Apparatus And Method For Surveying Flow Signals

• US 20080029097A1
• Filed: 11/24/2005
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schatzl, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for surveying and analyzing flow signals that can be picked up by means of flow measuring arrangements in the flow through breathing gas supply systems, in particular CPAP devices, air humidifiers, breathing gas lines, and breathing masks. One aspect of the invention is to furnish ways to increase the reliability of flow signals. In one embodiment, there is provided a device for evaluating a flow signal, picked up from a line provided for carrying breathing gas, having an electronic measurement data processor. The measurement data processor is configured such that it subjects the measurement data detected to a time-frequency-amplitude (TFA) series analysis and generates recordings, by which for the flow signal, the amplitude value of the frequencies contained is apparent.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a flow signal obtained from a gas delivery conduit or line, the method comprising:

providing an electronic measurement data processor;

subjecting the detected measurement data of the flow signal to a time-frequency-amplitude (TFA) analysis;

generating recordings by which, for the flow signal, an amplitude value of the frequencies is apparent; and

evaluating the flow signal in light of the TFA analysis.

2. An apparatus for evaluating a flow signal obtained from a gas delivery conduit or line, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic measurement data processor, wherein the measurement data processor is configured such that it subjects the measurement data of the flow signal to a time-frequency-amplitude series analysis and generates recordings, by which, for the flow signal, the amplitude value of the frequencies is apparent.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a display to simultaneously display a flow curve adjacent a frequency chart.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flow curve and the frequency chart are chronologically associated.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to determine a proportion of the amplitude of the signal that is attributable to the equipment signal factors and the physiological signal factors.

7. A CPAP apparatus comprising:

a blower;

an algorithm to control the blower;

the apparatus according to claim 2.

8. The CPAP apparatus of claim 7, wherein the algorithm is based at least in part on the frequency of the measurement data.

9. The CPAP apparatus of claim 7, further comprising at least one accessory associated with an accessory artifact, wherein the algorithm controls the blower based at best in part on the accessory artifact.

10. The CPAP apparatus of claim 8, wherein the accessory includes at least one of a humidifier, breathing gas line, breathing mask and/or a rinsing adapter.

3. An apparatus for evaluating a gas flow signal comprising:

a flow sensor to produce flow signal measurement data; and

a processor to process the measurement data to distinguish signal factors due to equipment from signal factors of physiological origin.