Automatic positive airway pressure therapy through the nose or mouth for treatment of sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders

摘要

A method of providing ventilatory support or treatment of sleep disordered breathing, implemented using an electrically operated and computer controlled fan or blower, a gas delivery tube, and an atmospherically vented face mask or nasal prongs. The method, over a single respiratory cycle, includes cycling administered pressure between and including an upper pressure and a lower pressure to a user's airway. The lower pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and is maintained only for as long as is required to allow the immediately prior administered gas volume to be at least substantially expelled from the user's respiratory system by its elastic recoil. The lower pressure is immediately thereafter returned to the upper pressure.