Respiratory Therapy Interface Identification From Pressure-Flow Curves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing respiratory therapy systems face challenges in accurately identifying components such as patient interfaces and estimating therapy parameters, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity and cost, while also creating compatibility issues and environmental waste.

Innovation Solution

The technology employs automated characterization of respiratory therapy systems through statistical analysis of sensor signals, allowing for accurate identification of patient interfaces and estimation of leak flow rates, adjusting therapy properties based on these characterizations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If automated characterization through statistical analysis of sensor signals is implemented, then component identification accuracy and parameter estimation accuracy improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The respiratory therapy system performs self-characterization by automatically analyzing sensor signals to identify components and estimate parameters without requiring manual input or external calibration, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of manual configuration systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical identification methods with automated statistical analysis of sensor signals, substituting physical calibration procedures with computational algorithms that process pressure and flow rate data to identify patient interfaces and estimate leak flow rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional component identification methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy parameter estimation reliabilityVSAvoidcharacterization system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors sensor signals during therapy and uses statistical analysis to provide feedback on component identification and parameter estimation, improving reliability through ongoing verification and adjustment rather than one-time manual calibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The characterization system serves multiple functions simultaneously: identifying patient interface type, estimating leak flow rates, and validating therapy parameters, thereby improving overall system reliability without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If manual component identification is performed, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and therapy efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy setup efficiencyVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs component characterization and parameter estimation automatically during initial therapy setup and continues throughout treatment, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps and thereby improving productivity without requiring users to learn complex setup procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4729101A2Characterising systems for respiratory therapy
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 RESMED PTY LTD
  • EP4729101A2 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4729101A2 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4729101A2 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Disclosed is a processor readable medium configured with program instructions for controlling one or more processors to execute a method of operating a respiratory treatment apparatus in a therapy system. The method comprises: accessing data representing a measured pressure of a flow of air generated by the respiratory treatment apparatus to a patient interface, the measured pressure generated using a pressure transducer; accessing data representing a measured flow rate of the flow of air, the measured flow rate generated using a flow rate transducer; and analysing, in a controller, the measured pressure and the measured flow rate to characterize the therapy system , wherein the analysing comprises determining parameters that best fit a template curve to a plurality of points, each point comprising: (a) a pressure value, and (b) a flow rate value at the pressure value.