Spontaneous breathing apparatus and method

A spontaneous breathing apparatus comprising:

• a source of oxygen containing gas;
• a catheter in flow communication with the source of oxygen containing gas and adapted to be introduced into a subject's trachea through a tracheostomy for delivering oxygen containing gas therein;
• a tracheostomy tube disposed adjacent the catheter and having one end adapted to be disposed in the subject's trachea;
• and
• a pressure actuated threshold valve connected to another end of the tracheostomy tube, the valve being configured for venting a gas existing within the subject's trachea at the one end of the tracheostomy tube when the gas exceeds a threshold pressure of the valve, the valve thereby being effective for reducing pressure within the subject's trachea when the pressure within the subject's trachea exceeds the threshold pressure,
• wherein the pressure actuated threshold valve includes a sensor therein for sensing an actuation of the valve to release the gas within the subject's trachea when the pressure within the subject's trachea exceeds the threshold pressure, the spontaneous breathing apparatus further comprising an actuator for one of stopping and reducing a flow of the oxygen containing gas from the source of oxygen containing gas into the catheter when the sensor senses an actuation of the valve.