Nasal inspiratory resistance trainer

Abstract

Herein we describe a nasal inspiratory resistance trainer (“NIRT”) that increases the difficulty of nasal breathing. The device is specially designed to limit the cross-sectional area of the nostril, which decreases the volume of air a person can easily intake per unit time, typically achieved by reducing tidal volume per breath, reducing respiratory rate, or a combination thereof. Specific implementations are described.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of limiting nasal respiration in a human subject, comprising:
 placing a first contact point of a nasal inspiratory resistance trainer in contact with the external surface of the right nostril of said human subject;   placing a second contact point of said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer in contact with the external surface of the left nostril of said human subject;   adjusting a screw mechanism;   wherein said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer is capable of exerting a specified amount force regardless of the distance between said first contact point and said second contact point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer has an infinite number of neutral positions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said neutral position is the position where stresses or strains on the device are lowest. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of adjusting the screw mechanism comprises adjusting the screw mechanism from a neutral position to a position of greater stresses or strains. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer is capable of deflecting a specified distance regardless of the size of the nose of said human subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer is capable of exerting a specified amount force regardless of the size of the nose of said human subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specified amount force is less than 362 mN. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said specified amount force is between 108 mN and 362 mN. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specified amount of force partially decreases the cross-sectional area of the nostril. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the nostril is reduced by 25% to 75%. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total volume of air inhaled per unit time by said human subject using said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer is decreased relative to the total volume of air inhaled per unit time by said human subject when not using said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is useful for the treatment, prevention, and/or management of medical conditions that are exacerbated by overbreathing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said medical condition is selected from the group consisting of: high blood pressure, panic disorder, allergies, and asthma. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human subject is asthmatic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said human subject hones one or more techniques useful in dealing with real asthma attacks selected from the group consisting of avoiding panic, reducing respiratory volume, and breathing through the nose in spite of increased air resistance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said human subject decreases habitual hyperventilation and increases the proportion of inhalations through the nose relative to inhalations through the mouth. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said overbreathing occurs on a chronic basis, and wherein said human subject has chronic hyperventilation syndrome. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nasal inspiratory resistance trainer enhances respiration quality in said human subject.