Nasal positive airway pressure apparatus and method

A method of treating sleep apnea comprising:

• providing an apparatus for treating sleep apnea including;
• (i) a pair of nasal tip members, each said tip member having a substantially oval first open end, a substantially circular second open end, and a tapered body section between said first and second ends, and at least one aperture through the sidewall of said tapered body section, each said tip member further including an inflatable cuff member surrounding at least a portion of said tapered body section and enclosing said aperture, each said nasal tip member defining a cannula configured and dimensioned for insertion into a patient's nares;
• (ii) a pair of nasal members rotatably mounted to said pair of nasal tip members at said second end of said tip members;
• and
• (iii) a source of pressurized air to simultaneously effect respiratory treatment to a patient and communicating with said nasal members to supply positive air pressure through said nasal members to said tip members;
• rotatably adjusting said nasal tip members relative to said nasal members;
• inserting said nasal tip members and inflatable cuffs into the nares of a patient to be treated;
• activating said source of pressurized air to supply air to said nasal tip members to inflate said cuffs under pressure of said pressurized air and cause said cuffs to contact the patient's nares to hold said nasal tip members within the patient's nares as treatment is effected with the pressurized air.

A method of treating sleep apnea comprising:

• providing an apparatus for treating sleep apnea including;
• (i) a pair of hollow nasal members having a body section and a tip configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the nares of a patient, each said nasal member including at least one variable aperture through the sidewall of said body section;
• (ii) a source of pressurized air communicating with said nasal members;
• inserting said tip members into the nares of a patient to be treated;
• activating said source of pressurized air to supply air to said hollow tip members to provide positive air pressure to the patient's nares, said variable aperture assuming a first diameter during inhalation by the patient and a second, enlarged diameter during exhalation by the patient.

A device for treatment of sleep apnea comprising:

• a pair of nasal members, at least a portion of each said nasal member defining a cannula configured and dimensioned to fit within the nares of a patient, each said nasal member having a first open end at the distal tip thereof, a second open end proximal of said distal tip, and a body section between said first and second ends defining a lumen between said first and second ends, and at least one aperture through the sidewall of said body section;
• a pair of inflatable cuff members, each said cuff member surrounding at least a portion of said body section of one of said nasal members and enclosing said aperture, the lumen of said nasal member and the interior of said cuff in gaseous communication through said aperture;
• and
• a source of pressurized air connected to said nasal members to deliver pressurized air to the lumen of said nasal members.

A device for treatment of sleep apnea comprising:

• a pair of nasal members, at least a portion of each said nasal member defining a cannula configured and dimensioned to fit within the nares of a patient, each said nasal member having a first open end at the distal tip thereof, a second open end proximal of said distal tip, and a body section between said first and second ends defining a lumen between said first and second ends, and at least one aperture through the sidewall of said body section;
• a pair of inflatable cuff members, each said cuff member surrounding at least a portion of said body section of one of said nasal members and enclosing said aperture, the lumen of said nasal member and the interior of said cuff in gaseous communication through said aperture;
• a pair of substantially U-shaped rigid tubes, each said nasal member rotatably mounted to one U-shaped tube;
• a pair of flexible corrugated tubes, each corrugated tube connected to one said U-shaped tube opposite said nasal members;
• and
• a source of pressurized air connected to the ends of said flexible corrugated tubes opposite said U-shaped tubes to deliver pressurized air to the lumen of each nasal member through said U-shaped tubes.