A Pilot Study of Demand Valve Oxygen Inhalation Therapy for Cluster Headache

A demand valve delivers oxygen to the user as soon as they try to inhale from an attached mask or mouth tube. As the user starts to inhale, the slight drop in pressure within the mouth piece or mask lifts a valve and starts the oxygen flow. If the user inhales more deeply, more oxygen will flow in response to the increased demand, hence the name demand valve. Unlike a constant flow O2 regulator, a demand valve has no flow meter or flow rate controls, but it is capable of delivering O2 from 0 to 160 liters per minute (LPM). When using a demand valve, O2 dosage is controlled by respiration rate

100 percent continuous oxygen given via a non-rebreather facemask at 7 to 15 liters per minute for 20 minutes