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US 6,629,529 B2Granted
Method for maintaining airway patency
OwnerRichard J. Arnottinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for effecting improved airway ventilation of a patient which involves delivering a momentary pulse, thrust or bolus of pressurized air into the patient's airway at commencement of inhalation. This process is repeated at the termination of breath exhalation by the patient.
Claims8
A method for alleviating sleep apnea, snoring or breathing difficulty of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pressurized air source in fluid communication with an airway of said patient;
- actuating said pressurized air source subsequent to a breath exhalation by said patient;
- and,
- delivering a momentary bolus of ambient air from said pressurized air source at commencement of inhalation to maintain open said airway of said patient.
1 more element
A method of relaxing an apneic obstruction in a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient for alleviating sleep apnea, snoring or breathing difficulty, comprising the steps of:
- providing an airflow conduit from a pressurized air source to said nasopharyngeal airway;
- normally maintaining an air pressure in said airflow conduit at ambient atmospheric pressure;
- providing a sensing means which is reactive to a measurable change in breath flow in said nasopharyngeal airway to thereby detect formation of said apneic obstruction;
- and,
- providing, in response to reaction of said sensing means, a momentary pulse of pressurized air through said airflow conduit to said nasopharyngeal airway and against said apneic obstruction to thereby maintain a patient's breathing cycle.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.