Treatment of respiratory conditions
First Claim
1. A high flow rate respiratory treatment apparatus comprising:
- a flow generator to produce a flow of breathable gas into a nasal cavity through an unsealed patient interface at a first flow rate, wherein the unsealed patient interface is configured to intentionally leak from said nasal cavity an uninspired portion of said flow of breathable gas during use, at gaps between nares of a patient and outlet ends of prongs of the patient interface;
a humidifier in a path of the flow to humidify the breathable gas at a first humidity level; and
a processor configured to control automatic adjustments to the first flow rate of the flow generator and to control automatic adjustments to a setting of the first humidity level, the apparatus further configured to automatically maintain the humidity of the flow of breathable gas at the setting in response to detected deviations therefrom,wherein the processor is configured to detect one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring; and
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the first flow rate in response to the processor detecting one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device (102) provides respiratory treatment for SDB (including mild OSA) and other respiratory conditions. A flow generator warms and humidifies gas at controlled flow levels. For example, the device (102) delivers breathable gas to the upper airway at flow rates of about 10-35 Liters/minute. Levels of flow rate, temperature and/or humidification of the device may be automatically adjusted in response to the detection of SDB events. The device may also automatically deliver adjustments of any of the levels in accordance with detected phases of respiratory cycles. In some embodiments, the device automatically delivers distinct levels to either of the nares based on independent control of flow to each nare. A warm-up procedure controls temperature and humidity at a desired target during a ramp-up of flow to the set therapy level. A cool-down procedure controls temperature above the dewpoint to avoid condensation internal to the device and patient interface.
85 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A high flow rate respiratory treatment apparatus comprising:
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a flow generator to produce a flow of breathable gas into a nasal cavity through an unsealed patient interface at a first flow rate, wherein the unsealed patient interface is configured to intentionally leak from said nasal cavity an uninspired portion of said flow of breathable gas during use, at gaps between nares of a patient and outlet ends of prongs of the patient interface; a humidifier in a path of the flow to humidify the breathable gas at a first humidity level; and a processor configured to control automatic adjustments to the first flow rate of the flow generator and to control automatic adjustments to a setting of the first humidity level, the apparatus further configured to automatically maintain the humidity of the flow of breathable gas at the setting in response to detected deviations therefrom, wherein the processor is configured to detect one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring; andwherein the processor is configured to adjust the first flow rate in response to the processor detecting one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for control of a high flow rate respiratory treatment apparatus, the method comprising:
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producing a flow of breathable gas into a nasal cavity through an unsealed patient interface at a first flow rate with a flow generator, wherein the unsealed patient interface is configured to intentionally leak from said nasal cavity, an uninspired portion of said flow of breathable gas during use, at gaps between nares of a patient and outlet ends of prongs of the patient interface; in a path of the flow, humidifying the breathable gas at a first humidity level with a humidifier; with a processor, controlling automatic adjustments to the first flow rate of the flow generator and controlling automatic adjustments to a setting of the first humidity level, the apparatus further configured to automatically maintain the humidity of the flow of breathable gas at the setting; and detecting in the processor one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring; andadjusting the first flow rate in response to the processor detecting one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A high flow rate respiratory treatment apparatus comprising:
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an unsealed patient interface configured with prongs to carry a flow of breathable gas to a patient'"'"'s nares; a flow generator to produce, at a first flow rate, the flow of breathable gas into nares of the patient from outlet ends of the prongs of the unsealed patient interface, wherein the unsealed patient interface is configured to intentionally leak an uninspired flow of the breathable gas from the patient'"'"'s nares during use, the leak flow occurring at gaps between nares of the patient and said outlet ends of the prongs; a humidifier in a path of the flow to humidify the breathable gas at a first humidity level; and a processor configured to control automatic adjustments to the first flow rate of the flow generator and to control automatic adjustments to a setting of the first humidity level, the apparatus further configured to automatically maintain the humidity of the flow of breathable gas at the setting in response to detected deviations therefrom, wherein the processor is configured to detect one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring; andwherein the processor is configured to adjust the first flow rate in response to the processor detecting one or more incidents from the group consisting of;
partial obstruction, apnea, and snoring. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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Specification