Methods and apparatus for heart failure treatment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for heart failure by the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure are disclosed. Treatment of obstruction due to reflex vocal cord closure often experienced by heart failure patients is distinguished from treatment of upper airway obstruction typically associated with Obstructive Sleep Disorder. Treatment may also be implemented by delivering synchronized cardiac pressure oscillations superimposed on a respiratory pressure level to provide assistance for the heart. Heart treatment pressure dose indicator may be calculated for prescribing and monitoring the delivery of treatment. The apparatus may also generate data to track heart failure condition that may be indicative of the degree of severity of heart failure based upon breathing patterns to assist in the diagnosis and management of heart failure patients.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to methods and apparatus for diagnosing, managing and treating congestive heart failure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It has been estimated that in the United States alone that almost five million people suffer from congestive heart failure. Statistics from the American Heart Association also suggest that new cases of heart failure are diagnosed at a rate of about 500,000 each year. Of the newly diagnosed patients fifty percent are likely to die within five years from the initial diagnosis. Of course, these numbers do not account for the number of patients in other countries who also suffer from heart failure. Given these numbers, it is clear that congestive heart failure is a significant human crisis. [0003] Heart failure is a condition that is characterized by a reduced ability of the heart to circulate blood through the body. Typically, an underlying disease, such as high blood pressure (e.g., hypertension), clogged arteri...

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Problems solved by technology

Of course, these numbers do not account for the number of patients in other countries who also suffer from heart failure.

Given these numbers, it is clear that congestive heart failure is a significant human crisis.

As the heart works less efficiently, its capacity to circulate blood decreases and the body's requirements for oxygen are not met.

This loss of contraction results in a decrease in the ability of the heart to force blood through the circulatory system of the body.

Left-sided heart failure occurs when the left ventricle does not sufficiently pump oxygenated blood to the body.

Right-sided heart failure occurs when the right ventricle does not pump adequately, which leads to fluid build-up in the veins.

This congestion is more commonly a symptom of systolic and left-sided heart failure.

At present, there are no known devices with features designed to treat a range of symptoms of heart failure patients through application of pressure as opposed to devices that might only incidentally provide such benefits.

However, the device is only taught to provide one continuous level of pressure during inspiration and another level during expiration.

Moreover, the device provides no assistance directed to alleviating Cheyne-Stokes breathing or distinguishing between obstructions due to vocal cord reflex and obstructions from typical OSA due to collapse of the upper airway during sleep.

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