Method and apparatus for substance delivery in system for supplying breathable gas

• US 20060021620A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Calluaud, Michel, Yerbury, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/147 the respiratory gas not passing through the liquid container
• 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

Abstract

A substance delivery apparatus for use with a system for supplying breathable gas to a human or animal includes a sensor to measure the pressure of the supplied breathable gas and to detect inhalation by the human or animal; and a reservoir, a conduit, a pump, and a diaphragm to deliver the substance to the human or animal during inhalation at a pressure higher than the supplied pressure of the breathable gas.

Claims

1-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A substance delivery apparatus for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the apparatus including:

means for measuring the pressure of a supplied breathable gas; and

means for delivering a substance to the human or animal during an inhalation at a pressure that exceeds the measured pressure of a supplied pressure of the breathable gas by a predetermined pressure difference.

51. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, further comprising means for detecting inhalation by the human or animal.

52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the substance is a medicinal substance.

53. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the substance is in the form of a gas, mist, aerated suspension, jet, spray, and/or a gas mixture.

54. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the means for delivering the substance is adapted to deliver the substance to the respiratory system of the human or animal.

55. An apparatus as claimed in claim 54, wherein the means for delivering the substance is adapted to deliver the substance to the nasal airways of the human or animal.

56. An apparatus as claimed in claim 51, wherein the means for detecting inhalation includes an airflow sensor adapted to measure a volumetric flow rate of the breathable gas passing through a flexible conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized gas flow generator and a mask adapted to be worn by the human or animal and being adapted to generate a first input signal indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

57. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56, further including an amplifier to amplify the first input signal into a second input signal also indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

58. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56, further including a differentiating filter to derive the first signal into a third input signal indicative of acceleration or deceleration of the breathable gas to thereby indicate inhalation or exhalation respectively.

59. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56, wherein the airflow sensor is adapted to be disposed downstream of a gas washout vent to atmosphere of the mask such that inhalation can be detected by sensing a reversal of the direction of the breathable gas flow through the vent.

60. An apparatus as claimed in claim 59, wherein the airflow sensor is adapted to detect inhalation by sensing an interruption of the breathable gas flow through the vent.

61. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, further including means for measuring the volume of the substance to be delivered to the human or animal.

62. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the means for measuring the pressure is a pressure transducer adapted to be connected to a conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized gas flow generator and a mask adapted to be worn by the human or animal, said transducer being adapted to generate a fourth input signal indicative of the pressure of the breathable gas in the conduit.

63. An apparatus as claimed in claim 62, including an amplifier to amplify the fourth input signal into a fifth input signal also indicative of the breathable gas pressure.

64. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the means for delivering a substance is a positive displacement pump.

65. An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein the positive displacement pump is a diaphragm pump.

66. An apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein the diaphragm pump is in fluid communication with a substance reservoir via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the reservoir to the diaphragm pump.

67. An apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein the diaphragm pump is adapted to be in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the diaphragm pump to the conduit.

68. An apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein the diaphragm pump is displaced by a linear drive.

69. An apparatus as claimed in claim 68, wherein the linear drive is an electromagnet.

70. An apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein the diaphragm of the diaphragm pump is displaced by a rotary to linear converter driven by a rotary drive.

71. An apparatus as claimed in claim 70, wherein the rotary drive is one of an electric DC motor, an electric AC motor, a stepper motor and a brushless motor.

93. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the substance is a medicinal substance.

94. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the substance is in the form of a gas, mist, aerated suspension, jet, spray, and/or a gas mixture.

95. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the substance is delivered to the respiratory system of the human or animal.

96. An apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein the substance is delivered to the nasal airways of the human or animal.

72. A method of delivering a substance to a human or animal being supplied with breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure, the method including:

measuring the pressure of a supplied breathable gas; and

delivering a substance to the human or animal during an inhalation at a pressure that exceeds the pressure of a supplied pressure of the breathable gas by a predetermined pressure difference.

73. A method as claimed in claim 72, wherein the substance is a medicinal substance.

74. A method as claimed in claim 73, wherein the substance is in the form of a gas, mist, aerated suspension, jet, spray, and/or a gas mixture.

75. A method as claimed in claim 72, wherein the substance is delivered to the respiratory system of the human or animal.

76. A method as claimed in claim 75, wherein the substance is delivered to the nasal airways of the human or animal.

77. A method as claimed in claim 72, including measuring the volumetric flow rate of the breathable gas with an airflow sensor and generating a first input signal indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

78. A method as claimed in claim 77, including amplifying the first signal into a second signal also indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

79. A method as claimed in claim 77, including differentiating the first signal into a third signal indicative of breathable gas acceleration or deceleration to indicate inhalation or exhalation respectively.

80. A method as claimed in claim 72, including measuring the volume of the substance to be delivered to the human or animal.

81. A method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the breathable gas pressure is measured with a pressure transducer adapted to generate a fourth input signal indicative of the breathable gas pressure.

82. A method as claimed in claim 81, including amplifying the fourth input signal into a fifth input signal also indicative of the breathable gas pressure.

83. A method as claimed in claim 72, wherein the substance is delivered to the human or animal using a positive displacement pump.

84. A method as claimed in claim 83, wherein the positive displacement pump is a diaphragm pump.

85. A method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the diaphragm pump is in fluid communication with a substance reservoir via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the reservoir to the diaphragm pump.

86. A method as claimed in claim 84, wherein the diaphragm pump is adapted to be in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the diaphragm pump to the conduit.

87. A method as claimed in claim 84, wherein the diaphragm pump is displaced by a linear drive.

88. A method as claimed in claim 87, wherein the linear drive is an electromagnet.

89. A method as claimed in claim 84, wherein the diaphragm pump is displaced by a rotary to linear converter driven by a rotary drive.

90. A method as claimed in claim 89, wherein the rotary drive is at least one of an electric DC motor, an electric AC motor, a stepper motor and a brushless motor.

91. A substance delivery apparatus for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the apparatus including:

a pressure transducer to measure pressure of a supplied breathable gas; and

a positive displacement pump to deliver a substance to the human or animal during the inhalation at a pressure that exceeds the measured pressure of the supplied breathable gas by a predetermined pressure difference.

92. An apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further comprising an airflow sensor to detect inhalation by the human or animal.

97. An apparatus as claimed in claim 92, wherein the airflow sensor to detect inhalation further measures a volumetric flow rate of the breathable gas passing through a flexible conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized gas flow generator and a mask adapted to be worn by the human or animal, and generates a first input signal indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

98. An apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further including an amplifier adapted to amplify the first input signal into a second input signal also indicative of the breathable gas flow rate.

99. An apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further including a differentiating filter adapted to derive the first signal into a third input signal indicative of acceleration or deceleration of the breathable gas to thereby indicate inhalation or exhalation respectively.

100. An apparatus as claimed in claim 97, wherein the airflow sensor is disposed downstream of a gas washout vent to atmosphere of the mask such that inhalation can be detected by sensing a reversal of the direction of the breathable gas flow through the vent.

101. An apparatus as claimed in claim 100, wherein inhalation is detected by sensing an interruption of the breathable gas flow through the vent.

102. An apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further including signals indicative of the volume of the substance to be delivered to the human or animal.

103. An apparatus as claimed in claim 91, wherein the pressure transducer is connected to a conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized gas flow generator and a mask adapted to be worn by the human or animal of the system for supplying breathable gas, said transducer being adapted to generate a fourth input signal indicative of the pressure of the breathable gas in the conduit.

104. An apparatus as claimed in claim 103, including an amplifier to amplify the fourth input signal into a fifth input signal also indicative of the breathable gas pressure.

105. An apparatus as claimed in claim 91, wherein the positive displacement pump is a diaphragm pump.

106. An apparatus as claimed in claim 105, wherein the diaphragm pump is in fluid communication with a substance reservoir via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the reservoir to the diaphragm pump.

107. An apparatus as claimed in claim 105, wherein the diaphragm pump is adapted to be in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit via a one-way valve adapted to allow the substance to only pass from the diaphragm pump to the conduit.

108. An apparatus as claimed in claim 105, wherein the diaphragm pump is displaced by a linear drive.

109. An apparatus as claimed in claim 108, wherein the linear drive is an electromagnet.

110. An apparatus as claimed in claim 105, wherein the diaphragm of the diaphragm pump is displaced by a rotary to linear converter driven by a rotary drive.

111. An apparatus as claimed in claim 110, wherein the rotary drive is one of an electric DC motor, an electric AC motor, a stepper motor and a brushless motor.

112. A substance delivery system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the system including:

a pressurized gas flow generator in fluid communication with a mask adapted to be worn by the human or animal via a flexible conduit;

a pressure transducer adapted to measure the pressure of a supplied breathable gas; and

a positive displacement pump adapted to deliver a substance to the human or animal during the inhalation at a pressure that exceeds the measured pressure of the supplied breathable gas by a predetermined pressure difference.

113. An apparatus as claimed in claim 112, further comprising an airflow sensor adapted to detect inhalation by the human or animal.

114. A system as claimed in claim 113, further including a substance reservoir to store the substance, wherein the airflow sensor is also configured to detect exhalation by the human or animal, wherein the substance reservoir is configured to provide the substance to the positive displacement pump during exhalation of the human or animal, and wherein the substance is delivered from the positive displacement pump to the human or animal during inhalation of the human or animal.