Patent ID: 7100607
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising the steps of: providing a pressure support system to a patient diagnosed as suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, wherein the pressure support system is adapted to generate a flow of gas; communicating the flow of gas to an airway of a patient via a patient circuit connected to the pressure support system; applying the flow of gas to an airway of such a patient during at least a portion of an inspiratory phase at a pressure sufficient to prevent airway obstruction; and adjusting a pressure of the flow of gas in the patient's airway to coordinate the application of a positive pressure to such a patient's airway with an occurrence of alternating inspiratory and expiratory phases of such a patient's respiration so as to provide the positive pressure in such a patient's airway during a sequence of inspiratory and expiratory phases, and wherein the positive pressure during at least a portion of each expiratory phase is less than a magnitude of the positive pressure during at least a portion of an immediately preceding inspiratory phase.