Method and apparatus for providing positive airway pressure to a patient
First Claim
1. A method of delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a gas flow generator and a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;
delivering a flow of gas to such a patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface;
differentiating between an expiratory phase and an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle of such a patient;
establishing a reduced pressure profile for a pressure of the flow of gas provided to the patient, where the reduced pressure profile has a contour that is predetennined prior to initiation of the expiratory phase and is detennined independent of operating characteristics of the gas flow generator, and wherein the contour defines a changing pressure over a period of time; and
controlling the gas flow delivered to such a patient so that (1) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided at a first pressure level during at least a portion of the inspiratory phase, and (2) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided according to the reduced pressure profile during at least a portion of the expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying a gain to flow rate of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and/or expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and/or expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure treatments, such as CPAP or bi-level positive airway pressure equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a gas flow generator and a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient; delivering a flow of gas to such a patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface; differentiating between an expiratory phase and an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle of such a patient; establishing a reduced pressure profile for a pressure of the flow of gas provided to the patient, where the reduced pressure profile has a contour that is predetennined prior to initiation of the expiratory phase and is detennined independent of operating characteristics of the gas flow generator, and wherein the contour defines a changing pressure over a period of time; and controlling the gas flow delivered to such a patient so that (1) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided at a first pressure level during at least a portion of the inspiratory phase, and (2) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided according to the reduced pressure profile during at least a portion of the expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) blower; (b) conduit adapted to carry a flow of gas generated by the blower to an airway of a patient; (c) sensor adapted to monitor a characteristic associated with the gas in the conduit or a flow of the gas; (d) signal related to the characteristic; (e) a pressure controller associated with the blower, the conduit, or both to control a pressure of the gas in the conduit; and (f) a processor adapted to (1) establish a reduced pressure profile for a pressure of the flow of gas provided to the patient, where the reduced pressure profile has a contour that is predetermined prior to initiation of the expiratory phase and is determined independent of operating characteristics of the gas flow generator, and wherein the contour defines a changing pressure over a period of time, and (2) control the pressure controller so that the pressure of the flow of gas is provided to a patient at (a) a first pressure level during at least a portion of an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle, and (b) in accordance with the reduced pressure profile during at least a portion of an expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing pressured gas to an airway of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a gas flow generator; coupling the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient; delivering a flow of gas to the airway of such a patient from the gas flow generator; monitoring a characteristic associated with the flow of gas; providing a signal related to the characteristic; selecting a first gain; and controlling the flow of gas to such a patient such that the flow of gas is delivered to a patient at (1) a therapy pressure during at least a portion of an inspiratory portion of a respiratory cycle, wherein the therapy pressure is a pressure sufficient to counter airway collapsing forces, and (2) based on the first gain and the signal during at least a portion of an expiratory phase of a respiratory cycle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a blower; a conduit adapted to carry a flow of gas generated by the blower to the airway of the patient; a sensor adapted to monitor a characteristic associated with the gas in the conduit or a flow of the gas; a signal related to the characteristic; a pressure controller associated with the blower or the conduit to control a pressure of the gas in the conduit; a processor, responsive to the signal, to control the pressure controller so as to cause the gas to be delivered to a patient at a therapy pressure during at least a portion of an inspiratory portion of a respiratory cycle, wherein the therapy pressure is a pressure sufficient to counter airway collapsing forces; and an input device, operatively connected to the processor, to select a first gain, wherein the processor controls the pressure controller so that the pressure of the gas in the conduit during at least a portion of an expiratory portion of the respiratory cycle is based on the first gain and the signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification