Device and method for opening an airway

Abstract

A device and a method for creating and/or maintaining an obstruction free upper respiratory passages. The device is configured to fit under the chin of a subject adjacent to the subject's neck at an external location corresponding approximately with the subject's internal soft tissue associated with the neck's anterior triangle. The device is capable of exerting negative pressure on the surface of a subject's neck, displacing the soft tissue forward and enlarging the airway.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured to seat against the chin and neck of a patient to define a chamber at an external location approximately at soft tissue of a patient associated with the anterior triangle of the neck and to maintain patency of the patient's upper airway by applying a force to a surface of the neck of the patient to draw the surface into the chamber when a therapeutic level of negative pressure is applied within the chamber, comprising:
 a therapy appliance comprising a structural member defining the chamber, and a peripheral mating member forming a lateral surface at the edge of the structural member, wherein the peripheral mating member is configured and arranged to provide a tissue interface with an external area of the patient's throat overlying the upper respiratory passage when the therapy appliance is mated to the patient and to receive and distribute a contact pressure imparted by the structural member to the tissue when the therapeutic level of negative pressure is applied; and   an air pump module operably connected to the apparatus to produce a partial vacuum within the space-filled chamber, comprising an air pump, and a control module comprising a microcontroller operably connected to a vacuum or pressure sensor and to control circuitry, wherein the microcontroller is configured and arranged to modulate one or both of on/off cycles and speed of the air pump based on a comparison of current versus target vacuum using signals from the vacuum or pressure sensor and a PID (proportional, integral and differential) control loop.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural member and peripheral mating member are formed as a unitary structure, wherein the peripheral mating member has a lower durometer than the structural member. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the air pump module is wearably supported by the therapy appliance. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the therapy appliance comprises a strap to maintain position of the therapy appliance on the patient. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control module is programmed to provide a first pumping mode to generate an initial partial vacuum within the chamber, and a second pumping mode to maintain the partial vacuum. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller operates the air pump discontinuously. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising one or more sensor(s) configured to generate one or more electronic signals indicative of one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of body position, respiratory cycles, apnea events, snoring events, blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising data transfer electronics for data import and/or export between the apparatus and an external device. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the microcontroller receives the one or more signals and modulates one or both of on/off cycles and speed of the air pump based on the one or more signals.