Auto-feedback valve for a sleep apnea device

• US 10,272,226 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fresca Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fresca Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Cragg, Andrew H., Logan, John, Nissimov, Haim, Ewers, Richard Christian, Adler, Mark Alan, Chen, Eugene G., Trusheim, John Edwin, Nolting, John Eugene, Anderson, Stephen William, Chen, Kevin Nai Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luarca, Margaret M
• Application Number:
  US14/278,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 : Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 : Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 : Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8281 : spring operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 : Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A device for treating a patient suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or snoring can include an expiratory valve connected to a manifold. The expiratory valve can include a body portion including a feedback port configured to be connected to an air flow generator. The expiratory valve can include a plunger at least partially disposed in the body portion. The expiratory valve can include a pressurizing chamber positioned between an end of the plunger and an end of the expiratory valve. The pressurizing chamber can be configured to receive air from the air flow generator through the feedback port.

Claims

1. A device for treating a patient suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, the device comprising:

an air flow generator generating an air flow at only a positive therapeutic pressure during the treatment;

a manifold connected to an air flow generator;

an expiratory valve connected to the manifold, the expiratory valve comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being closer to the patient when the patient is using the device, the expiratory valve further comprising;

a body portion comprising a feedback port connected to the manifold;

a plunger at least partially disposed in the body portion, the plunger comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the plunger being closer to the patient when the patient is using the device; and

a pressurizing chamber positioned between the second end of the plunger and the second end of the expiratory valve, the pressurizing chamber receives air from the air flow generator through the feedback port,

wherein the plunger moves between a first position and a second position and wherein the movement from the first to second position is biased based on the therapeutic pressure from the air flow generator;

wherein the plunger bias exerts a back pressure upon each exhalation from the patient sufficient to create a pneumatic splint in the patient'"'"'s respiratory tract;

wherein the exhalation from the patient has a first half followed by a second half and the back pressure is varied such that during the start of the first half the back pressure is between 0 and 5 cm H2O and increases to a peak back pressure of greater than 5 cm of H2O in the second half;

an air conduit with a first end connected to the manifold and a second end configured to provide air flow at a therapeutic pressure from the air flow generator to the patient, the air conduit further comprising an one-way valve that allows air from the first end of the air conduit to the second end of the air conduit; and

wherein the first position comprises the plunger forming a seal that inhibits air flow across the expiratory valve and the second position comprises a disengagement of the seal thereby allowing air flow across the expiratory valve, wherein the expiratory valve further comprises a magnet positioned between the first end of the plunger and the first end of the expiratory valve, wherein the magnet maintains the plunger in the first position during the entire inspiration phase of the patient and allows movement to the second position when the patient exhales.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body portion further comprises at least one vent hole, the at least one vent hole positioned between the pressurizing chamber and the first end of the expiratory valve.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein when the plunger is in the first position, the plunger prevents air from escaping through the at least one vent hole, and wherein when the plunger is in the second position, the plunger permits air to escape through the at least one vent hole.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plunger moves along a longitudinal axis of the expiratory valve.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the expiratory valve further comprises a diaphragm positioned between the plunger and the second end of the expiratory valve.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the expiratory valve has a height of less than or equal to about 1.5 inches.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the expiratory valve has a height of less than or equal to about 0.5 inches.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve comprises a first valve and a second valve.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve comprises a flap valve.

10. The device claim 1, wherein the second end of the plunger is a closed end and the first end of the plunger is an open end.

11. The device claim 1, wherein the second end of the plunger is an open end and the first end of the plunger is a closed end.

12. The device claim 1, wherein the plunger is disc-shaped.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve reduces CO2 entrapment in the device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is positioned to shield the feedback port from the back pressure of patient breathing.