Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitating the respiration of a patient are disclosed which are particularly useful in treating mixed and obstructive sleep apnea and certain cardiovascular conditions, among others, by increasing nasal air pressure delivered to the patient's respiratory passages just prior to inhalation and by subsequently decreasing the pressure to ease exhalation effort. The preferred apparatus includes a patient-coupled gas delivery device for pressurizing the patient's nasal passages at a controllable pressure, and a controller coupled with the delivery device having a pressure transducer for monitoring the nasal pressure and a microcontroller for selectively controlling the nasal pressure. In operation, the controller determines a point in the patient breathing cycle just prior to inhalation and initiates an increase in nasal pressure at that point in order to stimulate normal inhalation, and subsequently lowers the nasal pressure to ease exhalation efforts.

Abstract: A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient's breathing efforts and gives a variable "custom tailored" pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration.

Abstract: A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient's breathing efforts and gives a variable "custom tailored" pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration. Pulse volume variability is based upon a measured parameter characterizing at least a part of one and preferably a plurality of the patient's preceding breaths; advantageously, the elapsed time interval of the patient's three preceding breath cycles is measured to effectively measure breath rate.

Abstract: A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient's breathing efforts and gives a variable "custom tailored" pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration. Pulse volume variability is based upon a measured parameter characterizing at least a part of one and preferably a plurality of the patient's preceeding breaths; advantageously, the elapsed time interval of the patient's three preceding breath cycles is measured to effectively measure breath rate.