Apparatus and methods for providing humidity in respiratory therapy

• US 9,597,477 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somnetics International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Somnetics Global Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bordewick, Steven S., Bowman, Bruce, Larkin, Holly
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US14/024,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20140007871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.17, 128/203.27, 128/204.17, 128/203.16, 128/204.15, 128/204.14, 128/206.21, 128/204.18, 128/206.28, 128/207.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/142 with semi-permeable walls separating the liquid from the respiratory gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body

Abstract

A respiratory therapy apparatus that introduces water into the pressurized air delivered to a user during various positive airway pressure therapies and corresponding methods. The respiratory therapy apparatus may be configured to administer one or more positive airway pressure therapies, including: continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP), hi-level positive airway pressure therapy (BPAP), auto positive airway pressure therapy (autoPAP), proportional positive airway pressure therapy (PPAP), and/or other positive airway pressure therapies. The respiratory therapy apparatus may include a user interface that defines an interface passage to communicate pressurized air to the user for inhalation and a humidifier that introduces water into the pressurized air generally at the interface passage. Methods may include introducing water into the interface passage at one or more humidifier ports disposed about the interface passage.

Claims

1. A respiratory therapy apparatus for providing positive pressure treatment to an airway of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a flow generator comprising a housing defining an outlet, the flow generator adapted to provide pressurized air at the outlet;

a user interface defining an interface passage in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow generator, wherein the interface passage is adapted to deliver the pressurized air from the flow generator to a mask of the user interface, and wherein the interface passage defines a vent at or near the mask; and

a humidifier adapted to introduce water into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage, the water introduced into the pressurized air;

at a location distal of the vent; and

in synchronization with a phase of a breathing cycle of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water comprises one or more of water vapor, liquid water droplets, mist, microdroplets, fog, and combinations of liquid water and water vapor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier is adapted to introduce the water into the pressurized air generally during an inhalation phase of the breathing cycle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier is adapted to introduce a pulse of water into the pressurized air during an inhalation phase of the breathing cycle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier is adapted to introduce the water into the pressurized air as a spray, vapor, or combination thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier comprises a heater configured to convert the water from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, the water in the vapor phase being introduced into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier comprises a transducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic or ultrasonic transducer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water tube adapted to convey the water from a water source to the humidifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pump adapted to convey a volume of water from the water source to the humidifier via the water tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier comprises a capillary pump adapted to use heat to convert water in a liquid phase to water in a vapor phase.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier is adapted to introduce a controlled amount of water into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifier comprises an exchange material positioned within the interface passage such that water introduced into the exchange material evaporates into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow valve, the flow valve adapted to regulate the introduction of the water into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a vent valve associated with the vent and positionable in at least a first valve position and a second valve position, the vent valve configured to be positioned in the first valve position during a portion of an inhalation phase of the breathing cycle, and in the second valve position during a portion of an exhalation phase of the breathing cycle.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water further comprises a therapeutic agent.

17. A respiratory therapy apparatus for providing positive pressure treatment to an airway of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a flow generator comprising a housing defining an outlet, the flow generator adapted to provide pressurized air to the outlet;

a user interface defining an interface passage in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow generator, wherein the interface passage is adapted to deliver the pressurized air from the flow generator to a mask of the user interface, and wherein the interface passage defines a vent at or near the mask;

a humidifier adapted to introduce water from a water source into the pressurized air, the water introduced into the interface passage at a location distal of the vent; and

a control unit adapted to detect at least an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase of a breathing cycle of the user, wherein the control unit is adapted to command the humidifier to provide greater humidification during the inhalation phase than during the exhalation phase.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the water comprises one or more of water vapor, liquid water droplets, mist, microdroplets, fog, and combinations of liquid water and water vapor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the humidifier is adapted to introduce a controlled amount of water into the pressurized air passing through the interface passage.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising one or more capillary pumps adapted to use heat to convert the water from the water source from a liquid phase to a vapor phase.