Positive airway pressure system with head position control

• US 9,180,267 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hancock Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bowditch, Nathaniel L., Goff, Thomas G., Casebolt, Tarmigan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louis, LaToya M
• Application Number:
  US14/571,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20150096565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/201.22, 128/201.23, 128/201.24, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/205.25, 128/206.21, 128/206.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8218 : Gas operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 : connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/06 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

The invention is directed to a positive airway pressure (PAP) system with a head mounted harness assembly with a housing and a head position sensor located within or secured to the housing that detects the position of a patient'"'"'s head, and communicates this head position information to a controller of the system which may be disposed within the housing having the position sensor or a second housing. The controller varies the output pressure of the pressure source e.g., a rotary compressor, based, at least in part, on the head position information provided by the head position sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the position sensor is an accelerometer.

Claims

1. A method for providing pressurized air to an airway of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering pressurized air from a pressure source to the patient'"'"'s airway;

sensing the patient'"'"'s sleeping position with a sensor; and

adjusting, using a controller, pressure of the pressurized air so that pressure delivered is at a maximum when the patient'"'"'s sleeping position is a supine position and is less than the maximum when the sleeping position is a lateral position, and there is a maximum rate of pressure drop of the pressurized air delivered when the patient'"'"'s sleeping position is between 30° and

60°

from the supine sleeping position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting pressure in multiple pressure drop steps between the supine sleeping position and the lateral sleeping position.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the rate of pressure drop between 30°

and 60°

from the supine sleeping position is constant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering the pressurized air to the patient'"'"'s airway through a mask attached to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a head position sensor, the method further comprising attaching the position sensor to the patient'"'"'s head.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting pressure of the pressurized air when the patient'"'"'s sleeping position has changed more than 20°

.

7. A positive airway pressure system, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current sleeping position of a patient;

a pressure source configured to provide pressurized air;

a mask configured to deliver pressurized air from the pressure source to the patient; and

a controller configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to determine a pressure output of the pressure source based on sleeping position for a plurality of sleeping positions including a supine sleeping position, wherein there is a pressure drop between the supine sleeping position and 90°

from the supine sleeping position, and wherein there is a maximum rate of pressure drop between 30° and

60°

from the supine sleeping position.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is further adapted to change the output pressure of the pressure source when the sleeping position sensor indicates that the patient'"'"'s sleeping position has changed more than 20°

.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor is configured to sense a position of the patient'"'"'s head.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a current tilt position of the patient'"'"'s head with respect to the patient'"'"'s chest.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor is configured to be mounted on the patient'"'"'s head.