A breathable gas supply apparatus for a patient features a breathable gas supply system and a respiratory mask assembly in communication with the breathable gas supply system. The breathable gas supply system provides a supply of breathable gas to the respiratory mask assembly and removes a supply o
A breathable gas supply apparatus for a patient features a breathable gas supply system and a respiratory mask assembly in communication with the breathable gas supply system. The breathable gas supply system provides a supply of breathable gas to the respiratory mask assembly and removes a supply of exhaled gas from the respiratory mask assembly. The breathable gas supply system includes a housing having an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber and a movable structure in communication with the inspiration and exhalation chambers. The movable structure moves in phase with a respiratory cycle of a patient. In one preferred embodiment, the breathable gas supply system includes a second movable structure, which moves in response to a phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. In another one preferred embodiment, the breathable gas supply system is powered to assist the patient's respiratory effort.
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1. A breathable gas supply apparatus for a patient, comprising: a housing having an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber, both the inspiration chamber and exhalation chamber being structured to selectively communicate with the atmosphere;a flexible mechanical structure provided to the housi
1. A breathable gas supply apparatus for a patient, comprising: a housing having an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber, both the inspiration chamber and exhalation chamber being structured to selectively communicate with the atmosphere;a flexible mechanical structure provided to the housing; anda respiratory mask assembly in communication with the inspiration chamber and the exhalation chamber,wherein the flexible mechanical structure is constructed and arranged to:(1) expand in response to a force of patient expiration to draw fresh air from the atmosphere into the inspiration chamber and to allow air exhaled by the patient to accumulate within the exhalation chamber during an exhalation phase of a respiratory cycle of the patient, the expanded flexible mechanical structure adapted to store mechanical energy in the form of mechanical work done by the patient during the exhalation phase, and(2) contract in response to patient inspiration to provide a source of pressurized fresh air at a substantially constant positive pressure from the inspiration chamber to the patient and to provide a force that utilizes stored mechanical energy in the form of mechanical work done by the patient to expunge the exhaled air accumulated within the exhalation chamber into the atmosphere during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient,wherein the flexible mechanical structure includes a weight that is at least partially determinative of the pressure. 2. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the flexible mechanical structure includes an inner flexible mechanical structure and an outer flexible mechanical structure. 3. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the housing includes an upper wall and a lower wall spaced from the upper wall, the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure being disposed between the upper wall and the lower wall of the housing. 4. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 3, wherein each of the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure includes a concertina. 5. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the inner flexible mechanical structure defines the inspiration chamber and the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure cooperate to define the exhalation chamber. 6. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the substantially constant positive pressure is within a range of 2-20 cmH2O. 7. A method of generating a source of pressurized breathable gas for a patient, the method comprising: drawing fresh air from the atmosphere into an inspiration chamber and allowing air exhaled by the patient to accumulate within an exhalation chamber in response to patient expiration during an exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient;storing mechanical energy in the form of mechanical work done by the patient during the exhalation phase;pressurizing and providing the fresh air from the inspiration chamber to the patient at a substantially constant positive pressure and expunging the exhaled air accumulated within the exhalation chamber into the atmosphere in response to patient inspiration during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient; andutilizing only the stored mechanical energy to assist patient respiratory effort during the inhalation phase,wherein storing mechanical energy includes moving a movable structure with a weight that is at least partially determinative of the pressure. 8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the utilizing comprises transferring the stored mechanical energy to assist respiratory effort during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 9. A method as in claim 7, further comprising providing a movable structure constructed and arranged to move in response to the patient's respiratory cycle, wherein movement of the movable structure in one direction stores the mechanical work done by the patient during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient and wherein movement of the movable structure in an opposite direction utilizes only the stored mechanical energy to assist patient respiratory effort during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising powering the movable structure to pressurize a portion of at least one of an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber to assist the patient's respiratory effort. 11. A breathable air supply apparatus for a patient, comprising: movable means for drawing fresh air from the atmosphere into an inspiration chamber and allowing air exhaled by the patient to accumulate within an exhalation chamber in response to patient expiration during an exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient and for pressuring and providing the fresh air from the inspiration chamber to the patient at a substantially constant positive pressure and expunging the exhaled air accumulated within the exhalation chamber into the atmosphere in response to patient inspiration during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient;storage means for storing mechanical energy in the form of mechanical work done by the patient during the exhalation phase; andutilize means for utilizing only the stored mechanical energy to assist patient respiratory effort during the inhalation phase,wherein the storage means includes a weight that is at least partially determinative of the pressure. 12. A breathable air supply apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the utilize means comprises transfer means for transferring the stored mechanical energy from the storage means to assist respiratory effort during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 13. A breathable air supply apparatus as in claim 11, wherein movement of the movable means in one direction stores the mechanical work done by the patient during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient and wherein movement of the movable means in an opposite direction utilizes only the stored mechanical energy to assist patient respiratory effort during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 14. A breathable air supply apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the movable means is powered to pressurize a portion of at least one of an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber to assist the patient's respiratory effort. 15. A breathable air supply apparatus for a patient, comprising: a breathable gas supply system; anda respiratory mask assembly in communication with the breathable gas supply system, the breathable gas supply system being constructed and arranged to supply breathable gas from the atmosphere to the respiratory mask assembly and to remove exhaled gas into the atmosphere from the respiratory mask assembly;the breathable gas supply system comprising:a housing having an outer wall configured to define an air chamber;a first movable structure movable in the air chamber during the patient's respiration cycle, the movable structure being configured such that (1) the first movable structure is capable of storing mechanical energy in the form of mechanical work done by the patient during an exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient; and (2) the first movable structure is capable of transferring the stored mechanical energy to the patient during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient to provide a source of pressurized gas at a substantially constant positive pressure to assist the patient's respiratory effort,wherein the first movable structure includes a weight that is at least partially determinative of the pressure. 16. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a second movable structure constructed and arranged to move in phase with the patient's respiratory cycle. 17. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 16, wherein at least one of the first movable structure and the second movable structure is powered to pressurize a portion of the air chamber to assist the patient's respiratory effort. 18. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the first movable structure and the second movable structure are movable in a common direction during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient and are movable in a direction opposite the common direction during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 19. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the outer wall includes a vent formed therein, the vent being in communication with an atmosphere surrounding the housing. 20. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the first movable structure is a part of a pressure actuator assembly, the pressure actuator assembly further comprising a second movable structure, each of the first and second movable structures being constructed and arranged to move in response to fluid pressure between (1) a first position of each of the first and second movable structures, wherein movement of the first and second movable structures in a common direction facilitates a supply of exhaled gas being received into the air chamber from the respiratory mask assembly and facilitates a supply of breathable gas being received into the air chamber and (2) a second position of each of the first and second movable structures, wherein movement of the first and second movable structures in a direction opposite the common direction facilitates a supply of exhaled gas being supplied through the vent and facilitates a supply of breathable gas being supplied to the respiratory mask assembly. 21. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising an air chamber dividing member operatively coupled to the outer wall, the air chamber dividing member being constructed and arranged to divide the air chamber into an inspiration chamber and an exhalation chamber, such that separate gases may be carried within each of the inspiration and exhalation chambers. 22. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the first movable structure is movable between (1) a first position thereof, wherein the first movable structure is moved in a first direction within the air chamber in response to the patient's exhalation to supply exhaled gas to the exhalation chamber and to facilitate supply of a breathable gas to the inspiration chamber and (2) a second position thereof, wherein the first movable structure is moved in a direction opposite to the first direction within the air chamber in response to the patient's inhalation to facilitate exhalation of exhaled gas outside of the housing and to supply breathable gas to the patient. 23. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the air chamber dividing member has a central opening formed therein. 24. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 23, wherein the first movable structure comprises: a body portion extending through the central opening in the air chamber dividing member and being configured to move along the central opening;an upper end portion being disposed in the exhalation chamber and extending transverse to the body portion; anda lower end portion being disposed in the inspiration chamber and extending transverse to the body portion, substantially parallel to the upper end portion. 25. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising: a first sealing structure in communication with the air chamber;a second sealing structure in communication with the air chamber; anda third sealing structure in communication with the air chamber,wherein the first sealing structure permits fluid communication therethrough during an exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient, but prevents gas to exit the inspiration chamber during an inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient,wherein the second sealing structure permits fluid communication therethrough during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient, but prevents gas to enter the inspiration chamber during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient, andwherein the third sealing structure permits fluid communication therethrough during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient, but prevents gas to exit the exhalation chamber during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient. 26. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising an external power supply configured to supply power to the breathable gas supply system. 27. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the respiratory mask assembly comprises a respiratory mask having an inspiration port and an exhalation port formed therein, the inspiration port constructed and arranged to form an entrance to the respiratory mask where a supply of breathable gas may enter therethrough and the exhalation port constructed and arranged to form an exit to the respiratory mask where a supply of exhaled gas may exit the respiratory mask therethrough. 28. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: an inspiration conduit configured to removably connect to the inspiration port and to an outlet of the breathable gas supply system configured to provide a supply of breathable gas therethrough; andan exhalation conduit configured to removably connect to the exhalation port and to an inlet of the breathable gas supply system configured to provide a supply of exhaled gas therethrough. 29. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the first movable structure comprises flexible mechanical structure. 30. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the flexible mechanical structure includes an inner flexible mechanical structure and an outer flexible mechanical structure. 31. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 30, wherein one of the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure is powered to pressurize a portion of at least one of the inspiration chamber and the exhalation chamber to assist the patient's respiratory effort. 32. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the housing includes an upper wall and a lower wall spaced from the upper wall, the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure being disposed between the upper wall and the lower wall of the housing. 33. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 32, wherein each of the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure includes a concertina. 34. A breathable gas supply apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the inner flexible mechanical structure defines the inspiration chamber and the inner flexible mechanical structure and the outer flexible mechanical structure cooperate to define the exhalation chamber.
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