Treatment of respiratory conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247019-B2
Application number	US-202117156018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jun 5, 2008
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

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 any 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; 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:
provide the high flow respiratory therapy to the patient by controlling 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, and
when the high flow respiratory therapy has ended, perform a process to reduce condensation in the conduit by controlling the blower to provide the pressurized flow of gas while the heater is off for at least a threshold period of time.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to control the blower to provide the pressurized flow of gas at an increased flow rate relative to a flow rate used to provide the high flow respiratory therapy.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to supply heat to the conduit.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to maintain a target temperature.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to heat gas within the conduit to a target temperature.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to control the blower to provide the pressurized flow of gas at a reduced flow rate relative to a flow rate used to provide the high flow respiratory therapy.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to supply heat to the conduit.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to maintain a target temperature.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to heat gas within the conduit to a target temperature.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to control the blower to provide the pressurized flow of gas at target flow rate that is within a threshold percentage of a flow rate used to provide the high flow respiratory therapy.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to supply heat to the conduit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to maintain a target temperature.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein, as part of the process, the controller is configured to further control the tube heating element to heat gas within the conduit to a target temperature.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the threshold percentage comprises a range from 50%-150% of the flow rate used to provide the high flow respiratory therapy.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end of the high flow respiratory therapy is detected by the controller based on manual input from a user indicating that the high flow respiratory therapy has ended and initiating the process.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end of the high flow respiratory therapy is automatically detected by the controller and the process is initiated based on manual input.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end of the high flow respiratory therapy is automatically detected by the controller and the process is initiated automatically by the controller.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold period of time comprises a predetermined duration for the process.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold period of time is determined dynamically by the controller during the process based, at least in part, on one or more of: the first temperature signal, the first humidity signal, the second temperature signal, and the flow signal.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold period of time is determined dynamically by the controller during the process based, at least in part, on a measured dew-point temperature.

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

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls operation of, at least, the blower, the heater, and the tube heating element to provide the high flow respiratory therapy so that:
a humidification range for the pressurized breathable gas provided to the pati

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61M16/0688

  by means of an adhesive · CPC title

• A61M16/0069

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

• A61M16/161

  with means for measuring the humidity · CPC title

• A61M2205/18

  with alarm · CPC title

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title