Patent ID: 7210480

Claim:
A method for increasing the blood pressure in a spontaneously breathing person in need thereof, the method comprising the steps of: sensing at least one physiological parameter that is selected from a group consisting of the blood pressure, end tidal CO 2 and oxygen saturation of the person; interfacing an inflow valve to the person's airway that is operable to vary resistance to respiratory gas inflow through the inflow valve to the person's lungs due to spontaneous inhalation; operating the inflow valve based on the sensed parameter to vary resistance to respiratory gas inflow to the person's lungs while the person is spontaneously inhaling to create a vacuum within the thorax of the person within the range from less than 0 cm H 2 O to about −50 cm H 2 O and increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby enhancing the person's blood pressure.