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 prevents the free edge region of the flap face of the flap valve from orienting in parallel with the direction of airflow through the flap valve during inhalation. In some variations the device includes a noise-reduction element that controls or limits the oscillation of the flap, particularly the free edge region of the flap face and / or the tip of the flap during inhalation. The noise-reduction element may prevent a free edge region of a face of the flap valve from becoming oriented substantially in parallel with the direction of airflow through the opening during inhalation. As used herein, the “edge region of the flap face” typically refers to the region of the flap valve face near the free edge of the flap valve. As described in greater detail below, a flap valve is generally a flat structure having two opposing faces and a minimal thickness.

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 flap valves may produce a buzzing, whistling, or other audible noise or vibration.

In the worst case, the noise may disrupt the sleep of the user or others nearby.

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