Sleep apnea treatment apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient comprising:
- gas flow generating means for providing a flow of gas;
a conduit operatively coupled to the gas flow generating means, the conduit being adapted to deliver the flow of gas to an airway of a patient;
a patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit, the patient interface being adapted to communicate the conduit with an airway of such a patient; and
means for generating a first signal responsive to detection of the patient interface being in communication with an airway of a patient, the first signal being provided to the gas flow generating means to cause the gas flow generator to operate so that the flow of gas is created in the conduit; and
a second signal responsive to detection that the patient interface is not in communication with an airway of a patient, the second signal being provided to the gas flow generating means to cause the gas flow generator to cease operating.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
219 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient comprising:
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gas flow generating means for providing a flow of gas;
a conduit operatively coupled to the gas flow generating means, the conduit being adapted to deliver the flow of gas to an airway of a patient;
a patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit, the patient interface being adapted to communicate the conduit with an airway of such a patient; and
means for generating a first signal responsive to detection of the patient interface being in communication with an airway of a patient, the first signal being provided to the gas flow generating means to cause the gas flow generator to operate so that the flow of gas is created in the conduit; and
a second signal responsive to detection that the patient interface is not in communication with an airway of a patient, the second signal being provided to the gas flow generating means to cause the gas flow generator to cease operating.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing a flow of gas to an airway of a patient comprising:
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generating a flow of gas using a gas flow generator;
delivering the as flow to an airway of a patient via a conduit and a patient interface operatively coupled to the conduit;
generating a first signal to activate said gas flow generator responsive to detecting that the patient interface is in communication with an airway of such a patient, wherein the first signal activates the gas flow generator so that a gas flow is created in the conduit; and
generating a second signal responsive to detecting that the patient interface is not in communication with an airway of such a patient, wherein the second signal deactivates the gas flow generator so that substantially no gas flows in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a gas flow generator adapted to provide a flow of gas;
a conduit operatively coupled to the gas flow;
a patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit, the patient interface being adapted to communicate said conduit with an airway of a patient; and
means for generating a signal responsive to the patient interface means being in communication with an airway of such a patient, the signal causing activation of the gas flow generator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing gas flow to an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a flow of gas using a gas flow generator;
delivering the flow of gas to an airway of a patient via a conduit and patient interface operatively coupled to the conduit;
monitoring whether the patient interface is in communication with an airway of a patient; and
activating the gas flow generator from a deactivated state responsive to a determination in the monitoring step that the patient interface is in communication with an airway of such a patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a gas flow generator adapted to provide 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 patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit, said patient interface being adapted to communicate said conduit with an airway of such a patient;
means for activating the gas flow generator responsive to the patient interface being in communication with an airway of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a gas flow generator adapted to provide a flow of gas;
a conduit operatively coupled to the gas flow;
a patient interface operatively coupled to said conduit, the patient interface being adapted to communicate said conduit with an airway of a patient;
a sensor adapted to detect a flow or a pressure of gas in the conduit or patient interface and to output a signal indicative thereof;
a processor operatively coupled to the gas flow generator and the sensor, wherein the processor determines whether the patient interface means is in communication with an airway of a patient based on an output of the sensor and activates the gas flow generator responsive a determination that the patient interface means is in communication with an airway of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification