APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF A BREATHING GAS TO THE RESPIRATORY TRACTS OF A USER

• US 20110108033A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schaetzl, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,486,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlled delivery of a flow of breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user. Said apparatus comprising a blower unit adapted to provide a gas flow, a nasal cannula with first and second outlets, and first and second gas paths connecting the blower unit to the first and second outlets, respectively. The Characteristics of the gas flow through each outlet can be controlled, sensed and/or adjusted independently.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlled delivery of a flow of breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user, said apparatus comprising a blower unit adapted to provide a gas flow, a nasal cannula with first and second outlets, and first and second gas paths connecting the blower unit to the first and second outlets, respectively, wherein

characteristics of the gas flow through each outlet can be controlled, sensed and/or adjusted independently.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the gas flow comprise a flow rate and/or a pressure of the gas flow.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second gas path comprises a valve.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second gas path comprises a pressure sensor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus being adapted to simultaneously provide an airflow to the respiratory tracts of a user and to detect a dynamic pressure signal resulting from the respiratory cycle of the user.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the airflow is provided through one of the first and second air paths and the other of the first and second air paths is used for detection.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the function of the first and second air paths are interchanged periodically.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the period of interchange is adjusted to the respiratory cycle of the user.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nasal cannula is adapted not to seal with the user'"'"'s face and/or nostrils and/or wherein the apparatus is adapted to be used in an open CPAP-System.

10. Method of controlling an apparatus for controlled delivery of a flow of breathing gas, in particular an apparatus according to claim 1, said method

comprising the following steps:

a) activating a first gas flow in a first gas path;

b) measuring a dynamic pressure signal in a second gas path; and

c) optionally adjusting a parameter of the first gas flow in response to the measured signal.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein steps a) and b) are performed simultaneously.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein steps a) to c) are performed repeatedly.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the functionality of the first and second gas paths are interchanged after each repetition.

18. Use of the apparatus according to claim 1, as an open CPAP system.

14. Method of delivering a flow of breathable gas to the respiratory tracts of a user via a nasal cannula with first and second outlets, said method comprising the following steps:

a) providing a gas flow through the first outlet;

b) measuring a dynamic pressure signal in a gas path connected to the second outlet; and

c) optionally adjusting a parameter of the gas flow though the first outlet in response to the measured signal.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein steps a) and b) are performed simultaneously.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein steps a) to c) are performed repeatedly.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the functionality of the first and second outlets are interchanged after each repetition.