Low cost CPAP flow generator and humidifier assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device comprising:
- a flow generator including a microprocessor;
a humidifier detachably coupled to the flow generator; and
a temperature sensor in communication with the humidifier and adapted to produce a voltage signal provided to the flow generator microprocessor,wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a humidifier control program adapted to control power supply to the humidifier in accordance with output of the temperature sensor, and adapted to detect when the humidifier is substantially empty of water based on the output of the temperature sensor.
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Abstract
A CPAP device wherein humidification detection and/or control is performed by a microprocessor of the CPAP device without requiring a separate humidification control chip. The microprocessor may also control the flow generator motor and the flow generator display. Further, the microprocessor may include code to prevent ‘brown-out’, and/or to detect the availability (connection and/or operability) of the humidifier. Humidifier detection may be carried out using power consumption or temperature sensor signal analysis, e.g., facilitated by use of a pull-up resistor.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device comprising:
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a flow generator including a microprocessor; a humidifier detachably coupled to the flow generator; and a temperature sensor in communication with the humidifier and adapted to produce a voltage signal provided to the flow generator microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a humidifier control program adapted to control power supply to the humidifier in accordance with output of the temperature sensor, and adapted to detect when the humidifier is substantially empty of water based on the output of the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 41)
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14. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device comprising:
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a flow generator including a microprocessor; a humidifier detachably coupled to the flow generator; a temperature sensor in communication with the humidifier and adapted to produce a voltage signal provided to the flow generator microprocessor, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a pull-up resistor in communication with the ADC, wherein the ADC provides a signal to the microprocessor having a first value if the humidifier is not available and a second value, different from the first value, if the humidifier is connected and operable, wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a humidifier control program adapted to control power supply to the humidifier in accordance with output of the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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22. A method for controlling a humidifier of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, comprising:
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monitoring a temperature of the humidifier; generating a voltage signal representative of the humidifier temperature; converting the voltage signal to a digital signal; applying the digital signal to a microprocessor of a flow generator of the CPAP device, supplying power to the humidifier in accordance with the digital signal, and determining whether the humidifier is substantially empty of water based upon the digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 42)
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33. A method for controlling a humidifier of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, comprising:
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monitoring a temperature of the humidifier; generating a voltage signal representative of the humidifier temperature; converting the voltage signal to a digital signal; applying the digital signal to a microprocessor of a flow generator of the CPAP device, supplying power to the humidifier in accordance with the digital signal, and providing the flow generator with a pull-up resistor. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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37. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device comprising:
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a flow generator including a microprocessor; a humidifier detachably coupled to the flow generator; and a temperature sensor in communication with the humidifier and adapted to produce a voltage signal provided to the flow generator microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a humidifier control program adapted to detect when the humidifier is substantially empty of water based on the output of the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A method for controlling a humidifier of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, comprising:
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monitoring a temperature of the humidifier; generating a voltage signal representative of the humidifier temperature; converting the voltage signal to a digital signal; applying the digital signal to a microprocessor of a flow generator of the CPAP device, and determining whether the humidifier is substantially empty of water based upon the digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification