Device and method for treating obstructed breathing having a delay/ramp feature
AssigneeResCare Limited
InventorsColin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air flow device and a method useful for the treatment of upper airway disordered breathing. The invention provides an airflow device having a means for delivering variable pressure levels of breathable air to a patient's respiratory system with a means for controlling the time during which the delivered pressurized air rises from an initial pressure level to a higher operating pressure level. The device increases the pressure level of gas delivered to the patient over a plurality of breaths taken by the patient. This type of device is useful for treating a wide variety of sleeping and breathing disorders.
Claims17
A method useful for the treatment of upper airway disordered breathing comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing releasably sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system from an air pressure source;
- (b) continuously delivering pressurized air to the patient, the pressurized air delivered beginning from an initial low pressure level;
- and
- (c) automatically increasing the pressure level of air delivered to the patient over a variable period of time until the pressure reaches a preset operating therapeutic level, wherein the variable period of time occurs over a plurality of breaths by the patient.
An air flow device comprising means useful for the treatment of upper airway disordered breathing, said device comprising:
- (a) means for delivering variable pressure levels of pressurized air to a patient's respiratory system;
- and
- (b) means for controlling the time during which continuously delivered pressurized air automatically rises from an initial low pressure level to a preset operating therapeutic level, wherein the time it takes to go from an initial low pressure level to an operating therapeutic level occurs over a plurality of breaths by the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.