Method and apparatus for improving CPAP patient compliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9227032-B2
Application number	US-92175706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2006
Priority date	Jun 14, 2005
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A method of operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), wherein the device provides continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, includes applying a treatment pressure to a patient, monitoring the patient for speech output, generating a signal in response to detected speech of the patient, and, in response to the signal, reducing the treatment pressure applied to the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a continuous positive air pressure system (CPAP), the method comprising:
providing continuous positive airway pressure from a flow generator that includes an impeller, the provided continuous positive airway pressure provided to a patient interface that communicates the continuous positive airway pressure to at least one upper airway of a patient where the continuous positive airway pressure provided to the at least one upper airway acts to splint open the at least one upper airway, the patient interface being a full-face interface or nasal interface configured to engage with the face of the patient, the provided continuous positive airway pressure controllably set, by the flow generator, for at least a first treatment pressure of between 4 and 20 cmH 2 O;
detecting, via a sensor, sounds output by the patient while the continuous positive airway pressure is provided to the patient from the flow generator at the first treatment pressure;
generating a signal in response to the detected sounds output from the patient;
distinguishing, via at least one processor, indications of sounds of speech that are from the patient attempting to speak from among other sounds that are represented in the generated signal; and
reducing the continuous positive airway pressure by controllably setting, by the flow generator, to a second treatment pressure from the first treatment pressure in response to the distinguished indications from the patient to thereby facilitate speech by the patient while the flow generator is in use at the reduced second treatment pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous positive airway pressure is reduced to the second treatment pressure for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined period of time is between 5-60 seconds.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 5 seconds.

5. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising resetting the predetermined period of time every time a speech attempt is detected.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein distinguishing indications of sounds of speech includes monitoring expiration patterns of the patient that are indicative of speech.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein distinguishing indications of sounds of speech includes:
detecting pressure and/or flow signals by the device;
filtering the pressure and/or flow signals by removing characteristics that are indicative of snoring; and
analyzing the filtered pressure and/or flow signals.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein distinguishing indications of sounds of speech includes:
sensing sounds made by the patient; and
detecting an arousal state of the patient.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the distinguishing is based on monitoring sounds made by the patient within a predetermined time from the start of a therapy session.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the predetermined time is 2-60 seconds.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising disabling distinguishing indications of sounds of speech after the predetermined time from the start of the therapy session.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein indications of sounds of speech includes indications of humming by the patient.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein indications of sounds of speech includes vibrations that are indicative of speech.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the vibrations include vocal cord vibrations on the patient's neck.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein reducing the treatment pressure includes reducing the treatment pressure to 4 cmH 2 O.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the distinguishing includes detecting a flow derivative.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction to the second treatment pressure occurs prior to identification of a specific voice command issued by the patient.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising detecting the specific voice command within a predetermined period of time from the reduction to the second treatment pressure.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising increasing the provided continuous positive airway pressure to a third treatment pressure from the second treatment pressure after the predetermined period of time.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 60 seconds.

21. A method of operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), the method comprising:
supplying continuous positive airway pressure produced by a mechanical flow generator to a patient via a patient interface that communicates with at least one upper airway of a patient, the continuous positive airway pressure that is communicated to the at least one upper airway of the patient configured to splint open the at least one upper airway of the patient, the patient interface configured to engage with the face of the patient, the continuous positive airway pressure provided at a treatment pressure of between 4 and 20 cmH 2 O at a first level; and
while the continuous positive airway pressure is supplied from a flow generator to the patient via the patient interface at the first level:
monitoring the patient for an attempt at speech output;
generating a signal in response to the attempt at speech output from the patient; and
in response to said generated signal, decreasing the provided treatment pressure by controllably setting, by the flow generator, to a second level from the first level to thereby facilitate speech by the patient without the pressure being supplied at the first level.

22. The method according to claim 21 , furthering comprising:
while the provided treatment pressure is at the second level:
checking detected speech against one or more vocal commands programmed into the device;
recognizing a match between the detected speech and a vocal command; and
controlling a function of the device based on the vocal command.

23. The method according to claim 21 , wherein monitoring the patient includes compensating for changes in speech characteristics due to application of the continuous positive airway pressure provided at the treatment pressure at the first level.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein compensating for changes in speech characteristics includes detecting speech characteristics which are less affected by the application of treatment pressure.

25. A device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), the device comprising:
a flow generator that includes an impeller, the flow generator configured to provide, by using the impeller, continuous positive airway pressure at a set treatment pressure that is at a first level;
a patient interface structured to interface with at least one upper airway of a patient to deliver the continuously provided pressurized air to the at least one upper airway the patient interface configured to engage with the face of the patient, the patient interface being a full-face interface or nasal interface, the delivered continuously provided pressurized air to splint open the at least one upper airway;
a sensor configured to detect sounds by the patient when the patient interface is engaged to the face of the patient and the continuous positive airway pressure is being provided; and
a controller, coupled to the se

Assignees

• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Richard Ron
• Mullins Rohan
• Phuah Chee Keong
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Barnes Adrian
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley
• Goeldi Benriah
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Richard Ron
• Mullins Rohan
• Phuah Chee Keong
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Barnes Adrian
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley
• Goeldi Benriah

Classifications

• A61M16/0051 Primary

  with alarm devices · CPC title

• A61M16/0066 Primary

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M2016/0021

  with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

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

• A61M16/0069 Primary

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