Sleep apnea treatment apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient who is breathing in repeated breathing cycles each including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, said apparatus comprising:
- gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas;
means for delivery of said gas flow from said gas flow generator means to the airway of the patient;
pressure controller means cooperable with said gas flow generator means to provide said gas flow within said means for delivery and within the airway of the patient at selectively variable pressures;
detector means for continually detecting the rate of flow of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient;
processor means cooperable with said detector means for continually providing flow rate information of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient, said flow rate information including a first indicia corresponding to the instantaneous flow rate of said gas and a reference indicia approximating the average flow rate of said gas;
decision means operable to utilize said first indicia and said reference indicia to identify the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases, said decision means being cooperable with said pressure controller means to control variation of the pressure of said gas flow in response to identification of the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases; and
ramp control circuitry means operatively connected to said pressure controller means for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller means is initially output at a first pressure and raises with time to a second pressure, and (2) at least one additional ramp cycle selectively activatable through conscious action of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved methodology and apparatus for the treatment of sleep apnea through (1) application of alternating high and low level positive airway pressure within the airway of the patient with the high and low airway pressure being coordinated with the spontaneous respiration of the patient, (2) usage of adjustably programmable pressure ramp circuitry capable of producing multiple pressure ramp cycles of predetermined duration and pattern whereby the ramp cycles may be customized to accommodate the specific needs of an individual sleep apnea patient so as to ease the patient'"'"'s transition from wakefulness to sleep, and (3) remote control operation of the apparatus for assisting those patients whose mobility or capacity for physical exertion is intrinsically limited.
296 Citations
34 Claims
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1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient who is breathing in repeated breathing cycles each including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, said apparatus comprising:
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gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas; means for delivery of said gas flow from said gas flow generator means to the airway of the patient; pressure controller means cooperable with said gas flow generator means to provide said gas flow within said means for delivery and within the airway of the patient at selectively variable pressures; detector means for continually detecting the rate of flow of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient; processor means cooperable with said detector means for continually providing flow rate information of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient, said flow rate information including a first indicia corresponding to the instantaneous flow rate of said gas and a reference indicia approximating the average flow rate of said gas; decision means operable to utilize said first indicia and said reference indicia to identify the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases, said decision means being cooperable with said pressure controller means to control variation of the pressure of said gas flow in response to identification of the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases; and ramp control circuitry means operatively connected to said pressure controller means for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller means is initially output at a first pressure and raises with time to a second pressure, and (2) at least one additional ramp cycle selectively activatable through conscious action of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient who is breathing in repeated breathing cycles each including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, said apparatus comprising:
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gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas; means for delivery of said gas flow from said gas flow generator means to the airway of the patient; pressure controller means cooperable with said gas flow generator means to provide said gas flow within said means for delivery and within the airway of the patient at selectively variable pressures; detector means for continually detecting the rate of flow of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient; processor means cooperable with said detector means for continually providing flow rate information of said gas between said gas flow generator means and the airway of the patient, said flow rate information including a first indicia corresponding to the instantaneous flow rate of said gas and a reference indicia approximating the average flow rate of said gas; decision means operable to utilize said first indicia and said reference indicia to identify the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases, said decision means being cooperable with said pressure controller means to control variation of the pressure of said gas flow in response to identification of the occurrence of said inspiratory and expiratory phases; ramp control circuitry means operatively connected to said pressure controller means for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller means is initially output at a first pressure and raises with time to a second pressure, and (2) at least one additional selectively activatable ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the magnitude or said first pressure; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the magnitude of said second pressure; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the duration of said at least one additional ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for establishing a predetermined pattern of pressure output from said pressure controller means during progression from said first pressure to said second pressure; and remote control means operable by the patient for selectively activating said apparatus and said ramp control circuitry means. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas; conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of said patient; pressure controller means cooperable with said gas flow generator means to provide for flow of said gas within said conduit means and within the airway of said patient at selectively variable pressures; ramp control circuitry means operatively connected to said pressure controller means for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller means is initially output at a first pressure and raises with time to a second pressure, and (2) at least one additional ramp cycle selectively activatable through conscious action of said patient; and means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle; and means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas; conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of the patient; pressure controller means cooperable with said gas flow generator means to provide for flow of said gas within said conduit means and within the airway of the patient at selectively variable pressures; ramp control circuitry means operatively connected to said pressure controller means for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller means is initially output at a first pressure and raises with time to a second pressure, and (2) at least one additional selectively activatable ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the magnitude of said first pressure; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the magnitude of said second pressure; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting the duration of said first ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry mans for adjusting the duration of said at least one additional ramp cycle; means associated with said ramp control circuitry means for establishing a predetermined pattern of pressure output from said pressure control means during progression from said first pressure to said second pressure; and remote control means operable by the patient for selectively activating said apparatus and said ramp control circuitry means. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification