Inventors:
Terry E. Robinson - Palo Alto CA
Wallace C. White - Menlo Park CA
Nicholas R. Kalayjian - San Francisco CA
Assignee:
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University - Stanford CA
International Classification:
A61M 1600
US Classification:
12820421, 12820524, 482 5, 482 13
Abstract:
A dynamic respiratory control device includes a fast-response valve capable of dynamically imposing multiple resistive loads on the flow of respiratory gas to and from a patient. The resistive loads are applied in response to measured flow rates, patient lung volumes, and/or mouthpiece pressures. The device can precisely constrain tidal breathing, provide precise volumetric control of the airway, and impose multiple specific inspiratory and/or expiratory loading functions to evaluate respiratory function. The device is useful for pulmonary function testing, CT and MRI imaging of the chest, combined CT imaging/interventional radiology, radiotherapy delivery to the thorax/abdomen, and/or as a resistive muscle trainer for weaning patients off ventilators and for respiratory muscle training.