SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AIRFLOW SYSTEM

• US 20120157794A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Burgett, Duane Radmar, Erik Jansen, James West, Jeff Anderson, Mark Tuacher, Robert Goodwin
• Original Assignee: David Burgett, Duane Radmar, Erik Jansen, James West, Jeff Anderson, Mark Tuacher, Robert Goodwin
• Inventors: Goodwin, Robert, West, James, Burgett, David, Jansen, Erik, Tuacher, Mark, Anderson, Jeff, Radmar, Duane
• Application Number:
  US12/973,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157794A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0826 Detecting or evaluating apnoea events A61B5/4818 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• 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 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• 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 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 : Equipment for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for an airflow system, wherein the positive applied pressure is maintained at an approximately constant level over a variety of conditions. In one embodiment, a laminar flow is maintained by a foam housing and configuration. The use low air volume is enabled by using a closed system, wherein feedback information from the system is used to control the speed of an impeller. In one embodiment, moisture recirculation and recycling is applied to extract moisture from exhalation and inject the moisture back into the inhalation portion of the breathing cycle.

Claims

1. An airflow apparatus, comprising:

an impeller to generate an airflow at a positive applied pressure to a nasal attachment; and

a controller coupled to the impeller, the controller to receive operational information from the impeller to determine a value of the positive applied pressure, the controller to apply an adjustment policy to the impeller in response to the operational information.

2. The airflow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational information includes a measurement value of current supplying the impeller.

3. The airflow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment policy is to maintain the positive applied pressure at a pressure setpoint.

4. The airflow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment policy is to maintain a laminar air flow.

5. The airflow apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a nasal attachment; and

an attach unit coupling the nasal attachment to the impeller.

8. The airflow apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a nasal attachment;

a moisture extractor coupled to the nasal attachment;

a moisture reservoir coupled to the moisture extractor; and

a vaporizer coupled to the moisture reservoir.

6. The airflow apparatus of claim 6, wherein the attach unit is a spring.

7. The airflow apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a splitter coupled to an output of the impeller; and

a pair of hoses, wherein a first hose of the pair of hoses is coupled from a first side of the splitter to a first side of the nasal attachment and a second hose of the pair of hoses is coupled from a second side of the splitter to a second side of the nasal attachment.

9. A method for controlling airflow generation, comprising:

receiving operational information corresponding to a positive applied pressure of an airflow generated by an impeller;

determining the positive applied pressure based on the operational information;

comparing the positive applied pressure to a pressure setpoint;

when the positive applied pressure does not equal the pressure setpoint applying an adjustment policy to the airflow generation.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a measurement unit to measure oxygenation of blood;

an analysis unit to calculate a Respiratory Disruption Index (RDI) periodically; and

a counter to count a number of respiratory disruptions, wherein a respiratory disruption is detected when the measured oxygenation of blood is below a set point.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the analysis unit compares the number of respiratory disruptions during a given time period to a threshold value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein analysis unit calculates the threshold value.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measurement unit measures the blood oxygenation as an SpO2 measurement.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the measurement unit measures the pulse rate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the measurement unit measures the temperature of a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the analysis unit compares the blood oxygenation to a set point.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein when the blood oxygenation is below the set point, the counter increments.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus has a connection mechanism for connection to a human body.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the analysis unit is to calculate a window of measurements, and identify a first window of time having a high count of respiratory disruptions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the analysis unit is to determine a rolling window.