METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A LIQUID LEVEL IN A HUMIDIFIED PRESSURE SUPPORT DEVICE
First Claim
1. A pressure support system comprising:
- a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject;
a humidifier configured to hold a volume of liquid, the humidifier comprising;
one or more temperature sensors configured to generate one or more output signals conveying information related to the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of a heater in the humidifier, and/or the temperature of a component of the heater in the humidifier; and
a heater configured to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid to elevate the temperature of the liquid within the humidifier such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and
one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;
a temperature module configured to determine the temperature of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the output signals generated by the one or more temperature sensors;
a heater control module configured to modulate the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the heater and determine use events during therapy, use events comprising one or more of an expiration of a period of time;
an arousal event, or a change in a gas parameter and/or a breathing parameter that indicates wakeful sleep; and
a liquid volume module configured to determine the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of the heater, and/or the temperature of a component of the heater, subsequent to modulation of the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the heater;
wherein after commencement of the therapy, the liquid volume module is configured to determine the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier responsive to a determination of an individual use event by the heater control module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure pertains to a pressure support system configured to provide pressure support therapy to a subject, wherein the pressure support system is configured to determine a volume of liquid held by a humidifier. The liquid volume determination is based on the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of the heater in the humidifier, and/or the temperature of a component of the heater (e.g., a heating element), subsequent to modulation of the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by a heater. Applying a known amount of energy for a known amount of time (power) increases the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier. The amount of liquid in the humidifier can be determined from the applied power and the rise in liquid temperature, heater temperature, and/or heater component temperature over time because the rise in liquid temperature over time is proportional the volume of liquid in the humidifier.
9 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A pressure support system comprising:
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a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject; a humidifier configured to hold a volume of liquid, the humidifier comprising; one or more temperature sensors configured to generate one or more output signals conveying information related to the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of a heater in the humidifier, and/or the temperature of a component of the heater in the humidifier; and a heater configured to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid to elevate the temperature of the liquid within the humidifier such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising; a temperature module configured to determine the temperature of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the output signals generated by the one or more temperature sensors; a heater control module configured to modulate the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the heater and determine use events during therapy, use events comprising one or more of an expiration of a period of time;
an arousal event, or a change in a gas parameter and/or a breathing parameter that indicates wakeful sleep; anda liquid volume module configured to determine the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of the heater, and/or the temperature of a component of the heater, subsequent to modulation of the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the heater; wherein after commencement of the therapy, the liquid volume module is configured to determine the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier responsive to a determination of an individual use event by the heater control module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of generating a humidified, pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of a subject, the method comprising:
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generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of the subject; holding a volume of liquid in a humidifier; generating one or more output signals conveying information related to a temperature of liquid in the humidifier, a temperature of a heater in the humidifier, and/or a temperature of a component of the heater in the humidifier; controllably dissipating energy into the liquid to elevate the temperature of the liquid within the humidifier such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas; determining the temperature of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the output signals conveying information related to the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of the heater, and/or the temperature of the component of the heater; modulating the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid; determining the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier based on the temperature of the liquid in the humidifier, the temperature of the heater, and/or the temperature of the component of the heater subsequent to modulation of the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid; determining use events during therapy, use events comprising one or more of an expiration of a period of time, an arousal event, or a change in a gas parameter and/or a breathing parameter that indicates wakeful sleep; and after commencement of the therapy, determining the volume of the liquid held by the humidifier responsive to a determination of an individual use event. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pressure support system comprising:
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means to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject; means to hold a volume of liquid and humidify the pressurized flow of breathable gas, the means to humidify comprising; means to generate one or more output signals conveying information related to the temperature of the liquid in the means to humidify, the temperature of a means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid, and/or the temperature of a component of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid; and means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid to elevate the temperature of the liquid within the means to humidify such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and means to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising; means to determine the temperature of the liquid held by the means to humidify, the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid, and/or the component of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid based on the output signals generated by the means to generate output signals conveying information related to the temperature of the liquid in the means to humidify, the temperature of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid, and/or the temperature of the component of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid; means to modulate the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid and determine use events during therapy, use events comprising one or more of an expiration of a period of time, an arousal event, or a change in a gas parameter and/or a breathing parameter that indicates wakeful sleep; and means to determine the volume of the liquid held by the means to humidify based on the temperature of the liquid in the means to humidify, the temperature of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid, and/or the temperature of the component of the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid subsequent to modulation of the rate at which energy is dissipated into the liquid by the means to controllably dissipate energy into the liquid, wherein, after commencement of the therapy, the means to determine the volume of the liquid is configured to determine the volume of the liquid held by the means to humidify responsive to a determination of au individual use event by the means to modulate and determine use events. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification