Apparatus and method for relieving dyspnoea

• US 20050034724A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respironics Ireland Ltd (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Caradyne (R&D) Limited (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: O'Dea, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,701,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for relieving dyspnoea in an ambulatory exercising subject comprises a housing (3) to be worn on the subject, and within which a variable speed air blower motor (5) is located for delivering an air supply to the subject through a mouthpiece (10) at a pressure similar to average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure of the subject. A pressure transducer (25) in the mouthpiece (10) monitors the pressure during breathing cycles of the subject, and a control circuit (22) determines the average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure of the subject over five breathing cycles. The control circuit (22) operates the air blower motor (5) for delivering the air supply to the subject at a pressure similar to the determined average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure.

Claims

1-16. -16. (Cancelled).

17. An apparatus for relieving dyspnoea in a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generating system adapted to provide a flow of gas;

monitoring means for monitoring a characteristic associated with a breathing cycle of the subject;

controlling means for determining an average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure based on an output of the monitoring means, and for controlling the gas flow generating system such that a pressure of the flow of gas delivered to the subject during at least a portion of an expiratory phase of a breathing cycle substantially corresponds to the average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the controlling means controls the gas flow generating system such that the pressure of the flow of gas delivered to the subject during at least a portion of an inspiratory phase of a breathing cycle is at a pressure greater than the average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the gas flow generating system includes a blower motor, and wherein the controlling means controls the pressure provided by that gas flow generating system by controlling an operating speed of the blower motor.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the monitoring means is located proximate to an airway of the subject.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a patient circuit having a first end operatively connected to the gas flow generating system and a second end; and

a patient interface operatively connected to the second end of the patient circuit, and wherein the monitoring means is operatively connected to the patient interface.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the monitoring means is connected to the controlling means by a wire.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the monitoring means includes means for transmitting a wireless signal to the controlling means, and wherein the controlling means includes receiving means for receiving the wireless signal.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the monitoring means is a pressure transducer.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is portable and is adapted for use by an ambulatory subject.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the gas flow generating system comprises an electrically powered blower motor.

27. Apparatus for relieving dyspnoea in a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generating system adapted to provide a flow of gas, monitoring means for monitoring a characteristic associated with a breathing cycle of a subject;

controlling means for controlling the pressure of the flow of gas provided by the gas flow generating system;

a patient circuit having a first end operatively connected to the gas flow generating system and a second end;

a patient interface operatively connected to the second end of the patient circuit; and

exhausting means operatively coupled to the patient interface for exhausting exhaled gas from the subject, wherein the exhausting means includes a valve operable under control of the controlling means for controlling a pressure of the flow of gas in the patient interface.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the valve is a pressure regulating valve.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the gas flow generating system includes a blower motor, and wherein the controlling means controls the pressure provided by that gas flow generating system by controlling an operating speed of the blower motor.

30. A method for relieving dyspnoea in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a subject at a pressure greater than ambient;

determining an intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure of the subject; and

controlling the pressure of the flow of gas delivered to the subject during an expiratory phase of a breathing cycle such that the pressure of the flow of gas substantially corresponds to an average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure.