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A variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteri

A variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.

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1. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus for treatment of a patient with a sleeping disorder, the apparatus including a blower for supplying breathable to the patient, comprising: a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet;a motor;a motor drive shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end def

1. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus for treatment of a patient with a sleeping disorder, the apparatus including a blower for supplying breathable to the patient, comprising: a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet;a motor;a motor drive shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end defining a rotational axis, said first and second shaft ends extending from opposite sides of the motor;a first impeller secured to the first shaft end, said first impeller including a first gas intake, said gas inlet axially aligned along said rotational axis with the first impeller; anda second impeller secured to the second shaft end, said second impeller including a second gas intake, said first and second impellers being disposed axially between said gas inlet and said gas outlet to cooperatively pressurize gas flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet, wherein said second gas intake surrounds said second shaft end and said second gas intake is positioned along said rotational axis between said first and second impellers, and further wherein said motor is positioned between the first and second impellers. 2. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing to support said motor and to at least partially define the gas flow path radially adjacent to said motor to guide gas from said first impeller to said second impeller. 3. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus for treatment of a patient with a sleeping disorder, the apparatus including a blower comprising: a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet;a motor;a motor drive shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end defining a rotational axis, said first shaft end and said second shaft end extending from opposite sides of said motor;a first impeller coupled to said first shaft end, said first impeller including a first gas intake, said gas inlet axially aligned along said rotational axis with said first impeller;a second impeller secured to said second shaft end, said second impeller including a second gas intake, said first and second gas intakes being constructed to receive gas in a common direction along said rotational axis, said first and second impellers being axially disposed between said gas inlet and said gas outlet to cooperatively pressurize gas flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet; anda casing to support said motor and to at least partially define the gas flow path adjacent to said motor to guide gas from said first impeller to said second impeller, wherein said casing comprises first and second casing halves that are fastened to one another. 4. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein an internal surface of said casing at least partially defines the gas flow path. 5. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said internal surface of said casing is formed adjacent a motor stator of said motor so as to define the gas flow path between said motor stator and said internal surface. 6. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus for treatment of a patient with a sleeping disorder, the apparatus including a blower comprising: a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet;a motor;a shaft in communication with said motor, said shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end defining a rotational axis;a first impeller secured to said first shaft end, said first impeller including a first gas intake;a second impeller coupled to said second shaft end, said second impeller including a second gas intake, said first and second impellers being disposed between said gas inlet and said gas outlet to cooperatively pressurize gas flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet; anda damping sleeve that at least partially surrounds said motor and at least partially defines said gas flow path. 7. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said damping sleeve comprises first and second halves. 8. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said damping sleeve is made of silicone, foam, rubber and/or polyurethane. 9. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas flow path is defined in part by a spiral or helical path from said first impeller to said second impeller. 10. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second impellers comprises scalloped edges. 11. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first impeller is configured for rotation within a first volute defined adjacent a first end of said casing. 12. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first endcap adjacent said first impeller and a second endcap adjacent said second impeller, wherein said gas flow path is at least partially defined between said first and second endcaps. 13. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first endcap includes said first gas intake in the form of a central inlet aperture leading to said first impeller. 14. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing comprises said gas outlet to direct the gas along a path that is substantially tangential to said second impeller. 15. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 11, and further comprising a first end cap adjacent said first impeller, and wherein said first endcap and a portion of a motor stator of said motor define said first volute. 16. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second impeller is configured for rotation within a second volute. 17. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second volute is defined between a contoured plate provided to a stator of said motor and an inside surface of a second endcap forming a part of said second volute. 18. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing is made of aluminum. 19. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second impellers are configured for rotation in the same direction. 20. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second impellers are configured for rotation in opposite directions. 21. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second impellers comprise blades configured to direct the gas in a common direction. 22. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second impellers comprise blades configured to direct the gas in opposite directions. 23. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is driven to achieve desired IPAP (inspiratory positive airway pressure) and EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure) pressures. 24. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a patient interface including a mask. 25. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the CPAP/NIPPV apparatus is pre-set to deliver inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) during an inspiratory phase of the patient's breathing cycle, and to deliver expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) during an expiration phase of the patient's respiratory cycle. 26. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the IPAP is greater than the EPAP. 27. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blower is configured to generate pressures in the range of about 4 cm H2O to 28 cm H2O at flow rates of up to of about 180 L/min as measured at a patient interface. 28. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the motor is positioned between the impellers. 29. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second gas intake is structured to receive gas from said first impeller. 30. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second impellers are arranged in series to serially pressurize gas flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet. 31. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor is a variable speed motor. 32. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second casing halves defines only a partial cross section of the gas flow path and the partial cross sections, when combined, define a full cross section of the gas flow path. 33. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing is generally bisected in a plane that is generally parallel to said rotational axis. 34. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second casing halves have generally semi-circular shapes. 35. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second casing halves, when combined, fully surround and support said motor between them. 36. The CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second gas intake surrounds said second shaft end and said second gas intake is positioned along said rotational axis between said first and second impellers. 37. The CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second gas intake surrounds said second shaft end and said second gas intake is positioned along said rotational axis between said first and second impellers. 38. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gas flow path between said inlet and said outlet is provided internally to said casing. 39. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said gas flow path between said inlet and said the outlet is provided internally to said casing. 40. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second intake is provided internally to said casing. 41. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gas flow path is positioned between said motor and an interior of said casing where said motor is located so that gas is directed to pass across said motor. 42. A CPAP/NIPPV apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second gas intakes are constructed to receive gas in a same direction along said rotational axis.