Flow generator with patient reminder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293125-B2
Application number	US-65996310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2010
Priority date	Jun 20, 2003
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A flow generator and humidifier construction is described, including a flow generator construction adapted to reduce noise output compared to known flow generators of comparable size. The flow generator includes a chassis forming first and second muffler volumes and a venturi-shaped connection portion, and a metal/polymer composite material blower enclosure which suppresses noise from the blower. The flow generator may be programmed to include a reminder system including a menu from which the user may request a reminder to take specific action, e.g., replace a component, call a physician, and/or enter patient data card, etc.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flow generator including a processor programmed to control the flow generator to deliver breathable gas to a patient, a timer, user input means including at least first and second finger operated input devices, a display, and a casing with a connecting nozzle extending from a vertical face thereof, said processor being programmed to receive a reminder request input based on user operation of the user input means and to generate a reminder display on the flow generator at a time specified in said reminder request input,
wherein said processor is further programmed to:
generate a reminder event on the display,
cause a reminder menu to be displayed on the display when the first and second finger operated input devices are held for a period of time, the reminder menu facilitating setting of a reminder event,
cancel a reminder request upon receiving a cancellation input from said user input means, and
clear a generated reminder event upon receiving a clearing input from the user input means,

wherein the flow generator is removably connectable to a humidifier that includes a base unit and a water container, by virtue of the connecting nozzle of the flow generator removably sealingly connecting to an air port at an inlet of the base unit of the humidifier,
the base unit and the water container being configured to create a sealed air path upon positioning the water container at least partly within the base unit and pivoting a lid of the base unit to a closed position, the sealed air path extending at least through the air port at the inlet of the base unit through the water container and to an outlet of the base unit, and
the sealed air path originating at the flow generator and being adapted to convey breathable gas from the flow generator to the patient when the flow generator and the humidifier are connected to one another and are in use.

2. A flow generator according to claim 1 , wherein the generated reminder event relates to one or more of a mask replacement reminder, a data capture reminder, a filter replacement reminder and a reminder to contact a health care professional.

3. A flow generator according to claim 1 , wherein said processor is programmed to generate on the display a reminder event indicating that an apparatus or device downstream of the flow generator should be replaced.

4. A flow generator for delivering breathable gas to a patient, including a processor, a timer, a user input device, a casing with a connecting nozzle extending from a vertical face thereof, and a display, said processor being programmed to receive a reminder request input using said user input device and to show on the display of the flow generator a reminder for a user or the patient to take a specific action at a date and/or time specified in said reminder request input, and said processor being further programmed to clear the reminder from the display when the specific action has been taken,
wherein the flow generator is removably connectable to a humidifier that includes a base unit and a water container, by virtue of the connecting nozzle of the flow generator removably sealingly connecting to an air port at an inlet of the base unit of the humidifier,
the base unit and the water container being configured to create a sealed air path upon positioning the water container at least partly within the base unit and pivoting a lid of the base unit to a closed position, the sealed air path extending at least through the air port at the inlet of the base unit through the water container and to an outlet of the base unit, and
the sealed air path originating at the flow generator and being adapted to convey breathable gas from the flow generator to the patient when the flow generator and the humidifier are connected to one another and are in use.

5. The flow generator of claim 4 , wherein the user input device comprises at least one key.

6. The flow generator of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further programmed to clear the reminder from the display when the at least one key is pressed.

7. The flow generator of claim 4 , wherein the flow generator includes a socket structured to receive a data card, and wherein the reminder is cleared when the specific action has been taken.

8. An apparatus for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the apparatus comprising:
a CPAP device including a display and a casing with a connecting nozzle extending from a vertical face thereof, said CPAP device being constructed and arranged to pressurize gas to provide CPAP therapy for a patient;
at least one input device associated with the display;
a processor programmed to receive first input from the at least one input device to set one or more CPAP operating parameters of the CPAP device relating to CPAP therapy, and the processor being further programmed to receive second input from the at least one input device to specify a time to show on the display at least one reminder message to the patient to replace the patient's respiratory mask, the second input being providable in connection with a hidden menu-driven display that is not intuitively accessible by the patient, the hidden display being accessible only from a main menu-driven display that is intuitively accessible by the patient; and
a humidifier configured to humidify the pressurized gas from the CPAP device when providing CPAP therapy for the patient, the humidifier comprising a base unit and a water container,
wherein the humidifier and the CPAP device are removably sealingly connectable to one another by virtue of the connecting nozzle connecting to an air port at an inlet of the base unit of the humidifier,
the base unit and the water container being configured to create a sealed air path upon positioning the water container at least partly within the base unit and pivoting a lid of the base unit to a closed position, the sealed air path extending at least through the air port at the inlet of the base unit through the water container and to an outlet of the base unit, and
the sealed air path originating at the CPAP device and being adapted to convey the pressurized gas from the CPAP device to the patient when the CPAP device and the humidifier are connected to one another and are in use.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to display a message on the display when a reminder is due, the message remaining on the display when the CPAP device is not providing CPAP therapy.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each said reminder message is clearable when a patient presses the at least one input device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one input device includes at least two keys, and wherein the reminder message is settable using a reminder menu that is enterable when a user holds the at least two keys for a period of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the period of time is at least three seconds in duration.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is programmed to specify a day a reminder is due.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to display a customized reminder message, in addition to a reminder message to replace the patient's respiratory mask.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one user input device comprises at least one key.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the CPAP device includes a slot structured to receive a data card, and wherein the reminder is cleared when the data card has been inserted into the slot.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein when the reminder messag

Assignees

• Jeha Simone Marie
• Murray Andrew Charles
• Payne Mark John
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Jeha Simone Marie
• Murray Andrew Charles
• Payne Mark John

Classifications

• A61M16/0057

  Pumps therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M2205/14

  Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title