Abstract:
Predetermined pressure changes in the oral and throat cavity is achieved by inducing at least a partial vacuum in the mouth and throat area of a mammal in temporal coordination with the mammal&#39;s breathing pattern. The partial vacuum is selectively applied to the mouth and throat cavity only during inhalation cycles of the breathing pattern. A further aspect of the invention provides for additionally inducing a positive or atmospheric pressure in the mouth and throat cavity only during exhalation cycles of the breathing pattern.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to methodology and apparatus for establishing predetermined vacuum or pressure levels in the mouth and throat cavity of a mammalian body, such as that of a human, in coordination with the mammal&#39;s respiratory pattern. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is based on my discovery that respiration-regulated air pressure, either positive or negative (vacuum), in a person&#39;s mouth and throat cavity, produces beneficial effects to the person&#39;s health such as alleviation of throat discomfort and snoring. The hypothetical explanation of this finding is that respiration-regulated air pressure in a person&#39;s mouth and throat cavity stimulate the body&#39;s autonomic nervous system, circulatory system, and especially lymphatic system and therefore enhances certain physiological functions, such as lymphatic flow. The body&#39;s autonomic nervous system, circulatory system, and lymphatic system are all responsive to pressure changes in the respiration system while a person is inhaling and exhaling. For example, J. W. Shields has conducted a study on the effects of breathing on the lymphatic system. Using cameras inside the body, he found that deep, diaphragmatic breathing stimulated the cleansing of the lymph system by creating a vacuum effect which draws lymph through the bloodstream. See Human Central Lymph Propulsion, JAMA, Vol. 246, No. 18, Nov. 6, 1981, Shields, et al. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a method for inducing pressure changes in the mouth and throat cavity of a mammal includes the steps of monitoring a respiration pattern of the mammal to determine a first time period during which the mammal is inhaling and a second time period during which the mammal is exhaling. A partial vacuum is induced in the mammal&#39;s mouth and throat cavity during the first time period and the partial vacuum is removed during the second time period. 
     In another aspect of the invention apparatus for inducing pressure changes in the mouth and throat cavity of a mammal includes a regulated vacuum source having an outlet and a control input, an appliance in fluid communication with the outlet of the vacuum source, the appliance adapted for placement in a mouth of a mammal so as to be in fluid communication therewith. A sensor, adapted to be coupled at a preselected portion of the mammal&#39;s anatomy and operative to generate a first signal whenever the mammal inhales and a second signal whenever the mammal exhales, signals a controller having an output coupled for controlling the output of the vacuum source. The controller has at least one input coupled for receipt of the first and second signals from the sensor. The controller is operative upon receipt of the first signal to cause the vacuum source to pull at least a partial vacuum in the appliance. The controller is operative upon receipt of the second signal to cause removal of the partial vacuum from the appliance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of a detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a system arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional schematic of sensor element suitable for use in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side and top cross sectional views of an oral appliance arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a timing diagram showing the output of sensor  144  of  FIG. 1  in relation to a typical respiratory pattern; and 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  sets forth a functional diagram of apparatus arranged in accordance with the invention. System  100  includes a vacuum source or pump  110  having an outlet  112  coupled to a first end of a conduit  182 . An opposite end of conduit  182  is coupled to an inlet of regulator  180 . An output of regulator  180  is coupled via conduit  172  to a vacuum chamber  170 . Chamber  170  is coupled via conduit  163  to a first port  162 a of fluid flow valve or fluid switch  160 . A second port  162 b of switch  160  is vented to the atmosphere via conduit  161 . Port  162 c of switch  160  is coupled via a preferably flexible conduit  125  to an inlet port  122  of oral appliance or appliance element  120  which is sized and shaped for facile insertion into the mouth of an individual. 
     Appliance  120  is substantially disk shaped and has a hollow interior  132  in fluid communication with the conduit  125  via appliance inlet  122 . Additionally a plurality of passages  126 ,  128  and  130  are arranged in a preselected pattern on at least one side of appliance  120  for providing fluid communication between interior  132  of appliance  120  and the mouth and throat cavity of the individual. 
     Sensor  140 , for generating an indication of whether or not the individual is inhaling or exhaling, includes a belt  142  for engagingly surrounding the abdominal cavity of the user. Ends of the belt  142  terminate at a sensor element  144  which is operative to generate signals indicating inhaling and exhaling. The signals are coupled via bus  146  to an input  154  of a controller  150 . Controller  150  may, for example, take the form of a stored program type controller such as a microprocessor-based element. Output  152  of controller  150  is coupled via bus  155  to a control input  181  of regulator  180 . A second output  153  of controller  150  is coupled via bus  156  to a control input  164  of fluid switch  160 . 
     In operation, system  100  generates desired pressure levels by having the individual utilizing the system insert the appliance  120  into the oral cavity and by strapping belt  142  about the individual&#39;s abdominal cavity. Upon inhaling in the midst of a normal breathing pattern, an appropriate signal is developed by sensor  144  and coupled to controller  150 . Controller  150 , via bus  155 , enables regulator  180  to regulate the output  112  of vacuum source  110  at a preselected vacuum level. Upon receipt of the inhaling indication signal, controller  150  signals switch  160  via bus  156  to fluidly couple port  162 a to port  162 c thereby enabling at least a partial vacuum to be pulled at the interior  132  of appliance  120  via conduit  125 . This partial vacuum is extended into the mouth and throat cavity via passages  126 ,  128  and  130 . Upon cessation of the inhaling cycle and initiation of the exhaling cycle of the breathing pattern, an appropriate signal at sensor  144  is coupled to controller  150  which signals switch  160  via bus  156  to switch port  162 c from its fluid connection to port  162 a over to port  162 b, thereby venting conduit  125  and appliance  120  to the atmosphere via conduit  161 . It has been found that a coordinated application of such a vacuum pressure to an individual during the inhalation process produces beneficial results such as alleviation of throat discomfort. 
     Vessel  170  serves dual functions of 1) acting as an intermediate vacuum chamber and 2) collecting any liquid which is inadvertently entrained in the air fluid flow in the conduit system. 
     One example of sensor  144  of the system of  FIG. 1  is set forth in further detail in the diagram of FIG.  2 . Sensor  144  includes a variable impedance element such as a variable resistor  210  having a fixed terminal  212  coupled to a first end  143 a of belt  142  and movable terminal  214  coupled to a second end  143 b of belt  142 . 
     Additionally attached between the first terminal  212  and second terminal  214  of resistor  210  is a return bias spring  220 . 
     The value of the variable resistance exhibited between terminals  212  and  214  is coupled to input  154  of controller  150  via leads  172 a and  172 b of bus  172 . 
     As seen from the details of  FIG. 2 , when the individual wearing belt  142  inhales, the abdominal cavity expands which pulls ends  143 a and  143 b of belt  142  further apart. This movement, in turn, causes the wiper or movable terminal  214  of resistor  210  to move toward the right as seen in the view of  FIG. 2 , thus exhibiting a positive change in the resistance presented to terminals  172 a and  172 b of bus  172 . Conversely, when the inhalation period ends and exhalation begins, then the user&#39;s abdominal cavity will contract and the return spring element  220  will pull the movable terminal  214  back toward the rest position or to the left as shown in FIG.  2 . Hence, during this cycle a negative resistance change is exhibited at terminals  172 a and  172 b. 
     These positive and negative electrical resistance value changes are monitored by the controller  150 . For example, a microprocessor could be programmed to sample the electrical resistance presented via bus  172  ten times per second. The controller would enter a working condition after five stable cycles of breathing pattern were established. At this point, the controller would enable the vacuum pump  110  via regulator  180  only when controller  150  observes a positive change in resistance at input  154  of controller  150 . 
     The timing diagram of  FIG. 5  sets forth the change in resistive impedance exhibited by sensor  144  along axis  506  versus time along axis  507 . Controller  150  enters a working routine after recognizing a predetermined number (e.g. 10) of stable or constant respiration pattern cycles. 
     During expiration phase  501 , the sensor&#39;s resistance change is negative which leads to action by controller  150  to inhibit the pulling of a partial vacuum in oral appliance  120 . In transition phase  502  where no resistance changes are observed, controller  150  continues inhibiting the pulling of a partial vacuum in appliance  120 . However, if controller  150  determines that phase  502  has extended for a time period indicating abnormality of the breathing pattern, such as is found during sleep apnea, controller  150  may initiate re-application of partial vacuum prior to the end of phase  502 . During inspiration phase  503 , controller  150  enables the pulling of a partial vacuum at appliance  120 . This pattern will continue for so long as a stable breathing pattern of predetermined minimum length is maintained. A stable breathing pattern may be defined as one exhibiting not only a steady overall breathing cycle time  505 , but also having intermediate periods  502  and  504 , which are of predetermined minimum durations wherein neither inhalation nor expiration are occurring. 
     Further details of appliance  120  and associated mouth cover  400  are set forth in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 . Opening  130  of  FIG. 1  preferably, as shown in  FIG. 3B  comprises a plurality of openings at an end of appliance  120  positioned furthest inward of the mammal&#39;s oral cavity. 
     Mouth cover  400  of  FIGS. 3A , and  3 B may take a variety of contoured shapes suitable for comfortable and leakless coupling of the partial vacuum to interior  132  of appliance  120  via conduit  121 . Holes  410  and  420  in cover  400  are provided for receipt of a strap (not shown) which would encircle the patient&#39;s head to keep the mouth cover in place. 
     An additional embodiment of the invention is set forth in the functional block diagram of FIG.  5 . The arrangement of  FIG. 5  has many common features with the system of  FIG. 1 , but with the addition of a positive or pressurized supply of air for application to the oral/throat cavity during expiration periods. 
     In the system of  FIG. 5 , the human or mammalian body  500  has an appropriately coupled respiration sensor  544  and an oral appliance  520 . A programmed controlling unit  550  is coupled for receipt of signals from the respiration sensor  544 . Controlling unit  550  sets the flow position of a flow valve or switch  560  and can additionally set predetermined levels of vacuum and pressurized air via controlling unit outputs coupled to a first pressure regulator  580 a and a second pressure regulator  580 b. 
     Regulator  580 a controls the vacuum level in chamber  570 a which is evacuated by a vacuum air source  510 . Pressure regulator  580 b controls the pressure level in chamber  570 b which is supplied from a pressurized air source  590 . 
     Flow valve or switch  560 , under the control of unit  550 , applies either a predetermined vacuum level or a predetermined air pressure to the body&#39;s oral cavity via appliance  520 . 
     In operation, this system, in addition to applying at least a partial vacuum during periods of inspiration, additionally applies positive pressure via the oral appliance during periods of expiration. 
     The invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment solely for the sake of example. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations can be made to this specific example. The scope and spirit of the invention is defined by the appended claims.