초록 ▼

The present disclosure pertains to an exhalation valve system (10) configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject (12). In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more of a pressure generator (14), a subject interface (16), one or more sensors (18), one or more processors (20),

The present disclosure pertains to an exhalation valve system (10) configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject (12). In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more of a pressure generator (14), a subject interface (16), one or more sensors (18), one or more processors (20), electronic storage (22), user interface (23), and/or other components. The system is configured to adjust a rebreathing level of the subject based on detected occurrences of disordered breathing events. By rebreathing exhaled air (and/or other breathable gas) a subject may minimize and/or prevent central sleep apneas. The system monitors the breathing of the subject to detect occurrences of respiratory events related to central sleep apnea. The system monitors accumulated retrograde breathing and adjusts the volume of exhaled rebreathing and/or other system settings affecting the subject's breathing. Through these adjustments, the system may prevent and/or reduce respiratory events related to central sleep apnea.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An exhalation valve system configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject. the system comprising: a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;a subject interface comprising a conduit configured to communi

1. An exhalation valve system configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject. the system comprising: a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;a subject interface comprising a conduit configured to communicate the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, and an exhalation port configured to place an interior of the subject interface in communication with an exterior of the subject interface,a valve, coupled to the exhalation port of the subject interface configured to selectively control flow through the exhalation port, the valve comprising a pressure chamber having flexible walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the pressure generator via a pressurization control line that is separate from the conduit, wherein gas from the pressure generator conducted to the valve by the pressurization control line causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the valve. the exhalation port, or the conduit, the valve operating in a first mode in which the exhalation port is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the exhalation port is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode; andwherein the valve is coupled to the pressurization control line at a first end of the valve and coupled to the exhalation port at a second opposite end of the valve, the pressurization control line affecting the volume of the pressure chamber;a flow component configured to adapt the valve to the exhalation port, the flow component being configured to removably couple with the exhalation port and the valve to form a flow path between the exhalation port and the valve;one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; andone or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a disordered breathing event detection module configured to detect the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals of the sensors; anda control module configured to control operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode based on detections by the disordered breathing event detection module, wherein the control module is configured to cause movement of the flexible walls and thereby cause the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or (ii) contract such that the valve operates in the first mode. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode by placing the valve in the second mode responsive to a detection by the disordered breathing event detection module of the onset of a disordered breathing event such that during exhalation substantially no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the valve. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressurization control line is coupled to the pressure generator separately from the subject interface, and wherein the valve is controlled to operate in the first mode and the second mode by a control flow of gas generated by the pressure generator. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow component includes one or more of an elbow-shaped tube component or a cylindrical tube component and forms an orifice configured to conduct gas to the valve. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises an exhalation chamber, wherein the pressure chamber is positioned inside the exhalation chamber, and wherein the pressure chamber is configured to expand and contract to block or expose an orifice in the exhalation chamber to facilitate gas flow through the exhalation chamber but not the pressure chamber. 6. The system of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode by placing the valve in the second mode responsive to a detection by the disordered breathing event detection module of the onset of a disordered breathing event such that during exhalation no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the valve. 7. A method of controlling, gas flow during exhalation of a subject, the method being performed by a system that includes a pressure generator, a subject interface, one or more sensors, a flow component, and one or more processors, the method comprising: generating, with the pressure generator, a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject with a conduit of the subject interface;providing fluid communication between an interior of the subject interface and an exterior of the subject interface through an exhalation port of the subject interface, the exhalation port positioned between the pressure generator and the airway;generating, with the one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;detecting, with the one or more processors, the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals;controlling, the one or more processors, flow through the exhalation port with a valve coupled to the exhalation port of the subject interface, the valve comprising a pressure chamber having flexible walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the pressure generator via a pressurization control line that is separate from the conduit, wherein gas from the pressure generator conducted to the valve by the pressurization control line causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the valve, the exhalation port, or the conduit, wherein such control includes causing the valve to switch between a first mode in which the exhalation port is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the exhalation port is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode, wherein such control comprises switching operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode based on detections of the onset of disordered breathing events, wherein controlling the flow through the exhalation port comprises causing movement of the flexible walls and thereby causing the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or (ii) contract such that the valve operates in the first mode;coupling the valve to the pressure generator with the pressurization control line at a first end of the valve and coupling the valve to the exhalation port at a second opposite end of the valve, the pressurization control line affecting the volume of the pressure chamber; andadapting the valve to the exhalation port with the flow component, the flow component configured to removably couple with the exhalation port and the valve to form a flow path between the exhalation port and the valve. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode by placing the valve in the second mode responsive to a detection of the onset of a disordered breathing event, by the one or more processors, such that during exhalation substantially no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the valve. 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling the valve to operate in the first mode and the second mode with a control flow of gas generated by the pressure generator, wherein the control flow of gas from the pressure generator is controlled by the processor. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the flow component includes one or more of an elbow-shaped tube component or a cylindrical tube component and forms an orifice configured to conduct gas to the valve. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the valve further comprises an exhalation chamber, wherein the pressure chamber is positioned inside the exhalation chamber, and wherein the pressure chamber is configured to expand and contract to block or expose an orifice in the exhalation chamber to facilitate gas flow through the exhalation chamber but not the pressure chamber. 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode by placing the valve in the second mode responsive to a detection of the onset of a disordered breathing event, by the one or more processors, such that during exhalation no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the valve. 13. An exhalation valve system configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject, the system comprising: means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject;means for providing fluid communication between an interior of the means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject and an exterior of the means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject;means for generating output signals conveying information related to one or more vas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;means for detecting the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals;means for controlling flow through the means for interior/exterior communication with means for selectively controlling flow coupled to the means for interior/exterior communication, the means for selectively controlling flow comprising a pressure chamber having one or more movable walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas via means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating that is separate from the means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, wherein gas from the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas conducted to the means for controlling flow through the means for interior/exterior communication through the means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the means for selectively controlling flow, the means for interior/exterior communication, or the means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, wherein such control includes causing the means for selectively controlling flow to switch between a first mode in which the means for interior/exterior communication is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the means for interior/exterior communication is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode, wherein such control comprises switching operation of the means for selectively controlling flow between the first mode and the second mode based on detections of the onset of disordered breathing events, wherein controlling the flow through the exhalation port comprises causing movement of the flexible walls and thereby causing the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or (ii) contract such that the valve operates in the first mode;means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating at a first end of the means for selectively controlling flow, and means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for providing fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject at a second opposite end of the means for selectively controlling flow, the means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating at a first end of the means for selectively controlling flow affecting the volume of the pressure chamber; andmeans for adapting the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for interior/exterior communication, the means for adapting configured to removably couple with the means for interior/exterior communication and the means for selectively controlling flow to form a flow path between the means for interior/exterior communication and the means for selectively controlling flow. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for controlling operation of the means for selectively controlling flow between the first mode and the second mode places the means for selectively controlling flow in the second mode responsive to a detection of the onset of a disordered breathing event such that during exhalation substantially no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the means for selectively controlling flow. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for controlling controls the means for selectively controlling flow to operate in the first mode and the second mode with a control flow of gas generated by the means for generating. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for adapting includes one or more of an elbow-shaped tube component or a cylindrical tube component and forms an orifice configured to conduct gas to the valve. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for selectively controlling flow further comprises an exhalation chamber, wherein the pressure chamber is positioned inside the exhalation chamber, and wherein the pressure chamber is configured to expand and contract to block or expose an orifice in the exhalation chamber to facilitate gas flow through the exhalation chamber but not the pressure chamber. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for controlling operation of the means for selectively controlling flow between the first mode and the second mode places the means for selectively controlling flow in the second mode responsive to a detection of the onset of a disordered breathing event such that during exhalation no gas is communicated from the airway of the subject through the means for selectively controlling flow. 19. An exhalation valve system configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject, the system comprising: a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;a subject interface comprising a conduit configured to communicate the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, and an exhalation port configured to place an interior of the subject interface in communication with an exterior of the subject interface;a valve, coupled to the exhalation port of the subject interface configured to selectively control flow through the exhalation port, the valve comprising a pressure chamber having flexible walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the pressure generator via a pressurization control line that is separate from the conduit, wherein gas from the pressure generator conducted to the valve by the pressurization control line causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the valve, the exhalation port, or the conduit, the valve operating in a first mode in which the exhalation port is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the exhalation port is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode; andwherein the valve further comprises a variable leak adjustment disk configured to control gas leakage from the subject interface via one or more leak orifices formed in the leak adjustment disk, the one or more leak orifices configured to be aligned with corresponding orifices in a housing of the valve;a flow component configured to adapt the valve to the exhalation port, the flow component being configured to removably couple with the exhalation port and the valve to form a flow path between the exhalation port and the valve;one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; andone or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a disordered breathing event detection module configured to detect the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals of the sensors; anda control module configured to control operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode based on detections by the disordered breathing event detection module, wherein the control module is configured to cause movement of the flexible walls and thereby cause the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or (ii) contract such that the valve operates in the first mode. 20. A method of controlling gas flow during exhalation of a subject, the method being performed by a system that includes a pressure generator, a subject interface, one or more sensors, a flow component, and one or more processors, the method comprising: generating, with the pressure generator, a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject with a conduit of the subject interface;providing fluid communication between an interior of the subject interface and an exterior of the subject interface through an exhalation port of the subject interface, the exhalation port positioned between the pressure generator and the airway;generating, with the one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;detecting, with the one or more processors, the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals;controlling, by the one or more processors, flow through the exhalation port with a valve coupled to the exhalation port of the subject interface, the valve comprising, a pressure chamber having flexible walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the pressure generator via a pressurization control line that is separate from the conduit, wherein gas from the pressure generator conducted to the valve by the pressurization control line causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the valve, the exhalation port, or the conduit, wherein such control includes causing the valve to switch between a first mode in which the exhalation port is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the exhalation port is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode, wherein such control comprises switching operation of the valve between the first mode and the second mode based on detections of the onset of disordered breathing events, wherein controlling the flow through the exhalation port comprises causing movement of the flexible walls and thereby causing the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or (ii) contract such that the valve operates in the first mode;controlling leak from the subject interface with a variable leak adjustment disk of the valve, the variable leak adjustment disk configured to control gas leakage from the subject interface via one or more leak orifices formed in the leak adjustment disk, the one or more leak orifices configured to be aligned with corresponding orifices in a housing of the valve; andadapting the valve to the exhalation port with the flow component, the flow component configured to removably couple with the exhalation port and the valve to form a flow path between the exhalation port and the valve. 21. An exhalation valve system configured to control gas flow during exhalation of a subject, the system comprising: means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject;means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable s to the airway of the subject;means for providing fluid communication between an interior of the means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject and an exterior of the means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject;means for generating output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;means for detecting the onset of a disordered breathing event, wherein the onset of the disordered breathing event is detected based on the output signals;means for controlling flow through the means for interior/exterior communication with means for selectively controlling flow coupled to the means for interior/exterior communication,. the means for selectively controlling flow comprising a pressure chamber having one or more movable walls, the pressure chamber comprising a hollow area in fluid communication with the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas via means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating that is separate from the means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, wherein gas from the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas conducted to the means for controlling flow through the means for interior/exterior communication through the means for coupling the means for selectively controlling flow to the means for generating causes movement of the flexible walls to change a volume of the pressure chamber but does not escape the pressure chamber through the means for selectively controlling flow, the means for interior/exterior communication, or the means for delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject, wherein such control includes causing the means for selectively controlling flow to switch between a first mode in which the means for interior/exterior communication is opened to permit gas flow from the airway of the subject during exhalation, and a second mode in which flow through the means for interior/exterior communication is restricted with respect to the flow in the first mode, wherein such control comprises switching operation of the means for selectively controlling flow between the first mode and the second mode based on detections of the onset of disordered breathing events, wherein controlling the flow through the exhalation port comprises causing movement of the flexible walls and thereby causing the volume of the pressure chamber to (i) expand such that the valve operates in the second mode or GO contract such that the valve operates in the first mode; andmeans for adapting the means for selectively controlling, flow to the means for interior,/exterior communication, the means for adapting configured to removably couple with the means for interior/exterior communication and the means for selectively controlling flow to form a flow path between the means for interior/exterior communication and the means for selectively controlling flow;wherein the means for selectively controlling flow further comprises a variable leak adjustment disk configured to control gas leakage from the means for interior/exterior communication via one or more leak orifices formed in the leak adjustment disk, the one or more leak orifices configured to be aligned with corresponding orifices in a housing of the means for selectively controlling flow.