Treatment of respiratory conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10806889-B2
Application number	US-201916259743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 5, 2008
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A device (102) provides respiratory treatment for SDB (including mild OSA) and other respiratory conditions. A flow generator warms and humidifies gas at controlled flow levels. For example, the device (102) delivers breathable gas to the upper airway at flow rates of about 10-35 Liters/minute. Levels of flow rate, temperature and/or humidification of the device may be automatically adjusted in response to the detection of SDB events. The device may also automatically deliver adjustments of any of the levels in accordance with detected phases of respiratory cycles. In some embodiments, the device automatically delivers distinct levels to either of the nares based on independent control of flow to each nare. A warm-up procedure controls temperature and humidity at a desired target during a ramp-up of flow to the set therapy level. A cool-down procedure controls temperature above the dewpoint to avoid condensation internal to the device and patient interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for providing high flow respiratory therapy to a patient, the system comprising:
a nasal interface configured to deliver a flow of pressurized breathable gas to the patient, the nasal interface comprising:
a pair of nasal inserts to be inserted into the nares of the patient without sealing against the nares; and
an inlet through which the pressurized breathable gas is received;

a conduit to provide the flow of pressurized breathable gas to the nasal interface, the conduit comprising:
a distal end portion configured to be connected to a supply of pressurized breathable gas;
a proximal end portion configured to be connected to the inlet of the nasal interface;
a tube heating element to heat gas within the conduit; and
a set of conduit sensors located at the proximal end portion of the conduit, the set of conduit sensors comprising (i) a first temperature sensor to generate a first temperature signal indicating a temperature of the gas within the conduit and (ii) a first humidity sensor to generate a first humidity signal indicating a level of humidification in the gas within the conduit; and

a respiratory treatment device to generate the flow of pressurized breathable gas to provide high flow respiratory therapy to the patient, the respiratory treatment device comprising:
a housing;
a blower positioned within the housing to draw air from an ambient environment around the housing and to generate a pressurized flow of gas, the blower including an impeller that generates the pressurized flow of gas;
a set of device sensors located proximate to the blower within the housing, the set of device sensors comprising (i) a second temperature sensor to generate a second temperature signal indicating a temperature of the pressurized flow of gas and (ii) a flow sensor to generate a flow signal indicating a flow rate for the pressurized flow of gas;
a humidifier to humidify the pressurized flow of gas, the humidifier comprising (i) an inlet to receive the pressurized flow of gas, (ii) a water reservoir to hold a volume of water and through which the pressurized flow of gas passes to add humidification, (iii) a heater to warm the water contained in the water reservoir, and (iv) an outlet through which the pressurized flow of gas with humidification is output as the pressurized breathable gas to be delivered to the patient via the conduit and the nasal interface;
an air inlet in the housing through which the blower draws the air from the ambient environment;
a gas supply that is coupled to the air inlet upstream of the blower, the gas supply supplying supplemental gas to the blower so that the supplemental gas is mixed in the blower by the impeller with the air from the ambient environment, wherein the pressurized flow of gas generated by the blower comprises the supplemental gas mixed with the ambient air by the impeller; and
a controller to control operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element to provide high flow therapy to the patient, the controller being configured to control the operation of the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element based on, at least, the first temperature signal, the first humidity signal, the second temperature signal, and the flow signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental gas comprises oxygen.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a humidification range for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes up to 100% humidification.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a range of flow rates for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes up to 50 liters/minute.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a range of flow rates for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes a top flow rate that exceeds 50 liters/minute.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a humidification range for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes up to 100% humidification, and
the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a range of flow rates for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes up to 50 liters/minute.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a humidification range for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes up to 100% humidification, and
the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element so that a range of flow rates for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the patient includes a top flow rate that exceeds 50 liters/minute.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of device sensors further comprise a second humidity sensor to generate a second humidity signal indicating a level of humidification for the pressurized flow of gas, and
the controller is further configured to control operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element additionally based on, at least, the second humidity signal.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of device sensors further comprise a pressure sensor to generate a pressure signal indicating a level of pressure for the pressurized flow of gas, and
the controller is further configured to control operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element additionally based on, at least, the pressure signal.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of device sensors further comprise (i) a second humidity sensor to generate a second humidity signal indicating a level of humidification for the pressurized flow of gas and (ii) a pressure sensor to generate a pressure signal indicating a level of pressure for the pressurized flow of gas, and
the controller is further configured to control operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element additionally based on, at least, the second humidity signal and the pressure signal.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of conduit sensors further comprise a pressure sensor to generate a pressure signal indicating a level of pressure for the pressurized breathable gas within the conduit, and
the controller is further configured to control operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element additionally based on, at least, the pressure signal.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respiratory therapy device further comprises:
a third temperature sensor positioned at or around the heater to generate a third temperature signal indicating a temperature of the heater,
wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of, at least, the heater additionally based on, at least, the third temperature signal.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is fluidly connected to respiratory therapy device to receive the pressurized breathable gas output from the humidifier.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for connecting the inlet to the conduit.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for connecting the conduit to the re

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Sweeney Peter John
• Benjafield Adam Vivian
• Farrugia Steven Paul
• Heidmann Dieter
• Richards Glenn
• Klasek Paul Jan

Classifications

• A61M16/0666

  Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02) · CPC title

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M2016/0027

  pressure meter · CPC title

• A61M16/0069

  the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation · CPC title