An apparatus for improving patient comfort during CPAP therapy includes a venting arrangement arranged to reduce expiratory pressure. A mask system for providing CPAP therapy to a patient includes a mask; a flow generator to provide a flow of pressurized breathable gas; a tube to connect the mask to
An apparatus for improving patient comfort during CPAP therapy includes a venting arrangement arranged to reduce expiratory pressure. A mask system for providing CPAP therapy to a patient includes a mask; a flow generator to provide a flow of pressurized breathable gas; a tube to connect the mask to the flow generator; and a venting arrangement arranged to reduce expiratory pressure.
대표청구항▼
1. A patient interface for improving patient comfort during CPAP therapy, the patient interface comprising: a cushion defining a chamber and adapted to sealingly engage a patient's face; anda venting arrangement defining at least a portion of an expiratory flow path and comprising a) an opening in t
1. A patient interface for improving patient comfort during CPAP therapy, the patient interface comprising: a cushion defining a chamber and adapted to sealingly engage a patient's face; anda venting arrangement defining at least a portion of an expiratory flow path and comprising a) an opening in the chamber configured to allow communication between an interior of the patient interface and an exterior of the patient interface and b) a moveable portion configured to adjust the expiratory flow path, the movable portion being arranged to reduce expiratory pressure in the chamber to a level below a predetermined CPAP therapy pressure at a first rate and increase the reduced expiratory pressure in the chamber back up to them CPAP therapy pressure at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate. 2. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a normally closed demand valve that is openable responsive to patient inhalation. 3. The patient interface according to claim 2, wherein the venting arrangement further comprises a normally closed pressure relief valve that is openable responsive to patient exhalation. 4. The patient interface according to claim 3, wherein the venting arrangement further comprises an interlocking arrangement connecting the demand valve and the pressure relief valve such that only one of the demand valve and the pressure relief valve can be opened at one time. 5. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a piston in the patient interface configured to change a volume of the patient interface during patient inhalation and expiration. 6. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a plurality of vents in the patient interface, wherein each vent is openable at a different expiratory pressure. 7. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a flow diverter in a tube configured to deliver a flow of pressurised breathable gas, and the flow diverter is configured to divert flow away from the patient interface during patient expiration. 8. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a vent having openings of variable size. 9. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a vent having a plurality of openings, and at least some of the openings are closed during patient inhalation and open during patient expiration, or vice versa. 10. The patient interface according to claim 9, wherein the at least some openings are covered by memory material. 11. The patient interface according to claim 10, wherein the memory material is a foam or a memory alloy. 12. The patient interface according to claim 9, wherein the at least some openings are covered by a membrane comprising crosshatched elastic fibres. 13. The patient interface according to claim 9, wherein the at least some openings are covered by a thin, flexible plate. 14. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a variable inlet restriction provided in a tube configured to deliver a pressurised flow of breathable gas or in an inlet of a patient interface connected to the tube and configured to deliver the pressurized flow to the patient. 15. The patient interface according to claim 14, wherein the variable inlet restriction comprises a flexible membrane bladder in the tube or inlet, the flexible membrane bladder being connected to the expiratory flow of the patient to expand during patient expiration and restrict the tube or inlet. 16. The patient interface according to claim 15, wherein the tube or inlet comprises holes to permit the expiratory flow to leak from the flexible membrane bladder during passive patient expiration. 17. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a tube comprising an inner tube for patient inhalation and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube for patient exhalation. 18. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a regulator to alternately open first and second chambers, the first chamber being open during patient inhalation and closed during patient expiration, and the second chamber being closed during patient inhalation and open during patient expiration. 19. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement includes a demand valve configured to provide a constant leak of a pressurised flow of breathable gas. 20. The patient interface according to claim 19, wherein the demand valve comprises a diaphragm as a sensing element. 21. The patient interface according to claim 19, wherein the venting arrangement further comprises a one way vent. 22. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve. 23. The patient interface according to claim 22, wherein the first and second one-way valves are configured to provide a small leak of a pressurised flow of breathable gas. 24. The patient interface according to claim 22, wherein the first one-way valve is open and the second one-way valve is closed during patient inhalation. 25. The patient interface according to claim 22, wherein the first one-way valve is closed and the second one-way valve is open during patient exhalation. 26. The patient interface according to claim 22, wherein a loading element of the one-way valves comprises a spring. 27. The patient interface according to claim 26, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring. 28. The patient interface according to claim 26, wherein the spring comprises a tension spring. 29. The patient interface according to claim 26, further comprising an adjustment mechanism to adjust a force of the spring. 30. The patient interface according to claim 29, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a knob. 31. The patient interface according to claim 22, wherein a sensing element of at least one of the one-way valves comprises a taper. 32. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a positive end expiratory pressure valve that provides a constant leak of a pressurised flow of breathable gas. 33. A CPAP system configured to provide CPAP therapy to a patient, the CPAP system comprising: a flow generator configured to generate a flow of pressurised breathable gas;a patient interface according to claim 1; anda tube configured to connect the patient interface to the flow generator. 34. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement is arranged to provide a substantially sinusoidal pressure-time waveform of inspiratory and expiratory pressure. 35. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the moveable portion is a flexible plate that is movable with respect to the opening and is biased toward the opening, the flexible plate being adapted to prevent gas from flowing through the opening when the flexible plate is positioned against the opening. 36. The patient interface according to claim 35, wherein the flexible plate is configured to move away from the opening in response to a threshold inspiratory pressure, a velocity of the movement away from the opening being greater than a velocity of a return movement back toward the opening. 37. The patient interface according to claim 36, wherein the venting arrangement further comprises a pre-loaded spring biasing mechanism configured to bias the flexible plate toward the opening. 38. The patient interface according to claim 37, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a plurality of openings and at least some of the openings are closed during patient inhalation and open during patient expiration, or vice versa. 39. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement comprises a one-way damper. 40. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement is arranged to reduce the expiratory pressure to a predetermined pressure. 41. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined CPAP therapy pressure is great enough to splint a patient's upper airway open during sleep. 42. The patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the venting arrangement is configured to reduce the expiratory pressure during a period of active exhalation and increase the expiratory pressure during a period of passive exhalation. 43. An apparatus comprising the patient interface of claim 1, wherein the patient interface is configured to sealingly deliver of a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance of a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, and wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4 cm H2O to about 20 cm H2O above ambient air pressure throughout the patient's respiratory cycle while the patient is sleeping to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Richards Frederick M. ; Scheuermann Stephen J., Aerosol medication delivery facemask adapter.
Gruenke Roger A. (Overland Park KS) Trimble Russell L. (Overland Park KS), Inspiratory airway pressure system using constant pressure and measuring flow signals to determine airway patency.
Rapoport, David M.; Norman, Robert G., Method and apparatus for optimizing the continuous positive airway pressure for treating obstructive sleep apnea.
Wozniak John J. ; Robertson Michael C., Viscoelastic memory means and flow control valve and use thereof to produce a single-use, auto-destruct injection device.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.