Methods and apparatus for heart failure treatment

• US 20060084877A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richards, Glenn, Berthon-Jones, Michael, Ujhazy, Anthony John, Wright, Jonathan Caldwell, Bassin, David John
• Application Number:
  US11/165,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084877A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0826 Detecting or evaluating apnoea events A61B5/4818 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for heart failure by the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure are disclosed. Airflow of the patient is measured to determine occurrences of central apneas. A heart failure index is calculated from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred. The present heart failure index can be compared with a previously calculated heart failure index to determine how the patient'"'"'s heart failure disease has changed and how it should be treated.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating changes in heart failure disease in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

comparing a present heart failure index to a previously calculated heart failure index to determine how the patient'"'"'s heart failure disease has changed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

5. A method for monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a congestive heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

comparing a present congestive heart failure index to a previously calculated congestive heart failure index to determine how the patient'"'"'s congestive heart failure has changed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.

9. An apparatus for evaluation of heart failure in a patient comprising:

a means for supplying a controllable level of breathable gas to a patient at a pressure above atmospheric;

a flow sensor to generate a flow signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s airflow; and

a controller to process said flow signal and control said means for supplying wherein said controller is adapted and configured for;

delivering breathable gas at a pressure above atmospheric to said patient from said means for supplying; and

calculating a heart failure indicator from said flow signal, said heart failure indicator representing information about the number of central apneas that occurred over a period during which central apneas were detected.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured and adapted for controlling a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure indicator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said subsequent congestive heart failure treatment includes a change in the pressure of the breathable gas.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured and adapted for controlling comparing said congestive heart failure indicator to a prior congestive heart failure indicator determined during a previous treatment session.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured and adapted for controlling comparing said congestive heart failure indicator to a prior congestive heart failure indicator determined during a previous treatment session.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured and adapted for controlling comparing said congestive heart failure indicator to a prior congestive heart failure indicator determined during a previous treatment session.

15. An apparatus for evaluation of heart failure in a patient comprising means for supplying

a controllable level of breathable gas to a patient at a pressure above atmospheric;

a flow sensor to generate a flow signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s airflow; and

means for calculating a heart failure indicator from said flow signal, said heart failure indicator representing information about the number of central apneas that occurred over a period during which central apneas were detected.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further including means for determining subsequent heart failure treatment of the patient based at least in part upon said heart failure indicator.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said subsequent heart failure treatment includes a change in the pressure of the breathable gas.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further including means for comparing said heart failure indicator to a prior heart failure indicator determined during a previous treatment session.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further including means for comparing said heart failure indicator to a prior heart failure indicator determined during a previous treatment session.