Gas flow pressure filter

• US 5,947,115 A
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lordo, Richard J., Fiore, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/909,118
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/202.16, 128/202.27, 128/203.24, 128/203.28, 128/204.28, 128/205.14, 128/912, 138/28
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• 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 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• 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: Y10S 128/912 Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient including: a gas flow generator for providing a flow of gas, a breathing appliance for sealingly communicating with the airway of the patient, and a conduit for delivery of the gas flow to the airway of the patient, the conduit having a first end connected to the gas flow generator and a second end connected to the breathing appliance. The apparatus further includes at least one sensor in fluid communication with the conduit and located substantially at the gas flow generator for detecting conditions corresponding to breathing patterns of the patient and generating signals corresponding to the conditions, and an information processor for receiving the signals and for controlling the output of the gas flow generator responsive to the signals. The apparatus further includes a gas flow pressure filter comprising a compliant chamber to reduce unwanted pressure fluctuations in the circuit to allow for the detection of desired signals, such as snore sounds.

Claims

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

gas flow generator means for providing a gas flow;

gas flow pressure filter means connected to said gas flow generator means for absorbing excessive pressure fluctuations in said gas flow provided by said gas flow generator means;

patient interface means for sealingly communicating with an airway of a patient;

conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to an airway of such a patient, said conduit means having a first portion in communication with said gas flow pressure filter means and a second portion in communication with said patient interface means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means includes a single inlet/outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a "T" coupling for coupling said gas flow pressure filter means to said gas flow generator means and said conduit means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means comprises a compliant chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said compliant chamber is cylindrical.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said compliant chamber is formed from a urethane sheet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a humidifier means coupled between said gas flow pressure filter means and said conduit means for moisturizing said flow of pressurized gas.

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

gas flow generator means for providing a gas flow;

a gas flow pressure filter means connected to said gas flow generator means for absorbing excessive pressure fluctuations in said gas flow provided by said gas flow generator means;

patient interface means for sealingly communicating with an airway of a patient;

conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to an airway of such a patient, said conduit means having a first portion in communication with said gas flow pressure filter means and a second portion in communication with said patient interface means;

sensor means in fluid communication with said conduit means and located substantially at said gas flow generator means for detecting conditions corresponding to breathing patterns of such a patient and for generating signals corresponding sound frequencies falling within a frequency range known to be associated with upper airway obstructions; and

information processing means for receiving said signals and for controlling an output of said gas flow generator means responsive to said signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means includes a single inlet/outlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a "T" coupling for coupling said gas flow pressure filter means to said gas flow generator means and said conduit means.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means comprises a compliant chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said compliant chamber means is cylindrical.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said compliant chamber means is formed from a urethane sheet.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a humidifier means coupled between said gas flow pressure filter and said conduit means for moisturizing said flow of pressurized gas.

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

gas flow generator means for providing a gas flow;

a gas flow pressure filter means connected to said gas flow generator means for absorbing excessive pressure fluctuations in said gas flow provided by said gas flow generator means;

patient interface means for sealingly communicating with an airway of a patient;

first conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to an airway of such a patient, said conduit means having a first portion in communication with said gas flow pressure filter means and a second portion in communication with said patient interface means;

sensor means in fluid communication with said conduit means for detecting conditions corresponding to breathing patterns of such a patient and generating signals corresponding to said conditions;

second conduit means for communicating said conditions to said sensor means, said second conduit means having a first portion communicating with said sensor means and a second portion communicating with said conduit means and being located substantially at said gas flow pressure filter means, said second conduit means being acoustically tuned to optimally transmit sound frequencies falling within a range which is known to be associated with upper airway obstructions; and

information processing means for receiving said signals and for controlling an output of said gas flow generator means responsive to said signals.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means includes a single inlet/outlet.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a "T" coupling for coupling said gas flow pressure filter means to said gas flow generator means and said conduit means.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said gas flow pressure filter means comprises a compliant chamber.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said compliant chamber means is cylindrical.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said compliant chamber means is formed from a urethane sheet.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a humidifier means coupled between said gas flow pressure filter and said conduit means for moisturizing said flow of pressurized gas.

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

a gas flow generator;

a conduit operatively coupled to said gas flow generator for carrying a gas flow produced by said gas flow generator;

a patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit to communicate said gas flow carried by said conduit with an airway of a patient; and

a gas flow pressure filter operatively coupled to at least one of said gas flow generator, said conduit, and said patient interface, said gas flow pressure filter being configured and arranged so as to absorb excessive pressure fluctuations in said gas flow provided by said gas flow generator.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a sensor in fluid communication with said conduit to detect conditions corresponding to breathing patterns of such a patient and to generate signals corresponding to said conditions; and

an information processor that receives said signals and controls an output of said gas flow generator responsive to said signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a sensor conduit having a first portion communicating with said sensor and a second portion communicating with said conduit, said sensor conduit means being acoustically tuned to optimally transmit sound frequencies falling within a range which is known to be associated with upper airway obstructions.