Interactive pressure support system and method

• US 20030213489A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated), Walter W. Foss
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mechlenburg, Douglas M., Estes, Mark C., Pujol, J. Raymond, Broadley, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• 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 2205/505 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: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 by comparison of patient data to other data

Abstract

An interactive pressure support system and method employing a pressure generating system that provides a pressure therapy to the pulmonary system of a patient and an interactive system associated with the pressure generating system to enable the patient to interact with the pressure support system, for example, to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment provided by the pressure support system. The interactive system includes an output device that provides first information to the patient, an input device that allows the patient to provide second information that is based on the first information and a control unit that controls the operation of the output device to present the first information and collection of the second information via the input device. In a further embodiment, the operation of the pressure generating system is controlled based on the second information provided by the patient.

Claims

1. An interactive pressure support system, comprising:

(a) a pressure generating system adapted to provide a pressure therapy to a pulmonary system of a patient; and

(b) an interactive system associated with the pressure generating system, the interactive system comprising;

(1) an output device programmed to provide a survey to a patient pertaining to such a patient'"'"'s medical condition;

(2) an input device adapted to receive a response to the survey from such a patient; and

(c) a control unit programmed with the survey, wherein the control unit controls (1) operation of the output device to present the survey, and (2) collection of the response to the survey via the input device, and wherein the control unit controls operation of the pressure generating system based at least in part on the response to the survey.

2. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the survey comprises a test that measures an effectiveness of the pressure therapy.

3. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 2, wherein the test is a series of questions that gage a patient'"'"'s propensity for daytime sleepiness, reaction time, or cognitive alertness.

4. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory adapted to store other information not related to the survey provided by the patient via the input device.

5. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the pressure generating system based at least in part on the other information.

6. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit analyzes the response to the survey and determines a result based on the analysis, the result being a measure of a characteristic of a patient intended to be impacted by the pressure therapy, and wherein the control unit controls the pressure generating system based at least in part on the result.

7. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 6, wherein the interactive system further comprises a communication unit adapted to communicate the survey, the response to the survey, the result, or any combination thereof with a remote location.

8. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure generating system includes:

a pressure generator that receives gas from at least one gas source and provides the gas to a patient at an elevated pressure;

a breathing circuit having a first end operatively coupled to the pressure generator; and

a patient interface device operatively coupled to a second end of the breathing circuit.

9. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure generating system and the interactive system are associated with one another by being operatively coupled to a common housing.

10. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the interactive system also collects other information associated with the survey, the response to the survey, or both.

11. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 10, wherein the other information includes at least one of (1) time information identifying at least one of (a) a test administration time indicating a time when the survey was presented to a user and (b) a test completion time indicating a time when the response to the survey was received from a user, and (2) identifying information identifying the survey provided to a user.

12. An interactive pressure support system, comprising:

pressure generating means for generating a pressure therapy adapted to be provided to a pulmonary system of a patient;

patient interacting means, associated with the pressure generating means, for providing a survey to a patient pertaining to such a patient'"'"'s medical condition and for receiving a response to the survey from a patient; and

controlling means for controlling operation of the pressure generating means based at least in part on the response to the survey.

13. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 12, wherein the survey comprises a test that measures an effectiveness of the pressure therapy.

14. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 13, wherein the test is a series of questions that gage a patient'"'"'s propensity for daytime sleepiness, reaction time, or cognitive alertness.

15. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 12, further comprising a memory adapted to store other information not related to the survey provided by the patient via the patient interacting means.

16. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 15, wherein the controlling means controls the pressure generating means based at least in part on the other information.

17. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 12, wherein a patient interacting means analyzes the response to the survey and determines a result based on the analysis, the result being a measure of a characteristic of a patient intended to be impacted by the pressure therapy.

18. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 17, wherein a patient interacting means includes a communicating means for communicating at least one of the survey, the response to the survey and the result with a remote location.

19. An interactive pressure support system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure generating means and the patient interacting means are associated with one another by being operatively coupled to a common housing.

20. A communication network comprising:

(a) an interactive pressure support system, comprising;

(1) a pressure generating system adapted to provide a pressure therapy to a pulmonary system of a patient, and

(2) an interactive system associated with the pressure generating system, the interactive system comprising;

(i) an output device programmed to provide a survey to a patient pertaining to such a patient'"'"'s medical condition,

(ii) an input device adapted to receive a response to the survey from a patient, and

(iii) a control unit programmed with the survey, wherein the control unit controls (1) operation of the output device to present the survey and (2) collection of the response to the survey via the input device;

(b) at least one remote location adapted to communicate with the at least one interactive pressure support system; and

(c) a communication system adapted to receive the response to the survey or information associated with the response to the survey and to provide a command to the interactive pressure support system to control the pressure generating system, wherein the command is generated based at least in part on the response or the information associated with the response.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein the control unit collects other information not related to the survey provided by the patient via the input device.

22. The network according to claim 21, wherein the control unit controls the pressure generating system based at least in part on the other information.

23. The network according to claim 21, wherein the communication system receives the other information and generates the command based at least in part on the other information.

24. A method of treating a breathing disorder, comprising the steps of:

providing a device that is adapted to administer a pressure therapy to a patient;

causing the device to also provide first information to a patient;

acquiring, via the device, second information from a patient based on the first information; and

controlling administration of the pressure therapy based at least in part on the second information.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the first information includes a test that measures an effectiveness of the pressure therapy.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the test is a series of questions that gage a patient'"'"'s propensity for daytime sleepiness, reaction time, or cognitive alertness.

27. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the second information; and

determining a result based on the analysis, the result being a measure of a characteristic of a patient intended to be impacted by the pressure therapy.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising a step of storing at least one of the second information and the result or communicating at least one of the first information, second information and the result with a remote location.

29. A method according to claim 24, further comprising a step of collecting third information associated with at least one of the first information and the second information.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the third information includes at least one of (1) time information identifying at least one of (a) a test administration time indicating a time when the first information was presented to a user and (b) a test completion time indicating a time when the second information was received from a user, and (2) identifying information identifying the first information provided to a user.

31. A method according to claim 24, further comprising acquiring, via the device, other information not related to the first information.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising controlling the pressure therapy based at least in part on the other information.

33. A method according to claim 24, wherein controlling includes:

providing the second information to a remote location; and

providing a command from the remote location to the device, wherein the command is based on the second information and controls the pressure therapy.