Method and device for producing respiratory air which is harmless to health in positive pressure nasal breathing apparatus
First Claim
1. A CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) respiratory apparatus for home positive pressure respiration of persons with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome comprising a fan for creating the positive pressure and a heat exchanger including a Peltier element having a hot side and a cold side, the heat exchanger being inserted into the air stream of the fan, said heat exchanger cooling the air stream supplied by the fan to a temperature 2-4 degrees Celcius below ambient temperature before it is supplied to a nose mask and exit openings;
- the heat exchanger further comprising first and second cooling profiles with the Peltier element being connected to the first cooling profile and the hot side being connected to the second cooling profile.
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Abstract
The invention concerns a positive pressure nasal breathing apparatus in which a processed air flow is supplied at positive pressure to the person to be treated. The apparatus comprises: a first device (10) for producing a first air flow which has a given first temperature and a first degree of relative air humidity; and a second device (12) for processing the first air flow such that a second air flow to be completely or partially supplied to the person is produced. The temperature of the second air flow is lower and its degree of relative air humidity higher than that of the first air flow.
75 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) respiratory apparatus for home positive pressure respiration of persons with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome comprising a fan for creating the positive pressure and a heat exchanger including a Peltier element having a hot side and a cold side, the heat exchanger being inserted into the air stream of the fan, said heat exchanger cooling the air stream supplied by the fan to a temperature 2-4 degrees Celcius below ambient temperature before it is supplied to a nose mask and exit openings;
- the heat exchanger further comprising first and second cooling profiles with the Peltier element being connected to the first cooling profile and the hot side being connected to the second cooling profile.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a method for CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) for home positive pressure respiration of persons with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the improvement comprising:
- providing a fan and generating a positive pressure air stream from the fan and providing a nose mask having exit openings and operatively connecting the nose mask to the positive pressure air stream;
providing a heat exchanger and inserting the heat exchanger into the positive pressure air stream;
conveying the air stream from the heat exchanger through a breathing tube to the nose mask and exit openings therein, cooling the positive pressure air stream with the heat exchanger to a temperature minus 2-4 degrees Celcius below ambient temperature thereby increasing the relative humidity of the air stream;
supplying the cooled positive pressure air stream to the nose mask and exit openings for maintaining the respiratory air rich in oxygen;
maintaining the exit openings open by avoiding any formation of condensation from the cooled positive pressure air stream in the breathing tube and in the exit openings; and
facilitating an exhaust of exhaled air through the exit openings. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- providing a fan and generating a positive pressure air stream from the fan and providing a nose mask having exit openings and operatively connecting the nose mask to the positive pressure air stream;
Specification