Nasal respiratory devices

Abstract

Described herein are nasal respiratory devices and methods for treating a variety of medical diseases including snoring and steep apnea through the use of such devices. In general, these devices include an airflow resistor, such as a flap valve and a holdfast for securing the device in communication with the subject's nasal cavity. The devices may be configured to include leak paths to regulate the expiratory pressure when worn by a subject. Methods for using these devices may include securing a device over or at least partially within (or both of) a subject's nasal cavities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nasal respiratory device comprising:
 an opening configured to communicate with a subject's nasal cavity,   a flap valve configured to regulate airflow through the opening to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;   at least one leak path that is not formed through a flap of the flap valve;   a flap valve support adjacent to the flap valve, wherein the flap valve support is configured to keep the flap valve closed during exhalation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flap valve support is configured to contact a central portion of the flap. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flap valve support is flexible. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a crossbar. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a holdfast. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive holdfast. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a rim at least partially surrounding the opening. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one leak path comprises a leak path formed at the periphery of the flap valve where the flap valve does not mate with a valve seal, allowing air to flow past the flap valve even when the valve is closed during exhalation. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leak path is configured to maintain a predetermined pressure across the flap valve of between about 0.5 and about 20 cm of H 2 O when the flap valve is closed and exposed to a constant flow rate of about 100 ml/sec. 
     
     
         12 . A nasal respiratory device comprising:
 an opening configured to communicate with a subject's nasal cavity,   a flap valve configured to regulate airflow through the opening to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation, wherein the flap does not completely seal the opening during exhalation so that expiratory airflow passes around a portion of the flap valve during exhalation;   a flap valve support adjacent to the flap valve, wherein the flap valve support is configured to keep the flap valve dosed during exhalation.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flap valve support is configured to contact a central portion of the flap. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flap valve support is flexible. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a crossbar. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a holdfast. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising an adhesive holdfast. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a rim at least partially surrounding the opening. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a leak path formed at the periphery of the flap valve where the flap valve does not mate with a valve seal during exhalation, allowing expiratory airflow to pass around the flap valve during exhalation. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flap valve is configured to maintain a predetermined pressure across the flap valve of between about 0.5 and about 20 cm of H 2 O when the flap valve is closed and exposed to a constant flow rate of about 100 ml/sec. 
     
     
         23 . A nasal respiratory device configured to be worn while sleeping and to be secured in communication with a subject's nasal cavity, the device comprising:
 an opening configured to communicate with a subjects nasal cavity,   an airflow resistor configured to regulate airflow through the opening to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation, wherein the airflow resistor comprises a plurality of flaps;   a flap valve support adjacent to the airflow resistor, wherein the flip valve support is configured to keep the airflow resistor closed during exhalation.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the flap valve support is configured to span the opening. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a crossbar. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the flap valve support is flexible. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising a holdfast. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising an adhesive holdfast. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising a rim at least partially surrounding the opening. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising a leak path at is not formed through any of the flaps. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising at least one teak path formed at the periphery of the flaps where the flaps do not mate with a valve seal, allowing air to flow past the flaps even when the airflow resistor is closed during exhalation. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising a leak pathway configured to maintain a predetermined pressure of between about 0.5 and about 20 cm of H 2 O when the airflow resistor is closed and exposed to a constant flow rate of about 100 ml/sec. 
     
     
         34 . A valved nasal device configured to be secured to a subject's nose, the device comprising:
 a body having a passageway configured to communicate with a subject's nasal cavity,   a valve configured to regulate airflow through the passageway to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation;   a valve lock configured to secure a movable portion of the valve within the passageway and prevent the moveable portion from separating from the device and being inhaled by the patient; and   a holdfast configured to secure the nasal device in communication with the subject's nasal cavity.   
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the valve lock comprises a restraining member. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the valve lock comprises a pin or cord. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the valve lock is not connected directly to the movable portion of the valve but prevents the movable portion of the valve from separating from the respiratory device. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the movable portion of the valve comprises at least one flap. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 34  further comprising a flap valve support adjacent to the valve configured to span the passageway to keep the valve closed during exhalation. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the flap valve support comprises a crossbar. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the holdfast comprises an adhesive holdfast. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 34  further comprising a leak path that is not formed through any of the movable portions of the valve. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 34  further comprising at least one leak path formed at the periphery of the moveable portion of the valve, where the moveable portion does not mate with a valve seal, allowing air to flow through the valve even when the valve is closed during exhalation. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 34  further comprising a leak pathway configured to maintain a predetermined pressure across the valve of between about 0.5 and about 20 cm of H 2 O when the valve is closed and exposed to a constant flow rate of about 100 ml/sec.