Sleep apnea treatment apparatus with reset feature

• US 5,904,141 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: Estes, Mark C., Cattano, Janice M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/645,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 128/202.22, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/205.23, 128/205.25
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user

Abstract

Improved methodology and apparatus for the clinical study and treatment of sleep apnea which incorporates one or more of the following features: (1) application of mono-level, alternating high and low level, or variable positive airway pressure generally within the airway of the patient with the mono-level, high and low level, or variable airway pressure generally being coordinated with and/or responsive to 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, (3) remote control or patient-sensed operation of the apparatus, (4) employment of safety circuitry, reset circuitry and minimum system leak assurance circuitry, controls and methods, and (5) utilization of clinical control circuitry whereby sleep disorder data may be compiled and appropriate therapy implemented during a one-night sleep study.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patent, said apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generator that provides a flow of gas;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator, said conduit being adapted to deliver said flow of gas to an airway of a patient;

a pressure controller cooperable with said gas flow generator to provide said flow of gas within said conduit at selectively variable pressures;

reset means for permitting a patient to substantially instantaneously reset said pressure controller to provide said flow of gas at a predetermined reduced pressure after which said pressure controller resumes provision of said flow of gas in a manner substantially similar to that provided prior to said reset; and

safety means for preventing said pressure controller from providing said flow of gas at a pressure above a predetermined maximum pressure.

2. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient who is breathing in repeated breathing cycles, each cycle including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, said apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generator that provides a flow of gas;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator, said conduit being adapted to deliver said flow of gas from said gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;

a pressure controller cooperable with said gas flow generator to provide said flow of gas within said conduit at selectively variable pressures;

a detector that detects a rate of flow of gas between said gas flow generator and an airway of a patient;

processor means cooperable with said detector for providing flow rate information of said flow of gas between said gas flow generator and an airway of a patient, said flow rate information including a first indicia corresponding to an instantaneous flow rate of said gas and a reference indicia approximating an average flow rate of said gas;

decision means operable to utilize said first indicia and said reference indicia to identify an occurrence of at least one of said inspiratory phase and said expiratory phase, said decision means being cooperable with said pressure controller to control variation of said pressure of gas responsive to identification of an occurrence of at least one of said inspiratory phase and said expiratory phase;

ramp control means, operatively connected to said pressure controller, for effecting (1) a first ramp cycle, wherein said gas flow from said pressure controller 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 a patient; and

safety means for preventing said pressure controller from providing said flow of gas at a pressure above a predetermined maximum pressure.

3. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient who is breathing in repeated breathing cycles, each cycle including an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase, said apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generator that provides a flow of gas;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator, said conduit being adapted to deliver said flow of gas from said gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;

a pressure controller cooperable with said gas flow generator to provide said flow of gas within said conduit at selectively variable pressures;

a detector that detects a rate of flow of gas between said gas flow generator and an airway of a patient;

processor means cooperable with said detector for providing flow rate information of said flow of gas between said gas flow generator and an airway of a patient, said flow rate information including a first indicia corresponding to an instantaneous flow rate of said gas and a reference indicia approximating an average flow rate of said gas;

decision means operable to utilize said first indicia and said reference indicia to identify an occurrence of at least one of said inspiratory phase and said expiratory phase, said decision means being cooperable with said pressure controller to control variation of said pressure of said gas responsive to identification of an occurrence of at least one of said inspiratory phase and said expiratory phase;

ramp control means, operatively connected to said pressure controller 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 means, for adjusting a magnitude of said first pressure;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a magnitude of said second pressure;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a duration of said first ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting said duration of said first ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a duration of said at least one additional ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for establishing a predetermined pattern of pressure output from said pressure controller means during progression from said first pressure to said second pressure;

remote control means for selectively activating said apparatus and said ramp control means; and

safety means for preventing said pressure controller from providing gas flow at a pressure above a predetermined maximum pressure.

4. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generator that provides a flow of gas;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator, said conduit being adapted to deliver said flow of gas to an airway of a patient;

a pressure controller cooperable with said gas flow generator to provide said flow of gas within said conduit at selectively variable pressures;

ramp control means operatively connected to said pressure controller 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 a patient;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a duration of said first ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting said duration of said first ramp cycle; and

safety means for preventing said pressure controller from providing gas flow at a pressure above a predetermined maximum pressure.

5. Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a gas flow generator that provides a flow of gas;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator, said conduit being adapted to deliver said flow of gas to an airway of a patient;

a pressure controller cooperable with said gas flow generator to provide said flow of gas within said conduit at selectively variable pressures;

ramp control 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 means, for adjusting a magnitude of said first pressure;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a magnitude of said second pressure;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a duration of said first ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for selecting a fraction of an adjusted duration of said first ramp cycle as established by said means for adjusting said duration of said first ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for adjusting a duration of said at least one additional ramp cycle;

means, associated with said ramp control means, for establishing a predetermined pattern of pressure output from said pressure control means during progression from said first pressure to said second pressure;

remote control means for selectively activating said apparatus and said ramp control means; and

safety means for preventing said pressure controller means from providing gas flow at a pressure above a predetermined maximum pressure.