Nasal devices with noise-reduction and methods of use

Abstract

Described herein are nose-reduced nasal devices configured to reduce or eliminate the unwanted noises associated with use of a nasal device. These noise-reduced nasal devices include a flap-valve airflow resistor and a noise-reduction feature that is a noise-reduction element, a noise-reduction flap valve, or both. The noise-reduction feature typically prevents the flap valve from oscillating or vibrating and producing an audible sound during use, particularly during inhalation through the device. The method and devices described herein may prevent the flap, and particularly the edge region of the flap face or tip of the flap, from oscillating during inhalation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 037,180, titled “NASAL DEVICES WITH NOISE-REDUCTION AND METHODS OF USE”, filed on Mar. 17, 2008. This application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Nasal respiratory devices may be worn to treat many medical conditions, such as sleep disordered breathing (including snoring, sleep apnea, etc.), Cheyne Stokes breathing, UARS, COPD, hypertension, asthma, GERD, heart failure, and other respiratory and sleep conditions. Devices that provide a greater resistance to exhalation than to inhalation may be particularly useful, and may be worn by a subject when the subject is either awake or asleep. Indeed, many subjects may apply a nasal device before falling to sleep, so that the device may provide therapeutic benefits during sleep. However, these devices may produce noise during operation that some users (or their b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Described herein are noise-reduced nasal respiratory devices configured to reduce or eliminate unwanted buzzing, whistling or other noises associated with use of a nasal device. In general, noise-reduced (or noise-reducing) nasal devices are nasal devices having flap-valve airflow resistors that also include a noise-reduction feature such as a noise-reduction element, or a noise-reduction flap valve, or both. These noise-reduction features reduce whistling, rushing or turbulent sounds of air flowing through or around the airflow resistor, and may also reduce the sound of the flap valve opening/closing. For example, noise-reduced nasal devices may prevent the free end of the flap valve from oscillating or vibrating and producing an audible sound during use. In some variations the flap valve is a noise-reduction flap valve that prevent

Problems solved by technology

However, these devices may produce noise during operation that some users (or their bedmates) may find annoying.

For example, a nasal device including one or more

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