Apparatus and methods for administration of positive airway pressure therapies

• US 9,694,153 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somnetics International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Somnetics Global Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bordewick, Steven S., Baser, Joseph A., Bowman, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US14/100,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20140166007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 12820618, 12820711, 12820717
• 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

An apparatus and methods for the administration of positive airway pressure therapies. The apparatus can include a housing, a blower and a mask. The housing is configured to be stably secured on the head of a patient. The blower is secured relative to the housing. A mask in fluid communication with the blower is configured to communicate pressurized air produced at least in part by the blower to the airways of a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing positive airway pressure therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured on one or both of a crown and a forehead of the user, the housing comprising a base defining a surface configured to conform to a shape of one or both of the crown and the forehead;

a blower secured in the housing, the blower adapted to generate a flow of pressurized air;

a blower motor also secured in the housing, the blower motor adapted to power the blower;

a mask in fluid communication with an outlet of the blower, the mask adapted to communicate the flow of pressurized air from the blower to airways of the user;

a control unit positioned within or on the housing, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically change a speed of the blower, and wherein the control unit is adapted to modulate the speed of the blower within or between breath cycles of the user; and

a control interface in communication with the control unit, the control interface comprising one or more input devices to enter inputs for controlling the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a humidification port adapted to introduce moisture into the flow of pressurized air.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control interface is secured to the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control interface is removably secured to the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control interface is configured as a remote control and comprises a transmitter to transmit signals to the control unit and a receiver to receive signals from the control unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery secured to or within the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control unit is in electrical communication with the battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control interface is in electrical communication with the battery.

9. An apparatus for providing positive airway pressure therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured on one or both of a crown and a forehead of the user, the housing comprising a base defining a lower surface configured to conform to a shape of one or both of the crown and the forehead along a medial plane;

an impeller and a motor powering the impeller, wherein the impeller and motor are secured within the housing, the impeller adapted to generate a flow of pressurized air;

a mask in fluid communication with an outlet of the housing, the mask adapted to communicate the flow of pressurized air to airways of the user;

a control unit positioned within or on the housing, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control a speed of the motor, and wherein the control unit is adapted to modulate the speed of the motor within or between breath cycles of the user; and

a control interface in communication with the control unit, the control interface comprising one or more input devices adapted to control the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is adapted to ramp a pressure of the flow of pressurized air from an initial pressure to a therapeutic pressure.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a rigid tube connecting the outlet of the housing with an inlet of the mask, wherein the tube is adapted to maintain engagement of a seal formed on the mask with the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a rigid mask support attached to the housing, wherein the support is adapted to maintain sealed engagement of the mask with the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rigid mask support comprises adjusters adapted to adjust a position of the mask relative to the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pad secured to the lower surface of the housing.

15. An apparatus for providing positive airway pressure therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured on one or both of a crown and a forehead of the user, the housing comprising a base defining a lower surface configured to conform to a shape of one or both of the crown and the forehead along a medial plane;

an impeller and a motor powering the impeller, wherein the impeller and motor are secured within the housing, the impeller adapted to generate a flow of pressurized air;

a mask in fluid communication with an outlet of the housing, the mask adapted to communicate the flow of pressurized air to airways of the user;

a control unit positioned within or on the housing, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control a speed of the motor;

a control interface in communication with the control unit, the control interface comprising one or more input devices adapted to control the apparatus; and

a rigid tube connecting the outlet of the housing with an inlet of the mask, wherein the tube is adapted to maintain engagement of a seal formed on the mask with the user.