Positive Airway Pressure Device Expiration Burden Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positive airway pressure (PAP) devices do not adequately address the pressure burden during expiration, leading to hyperinflation and reduced treatment adherence in patients with sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory disorders.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that uses physiological data from sensors to detect expiration pressure burden, adjusting the therapeutic pressure protocol to reduce air pressure during inspiration and expiration cycles, thereby alleviating hyperinflation and improving patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If positive airway pressure is increased to maintain airway patency during inspiration, then airway obstruction is prevented, but pressure burden during expiration increases causing hyperinflation and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure adjustment by transitioning from fixed pressure settings to variable pressure protocols that adapt in real-time based on detected respiratory events. The system modifies expiratory pressure dynamically to prevent hyperinflation while maintaining airway patency during inspiration, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable airway support and harmful pressure burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes pressure parameters specifically during expiration cycles when hyperinflation is detected. By adjusting the expiratory pressure parameter independently from inspiratory pressure, the system maintains airway patency during inspiration while reducing pressure burden during expiration, thereby eliminating the harmful effect without compromising airway reliability.
2Reliability
If constant pressure is applied throughout the treatment period to ensure airway stenting, then obstructive sleep apnoea is treated effectively, but patient comfort and treatment adherence decrease due to expiration pressure burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic pressure variations synchronized with the respiratory cycle, specifically reducing pressure during expiration phases when hyperinflation occurs. This periodic adjustment maintains effective airway stenting during inspiration while periodically relieving pressure burden during expiration, thereby improving patient comfort and adherence without sacrificing treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static constant pressure approach into a dynamic pressure protocol that continuously adapts to the patient's respiratory needs. By making pressure settings dynamic and responsive to real-time physiological feedback, the system maintains airway stenting effectiveness while significantly improving patient comfort and treatment adherence.
3Reliability
If pressure support is provided during both inspiration and expiration, then respiratory support is maintained, but active expiration is required causing arousals and difficulty returning to sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different pressure qualities to different phases of the respiratory cycle. During inspiration, full pressure support is maintained to ensure airway patency. During expiration, when hyperinflation is detected, the system locally reduces pressure support specifically for the expiratory phase, allowing passive expiration without requiring active muscular effort, thereby preventing arousals and facilitating return to sleep.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a computer implemented method of controlling a positive airway pressure device (109) for providing ventilation support therapy, wherein the positive airway pressure device (109) is configured to deliver pressurized air to a subject, during subject inspiration and expiration, according to a therapeutic pressure protocol. The method comprises receiving (302) physiological data from a physiological sensor arrangement, wherein the physiological data comprises chest movement data and abdominal movement data; running a detection algorithm configured to determine an expiration pressure burden based on the chest movement data and abdominal movement data, perform a comparison of said chest movement and abdominal movement data and determine (304) whether the expiration burden is indicative of hyperinflation based on the comparison; running (306) a pressure adjustment algorithm in response to said determination of hyperinflation, wherein the pressure adjustment algorithm is configured to generate a pressure adjustment instruction for adjusting the therapeutic pressure protocol based on the determined expiration pressure burden; and outputting the pressure adjustment instruction to adjust the therapeutic pressure protocol based on the determined expiration pressure burden. In another aspect, the invention provides a ventilation support system.