Heart failure mask and methods for increasing negative intrathoracic pressures

A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:

• sealing a facial mask around the patients mouth and nose, the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O;
• the patient breathing while the mask is sealed to the face, wherein respiratory gases are substantially completely prevented from entering the patient's lungs during inhalation for a time sufficient to allow a negative intrathoracic pressure that is in the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O to develop within the patient, whereupon the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gases into the lungs.

A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:

• during normal breathing, preventing respiratory gases from entering the patient's lungs until a negative intrathoracic pressure that is in the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O is developed within the patient and then allowing respiratory gases to flow into the lungs.

A device for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, the device comprising:

• a facial mask comprising a body and a seal to seal the body to the patient's face around the mouth and nose, the mask further including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open only when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O.

A facial device for decreasing and sustaining negative intrathoracic pressure during inspiration, the device comprising:

• a facial mask comprising a body and a seal to seal the body to a person's face around the mouth and nose, the mask further including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve which is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O, wherein the exhalation valve allows the exhaled respiratory gases to pass therethrough without substantial resistance, and wherein the seal is sufficient to maintain a pressure gradient between the pressure outside the mask and the pressure within the mask of at least +20 cm H.sub.2 O.