METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE TO A PATIENT
First Claim
1. A method of delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a gas flow generator and a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;
delivering a flow of gas to such a patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface;
determining that the patient is experiencing an apnea;
performing a pressure change maneuver responsive to determining that the patient is experiencing the apnea, wherein the pressure change maneuver includes increasing a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time, and decreasing the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase;
monitoring a change in flow rate for the flow of gas resulting from the pressure change maneuver; and
determining whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in the flow rate.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system includes a gas flow generator and a patient interface. The system delivers a flow of gas to the patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface. The system determines that the patient is experiencing an apnea and, in response, performs a pressure change maneuver. This maneuver includes increasing a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time, and decreasing the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase. The system then monitors the change in flow rate for the flow of gas resulting from the pressure change maneuver, if any, and determines whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in the flow rate.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a gas flow generator and a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient; delivering a flow of gas to such a patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface; determining that the patient is experiencing an apnea; performing a pressure change maneuver responsive to determining that the patient is experiencing the apnea, wherein the pressure change maneuver includes increasing a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time, and decreasing the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase; monitoring a change in flow rate for the flow of gas resulting from the pressure change maneuver; and determining whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in the flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An apparatus adapted to deliver a flow of gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a gas flow generator adapted to generate a flow of gas; (b) a conduit adapted to carry the flow of gas generated by the gas flow generator to the airway of the patient; (c) a sensor coupled to the gas flow generator or the conduit and adapted to monitor a characteristic associated with the flow of gas; and (d) a processor adapted to; (1) determine that the patient is experiencing an apnea based on an output of the sensor, (2) control the gas flow generator so as to increase a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time responsive to determining that the patient is experiencing the apnea, and to decrease the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase, (3) monitor a change in flow rate for the flow of gas based on the pressure increase, and (4) determine whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification