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Method and apparatus for increasing therapy compliance

  • US 9,579,480 B2
  • Filed: 12/16/2015
  • Issued: 02/28/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A positive airway pressure device configured to improve patient compliance by providing an improved user-friendliness and by reducing cognitive dissonance as a barrier to therapy, the positive airway pressure device comprising:

  • a housing having a volume of less than 0.008 m3, the housing comprising an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a front wall having at least a portion that rises vertically and angles horizontally rearward as it rises, a rear wall, a first side wall extending between the front wall and the rear wall, and an opening comprising a humidification compartment;

    a heater plate configured to generate heat, the heater plate disposed at a bottom of the humidification compartment;

    a removable humidification chamber configured to be received by and at least partially enclosed in the humidification compartment, the humidification chamber having a lid, a heat-conducting base, a humidifier inlet port configured to fluidly couple to a blower input port, and a humidifier outlet port configured to fluidly couple to a blower output port, the humidifier inlet and outlet ports disposed on a top portion of the humidification chamber, the blower input port and the blower output port disposed horizontally on a wall of the humidification compartment, the humidification compartment having a ledge and the humidification chamber having a slot, wherein in response to the humidification chamber being received by the humidification compartment the ledge and the slot complementarily engage to orient the humidification chamber within the humidification compartment causing thermal communication between the heat-conducting base and the heater plate, fluid communication between the humidifier inlet port and the blower input port, and fluid communication between the humidifier outlet port and the blower output port;

    an ambient air inlet in fluid communication with ambient air and extending through the first side wall;

    a blower unit disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the ambient air inlet, the blower unit configured to cause ambient air to pass through the humidifier inlet port into the humidification chamber;

    an airflow outlet extending at least partially from the rear wall, the airflow outlet in fluid communication with the humidifier outlet port, the airflow outlet configured to engage a removable elbow connector, the elbow connector configured to rotate relative to the housing; and

    a power supply comprising a power cord adapted to be plugged into a power supply outlet, the power supply in electrical communication with the blower unit and the heater plate,wherein any horizontal cross-sectional area of the housing does not exceed 40,000 mm2.

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