US5065756A — Method and apparatus for the treatment of obstruc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

An assembly for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising: a nose mask adapted to be fitted over the nose of a patient; supply means coupled to said mask for supplying air with continuous positive pressure to said mask suited to maintain the nasopharynegeal airway of a patient open when said supply means is supplied with gas at positive pressure, said supply means comprising an elongated flexible tube coupled at one end to said mask and having an opposite and remote from said mask that is connected to inlet means for receiving pressurized air and delivering air to said flexible tube to establish within the mask a predetermined range of pressures; venting means located on the nose mask for continuously venting patient expiratory flow while said positive pressure is applied to said mask via said supply means; and a threshold valve mounted at said opposite end of the flexible tube and adjustable for maintaining a positive pressure within said mask in the range of about 5 to 15 centimeters water at all times when said mask is fitted over the nose of a patient for respiration.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 185 words

An assembly for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising: a nose mask adapted to be fitted over the nose of a patient; supply means coupled to said mask for supplying air with continuous positive pressure to said mask suited to maintain the nasopharynegeal airway of a patient open when said supply means is supplied with gas at positive pressure, said supply means comprising an elongated flexible tube coupled at one end to said mask and having an opposite and remote from said mask that is connected to inlet means for receiving pressurized air and delivering air to said flexible tube to establish within the mask a predetermined range of pressures; venting means located on the nose mask for continuously venting patient expiratory flow while said positive pressure is applied to said mask via said supply means; and a threshold valve mounted at said opposite end of the flexible tube and adjustable for maintaining a positive pressure within said mask in the range of about 5 to 15 centimeters water at all times when said mask is fitted over the nose of a patient for respiration.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said venting means comprises in the mask at least one vent hole spaced from the coupling of the tube to the mask.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said gas is air and said at least one vent hole vents air in the range of 5-15 liters/minute for internal mask pressures in the range of 5-15 centimeters water.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one vent hole comprises two vent holes each venting air in the range of about 5-7 liters/minute for internal mask pressures in the range of 5-15 centimeters water.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said vent holes are each closable by means of a plug.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 97 words

In the method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising supplying air of a continuous positive pressure within a pressure range of 5-15 centimeters water via a long flexible tube to a nose mask to maintain the nasopharyngeal airway of a patient open, the improvement comprising controlling the pressure in the nose mask by means of a threshold valve connected to the tube at a position remote from the mask, and continuously venting air, including patient expiratory air, directly from said mask via at least one hole in said mask, at a rate of 5-15 liters/minute.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 97 words

In the method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising supplying air of a continuous positive pressure within a pressure range of 5-15 centimeters water via a long flexible tube to a nose mask to maintain the nasopharyngeal airway of a patient open, the improvement comprising controlling the pressure in the nose mask by means of a threshold valve connected to the tube at a position remote from the mask, and continuously venting air, including patient expiratory air, directly from said mask via at least one hole in said mask, at a rate of 5-15 liters/minute.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein when the pressure in the nose mask is controlled by the threshold valve to a value in the range of 5-7 centimeters water, the continuous venting step is carried out at a rate of approximately 10-12 liters/minute, and when the pressure in the nose mask is increased to a value in the range of 10-15 centimeters water, the continuous venting is of the order of 5-7 liters/minute.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-11-18	1995-05-20	1995-11-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-11-18	1999-05-20	1999-11-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-11-18	2003-05-20	2003-11-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

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