Dual-pressure blower for positive air pressure device

• US 6,349,724 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Compumedics Sleep Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Compumedics Sleep Pty Limited
• Inventors: Burton, David, Wallace, Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, VIRENDRA KUMAR
• Application Number:
  US09/610,446
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/200-1-2, 137/565-9-5
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/052 Axially shiftable rotors F04D29/051 takes precedence ; control by creating a by-pass F04D27/0246
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/286 multi-stage rotors

Abstract

A gas compression and delivery device for treatment of sleep disorders. The device has a motor, at least one impeller, and two air pressure chambers, each receiving air at a different pressure, one pressure applied to a patient during inspiration and one for expiration. A mask having a dual pressure gas delivery hose and a selector for letting in either the high or low pressure gas depending on the breathing cycle of the patient. The gas pressures are adjustable by means of valves on the separate chambers in the device. At least one sensor on the patient sending data to a controller in the device as to the patient'"'"'s physiological data which is used to determine the patients breathing treatment needs. The controller may be a microprocessor with memory capability to store patient data for diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Telecommunications by telemetry, or telephony to a remote site allows home use of the device rather than institutional use with health care providers on site. A data card may be used to input and or store data in the device. The controller is capable of instructing the device to treat the patient with a number of different protocols and record the patient'"'"'s physiological data for diagnosis and treatment purposes.

Claims

1. A dual pressure gas delivery device comprising:

a motor having a shaft extending from the motor, the shaft having at least one impeller for producing a first air pressure and a second air pressure,

a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber wherein the first air pressure enters the first chamber, and the second air pressure enters the second chamber,

each chamber having an air exhaust aperture such that air having a first pressure exits the air exhaust aperture of the first chamber and air having a second air pressure exits the air exhaust aperture of the second chamber.

2. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

one impeller on the shaft increases the pressure of the air for both chambers,

the housing has a slot along the length of the impeller leading to the first chamber for providing a first air pressure in the first chamber,

the housing has an opening at the end of the impeller for providing a second air pressure in the second chamber.

3. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

a first impeller and a second coaxial impeller produce the first and second air pressures introduced to the first and second chambers at the ends of the impellers.

4. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

two impellers on different portions of the shaft produce the first and second air pressures introduced to the first and second chambers at the ends of the impellers.

5. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 comprising:

a mask for applying gas to a patient,

a means for transporting the air from the first chamber and the second chamber to the mask,

a means for selecting either the first air pressure or the second air pressure to be admitted to the mask.

6. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

the means for selecting either the first air pressure or the second air pressure to be admitted to the mask comprises an actuator, attached to the means for transporting the air to the mask, for moving a selector to block the air from one of the chambers while allowing the air from the other chamber to pass.

7. A gas delivery device as in claim 6 wherein:

a means for instructing the actuator to select an air pressure such that a high air pressure is applied to the mask during inspiration and a low pressure is applied to the mask during expiration.

8. A gas delivery device as in claim 7 wherein:

the means for instructing the actuator to select an air pressure comprises a controller sending signals to the actuator, and at least one sensor for obtaining information from the patient about his breathing such that the controller can process the information to determine if the patent is inhaling or exhaling and send the signals to the actuator accordingly.

9. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 having:

a mask for applying gas to a patient,

a means for transporting the air from the first chamber and from the second chamber to the mask,

a means for selecting a portion of the first air pressure and a portion the second air pressure so that they can be mixed to create a third air pressure to be admitted to the mask.

10. A gas delivery device as in claim 9 wherein:

the means for selecting a portion of the first air pressure and a portion of the second air pressure so that they can be mixed to create a third air pressure to be admitted to the mask comprises a butterfly valve for simultaneously partially blocking the first air pressure and partially blocking the second air pressure to derive a third air pressure.

11. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 having:

a means for varying the ratio of pressures in the high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber.

12. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 having:

a means for varying the speed of the at least one impeller to change the pressure in the high pressure chamber and in the low pressure chamber.

13. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

a humidifier adds humidity to the air in at least one chamber.

14. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 having;

an air filter that filters the air of at least one chamber.

15. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

a handle on the device for ease of transport.

16. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

a pressure adjustment valve on the first air chamber exhaust aperture allows for adjusting the air pressure exiting the chamber.

17. A gas delivery device as in claim 16 wherein:

a pressure adjustment valve on the second air chamber exhaust aperture allows for adjusting the air pressure exiting the chamber.

18. A gas delivery device as in claim 17 wherein:

a first actuator controls the pressure adjustment valve for the pressure on the first chamber,

a second actuator controls the pressure adjustment valve for the pressure on the second chamber, and

both the first and second actuators are controlled by a controller.

19. A gas delivery device as in claim 8 wherein:

a pressure adjustment valve on the first air chamber allows for adjusting the air pressure exiting the chamber.

20. A gas delivery device as in claim 19 wherein:

a pressure adjustment valve on the second air chamber allows for adjusting the air pressure exiting the chamber.

21. A gas delivery device as in claim 20 wherein:

a first actuator controls the pressure adjustment valve for the pressure on the first chamber,

a second actuator controls the pressure adjustment valve for the pressure on the second chamber, and

both the first and second actuators are controlled by the controller.

22. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

the device has a means for selecting the pressure of the high pressure air delivered to the mask.

23. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

the device has a means for selecting the pressure of the low pressure air delivered to the mask.

24. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

the device has a means for selecting ramp times and ramp time delays for the air delivered to the mask.

25. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

the device has a means for selecting the protocol used for delivering air to the mask such that different treatments can be applied to the patient with the same device.

26. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 having:

a data card port connected to a controller such that a data card inserted into the data card port can send data to and receive data from the controller.

27. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

an input output data port connected to a controller such that data can be sent to and received from the controller at a remote site from the device.

28. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

a transmitter and receiver connected to a controller such that data can be sent to and received from the controller.

29. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

a keypad connected to a controller enters data to the controller such that settings for the controller are selected.

30. A gas delivery device as in claim 5 wherein:

a control panel on the device connected to a controller such that data can be sent to and received from the controller from the control panel.

31. A gas delivery device as in claim 30 wherein:

the control panel has an LCD display.

32. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 wherein:

the motor is a brushless DC motor such that no ozone or NOx is produced.

33. A gas delivery device as in claim 1 having:

a means for tracking elapsed time.

34. A gas delivery device as in claim 33 having:

a means for displaying elapsed time.