Method and apparatus for improving the comfort of CPAP
First Claim
1. In a CPAP apparatus having an electric motor, an impeller rotated by the motor, a patient interface, an air delivery conduit for delivering air from the impeller to the patient interface, a sensor for determining the pressure in the patient interface, and a control mechanism that causes air to be delivered at a desired pressure to the patient interface, and that detects transitions between inhalation and exhalation of a respiratory cycle of a patient;
- a method of controlling the motor operation comprising the steps of;
(i) upon detection of the transition from inhalation to exhalation, de-energizing the motor to allow the motor to freewheel;
(ii) when the pressure in the patient interface reaches a minimum pressure level during exhalation, re-energizing the motor and controlling its speed so to maintain the pressure at a level suitable for exhalation; and
(iii) upon detection of the transition from exhalation to inhalation, increasing the motor speed to provide higher pressures in the patient interface suitable for inhalation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-cost CPAP apparatus in which, upon detection of the transition from inhalation to exhalation, the blower motor is de-energized to allow it to freewheel. When the pressure in the patient mask (or whatever interface is utilized) reaches a minimum pressure level during exhalation, the motor is re-energized and its speed is controlled so to maintain the pressure at a level suitable for exhalation. Upon detection of the transition from exhalation to inhalation, the motor speed is increased to provide higher pressures in the patient mask suitable for inhalation.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a CPAP apparatus having an electric motor, an impeller rotated by the motor, a patient interface, an air delivery conduit for delivering air from the impeller to the patient interface, a sensor for determining the pressure in the patient interface, and a control mechanism that causes air to be delivered at a desired pressure to the patient interface, and that detects transitions between inhalation and exhalation of a respiratory cycle of a patient;
- a method of controlling the motor operation comprising the steps of;
(i) upon detection of the transition from inhalation to exhalation, de-energizing the motor to allow the motor to freewheel;
(ii) when the pressure in the patient interface reaches a minimum pressure level during exhalation, re-energizing the motor and controlling its speed so to maintain the pressure at a level suitable for exhalation; and
(iii) upon detection of the transition from exhalation to inhalation, increasing the motor speed to provide higher pressures in the patient interface suitable for inhalation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 27, 28, 29)
- a method of controlling the motor operation comprising the steps of;
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14. A method of operating a CPAP apparatus in which a motor-driven rotating impeller delivers air at a desired pressure to a patient interface, comprising the steps of:
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(i) detecting the transition from inhalation to exhalation and in response thereto allowing the impeller to freewheel;
(ii) detecting when the pressure in the patient interface reaches a minimum pressure level during exhalation and in response thereto causing the motor to control the impeller speed so as to maintain the pressure at a level suitable for exhalation; and
(iii) detecting the transition from exhalation to inhalation and in response thereto causing the motor to control the impeller to operate at a higher speed to provide higher pressures in the patient interface suitable for inhalation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 30, 31, 32)
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22. A CPAP apparatus for treatment of sleep disordered breathing by having a blower driven by a motor provide air at a desired pressure at the airway of a patient, in which the pressure during exhalation is reduced from a high level to a low level by allowing the motor to freewheel.
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23. A CPAP apparatus for treatment of sleep disordered breathing by having an impeller driven by a motor provide air at a desired pressure at the airway of a patient, in which the pressure during exhalation is reduced from a high level to a low level by allowing the impeller to freewheel.
- 24. A CPAP apparatus for treatment of sleep disordered breathing by having a blower driven by a motor provide air at a desired pressure at the airway of a patient, in which the pressure during exhalation is reduced from a high level to a low level by allowing the motor to freewheel only during a pretreatment phase of use of the CPAP apparatus.
Specification