Self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure systems and methods for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders

1. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes a turbine, and

wherein, during at least a portion of the second mode, the turbine rotates in response to exhalation airflow through the turbine to resist exhalation airflow.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller includes at least one sensor communicating with the airflow regulation assembly to sense at least one condition relating to the respiratory cycle.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller includes at least one sensor communicating with the airflow regulation assembly to sense at least one condition relating to operation of the airflow regulatory assembly.

4. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller includes at least one sensor communicating with the airflow regulation assembly to sense at least one condition relating to the respiratory cycle, and

wherein the controller includes a processing element including preprogrammed rules that predict, based upon at least one sensed condition, the likely onset of tissue collapse in the upper airway.

5. A system according to claim 1

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller operates the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

6. A system according to claim 1

wherein, during at least a portion of the second mode, the controller operates the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

7. A system according to claim 1

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller operates the turbine to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

8. A system according to claim 1

wherein, during at least a portion of the second mode, the controller operates the turbine to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

9. A system according to claim 1

wherein the turbine includes a generator to generate energy as the turbine rotates in response to exhalation airflow.

10. A system according to claim 9

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes an energy storage element coupled to the generator.

11. A system according to claim 10

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller directs energy from the energy storage element to operate the turbine to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

12. A system according to claim 1

wherein the air flow director includes means for restricting airflow during exhalation.

13. A system according to claim 12

wherein the means includes an array of exhaled air ports.

14. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes a blower; and

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes a turbine that, during the second mode, rotates in response to exhalation airflow through the turbine to resist exhalation airflow.

15. A system according to claim 14

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller operates the blower to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

16. A system according to claim 14

wherein, during at least a portion of the second mode, the controller operates the blower to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

17. A system according to claim 14

wherein the turbine includes a generator to generate energy as the turbine rotates in response to exhalation airflow.

18. A system according to claim 17

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes an energy storage element coupled to the generator.

19. A system according to claim 18

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller directs energy from the energy storage element to operate the blower to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

20. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes an reservoir of air subject to a positive pressure, and

wherein, during at least a portion of the first mode, the controller opens the reservoir to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

21. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes an reservoir of air subject to a positive pressure, and

wherein, during at least a portion of the second mode, the controller opens the reservoir to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

22. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes an reservoir of air subject to a positive pressure, and

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes a turbine that, during the second mode, rotates in response to exhalation airflow through the turbine to resist exhalation airflow.

23. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes an reservoir of air subject to a positive pressure, and

wherein the reservoir includes a pre-charged air canister insertable into and out of the airflow regulation assembly.

24. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the source of positive pressure includes an reservoir of air subject to a positive pressure, and

wherein the reservoir includes a bladder, and wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes a blower to charge the bladder with positive air pressure.

25. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes a source of power for operating the source of positive pressure,

wherein the source of power comprises a rechargeable energy storage element,

wherein the airflow regulation assembly includes a turbine that, during the second mode, rotates in response to exhalation airflow through the turbine to resist exhalation airflow, the turbine including a generator to generate energy as the turbine rotates in response to exhalation airflow,

wherein the rechargeable energy storage element is coupled to the generator, and

wherein the controller directs energy from the energy storage element to operate the source of positive pressure to convey positive air pressure into the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway.

26. A system according to claim 25

wherein the source of power comprises a battery.

27. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the air flow director includes means for restricting airflow during exhalation,

wherein the means includes an array of exhaled air ports, and

wherein the flow area of the exhaled air ports is adjustable.

28. A system to aid respiration of an individual during a respiratory cycle having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase comprising

an air flow director sized and configured to be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway, and

an airflow regulation assembly sized and configured to be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director and operative in a first mode to regulate the supply of air to the air flow director during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle and in a second mode to regulate the exhaust of air from the air flow director during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle, the airflow regulation assembly including a source of positive pressure and a controller to intermittently operate the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle,

wherein the air flow director includes means for restricting airflow during exhalation, and

wherein the means includes a turbine that rotates in response to exhalation airflow through the turbine to resist exhalation airflow.