STANDALONE CPAP DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING

• US 20080216835A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neurophysiological Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: Neurophysiological Concepts LLC
• Inventors: McGINNIS, William J., Metrick, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/928,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• 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 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• 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 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/003 with a flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3673 thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature

Abstract

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is provided. The CPAP device includes the feature that the blower is mounted directly to the mouthpiece or the nose mask, thus eliminating the need for an air tube to convey the pressurized air from the blower to the user'"'"'s mouth or nose. The CPAP device may operate in continuous mode, bi-phase mode, or automatic mode. The CPAP device may include a capability to regulate pressure, temperature, and/or relative humidity of the pressurized air. The CPAP device may collect and store user respiration data, possibly including recordation of snoring noises.

Claims

1. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system, comprising:

a mouthpiece configured for being positioned partially within a mouth of a user;

a housing mounted to the mouthpiece, the housing including an airway; and

a blower coupled directly to the housing, the blower being in fluid communication with the airway, wherein the blower is configured to provide pressurized air to the mouth of the user for preventing respiration stoppages.

2. The CPAP system of claim 1, further comprising a humidifier chamber coupled directly to the blower and to the housing, the humidifier chamber being in fluid communication with the airway, and a cartridge coupled directly to the humidifier chamber.

3. The CPAP system of claim 2, further comprising a control circuit, the control circuit being operatively coupled to the blower, and at least one detector, the at least one detector being operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a mode of operation selected from the group consisting of a continuous mode, a bi-phase mode, and an automatic mode.

4. The CPAP system of claim 3, wherein the at least one detector comprises an air pressure detector, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to control a pressure level of the pressurized air.

5. The CPAP system of claim 3, wherein the at least one detector comprises a temperature detector, and the control circuit is further configured to control a temperature of the pressurized air.

6. The CPAP system of claim 3, wherein the at least one detector comprises a humidity detector, and the control circuit is further configured to control a relative humidity of the pressurized air.

7. The CPAP system of claim 3, further comprising a flash memory, the flash memory being operatively coupled to the control circuit and the at least one detector, and the flash memory being configured to store data detected by the at least one detector.

8. The CPAP system of claim 3, further comprising a microphone, the microphone being operatively coupled to the control circuit, and a speaker, the speaker being operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the microphone is configured to detect snoring noises emitted by the user, and the speaker is configured to output audible sound.

9. The CPAP system of claim 8, wherein the audible sound is selected from the group consisting of a noise cancellation function with respect to the detected snoring noises, an alarm sound for awakening the user from sleeping, and a musical melody.

10. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system, comprising:

a nose mask configured for being sealingly positioned over a nose of a user;

a housing mounted to the nose mask, the housing including an airway; and

a blower coupled directly to the housing, the blower being in fluid communication with the airway, wherein the blower is configured to provide pressurized air to a nasal cavity of the user for preventing respiration stoppages.

11. The CPAP system of claim 10, further comprising a humidifier chamber coupled directly to the blower and to the housing, the humidifier chamber being in fluid communication with the airway, and a cartridge coupled directly to the humidifier chamber.

12. The CPAP system of claim 11, further comprising a control circuit, the control circuit being operatively coupled to the blower, and at least one detector, the at least one detector being operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a mode of operation selected from the group consisting of a continuous mode, a bi-phase mode, and an automatic mode.

13. The CPAP system of claim 12, wherein the at least one detector is selected from the group consisting of an air pressure detector, a temperature detector, and a humidity detector.

14. The CPAP system of claim 12, further comprising a flash memory, the flash memory being operatively coupled to the control circuit and the at least one detector, and the flash memory being configured to store data detected by the at least one detector.

15. The CPAP system of claim 12, further comprising a microphone, the microphone being operatively coupled to the control circuit, and a speaker, the speaker being operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the microphone is configured to detect snoring noises emitted by the user, and the speaker is configured to output audible sound, the audible sound being selected from the group consisting of a noise cancellation function with respect to the detected snoring noises, an alarm sound for awakening the user from sleeping, and a musical melody.

16. A method for treatment of sleep apnea in a user, the method comprising the step of providing pressurized air to a mouth of the user by using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device,

wherein the CPAP device includes a mouthpiece configured for being positioned partially within the mouth of the user, a housing mounted to the mouthpiece and having an airway, and a blower coupled directly to the housing and in fluid communication with the airway.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a mode of operation of the CPAP device from the group consisting of a continuous mode, a bi-phase mode, and an automatic mode, and

regulating a pressure of the pressurized air based on the selected mode of operation.

18. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of regulating a relative humidity of the pressurized air.

19. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of regulating a temperature of the pressurized air.

20. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the steps of detecting data relating to respiration by the user and recording the detected data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of detecting data relating to respiration comprises detecting snoring noises emitted by the user.

22. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising the step of outputting audible sound, the audible sound being selected from the group consisting of a noise cancellation function in respect of the detected snoring noises, an alarm sound for awakening the user from sleeping, and a musical melody.

23. A method for treatment of sleep apnea in a user, the method comprising the step of providing pressurized air to a nasal cavity of the user by using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device,

wherein the CPAP device includes a nose mask configured for being sealingly positioned over a nose of the user, a housing mounted to the nose mask and having an airway, and a blower coupled directly to the housing and in fluid communication with the airway.

24. The method of claim 23, the method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a mode of operation of the CPAP device from the group consisting of a continuous mode, a bi-phase mode, and an automatic mode, and

regulating a pressure of the pressurized air based on the selected mode of operation.

25. The method of claim 24, the method further comprising the step of regulating a predetermined quality of the pressurized air, the predetermined quality being selected from the group consisting of temperature and relative humidity.