The invention relates to medical technology, to non-medicinal means for improving physical health and enhancing physical capabilities by means of a breathing system, and specifically relates to devices which are intended for inhaling hypoxic/hypercapnic mixtures having various compositions, and which have an adjustable resistance to inhalation/exhalation. According to a first variant, a breathing exerciser contains a first chamber, which is connected to means for connecting the exerciser to a user's respiratory tract; a second chamber, communicating with the first chamber; a third chamber, communicating with the second chamber; means for adjusting the composition of a breathing mixture; and means for adjusting the resistance to inhalation/exhalation, installed in a channel through which the first chamber and the second chamber communicate. The second chamber communicates with the atmosphere; the third chamber is elastic; means for regulating the composition of a breathing mixture are in the form of adjustable throttling devices installed in the channels through which the second chamber communicates with the third chamber and with the atmosphere; the means for adjusting the resistance to inhalation/exhalation are capable of separately and independently adjusting resistance to inhalation and resistance to exhalation. A second variant is characterized in that a first chamber communicates with a second chamber by means of two parallel channels, in that means for adjusting the resistance to inhalation/exhalation are installed in the parallel channels, and in that a breathing mixture is capable of passing through said channels in mutually opposite directions.

High flow therapy is used to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration and other types of periodic respiration disorders by periodic application of high flow therapy, adjustment of high flow therapy flow rates and/or periodic additions of CO2 or O2 into the air flow provided to the patient.

Aspects discussed herein relate to remixing devices that can be used to modify a gas mix being inhaled by a user. The device can accurately adjust inspired CO.sub.2 and/or O.sub.2 levels independently to a desired level. Aspects described herein generally improve the quality, efficiency, and speed of devices to provide breathing gas mixes. Medical conditions can be diagnosed and a therapeutically effective gas mix can be provided as treatment for diagnosed medical conditions.

The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training including a breathable gas source; a mask in fluid communication with the breathable gas source; a mask-state detector that uses one or more criteria to determine if the mask is being worn by a subject, wherein the mask-state detector is capable of communicating an indication of a mask-off state or a mask-on state; a flowmeter in fluid communication with the mask and coupled to the mask-state detector; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the mask and with the breathable gas source, and coupled to the mask-state detector, wherein the pressure regulator sets a first pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-off state or a second pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-on state.

A method of rebreathing for a human, comprising: breathing through a rebreathing device for up to 20 minutes at a time, repeated as needed; wherein said rebreathing device has a form of a) cylindrical form made by rolling a sheet of paper, and able to fit snugly over either the mouth or the nose of a human in need of rebreathing; b) cylindrical form made with a cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll; c) cylindrical form made with a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll; d) cylindrical form made from a washable, re-useable, solid tube and able to fit snugly over either the mouth or the nose; e) rectilinear form made from a paper bag made of absorbent paper, at least 5 inches long [=12.7 cm] for adults, that is modified by i) cutting or tearing horizontally to shorten the bag so the remaining bag is approximately 5 to 7 inches [12.7 to 17.8, cm] tall, and ii) folding over one corner of the rectangular bottom approximately 1 inch [=2.5 cm] and cutting or tearing it off to make a hole approximately 1.5 inch [=3.8 cm] in diameter to allow rebreathing when worn over the nose and mouth; f) triangular form folded in the shape of a mask able to cover both nose and mouth made from i) a sheet of paper size 8.511 inches [=21.628 cm], A-10, or any larger sheet of newspaper folded down to this size, or made by folding a foil-lined snack-food bag of approximately 610 inches [=15.225.4 cm]; or g) conical form made from a paper, foam or plastic disposable cup, into which a hole is made in the bottom about 1 inch [=2.5 cm], which need not need to be centered, so that the original cup opening may be placed over the nose and mouth and pushed lightly against the face so that it forms a snug seal all around.

A breathing system includes a breathing mask including a coupler and a module coupled to the coupler of the breathing mask and configured to provide heated gas to the breathing mask. The module includes: a housing including an outer surface with at least one intake slot formed therein and an output port that is coupled to the coupler of the breathing mask, the housing defining an enclosed space therein and the output port defining a port cross-section; a fan disposed in the enclosed space and configured to blow gas towards the output port; and a heater disposed in the enclosed space between the fan and the inner housing, the heater including at least one heating element configured to heat blown gas from the fan towards the output port. The at least one intake slot, fan, and heater all overlap with the port cross-section.

A control system provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly of the system may include a variable exhaust area such as one defined by overlapping apertures of the assembly or a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be formed by nested structures, such as conic or cylindrical members, each having an opening of the overlapping apertures. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid or voice coil, manipulates an aperture of the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a controller to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection, rebreathing volume calculation and/or leak detection.

An ear mounted cannular nasal breathing filter provides an air mixing chamber to offset the effects of dry air caused by filtration by allowing for an admixture of filtered and pre-conditioned (humidified and heated) air. The air chamber features an internal or centered mixing chamber disposed below a one-way exhaust valve and above a filtering system. The air mixing chamber retains a predefined volume or percentage of exhausted breath that is mixed with a predefined volume or percentage of filtered air, with the filtered air originating as ambient air. An air chamber assembly is retained and supported upon a user by an ear mount system comprising a) a flexible wire that conforms to the ear join, or b) an upper arm in telescopic connection with a lower arm, with the two arms in dynamic tension by use of an internal elastic member, providing a tensioned fit to the ear join.

Filtered heat and moisture exchange device for a breathing system comprises a housing (40) having first and second ports (42,46) connectable to breathing lines (20,22) and a chamber (50) being located between and in flow communication with the ports. An air filter (52) and a heat and moisture exchange means (54) are located in the chamber (50). A tubular gas sampling member (64) is extending from gas sampling port (56) located near the first port (42) to a sampling location (B) in the second port (46) by passing chamber (50) and central apertures of air filter (52) and heat and moisture exchange means (54).

A mouthpiece includes a buccal retention feature that produces frictional attachment to the lateral buccal portions (inner cheeks) of the individual user. The mouthpiece includes a U-shaped body sized and shaped to conform to the outer face of the dental arch. The retention feature includes bulbous protrusions that project laterally outward from the body to engage the cheek. The mouthpiece, and particularly the buccal retention feature, has a width that is large enough to prevent dislodgment or removal of the device from the mouth, taking advantage of the decrease in the intercommissural distance as the mouth is opened to attempt to remove the device. The device further includes a duct portion extending forward, outside the mouth, from the body, to permit normal respiration through the duct portion. The duct portion can be configured to connect to other devices, including but not limited to, devices for rebreathing, suctioning, feeding or delivering medicaments.