Methods and systems for assessing pulmonary disease

• US 20050065448A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Sensing physiological conditions using the sensors of a respiratory therapy device can be used to assess a presence of pulmonary diseases other than breathing rhythm disorders. Non-rhythm related pulmonary diseases include, for example, obstructive pulmonary diseases, restrictive pulmonary diseases, and infectious diseases. Various pulmonary diseases will produce changes in respiratory pressure, airflow, and/or other patient conditions, facilitating assessment of a presence of disease.

Claims

1. A method for assessing a presence of a pulmonary disease other than a breathing rhythm disorder, comprising:

sensing one or more conditions associated with the non-rhythm pulmonary disease using a respiratory therapy device; and

assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the one or more sensed conditions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the one or more conditions comprises sensing respiratory pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the one or more conditions comprises sensing respiratory flow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the one or more conditions comprises detecting a percentage of an exhaled gas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease comprises assessing the presence of an obstructive pulmonary disease.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease comprises assessing the presence of a restrictive pulmonary disease.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease comprises assessing the presence of a pulmonary vasculature disorder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease comprises assessing the presence of a pleural disorder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease comprises:

comparing the one or more conditions to one or more sets of threshold criteria; and

assessing the presence of the pulmonary disease based on the comparison.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a progression of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease.

11. A medical system, comprising:

a respiratory therapy device, the respiratory therapy device comprising;

a therapy unit configured to deliver respiration therapy to a patient;

a sensor system configured to sense one or more conditions associated with a pulmonary disease other than a breathing rhythm disorder; and

a diagnosis unit coupled to the sensor system and configured to assess a presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the one or more sensed conditions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the respiratory therapy device comprises a positive airway pressure device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor system comprises an airflow sensor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor system comprises a pressure sensor.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor system comprises a gas sensor configured to sense a percentage of exhaled CO2.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor system comprises a gas sensor configured to sense a percentage of exhaled O2.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the diagnosis unit comprises a criteria library configured to store one or more sets of threshold criteria and the diagnosis unit is configured to compare the one or more conditions to the one or more sets of threshold criteria and assess a presence of the pulmonary disease based on the comparison.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the sensor system and the diagnosis unit, the memory configured to store periodically collected information associated with the one or more conditions; and

wherein the diagnosis unit is configured to assess a presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the periodically collected information.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an additional sensor system coupled to the diagnosis unit, the additional sensor system configured to sense one or more additional conditions associated with the non-rhythm pulmonary disease; and

wherein the diagnosis unit is configured to assess a presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the one or more additional conditions.

20. A system for diagnosing a pulmonary disease other than a breathing rhythm disorder, comprising:

means for sensing one or more conditions associated with the non-rhythm pulmonary disease using a respiratory therapy device; and

means for assessing a presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the one or more conditions.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for storing periodically collected information associated with the one or more conditions, wherein the means for assessing the presence of the pulmonary disease comprises means for assessing the presence of the non-rhythm pulmonary disease based on the stored information.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for detecting an additional one or more conditions associated with the non-rhythm pulmonary disease using one or more additional devices; and

means for assessing the presence of the pulmonary disease based on the one or more additional conditions.