Respiratory apparatus and methods of respiratory treatment

• US 20050005935A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Gradon, Lewis George
• Application Number:
  US10/489,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting apnoea that use ultrasonic sound waves are disclosed. The method consists of applying ultrasonic sound waves of varying frequency to a patient'"'"'s airway and detecting their reflected sound waves. The sound waves are then analysed to determine whether there is a narrowing of the airway. In particular a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and receiving ultrasonic transducer are located on the interior surface of a mask and positioned so as to be directed towards the nares of the patient. A signal is emitted through the transmitting transducer and received at the receiving transducer. The received signal indicates a distance to a reflection or a distance to the narrowing of the upper respiratory tract. In this manner obstructions or narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway tract may be identified as reflections which appear at anatomically appropriate distances.

Claims

1. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient comprising the steps of:

a) applying ultrasonic sound waves of varying frequency to a patient'"'"'s airway,

b) detecting said sound waves reflected from said patient'"'"'s airway,

c) analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said airway.

2. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to claim 1 wherein said method includes the step of filtering said reflected sound waves.

3. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes performing a fast Fourier transform on said reflected sound waves thereby producing an output graph of the power spectrum as a function of frequency of said reflected sound waves.

4. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes the determination of the position of said narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway by calibrating said power spectrum as the distance along said airway.

5. A method of determining the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient receiving continuous positive airway pressure treatment by apparatus for supplying pressurised gases to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

a) applying ultrasonic sound waves of varying frequency to a patient'"'"'s airway,

b) detecting said sound waves reflected from said patient'"'"'s airway,

c) analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said airway, and if so,

d) increasing the pressure of said gases supplied to said patient, or if not,

e) decreasing said pressure of said gases supplied to said patient.

6. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to claim 5 wherein said method includes the step of filtering said reflected sound waves.

7. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes performing a fast Fourier transform on said reflected sound waves thereby producing an output graph of the power spectrum as a function of frequency of said reflected sound waves.

8. A method of determining apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to claim 5 to 7 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes the determination of the position of said narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway by calibrating said power spectrum as the distance along said airway.

9. A method of diagnosing the narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway comprising the steps of:

a) applying ultrasonic sound waves of varying frequency to a patient'"'"'s airway,

b) detecting said sound waves reflected from said patient'"'"'s airway,

c) analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said airway.

10. A method of diagnosing the narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway according to claim 9 wherein said method of diagnosing the narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway includes the step of filtering said reflected sound waves.

11. A method of diagnosing the narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway according to any one of claims 9 or 10 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes performing a fast Fourier transform on said reflected sound waves thereby producing an output graph of the power spectrum as a function of frequency of said reflected sound waves.

12. A method of diagnosing the narrowing of a patient'"'"'s airway according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein said step of analysing said reflected sound waves includes the determination of the position of said narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway by calibrating said power spectrum as the distance along said airway.

13. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient comprising or including:

a) interface means providing access to said patient'"'"'s airways,

b) transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic sound waves of a varying frequency to said patient'"'"'s airways,

c) receiving means for receiving the reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s airways, and

d) data processing means for analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway.

14. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnea in a patient according to claim 13 wherein said ultrasonic sound waves have a frequency of between 30 kHz and 40 kHz.

15. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to any one of claims 13 or 14 wherein said interface means is a nasal mask.

16. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to any one of claims 13 or 14 wherein said interface means is an oral mouthpiece.

17. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to claim 15 wherein said transmitting means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into at least one of the nares of said patient.

18. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to claim 16 wherein said transmitting means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

19. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to any one of claims 15 or 17 wherein said receiving means is an ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to receive said reflected sound waves from at least one of said nares of said patient.

20. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient according to any one of claims 16 or 18 wherein said receiving means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to received said reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

21. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient, comprising:

a) breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver gases to a patient to assist said patient'"'"'s breathing including gases supply means,

b) interface means providing access to said patient'"'"'s airways,

c) a conduit in fluid communication with said interface means and said breathing assistance apparatus,

c) transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic sound waves of a varying frequency to said patient'"'"'s airways,

d) receiving means for receiving the reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s airways, and

e) data processing means for analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway,

f) controlling means for increasing the pressure of said gases supplied to said patient.

wherein if the narrowing of said airway is detected said controlling means increasing the pressure of said gases supplied to said patient, and if no narrowing is detected said controlling means decreasing the pressure of said gases supplied to said patient.

22. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to claim 21 wherein said ultrasonic sound waves have a frequency of between 30 kHz and 40 kHz.

23. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 21 or 22 wherein said apparatus includes a flow sensor in fluid communication with the entrance to said patient'"'"'s airways to output a signal representative of respiratory airflow of said patient as a function of time,

wherein said output signal may be used to determine if there is a limitation of the airflow to or from said patient'"'"'s airway.

24. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein said interface means is a nasal mask.

25. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein said interface means is an oral mouthpiece.

26. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to claim 24 wherein said transmitting means is an ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into at least one of the nares of said patient.

27. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claim 25 wherein said transmitting means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

28. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 24 or 26 wherein said receiving means is an ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to receive said reflected sound waves from at least one of said nares of said patient.

29. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 25 or 27 wherein said receiving means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to received said reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

30. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient, comprising:

a) interface means providing access to said patient'"'"'s airways,

b) transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic sound waves of a varying frequency to said patient'"'"'s airways,

d) receiving means for receiving the reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s airways, and

e) data processing means for analysing said reflected sound waves to determine whether there is narrowing of said patient'"'"'s airway.

31. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to claim 30 wherein said ultrasonic sound waves have a frequency of between 30 kHz and 40 kHz.

32. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 30 or 31 wherein said interface means is a nasal mask.

33. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 30 or 31 wherein said interface means is an oral mouthpiece.

34. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 30 or 31 wherein said interface means is tubing and at least one nasal cannula locatable in at least one of said patient'"'"'s nares.

35. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to claim 34 wherein said at least one nasal cannula is connected to one of said receiving means, transmitting means and data processing means by way of said tubing.

36. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 34 or 35 wherein said at least one nasal cannula has disposed at it'"'"'s end one of said transmitting means and receiving means, said transmitting means and receiving means directed to transmit and receive sound waves into at least one of the nares of said patient.

37. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to claim 32 wherein said transmitting means is an ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into at least one of the nares of said patient.

38. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to claim 33 wherein said transmitting means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to transmit said ultrasonic sound waves into said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

39. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 32 or 37 wherein said receiving means is an ultrasonic transducer located on the interior surface of said nasal mask and directed to receive said reflected sound waves from at least one of said nares of said patient.

40. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient according to any one of claims 33 or 38 wherein said receiving means is at least one ultrasonic transducer located on or near to said oral mouthpiece and directed to received said reflected sound waves from said patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

41. Apparatus for the detection of the occurrence of apnoea and/or hypopnoea in a patient as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. Apparatus for the provision of CPAP treatment to the airways of a patient as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

43. Apparatus for diagnosing the narrowing of the airways of a patient as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.