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A medical device and method for combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient is disclosed. The medical device may be configured to provide lung ventilation with intermittent, on-demand mucus clearance, freeing the patient's mouth for activities of daily living such as when the patie

A medical device and method for combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient is disclosed. The medical device may be configured to provide lung ventilation with intermittent, on-demand mucus clearance, freeing the patient's mouth for activities of daily living such as when the patient is awake; and, in another configuration, the device can provide lung ventilation with automated mucus clearance, such as when the patient is sedated or asleep. The medical device may comprise a pressure generation source, a ventilation portion, and a mucus clearance portion. The mucus clearance portion may be separable from or separate from the ventilation portion such that the medical device is capable of maintaining lung ventilation with the mouth interface removed from the patient.

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1. A medical device for combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient, comprising: a pressure generation source that provides both positive pressure gas flow for lung ventilation and negative pressure suction for mucus clearance, wherein the pressure generation source comprises at le

1. A medical device for combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient, comprising: a pressure generation source that provides both positive pressure gas flow for lung ventilation and negative pressure suction for mucus clearance, wherein the pressure generation source comprises at least one outlet for the positive pressure gas flow and at least one inlet for the negative pressure suction;a ventilation portion for providing positive pressure gas flow to the patient via the nose comprising a nasal interface and a flow channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flow channel is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pressure generation source and the second end of the flow channel is in fluid communication with the nasal interface, wherein the ventilation portion includes a pair of ventilation valves, one near the first end of the flow channel adjacent the outlet and the other near the second end of the flow channel adjacent the nasal interface; anda mucus clearance portion for providing negative pressure suction to the patient via the mouth comprising a mouth interface and a suction channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the suction channel is in fluid communication with the inlet of the pressure generation source and the second end of the suction channel is in fluid communication with the mouth interface, wherein the mucus clearance portion includes a pair of suction valves, one near the first end of the suction channel adjacent the inlet and the other near the second end of the suction channel adjacent the mouth interface;a control unit for operating the pair of ventilation valves and the pair of suction valves;wherein the mucus clearance portion is completely separated from the ventilation portion such that the medical device is capable of maintaining positive pressure lung ventilation via the nasal interface while the mouth interface of the mucus clearance portion of the device is removed from the patient; wherein the pair of ventilation valves are closed by the control unit during use of the mucus clearance portion to provide negative pressure suction to the patient; and wherein the pair of suction valves are closed by the control unit during use of the ventilation portion to provide positive pressure gas flow to the patient, wherein the mucus clearance portion includes a mucus collection receptacle in communication with the suction channel. 2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is configured to be used as at least one of a standalone lung ventilation system and a standalone mucus clearance system. 3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device provides negative pressure suction to the patient via the mouth without removal of the ventilation portion from the patient. 4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positive pressure lung ventilation and negative pressure mucus clearance of the patient are provided to the patient without removal of either of the nasal interface or mouth interface from the patient. 5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device cycles between providing positive pressure lung ventilation and negative pressure mucus clearance of the patient without removal of either of the ventilation portion or the mucus clearance portion from the patient. 6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein in a first configuration the medical device permits the patient's mouth to be free during positive pressure lung ventilation such that the patient can speak, eat, and drink and negative pressure mucus clearance is accomplished intermittently and on demand; and wherein in a second configuration the medical device provides positive pressure lung ventilation and automated negative pressure mucus clearance and permits mucus clearance of a patient that cannot open his or her mouth on command. 7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the automated negative pressure mucus clearance is accomplished via a timer that initiates negative pressure suction to the patient. 8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nasal interface comprises a set of nasal prongs that form a substantially airtight seal with the patient's nasal passages. 9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nasal interface comprises a nasal only mask that forms a substantially airtight seal with the patient's nasal passages and has at least one adjustable strap. 10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the mouth interface comprises a mouthpiece that forms a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth comprising a soft outer portion and a hard inner portion having an opening in fluid communication with the suction channel. 11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the inner portion of the mouthpiece is configured to extend past the teeth of the patient, over at least the tip of the patient's tongue, and into the oral cavity or oropharynx of the patient such that the opening of the inner portion is in fluid communication with the patient's airway to effect respiratory secretion removal from the patient. 12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the outer portion of the mouthpiece comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and is configured to be positioned between the inner surface of the patient's lips and the outer surface of the patient's gums to form a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth; and wherein the opening at the end of the inner portion of the mouthpiece extends past the patient's teeth, passes over at least the tip of the patient's tongue, and ends in the patient's oral cavity or oropharynx about 1 to 7 cm past the teeth of the patient. 13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nasal interface comprises a nasal only mask having at least one adjustable strap and the mouth interface comprises a mouthpiece configured to extend into the oral cavity or oropharynx of the patient. 14. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a nasal-oral patient interface configured to simultaneously hold the nasal interface in substantially airtight communication with the patient's nasal passages and the mouth interface in substantially airtight communication with the patient's mouth. 15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the nasal interface and the mouth interface are removably attached to the nasal-oral patient interface. 16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the nasal interface comprises a set of nasal prongs and the mouth interface comprises a mouthpiece configured to extend into the oral cavity or oropharynx of the patient. 17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a soft outer portion and an inner portion having an opening in fluid communication with the suction channel, and wherein the mouthpiece comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and is configured to be positioned between the inner surface of the patient's lips and the outer surface of the patient's gums to form a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth; wherein the inner portion is made from a material of sufficient rigidity such that it may be held between the patient's teeth without collapsing and sufficient rigidity that the conduit between the opening and the suction channel does not collapse during use; and wherein the inner portion of the mouthpiece extends past the patient's teeth, passes over at least the tip of the patient's tongue, and ends in the patient's oral cavity or oropharynx about 1 to 7 cm past the teeth of the patient such that the opening of the inner portion is in fluid communication with the patient's airway to effect respiratory secretion removal from the patient. 18. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the nasal-oral patient interface comprises an inlet connected to the nasal interface through which air is forced into the nose for positive pressure lung ventilation and an outlet connected to the mouth interface through which mucus is suctioned out of the airway of the patient via negative pressure suction applied to the mouth; and no fluid communication exists between the inlet and the outlet of the nasal-oral patient interface. 19. The medical device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the mouth interface and suction channel is removably attached to at least one of an adjustable bracket and a handle such that the patient can insert the mouth interface into his or her mouth without using his or her hands. 20. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a switch that initiates negative pressure suction and configured to signal opening of the pair of suction valves. 21. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure suction is initiated intermittently using an adjustable timer. 22. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is battery powered to permit portability of the medical device. 23. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the nasal interface comprises a mask having at least one adjustable strap to hold the mask in substantially airtight communication with at least the patient's nasal passages, and wherein the mask is configured to hold the mouth interface in substantially airtight communication with the patient's mouth. 24. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a control unit configured to provide mucus clearance treatment by first delivering a deep breath of positive pressure gas to the patient via the ventilation portion of the medical device followed by negative pressure suction to the patient via the mucus clearance portion of the medical device. 25. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a preprogrammed processor programmed to provide a series of deep breaths of positive pressure gas to the patient via the patient's nose, each deep breath being followed by negative pressure suction to the patient via the patient's mouth. 26. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a control unit configured to operate at least one of the pressure generation source and the pair of ventilation valves to control the positive pressure gas flow to the patient via the patient's nose and at least one of the pressure generation source and the pair of suction valves to control the negative pressure suction to the patient via the patient's mouth. 27. The medical device of claim 26, wherein the control unit comprises a preprogrammed processor programmed to coordinate at least one of the positive pressure and negative pressure cycling of the pressure generation source and the sequential or concurrent operation of the pair of ventilation valves and the pair of suction valves. 28. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a preprogrammed processor programmed to control the pressure and flow characteristics of the negative pressure suction provided to the patient via the patient's mouth. 29. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a preprogrammed processor programmed to control the pressure and flow characteristics of the positive pressure gas flow provided to the patient via the patient's nose. 30. A medical device for combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient, comprising: a pressure generation source that provides both positive pressure gas flow for lung ventilation and negative pressure suction for mucus clearance, wherein the pressure generation source comprises at least one outlet for the positive pressure gas flow and at least one inlet for the negative pressure suction;a ventilation portion for providing positive pressure gas flow to the patient via the nose comprising: a nasal only mask that forms a substantially airtight seal with the patient's nasal passages and has at least one adjustable strap;a flow channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flow channel is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pressure generation source and the second end of the flow channel is in fluid communication with the nasal only mask; anda pair of ventilation valves, one near the first end of the flow channel adjacent the outlet and the other near the second end of the flow channel adjacent the nasal only mask; anda mucus clearance portion for providing negative pressure suction to the patient via the mouth comprising: a mouthpiece that forms a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth;a suction channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the suction channel is in fluid communication with the inlet of the pressure generation source and the second end of the suction channel is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece; anda pair of suction valves, one near the first end of the suction channel adjacent the inlet and the other near the second end of the suction channel adjacent the mouthpiece;a control unit for operating the pair of ventilation valves and the pair of suction valves; wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a soft outer portion and a hard inner portion having an opening in fluid communication with the suction channel, wherein the outer portion of the mouthpiece comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and is configured to be positioned between the inner surface of the patient's lips and the outer surface of the patient's gums to form a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth, and wherein the inner portion of the mouthpiece extends past the patient's teeth, passes on top of at least the tip of the patient's tongue, and ends in the patient's oral cavity or oropharynx such that the opening of the inner portion is in fluid communication with the patient's airway to effect respiratory secretion removal from the patient; andwherein the mucus clearance portion is completely separated from the ventilation portion such that the medical device is capable of maintaining positive pressure lung ventilation via the nasal interface with the mouth interface of the mucus clearance portion of the device removed from the patient;wherein the medical device provides negative pressure suction to the patient via the mouth without removal of the ventilation portion from the patient; andwherein the medical device provides positive pressure lung ventilation and negative pressure mucus clearance of the patient without removal of either of the ventilation portion or the mucus clearance portion from the patient; wherein the pair of ventilation valves are closed by the control unit during use of the mucus clearance portion to provide negative pressure suction to the patient; and wherein the pair of suction valves are closed by the control unit during use of the ventilation portion to provide positive pressure gas flow to the patient, wherein the mucus clearance portion includes a mucus collection receptacle in communication with the suction channel. 31. A method comprising the steps of: providing a nasal interface and a separate mouth interface having a soft outer portion and an inner portion having an opening, wherein the inner portion is made from a material of sufficient rigidity such that it may be held between a person's teeth without collapsing and sufficient rigidity that a conduit within the inner portion does not collapse during use;positioning the nasal interface in substantially airtight fluid communication with a person's nasal passages; andinserting the mouth interface in the person's mouth, wherein the outer portion of the mouth interface comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and is configured to be positioned between the inner surface of the person's lips and the outer surface of the person's gums to form a substantially airtight seal with the person's mouth, and wherein the inner portion of mouth interface extends past the person's teeth, passes over at least the tip of the person's tongue, and ends in the person's oral cavity or oropharynx such that the opening of the inner portion is in fluid communication with the person's airway; andwherein the nasal interface and the mouth interface are separate and not in fluid communication;providing a pressure generation source that supplies both positive pressure gas flow and negative pressure suction, wherein the pressure generation source comprises at least one outlet for positive pressure gas flow and at least one inlet for negative pressure suction;connecting a first end of a flow channel to the outlet of the pressure generation source and a second end of the flow channel to the nasal interface;connecting a first end of a suction channel to the inlet of the pressure generation source and a second end of the suction channel to the mouth interface; wherein the flow channel and the suction channel are separate and not in fluid communication;providing a pair of ventilation valves, one near a first end of a flow channel adjacent the outlet and the other near the second end of the flow channel adjacent the nasal interface;providing a pair of suction valves, one near the first end of the suction channel adjacent the inlet and the other near the second end of the suction channel adjacent the mouth interface, wherein a mucus collection receptacle is in communication with the suction channel at a position between the pair of suction valves, wherein the communication between the suction channel and the mucus collection receptacle is via a single conduit that taps into the suction channel such that a T-arrangement is formed;providing a control unit for operating the pair of ventilation valves and the pair of suction valves and operating the control unit to causeclosing the pair of ventilation valves during use of the mucus clearance portion to provide negative pressure suction to the patient; andclosing the pair of suction valves during use of the ventilation portion to provide positive pressure gas flow to the patient. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the nasal interface comprises a nasal mask and further comprising securing the nasal mask to the person using adjustable straps. 33. The method of claim 31 further comprising securing a nasal-oral patient interface to the person to simultaneously hold the nasal interface in fluid communication with the person's nasal passages and the mouth interface in communication with the person's mouth. 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the nasal interface comprises a set of nasal prongs. 35. A method of combination lung ventilation and mucus clearance of a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a positive pressure flow of gas to the lungs of the patient via a first interface in substantially airtight fluid communication with the patient's nasal passages; andproviding a negative pressure suction to the airway of the patient via a second interface in substantially airtight fluid communication with the patient's mouth,providing a pressure generation source that supplies both the positive pressure gas flow and the negative pressure suction, wherein the pressure generation source comprises at least one outlet for positive pressure gas flow and at least one inlet for negative pressure suction;connecting a first end of a flow channel to the outlet of the pressure generation source and a second end of the flow channel to the first interface;connecting a first end of a suction channel to the inlet of the pressure generation source and a second end of the suction channel to the second interface; wherein the flow channel and the suction channel are separate and not in fluid communication;providing a pair of ventilation valves, one near a first end of a flow channel adjacent the outlet and the other near the second end of the flow channel adjacent the firstl first interface;providing a pair of suction valves, one near the first end of the suction channel adjacent the inlet and the other near the second end of the suction channel adjacent the second interface, wherein a mucus collection receptacle is in communication with the suction channel at a position between the pair of suction valves, wherein the communication between the suction channel and the mucus collection receptacle is via a single conduit that taps into the suction channel such that a T-arrangement is formed;providing a control unit for operating the pair of ventilation valves and the pair of suction valves and operating the control unit to causeclosing the pair of ventilation valves during provision of the negative pressure suction to the patient; andclosing the pair of suction valves during provision of the positive pressure gas flow to the patient;wherein positive pressure lung ventilation and negative pressure suction are provided without removal of the first interface or the second interface from the patient, and wherein the first interface is separate from the second interface such that the interfaces are not in fluid communication. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein negative pressure suction is provided to the patient intermittently and on demand and the second interface is removably attached to at least one of an adjustable bracket and a handle to hold the second interface in proximity to the patient. 37. The method of claim 35, wherein negative pressure suction is automated using an adjustable timer and a patient interface is configured to simultaneously hold the first interface in substantially airtight fluid communication with the patient's nasal passages and the second interface in substantially airtight fluid communication with the patient's mouth. 38. The method of claim 35, wherein the second interface comprises a soft outer portion and an inner portion having an opening; and wherein the outer portion of the second interface comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and is configured to be positioned between the inner surface of the patient's lips and the outer surface of the patient's gums to form a substantially airtight seal with the patient's mouth; wherein the inner portion is made from a material of sufficient rigidity such that it may be held between the patient's teeth without collapsing and sufficient rigidity that the conduit between the opening and the suction channel does not collapse during use; and wherein the inner portion of second interface extends past the patient's teeth, passes on top of the patient's tongue, and ends in the patient's oral cavity or oropharynx such that the opening of the inner portion is in fluid communication with the patient's airway to effect respiratory secretion removal from the patient. 39. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a deep breath of positive pressure gas to the lungs of the patient via the first interface followed by negative pressure suction to the airway of the patient via the second interface. 40. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a series of deep breaths of positive pressure gas to the lungs of the patient via the first interface, each deep breath being followed by negative pressure suction to the airway of the patient via the second interface.