Sleep apnea device to positively block exhaling and method of use

Abstract

Nasal cannula devices for insertion in a sleep apnea patient's nasal passages, the device is formed with through air-flow passages and having circular membranes operative upon inhaling by the patient to open for free flow of air into the nasal passages and, further, operative upon exhalation by the patient to block expiration by the patient. The invention further includes a method of providing for free flow of air into a patient's nasal passages upon inhaling and blocking air-flow form the nasal passages during exhalation.

1 . Head mounted nasal respiratory apparatus comprising:
 a pair of nasal tube devices configured with respective tubular bodies for receipt in a patient's nasal passages, the bodies configured with through air-flow passages and formed with respective proximal and distal extremities, the bodies including respective rim devices formed with respective proximally facing valve seats;   respective membranes having marginal edges configured to be, when the devices are disposed in the nasal passages, responsive to the pressure differential generated by the patient inhaling to be shifted from respective open positions off the respective seats to provide for air flow through the air-flow passages and further responsive to the patient exhaling to close the marginal edges on the respective seats to fully block exhaling from the respective nasal passages; and   mounting devices carried from the respective tube devices to mount the respective membranes for shifting from the respective open to the closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the mounting devices include cages mounted from the tube devices and constructed with proximal and distal walls to contain the membrane in floating relationship over the seat. 
 
     
     
         3 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the membranes are constructed to, when lifted off the respective seats, accommodate airflow around the peripheries thereof. 
 
     
     
         4 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the cage devices are configured with proximal and distal walls formed with through flow openings. 
 
     
     
         5 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the proximal and distal walls are formed by radially projecting spokes. 
 
     
     
         6 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the walls of the respective cage devices are disposed in respective planes and spaced apart a distance no greater than 0.3 mm. 
 
     
     
         7 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the membranes are flexible. 
 
     
     
         8 . The respiratory apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the membrane is constructed of memory material. 
 
     
     
         9 . The respiratory device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the respective seats are circular; and 
 the membranes are circular to define circular peripheral edges and the membranes constructed to be responsive to the pressure differential to seal the entire extent of the peripheral edges against the respective seats. 
 
     
     
         10 . The respiratory device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the membranes are so constructed that a differential pressure thereacross of substantially 0.11 psi will move the respective diaphragm relative to the valve seats. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating sleep apnea including:
 inserting nasal flow control devices in the nasal passages of a patient; and   fully blocking airflow from the nasal passage during the exhalation cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  that includes:
 floating membranes off respective valve seats during the inhalation cycle and applying the peripheral edges of the membranes to the seats during the exhalation cycle. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 13  that includes:
 caging the membranes in cages configured with the seats. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  that includes:
 anchoring the membranes centrally to the respective flow control devices. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  that includes:
 applying the peripheral edges of the membrane entirely around the seal. 
 
     
     
         16 . A respiratory apparatus comprising:
 at least one flow control device for insertion into a patient's nasal passage, formed with a through flow passage and a proximally facing seat; and   means responsive to the patient's exhalation to contact the seat and totally block flow through the passage.