PORTABLE POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ATTENUATING THE NOISE EMITTED THEREFROM

• US 20140299130A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Design Medical, LLC (Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Human Design Medical, LLC (Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Leinsing, Karl R., Librett, Kevin Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,750,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4213 suction ports
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/663 Sound attenuation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/664 : by means of sound absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/665 : by means of resonance chambers or interference
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/51 : Inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/96 : Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/04 : Acoustic filters ; Acoustic resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/161 : in systems with fluid flow G10K11/162 takes precedence; gas flow silencers or exhaust apparatus for machines or engines in general or for internal combustion engine F01N, noise absorbers in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/02; noise absorption in air conditioning and ventilation F24F13/24; silencing exhaust or propulsion jets in aircraft B64D33/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein provide a quiet, light-weight, and portable system and apparatus for providing positive air pressure to a patient. The systems may include a housing with an inlet port, a vibrationally isolated blower unit positioned in an inner chamber, and an outlet port for delivery of the pressurized air from the blower unit. The inlet port and outlet port may each have a tube with dimensions that are defined in relation to the inner chamber so as to reduce the overall noise output of the system.

Claims

1. A portable CPAP apparatus, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing defines a first and a second acoustic chamber, the first acoustic chamber having a volume and a first inlet port, the first inlet port defining a length and cross-sectional area that is proportionally related to the volume of the first chamber and the second acoustic chamber having a volume and a second inlet port, wherein the second inlet port extends from the first acoustic chamber into the second acoustic chamber; and

a blower unit that is disposed within the second acoustic chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length and cross-sectional area of the first inlet port and the volume of the first acoustic chamber are proportionally related so as to create a low-pass acoustic filter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combined volume of the first and second acoustic chambers is less than 360 milliliters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inlet port further comprises a first intake tube having a diameter ranging from 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches and a length ranging from 0.25 inches to 3.5 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second inlet port further comprises a second intake tube having a diameter ranging from 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches and a length ranging from 0.25 inches to 3.5 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an anechoic material disposed therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adapter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is in communication with the blower unit through a blower outlet tube and the distal end extending outward from the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the blower outlet tube defines a sealed air-flow pathway between the blower unit and the adapter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a hose port configured to receive a patient interface system.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises at least one user interface button.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a digital display.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an acoustically invisible cover positioned over the inlet port of the first acoustic chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inlet port comprises an intake tube which passes through the second chamber into the first chamber and is sealed from the second chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an outlet tube extending from the blower in the second acoustic chamber and traversing through the first acoustic chamber and through the housing wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area and length of the first inlet port is related to the noise generated by the blower, wherein the overall acoustic reduction is balanced with any increase in blower noise generated.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the second acoustic chamber is greater than the volume of the first acoustic chamber.

17. A system for providing continuous positive air pressure to a patient, comprising:

a continuous positive air pressure apparatus having,

a housing, wherein the housing defines a first and a second acoustic chamber, the first acoustic chamber having a volume and a first inlet port, the first inlet port defining a length and cross-sectional area that is proportionally related to the volume of the first chamber and the second acoustic chamber having a volume and a second inlet port;

a blower unit that is disposed within the single acoustic chamber;

an adapter, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is in communication with the blower unit through a blower outlet tube and the distal end extending outward from the apparatus; and

a patient interface system detachably connected to the distal end of the adapter.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a pressure port in fluid communication with the adapter.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a sensor disposed within the housing that is in fluid communication with the pressure port.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the blower unit is vibrationally isolated from the housing.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing further comprises an acoustically invisible cover positioned over the inlet port of the acoustic chamber that does not increase the dBA of the system by more than 3 dBA.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a portion of the acoustically invisible cover is comprised of a wire mesh material.

23. A method for reducing the amount of noise released from a portable CPAP device while in operation, comprising:

providing a housing wherein the housing defines a first and a second acoustic chamber,

routing the flow of air through a first inlet that is sealed from and passes through the second acoustic chamber into the first acoustic chamber;

routing the flow of air from the first acoustic chamber into the second acoustic through a second inlet port, wherein a blower is mounted within the second acoustic chamber; and

routing the flow of air from the second acoustic chamber through an outlet port that is sealed from and passes through the first chamber.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of balancing an acoustic low pass filter design based on the proportionality of a length and cross-sectional area of the first inlet port with the volume of the first acoustic chamber with any increase in noise generated by the blower positioned in the second acoustic chamber caused by additional work required to maintain a desired amount of air flow.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising positioning the opening of the inlet port on the opposite end of the housing wherein the opening of the outlet port is formed.

26. A positive air pressure apparatus, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing defines an acoustic chamber having a volume, an inlet port, and an outlet port, wherein the inlet port extends through an exterior wall of the housing and has a length and cross-sectional area proportionally defined by the volume of the acoustic chamber, and wherein a majority of the length of the inlet port is disposed inside the acoustic chamber; and

a blower unit disposed within the acoustic chamber, wherein the blower unit is vibrationally isolated from the housing.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the inlet port defines a circuitous path having at least one bend.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a noise attenuating unit positioned near an opening of the inlet port into the volume of the acoustic chamber, such that at least some acoustic noise generated by the blower is attenuated by the noise attenuating unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the noise attenuating unit is angled relative to the opening of the inlet port into the acoustic chamber.

30. A method for reducing making a portable cpap system comprising the steps of:

determining the desired size of the cpap system;

determining the desired airflow and matching the desired airflow with a blower;

forming a first acoustical chamber having an inlet port and tube that are proportional to the volume of chamber, wherein a frequency low pass filter is created; and

reduce the area of the inlet port until the noise generated by the blower is no longer offset by the reduction in area.