Patent ID: 7682312

Claim:
A method for diagnosing a cardiovascular-related condition in a breathing person, the method comprising: measuring a physiological parameter of the person at a first time; diagnosing a cardiovascular condition of the person based on the physiological parameter that was measured at the first time; interfacing a valve System to the person's airway, the valve, system being configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event; permitting the person to inhale and exhale through the valve system, wherein during inhalation the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing blood circulation and blood pressure; measuring the physiological parameter a second time while the person inhales and exhales through the valve system; comparing, with a processor, the measured physiological parameter at the first time and the second time to evaluate the effect of the valve system on the diagnosed cardiovascular condition.