Nasal devices, systems and methods

A nasal device configured to inhibit nasal exhalation more than nasal inhalation, the device comprising:

• a holdfast configured to secure the device in communication with the subject's nasal cavity;
• an opening;
• and
• a billowing airflow resistor extending across the opening, the billowing airflow resistor comprising:
• a flexible layer secured across the opening, and
• a sealing face layer adjacent to the flexible layer,
• wherein the billowing airflow resistor is configured so that during exhalation through the opening, the flexible layer presses against the sealing face layer;
• and during inhalation through the opening the flexible layer separates slightly from the sealing face layer while remaining substantially parallel to the sealing face layer.

A nasal device configured to inhibit nasal exhalation more than nasal inhalation, the device comprising:

• a holdfast configured to secure the device in communication with the subject's nasal cavity;
• an opening at least partially surrounded by the holdfast;
• and
• a billowing airflow resistor extending across the opening, the billowing airflow resistor comprising:
• a first layer, and
• a second layer adjacent to the first layer,
• wherein the first layer is configured to lie against the second layer during exhalation through the opening to provide a resistance of between about 0.001 and about 0.25 cm H2O/(ml/sec) through the device, and
• further wherein the first layer is configured to separate from the second layer during inhalation through the opening, while remaining substantially parallel to the second layer to provide a resistance of between about 0.0001 and about 0.02 cm H2O/(ml/sec) through the device.

A method of treating a respiratory disorder, the method comprising:

• securing a nasal device in communication with the subject's nasal cavity, wherein the nasal device comprises a billowing airflow resistor having a flexible layer and a sealing face layer;
• driving the flexible layer against the sealing face layer during exhalation to create a resistance to exhalation through the nasal device;
• and
• separating the flexible layer from the sealing face layer during inhalation while maintaining the layers substantially in parallel to create a resistance to inhalation through the nasal device that is less than the resistance to exhalation.

A nasal respiratory device adapted for measuring intranasal pressure while secured in communication with a subject's nasal cavity, the device comprising:

• a device body having an opening configured to be placed in communication with the nasal cavity, wherein the device body includes an inner side configured to face the nasal cavity and an outer side configured to face away from the nasal cavity when the device is worn;
• an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening of the nasal device more than the resistance to air inhaled through the opening;
• and
• a pressure sensor exposed to the inner side of the device and configured to sense intranasal pressure when the device is worn.

A nasal respiratory device adapted for measuring intranasal pressure while secured in communication with a subject's nasal cavity, the device comprising:

• a device body having an opening configured to be placed in communication with the nasal cavity;
• an airflow resistor in communication with the opening, wherein the airflow resistor is configured to increase the resistance to air exhaled through the opening more than the resistance to air inhaled through the opening;
• and
• a cannula passing through the nasal device having a distal opening configured to be exposed to intranasal pressure when the device is worn, wherein the cannula is configured to connect to a pressure transducer for sensing intranasal pressure.

A system for monitoring intranasal pressure, comprising:

• a passive-resistance nasal respiratory device including an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;
• an intranasal cannula configured to pass through the nasal respiratory device;
• and
• connector tubing configured to connect the intranasal cannula to a pressure sensor.

An adapter device for use with a disposable nasal device, the adapter device comprising:

• a housing configured to be secured to a subject's nose without covering the subject's mouth;
• an opening through the housing, the opening having a perimeter region that is configured to secure a passive nasal device thereto so that the passive nasal device may inhibit exhalation more than inhalation through the subject's nose when the passive nasal device is secured to the perimeter region;
• and
• a holdfast configured to seal the housing to the subject's nose so that substantially all of the airflow to and from the subject's nose passes through the disposable passive nasal device secured to the perimeter region.