inhalation path communicating with the body, and
- a second exhalation port sized to produce an exhalation pressure between 1-15 cmH2O, wherein the second exhalation port has an unobstructed orifice with a non-variable and minimal cross-sectional area that communicates directly between the interior space and the ambient environment,
- wherein the positive expiratory pressure device is free of any exhalation valves;
- and
- a neck tube coupled to the mask and extending downwardly therefrom.
4 more elements
A method of using a positive expiratory pressure device comprising:
- positioning a body of a mask to cover a user's mouth and nose, wherein the mask is configured with a first port configured with an inhalation valve and communicating directly with an ambient environment surrounding an exterior of the body, and a second exhalation port comprising an unobstructed orifice with a non-variable and minimal cross-sectional area;
- positioning a neck tube around a neck of the user, wherein the neck tube is coupled to the mask and holds the mask on the user;
- inhaling only from an ambient environment through the first port and thereby opening the inhalation valve;
- exhaling through the unobstructed orifice of the second exhalation port directly to the ambient environment from an interior of the body and creating an exhalation pressure between 1-15 cmH2O;
- and
- wherein the positive expiratory pressure device is free of any exhalation valves.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.