Method and apparatus for optimizing the continuous positive airway pressure for treating obstructive sleep apnea
First Claim
1. A device for detecting flow limitation in the airway of a patient, comprising:
- a nasal fitting in fluid communication with the airway of a patient, said nasal fitting having an inlet and a flow restrictor positioned between the inlet and the airway of the patient;
a sensor in fluid communication with said nasal fitting at a position between said restrictor and the airway of the patient and configured to generate first data values representative of an inspiratory flow of ambient air to the patient;
a microprocessor configured to determine whether the first data values indicate a flow limitation in the patient and to generate second data values representative of a flow limitation; and
computer memory configured to store the first data values generated by said flow sensor and the second data values generated by said microprocessor.
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Abstract
In the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea a method and apparatus are disclosed for optimizing the controlled positive pressure to minimize the flow of air from a flow generator while still ensuring that flow limitation in the patient'"'"'s airway does not occur. In particular, the invention relates to a breathing device and method of use to adjust a controlled positive pressure to the airway of a patient by detecting flow limitation from analysis of an inspiratory flow waveform. Once the presence of flow limitation has been analyzed, the system determines an action to take for adjustment of the controlled positive pressure. The pressure setting is raised, lowered or maintained depending on whether flow limitation has been detected and on the previous actions taken by the system. The preferred breathing apparatus consists of a flow generator, a flow sensor, an analog to digital converter, a microprocessor, and a pressure controller, a patient supply hose, a nasal fitting, and, optionally, a pressure transducer. Using the method of the present invention, the microprocessor adjusts the air pressure in the patient supply hose when flow limitation is detected in the airway of the patient.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A device for detecting flow limitation in the airway of a patient, comprising:
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a nasal fitting in fluid communication with the airway of a patient, said nasal fitting having an inlet and a flow restrictor positioned between the inlet and the airway of the patient; a sensor in fluid communication with said nasal fitting at a position between said restrictor and the airway of the patient and configured to generate first data values representative of an inspiratory flow of ambient air to the patient; a microprocessor configured to determine whether the first data values indicate a flow limitation in the patient and to generate second data values representative of a flow limitation; and computer memory configured to store the first data values generated by said flow sensor and the second data values generated by said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for diagnosing a patient having obstructive sleep apnea, comprising the steps of:
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providing a patient with a diagnostic breathing device for use at the home of a patient while the patient is asleep; storing first data values representative of the inspiratory flow of air to the airway of the patient while the patient is using the diagnostic breathing device; analyzing the first data values to determine the presence of flow limitation in the airway of the patient; providing the patient with a self-adjusting therapy breathing device for use at the home of a patient while the patient is asleep; storing second data values representative of the inspiratory flow of air to the airway of the patient and third data values representative of the pressure in the airway of the patient while the patient is using the self-adjusting therapy breathing device; analyzing the second data values to determine the amount of flow limitation in the airway of the patient; and providing, when the third data values indicate large pressure fluctuations, a self-adjusting therapy breathing device to the patient for use at home while sleeping. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification