Apparatus and methods for providing humidity in respiratory therapy

• US 20070277825A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somnetics International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Somnetics Global Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bowman, Bruce, Larkin, Holly, Bordewick, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.230
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/142 with semi-permeable walls separating the liquid from the respiratory gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body

Abstract

The present inventions provide respiratory therapy apparatus that introduce water into the pressurized air delivered to a user during various positive airway pressure therapies and corresponding methods. The respiratory therapy apparatus may be configured to administer one or more positive airway pressure therapies, including: continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP), bi-level positive airway pressure therapy (BPAP), auto positive airway pressure therapy (autoPAP), proportional positive airway pressure therapy (PPAP), and/or other positive airway pressure therapies. The respiratory therapy apparatus may include a user interface that defines an interface passage to communicate pressurized air to the user for inhalation and a humidifier that introduces water into the pressurized air generally at the interface passage. Methods according to the present inventions may include introducing water into the interface passage at one or more humidifier ports disposed about the interface passage.

Claims

1. A respiratory therapy apparatus, comprising:

a flow generator, the flow generator including an outlet, the flow generator configured to provide pressurized air at the outlet;

a user interface, the user interface including a mask and support bands, the user interface defining an interface passage; and

,

a humidifier, the humidifier configured to introduce water into the interface passage.

2. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the interface passage extending distally from a proximal attachment location.

3. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

an interface conduit, the interface conduit defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen, at least portions of the interface conduit securable to the user'"'"'s head, the interface passage including the lumen.

4. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 3, further comprising:

the interface passage including the lumen distal of a proximal attachment location.

5. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the mask includes a mask inlet and a seal, the mask defines at least a portion of a chamber, the interface passage includes the chamber from the mask inlet to the seal.

6. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a water tube, the water tube configured to convey water from a water source to the humidifier port.

7. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 6, further comprising:

a pump, the pump conveys water in at least a portion of the water tube.

8. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the water introduced into the interface passage by the humidifier is generally in the vapor phase.

9. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the water introduced into the interface passage by the humidifier is generally in the liquid phase.

10. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the water introduced into the interface passage by the humidifier is a mixture of liquid and vapor phases.

11. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the water introduced into the interface passage by the humidifier is generally in the form of micro-droplets.

12. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the humidifier introduces water into the interface passage generally in synchronization with a phase of the breathing cycle.

13. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the humidifier introduces water into the interface passage generally in synchronization with an inhalation phase of the breathing cycle.

14. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the humidifier introduces a measured amount of water into the interface passage.

15. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

the humidifier includes an exchange material, the exchange material positioned within the interface passage such that water introduced into the exchange material evaporates into the pressurized air passing along the interface passage.

16. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 15, further comprising:

a pump, the pump supplies water to the exchange material through a water tube.

17. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle, the water introduced into the interface passage through the nozzle.

18. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 17, further comprising:

a pump, the pump introduces the water into the interface passage through the nozzle.

19. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a capillary pump, the capillary pump configured to introduce water into the interface passage.

20. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a transducer, the transducer configured to introduce water into the interface passage.

21. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a flow valve, the flow valve configured to regulate the introduction of water into the interface passage.

22. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a heater, the heater configured to convert water generally in the liquid phase to water generally in the vapor phase, the water generally in the vapor phase is introduced into the interface passage.

23. The respiratory therapy apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a vent;

a vent valve, the vent valve adapted to the vent, the vent valve positionable in at least a first valve position and a second valve position, the vent valve positioned in at least the first valve position and the second valve position generally in synchronization with one or more phases of the breathing cycle; and

,

the humidifier introduces water into the interface passage generally in synchronization with one or more phases of the breathing cycle.

24. A respiratory therapy apparatus, comprising:

flow generator means for generating pressurized air;

user interface means for delivering the pressurized air for inhalation by the user, the user interface means in fluid communication with the flow generator means; and

,

humidifier means for introducing water into the pressurized air generally at the user interface means.

25. A method for introducing water into pressurized air provided by a respiratory therapy apparatus, comprising:

providing a humidifier, a flow generator, and a user interface defining an interface passage, the interface passage fluidly communicating with the flow generator; and

,

adapting the humidifier to introduce water into the interface passage.

26. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

introducing the water generally in the liquid phase into the interface passage.

27. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

Introducing the water generally in the vapor phase into the interface passage.

28. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing an exchange material in the interface passage;

introducing water onto the exchange material; and

,

evaporating the water from the exchange material into the pressurized air passing about the exchange material.

29. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a capillary pump; and

using the capillary pump to introduce water generally into the interface passage.

30. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a nozzle; and

introducing the water through the nozzle into the interface passage.

31. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a pump; and

using the pump to introduce water into the interface passage.

32. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a transducer; and

using the transducer to introduce water into the interface passage.

33. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a flow valve; and

using the flow valve for regulating the introduction of water into the interface passage.

34. The method, as in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a heater; and

using the heater in the introduction of water into the interface passage.