Apparatus for delivery of humidified gases therapy, associated methods and analysis tools

• US 20040016430A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Makinson, Ian Douglas, Young, Alex, Bond, David Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature

Abstract

Apparatus for delivery of humidified gases therapy includes a humidifier. A recorder records. An output interface allows for outputting of the recorded data. The recorder may also record data indicative of patient compliance with the humidified gases therapy. The apparatus may determine patient compliance from sensed delivered flow.

Recorded humidity and compliance data retrieved from the apparatus are useful in methods for improving the efficacy of humidified gases therapy or diagnosing problems with the efficacy of humidified gases therapy.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivery of humidified gases therapy including:

a humidifier,

means for recording data indicative of the humidity of gases delivered by the apparatus, and

output interface means for outputting said recorded data.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a humidity setting selector, user operable to set and adjust a desired humidity level, and

a controller operative to vary the humidification supplied by said humidifier according to the setting of said selector, and

said data is derived from said humidity setting.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recorder means records data indicative of user compliance in addition to said data indicative of the humidity of delivered gases.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said apparatus includes means for determining user compliance and said recorder records data indicative of said determined compliance.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including a flow sensor providing an output indicative of flow delivered by the apparatus, and

a blower delivering a substantially constant pressure across a wide flow range,

wherein said means for determining user compliance determines user compliance based on the output of said flow sensor and the operating speed of said blower.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said recorder means records data indicative of user compliance in addition to said data indicative of the humidity of delivered gases.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes means for determining user compliance and said recorder records data indicative of said determined compliance.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including a flow sensor providing an output indicative of flow delivered by the apparatus, and

a blower delivering a substantially constant pressure across a wide flow range,

wherein said means for determining user compliance determines user compliance based on the output of said flow sensor and the operating speed of said blower.

9. A method of diagnosing causes of ineffective humidified gases therapy comprising the steps of:

retrieving logged humidity data and logged patient compliance data from an apparatus,

comparing said patient compliance data with said humidity data, and

determining inadequate or excessive humidity as a potential cause of said inadequate treatment based on said comparisons.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of comparing includes assessing said data for a relationship between humidity and peak compliance and determining lower and higher humidities as a potential cause of inadequate therapy.

11. A method of improving efficacy of humidified gases therapy comprising the steps of:

retrieving logged humidity data and logged patient compliance data from an apparatus,

comparing said patient compliance data with said humidity data, and

recommending alterations to said therapy based on said comparisons.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said step of comparing includes assessing said data for a relationship between humidity and peak compliance and said step of advising includes recommending a humidity related to said peak compliance.