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Method and Apparatus for Providing Positive Airway Pressure to a Patient

  • US 20080053442A1
  • Filed: 10/29/2007
  • Published: 03/06/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1994
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for delivering pressurized breathing gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

  • a gas flow generator;

    a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;

    a sensor adapted to detect a fluid characteristic associated with a flow of breathing gas within the patient interface and to transmit a signal corresponding to the characteristic;

    a pressure controller associated with at least one of the gas flow generator and the patient interface to control a pressure of the flow of breathing gas provided by the gas flow generator;

    control means, receiving the signal from the sensor, for controlling the pressure controller so as to cause the flow of breathing gas to be delivered to the patient at a minimally sufficient pressure during at least a portion of a breathing cycle to prevent airway collapse, wherein the minimally sufficient pressure is a summation of a pressure needed to overcome mechanical airway collapsing forces and a pressure needed to overcome airway collapse due to respiratory effort; and

    a first selector unit operatively connected to the control means to selectively establish a first gain, the control means controlling the pressure controller so as to deliver the flow of breathing gas at the minimally sufficient pressure during at least a portion of a breathing cycle based on the first gain and the signal from the sensor.

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