Method and apparatus for providing positive airway pressure to a patient
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
- sensing load on a motor that pressurizes flow of air to an airway of the patient, using a load sensor;
sensing pressure proximate the airway, using a pressure sensorprocessing sensed pressure with a therapeutic pressure, to determine a difference between the sensed pressure and the therapeutic pressure;
automatically adjusting motor speed, based on motor load, so that the sensed pressure equals the therapeutic pressure; and
processing the therapeutic pressure with the motor load, to correlate the therapeutic pressure with the motor load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for treatment of medical disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and congestive heart failure are disclosed. A method involves delivering pressurized air, oxygen or other breathing gas to a patient during a respiratory cycle, where pressure of the air is decreased according to an expiratory unloading factor during expiration. The timing and magnitude of the pressure change may be fully automated and responsive to feedback from a motor load sensor, optionally in combination with a pressure sensor.
63 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
-
sensing load on a motor that pressurizes flow of air to an airway of the patient, using a load sensor; sensing pressure proximate the airway, using a pressure sensor processing sensed pressure with a therapeutic pressure, to determine a difference between the sensed pressure and the therapeutic pressure; automatically adjusting motor speed, based on motor load, so that the sensed pressure equals the therapeutic pressure; and processing the therapeutic pressure with the motor load, to correlate the therapeutic pressure with the motor load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
-
a flow generator having a motor and a blower for providing a flow of air at a selected inspiratory pressure; a patient interface connected with the flow generator, for conducting the air to an airway of the patient; a pressure sensor for monitoring pressure of the air at the interface and generating an interface pressure signal; a load sensor for sensing load on the motor and generating a load signal; a respiratory phase detector in communication with the load and pressure sensors, for processing the load signal with the interface pressure signal to determine a respiratory phase, and for generating a phase signal; a processor in communication with the pressure sensor, load sensor and phase detector, for processing the phase, load and pressure signals with the inspiratory pressure and a selected expiratory pressure to determine an expiratory unloading factor, the expiratory unloading factor indicating a difference in motor load required for generating the inspiratory and expiratory pressures at the interface; and a pressure controller in communication with the processor and the flow generator, for altering motor speed during an expiratory phase and according to the expiratory unloading factor, to achieve the expiratory pressure at the interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
-
supplying a flow of air to an airway of a patient at a selected inspiratory pressure; determining an inspiratory phase of respiration; monitoring pressure of the air proximate the airway; monitoring load on a motor generating the flow of air; processing the pressure proximate the airway, the load and the selected inspiratory pressure with a selected expiratory pressure that is lower than the inspiratory pressure, wherein processing comprises; correlating the inspiratory pressure with an inspiratory motor load, correlating the expiratory pressure with an expiratory motor load, and determining, from the correlated pressures, an expiratory unloading factor for achieving the expiratory pressure proximate the airway; determining an expiratory phase of breathing; and automatically reducing speed of the motor according to the expiratory unloading factor, to reduce air pressure proximate the airway from the inspiratory pressure to the expiratory pressure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
-
with a load sensor, sensing load on a motor that pressurizes flow of air to an airway of the patient; processing the sensed load with a pressure applied at the airway to correlate the sensed load with the applied pressure; processing a desired therapeutic pressure with the correlated sensed load and applied pressure, to determine a therapeutic motor load associated with the desired therapeutic pressure, and automatically adjusting motor speed, based on motor load, to achieve the desired therapeutic pressure and maintain functionality of the airway. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for providing positive airway pressure to a patient, comprising:
-
sensing pressure of air delivered to a patient airway, during an inspiratory phase of breathing; with a load sensor, sensing load on a motor pressurizing the air to the patient, during an expiratory phase of breathing; processing the sensed pressure with the sensed load and automatically reducing speed of the motor according to the sensed load, to reduce pressure at the patient airway, wherein pressure during the expiratory phase is directly proportional to the motor load. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
Specification