216 results about "Cpap ventilation" patented technology

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying separate and independent gains to flow rates of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure (bi-level PAP) equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

A respiratory mask for continuous positive airway pressure treatment includes a cushion adapted to be positioned against the face of a patient. The cushion is configured in a gasket arrangement around an entrance to the airways of the patient. The cushion is constructed from a polyurethane foam and has a thickness of greater than about 5 mm.

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying a gain to flow rate of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and / or expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and / or expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure treatments, such as CPAP or bi-level positive airway pressure equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

An adjustable ventilation interface for a continuous positive airway pressure system includes a nasal cannula body. The nasal cannula body includes a pair of nasal prongs that are adjustable with respect to each other. The nasal prongs are located on a top portion of the nasal cannula body to create a sealing interface between the nasal cannula body and a nose. Another sealing interface is provided by a bellows-like structure integrally molded in a portion of the nasal cannula body. The bellows portion acts as a compression spring; thereby creating an adjustable sealing between the nasal cannula body and the nose.

A multiple stage variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the multiple stage blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.

A user interface for a portable continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device comprises a gas delivery member releasably mountable to a manifold member. The CPAP device comprises a motor blower unit contained in a wearable vest which is connectable by a patient hose to the user interface. Alternative embodiments of the gas delivery member include a nasal mask or a pair of nasal prongs which are interchangeably mountable to the manifold member. Ball joints on opposing ends of the patient hose swivelably interconnect the patient hose to the user interface and to the motor blower unit. Cheek pads extend from opposing ends of the manifold member and are freely orientatable relative thereto. Six-way adjustable head gear stabilizes the user interface on the patient's face and comprises side straps and head straps which are pivotably joined to one another and which are adjustable lengthwise to fit a wide range of patient

A pressure support system and method in which a gas flow generating system provides a continuous flow of breathing gas at selectable pressure levels. A patient circuit and interface communicate the continuous flow of breathing gas to the airway of a patient. A controller causes the gas flow generating system to provide the continuous flow of breathing gas to the patient at a first pressure level P1 in an initial therapy session. Thereafter, the pressure level of the continuous flow of breathing gas is increased from the first pressure level P1 to a final pressure level P2 over a first predetermined number D of days. More specifically, in one embodiment, the pressure level is incrementally increased by a predetermined incremental amount DELTAp after n therapy sessions taking place on separate days over this first predetermined number D of days. As a result, the current therapy pressure in each therapy session that takes place on separate days following the initial therapy session is incrementally and automatically increased.

A double-ended variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the double-ended blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.

Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for heart failure by the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure are disclosed. Airflow of the patient is measured to determine occurrences of central apneas. A heart failure index is calculated from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred. The present heart failure index can be compared with a previously calculated heart failure index to determine how the patient's heart failure disease has changed and how it should be treated.

Methods and devices are provided that are effective to remove an obstruction in a human airway and / or maintain an open airway. The methods and devices are particularly useful for patients suffering from snoring and / or OSA, and / or preventing upper airway obstructions in patients undergoing anesthesia. In one embodiment, the device includes a mouthpiece that is adapted to form a substantially sealed cavity within a human mouth, and a hollow elongate member having a first end that is coupled to the mouthpiece and that is in communication with the substantially sealed cavity, and a second end that is adapted to be coupled to a negative pressure generator. In use, a negative pressure generator can be attached to the hollow elongate member to create a negative pressure in a human mouth in response to an obstructed airway, thereby removing the obstruction. In particular, this device is effective to counteract the collapse of a patient's soft tissues of the upper airway to reopen the airway. The mouthpiece can also be used in combination with a nasal mask. In another embodiment, the oral appliance above also comprises a nasal mask, wherein the nasal mask provides a means of ventilation support, including but not limited to total mechanical ventilation, positive-end expiratory pressure, or continuous positive airway pressure. In use, such a device can provide complete patient ventilation and maintain an open upper airway.

The present inventions provide respiratory therapy apparatus that introduce 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), bi-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 according to the present inventions may include introducing water into the interface passage at one or more humidifier ports disposed about the interface passage.

Provided is a universal interface adapted for providing continuous positive airway pressure to a patient when the interface is used with a standard ventilator. The interface is configured to operate at a supply pressure no greater than about 120 centimeters of H2O in order to deliver pressure to the patient of up to about 15 cm of H2O at a flow rate of up to about 12 liters / minute. The universal interface may comprise an interface body having a space pair of breathing passageways intersecting a corresponding of supply passageways. Each one of the breathing passageways is comprised of a patient passageway and an exhalation passageway. Each one of the supply passageways includes a jet venturi having a taper portion. Each one of the exhalation passageways includes a taper portion which tapers outwardly along a direction from the patient passageway toward the exhalation passageway.

Two nasal breathing devices are supplied with continuous positive airway pressure for alleviation of sleep apnea. The two nasal breathing devices are each supported on a spiral flexible supply tube. The supply tubes pass through a block. The block is supported on the patient's head below his nostrils. A stop nut is threaded on each of the spiral flexible supply tubes. The supply tubes and nasal breathing devices are individually adjustable by rotating the stop nut on each of the supply tubes. In this way, the nasal breathing devices are individually adjusted for proper nasal contact and sealing.

A method of operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), wherein the device provides continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, includes applying a treatment pressure to a patient, monitoring the patient for speech output, generating a signal in response to detected speech of the patient, and, in response to the signal, reducing the treatment pressure applied to the patient.

The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for providing continuous positive airway pressure for treating sleep apnea. The method comprising the steps of providing a breathing gas flow to a subject, measuring a respiratory characteristic of the subject, determining or estimating a preferable breathing gas flow for the subject based on wavelet analysis utilizing in part the respiratory characteristic of the subject; and preferably adjusting the breathing gas flow if the determined or estimated preferable breathing gas flow is different. This method and apparatus can be used in a number of applications including both clinical and home use in the form of CPAP for the treatment of sleep apnea or less preferably as a ventilator to assist in patient breathing.

An improved mask sealing apparatus is described for use in nasal positive pressure therapies such as nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and nasal ventilation for treatment of such disorders as sleep apnea, ventilatory insufficiency and complex sleep apnea. The device most importantly provides a means for formation of 2 sealing zones when fitted to a user's face. The first is formed at or within the nares of a user, while a second sealing zone is formed around a user's nose. The cushion so formed may be constructed as a thick walled profile or a thin walled profile using a materials of appropriate durometer. Various configurations of the nares and peri-nasal sealing components are further described.

We describe the use of a flow directing apparatus for incorporation into a patient mask or adjacent to it and for use with a source of pressurized breathable gas such as electronically or electronically controlled fan blower or positive displacement ventilator to provide nasal or oro-nasally administered continuous positive airway pressure or bi level therapies. Such therapies are commonly used to treat sleep disordered breathing including sleep apnea and other syndromes, as well as ventilatory insufficiency. The valve apparatus includes means to direct expired air to atmosphere and inspired air from a pressure source to a user's airway. In this way advantage is provided compared to alternative means as described in the prior art which vent a user's expired gas to atmosphere through a fixed open vent.

A CPAP mask, within which is disposed a membrane that effectively separates air and carbon dioxide within a face mask into two air chambers, and a one-way air escape valve plate is fitted to an air vent at one end of the face mask. Accordingly, when air is input into the CPAP mask through a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) ventilator, one portion of the air expels the CO2 exhaled by the patient through the one-way air escape valve plate, while the other portion of the air is inhaled by the patient, thereby enabling the patient to inhale fresh air with each respiration.

Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating certain respiratory conditions, such as asthma. The system includes a mask apparatus fitted with a pH sensor and thermocouple, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, a processing receiver, and a therapeutic nebulizer / atomizer / humidifier device. The mask apparatus, CPAP device and therapeutic nebulizer / atomizer / humidifier device are connected by a pneumatic means. The pH sensor and the thermocouple are in electrical communication with the processing receiver that controls, through an electronic means, the CPAP device and therapeutic nebulizer / atomizer / humidifier device. The electrical communications can be in the form of a plurality of wires or employ wireless means.

The present inventions provide positive airway pressure therapy apparatus to humidify the pressurized air delivered to a user during various positive airway pressure therapies and corresponding methods. The positive airway pressure therapy apparatus may be configured to administer one or more positive airway pressure therapies, including: continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP), bi-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.

A flow diverter valve is used in controlling the pressure and / or flow rate of a breathable gas supplied to the airways of a patient by a breathable gas flow generator supply apparatus during, for example, ventilatory assistance treatments such as non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The flow diverter valve includes a vane and a housing. The housing has an inlet port, an outlet port, and an exhaust port. The exhaust port opens to atmosphere, and the inlet port is in fluid communication with the flow generator. The outlet port is in fluid communication with a patient mask via a conduit. The vane is configured with respect to the housing such that a blower associated with the CPAP apparatus remains substantially unchoked, regardless of whether the vane is in the open or closed position.

Apparatus for communicating a positive fluid pressure to patient's nasal passageways including a mask engaging the area surrounding such patient's nasal passageways, sealing the mask, for delivering breathable gas to patient's air passageways. The mask is manufactured from a composite material with a relatively soft plastic inner layer and a cloth outer layer. The device has an exhaust valve including a plurality of apertures through the composite material. The apparatus includes a retaining means of at least one strap.

An embodiment of the present invention is a nasal cannula for delivering continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) to a patient's nares during operative procedures or in critical care areas. A malleable metal or plastic is encased in the bridge of the cannula to allow it to be shaped to the patient's face. As a result of contouring the cannula to the face, air leaks are minimized allowing a seal to be provided when an op site is applied to cover the upper lip, nasal cannula and nose. The cannula's nasal inserts can end in nontapered or slightly tapered non-sealing beads, which may be slightly angled out to accommodate various facial anatomies. When approximately several liters per minute of oxygen are flowed through the cannula, CPAP is obtained.

Continuous positive airway pressure systems are provided including an interface defining a plenum chamber therein, and a pair of nasal cannulas connected to and in fluid communication with the plenum chamber of the interface. The nasal cannulas are configured and dimensioned to deliver pressurized air from the plenum chamber to the nares of a patient, wherein each nasal cannula is capable of off axis movement and / or pivoting.

A method for the detection and treatment of disordered breathing during sleep employs an artificial neural network (ANN) in which data related to breathing gas flow are analyzed. A respiratory circuit is established by connecting the patient to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system with pressurized breathing gas supply, the gas flow in the circuit is periodically sampled, one or several cepstrum parameters distinctive of various breathing patterns are periodically calculated; the parameter values are periodically fed to an ANN trained to recognize breathing patterns characteristic of sleep disordered breathing and are analyzed in the network, the CPAP pressurized breathing gas supply is controlled in response to the ANN output. Also disclosed is a corresponding apparatus.

Described is a system including an air pressure supply arrangement, a sensor and a titration device. The air pressure supply arrangement provides air pressure to a patient's airways. The sensor detects input data corresponding to a patient's breathing patterns of a plurality of breaths. The titration device receives and analyzes the input data to determine existence of breathing disorder and corresponding characteristics. The titration device generates output data for adjusting the air pressure supplied to the patient as a function of an index of abnormal respiratory events included in the input data.