Methods for battery power management of positive airway pressure apparatus

• US 8,567,397 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somnetics International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Somnetics Global Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bowman, Bruce R., Baser, Joseph A., Bordewick, Steven S., Hanson, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILIPS, BRADLEY H
• Application Number:
  US12/496,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455/343.5, 128/204.21, 128/200.24, 128/204.18
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods relating to the power management of positive airway pressure apparatus using a battery are disclosed herein. The methods, in various aspects, are adapted to prolong the delivery of a positive airway pressurized therapy when the positive airway pressure apparatus is operated under battery power.

Claims

1. A method for operating a positive airway pressure apparatus, comprising:

determining a therapy time for a positive airway pressure therapy;

providing a current from a battery to power the positive airway pressure apparatus, including operation of a flow generator of the positive airway pressure apparatus, the flow generator being configured to provide pressurized air for the positive airway pressure therapy to a user interface of the positive airway pressure apparatus;

determining current drawn from the battery during an elapsed portion of the therapy time;

estimating, via a control unit, a remaining battery operational time that the current drawn from the battery can power the positive airway pressure apparatus to deliver the positive airway pressure therapy before a charge in the battery is depleted;

comparing the remaining battery operation time with an amount of the therapy time remaining after the elapsed portion; and

altering the operation of the positive airway pressure apparatus to modify current flow from the battery, wherein delivery of the positive pressure therapy is maintained throughout the therapy time.

2. The method, as in claim 1, wherein the altering step comprises modifying a current delivered to a humidifier of the positive airway pressure apparatus.

3. The method, as in claim 2, further comprising modifying the current delivered to the humidifier is modifying the current delivered to a heater in the humidifier.

4. The method, as in claim 3, further comprising modifying a pulse width of the current supplied to the heater.

5. The method, as in claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the current includes modifying the current in at least one step.

6. The method, as in claim 1, further providing setting the desired therapy duration time as a fixed value.

7. The method, as in claim 1, the step of determining a remaining therapy time over which a positive pressure therapy is delivered to a user by the positive airway pressure apparatus, further comprising:

inputting a desired therapy duration time into the positive airway pressure apparatus;

tracking the time that the positive pressure therapy has been delivered; and

calculating the remaining therapy time as the desired therapy duration time minus the time that the positive pressure therapy has been delivered.

8. The method, as in claim 1, wherein the step of determining a remaining therapy time over which a positive pressure therapy is delivered by the positive airway pressure apparatus includes:

determining a desired therapy duration time from the history of use of the positive airway pressure apparatus;

tracking the time that the positive pressure therapy has been delivered to the user; and

calculating the remaining therapy time as the desired therapy duration time minus the time that the positive pressure therapy has been delivered.