Breathable Gas Apparatus With Humidifier

• US 20080072900A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, John Michael, Payne, Mark John, Crumblin, Geoffrey, Jeha, Simone Marle, Primrose, Rolan Neil, Kenyon, Barton John, Murray, Andrew Charles, Yee, Arthur Kin-Wai, Lithgow, Perry David, Richmond, Donald Angus, Trevor-Wilson, Duncan Lovel, Saada, Jim, Sapula, Marek Tomasz, Virr, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• 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 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008

Abstract

A flow generator and humidifier construction is described, including a flow generator construction adapted to reduce noise output compared to known flow generators of comparable size. The flow generator includes a chassis forming first and second muffler volumes and a venturi-shaped connection portion, and a metal/polymer composite material blower enclosure which suppresses noise from the blower. The flow generator may be programmed to include a reminder system including a menu from which the user may request a reminder to take specific action, e.g., replace a component, call a physician, and/or enter patient data card, etc.

Claims

1-91. -91. (canceled)

92. A flow generator for delivering breathable gas to a patient, including a processor, a timer, user input means and a display, said processor being programmed to receive a reminder request input and to generate a reminder display at a time specified in said reminder request input.

93. A flow generator according to claim 92, wherein said processor is adapted to generate a display relating to a reminder event relating to one or more of a mask replacement reminder, a data capture reminder, a filter replacement reminder and a reminder to contact a health care professional.

94. A flow generator according to claim 92, wherein said processor is adapted to cancel a reminder request upon receiving a cancellation input from said user input means.

95. (canceled)

96. A flow generator for delivering breathable gas to a patient, including:

a processor;

a timer;

a user input; and

a display, said processor being programmed to receive reminder request input and to generate a reminder specified in accordance with said reminder request input.

97. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to produce a reminder menu.

98. The flow generator according to claim 97, wherein the reminder menu is displayed on the display.

99. The flow generator according to claim 97, wherein the reminder menu includes two or more reminders.

100. The flow generator according to claim 99, wherein the reminders relate to at least one of mask replacement, data capture, filter replacement and/or contacting a health care professional.

101. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the processor is programmed to generate the reminder on the display.

102. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the reminder relates to mask replacement.

103. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the reminder relates to data capture.

104. The flow generator according to claim 103, wherein the reminder is canceled if the patient inserts a Data Card into a slot provided on the flow generator.

105. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the reminder relates to filter replacement.

106. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the reminder relates to contacting a health care professional.

107. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the reminder is a customized reminder entered via the user input.

108. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the processor is programmed to cancel a reminder request upon receiving cancellation input.

109. The flow generator according to claim 108, wherein the processor is programmed to cancel a reminder request upon satisfaction of action specified in the reminder.

110. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the display is an LCD.

111. The flow generator according to claim 96, wherein the user input includes at least one button.

112. A flow generator for a patient comprising:

a blower to generate pressurized gas;

a casing that supports the blower; and

a processor to control the blower and to generate a reminder to alert the patient of at least one specific event.

113. The flow generator according to claim 112, wherein the specific event relates to replacement of a component, patient counseling, and/or data acquisition.

114. The flow generator according to claim 113, wherein the components include a mask or an air filter.

115. The flow generator according to claim 112, further comprising a timer, wherein the reminder is generated at a specific time.

116. The flow generator according to claim 112, further comprising a display, wherein the reminder is produced on the display.

117. The flow generator according to claim 112, wherein the processor includes a reminder request menu accessible via a user input.

118. The flow generator according to claim 117, wherein the reminder request menu is displayed on a display.

119. The flow generator according to claim 117, wherein the reminder request menu includes two or more reminder requests that relate to at least one of mask replacement, data capture, filter replacement and/or contacting a health care professional.

120. A method of managing treatment of a patient with a respiratory disorder, comprising:

providing the patient with a patient interface in communication with a flow generator;

programming the flow generator with a reminder request; and

generating a reminder in accordance with the reminder request.

121. The method according to claim 120, wherein the reminder alerts the patient as to a specific event.

122. The method according to claim 120, wherein the reminder is generated at a specific time.

123. The method according to claim 120, further comprising displaying the reminder on the display.

124. The method according to claim 120, further comprising programming the flow generator to generate a reminder request menu, and accessing the menu via patient input.

125. The method according to claim 124, further comprising displaying the reminder request menu on a display.

126. The method according to claim 124, wherein the reminder request menu includes two or more reminder requests that relate to at least one of mask replacement, data capture, filter replacement and/or contacting a health care professional.

127. The method according to claim 124, wherein the reminder request relates to replacement of a component, patient counseling and/or data acquisition.

128. The method according to claim 120, wherein the reminder request relates to data capture, and the method comprises canceling the reminder if the patient inserts a Data Card into a slot provided on the flow generator.

129. The method according to claim 120, further comprising canceling the reminder request upon receiving cancellation input from the patient.

130. The method according to claim 129, wherein cancellation of the reminder request is effected by the patient pushing a button on the flow generator.

131. The method according to claim 120, further comprising canceling the reminder request by carrying out positive action that is specified by the reminder request.