Apparatus and methods for administration of positive airway pressure therapies

• US 20070277827A1
• 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, Baser, Joseph, Bordewick, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.250
• 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 invention provides an apparatus and methods for the administration of positive airway pressure therapies. The apparatus can include a housing, a blower and a mask. The housing is configured to be stably secured on the head of a patient. The blower is secured relative to the housing. A mask in fluid communication with the blower is configured to communicate pressurized air produced at least in part by the blower to the airways of a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured on the head of a user, the housing defining a lower housing surface;

a blower configured for the administration of positive airway pressure therapy, the blower secured to the housing to be retained on the head of a user, the blower defining a blower inlet and a blower outlet;

a mask secured relative to the housing, the mask defining a mask inlet, a mask passage and a mask outlet, the mask inlet in fluid communication with the blower outlet of the blower, the mask configured to sealably engage the user over an airway of the user to communicate pressurized air to the airway in administration of a positive airway pressure therapy.

2. An apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising a mount configured to secure the housing relative to a head of a user.

3. An apparatus, as in claim 2, further comprising an air delivery tube secured to at least the mask and the air delivery tube defining at least a portion of a pressurized air passage extending between the blower and the mask.

4. An apparatus, as in claim 2, the mount comprising at least one support band.

5. An apparatus, as in claim 4, the support bands comprising at least one chin strap.

6. An apparatus, as in claim 2, the further comprising a humidifier secured to the housing.

7. An apparatus, as in claim 2, further comprising a control unit in communication with a noise cancellation speaker, the control unit configured to provide an output to the noise cancellation speaker to produce a waveform to at least mitigate a sound produced by at least the blower.

8. An apparatus, as in claim 7, further comprising a microphone in communication with the control unit, the microphone configured to provide an output indicative of the sound produced by at least the blower and the control unit configured to process the output from the microphone to produce the output to the noise cancellation speaker to produce the waveform to at least mitigate the sound produced by at least the blower.

9. An apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising the housing defining a housing interior and a sound deadening material positioned within at least a portion of the housing interior.

10. An apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising a Helmholtz type resonator in communication with at least one of the blower outlet and the blower inlet.

11. An apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising the housing configured to enclose at least a portion of a blower.

12. An apparatus, as in claim 1, the housing comprising a base and a cover.

13. An apparatus, as in claim 1, the housing comprising at least a base.

14. An apparatus, as in claim 13, further comprising the blower secured to the base and the base defining the lower surface configured to conform to the head of a user.

15. An apparatus, as in claim 13, the base comprising a head mount platform module.

16. An apparatus as in claim 14, the housing comprising a blower module removably secured to the head mount platform module.

17. An apparatus as in claim 15, the housing comprising a blower module and a humidifier module, the blower module and the humidifier module removably secured to the head mount platform module.

18. A method of providing positive airway pressure therapy, comprising:

securing a blower on a head of a user;

securing a mask over an air passageway of the user; and

providing a positive airway pressure therapy to the airway of the user.

19. A method, as in claim 18, further comprising producing a waveform to at least mitigate a sound produced by a blower.