Bilevel respiratory therapy system, controller and method
Inventors
Rapoport, David M. • Whiting, David Robin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12558503-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
A respiratory therapy system is configured to supply breathing gases to a patient and comprises a controller configured to control the pressure of breathable gas delivered to the patient. The system can control the flow of breathable gas to the patient taking into account whether or not a breath is detected, and whether or not the patient is awake or asleep. The system is configured to: detect when the patient is inhaling and to control the flow generator to deliver breathable gas at an inspiration pressure (IPAP), detect when the patient is exhaling and to control the flow generator to deliver breathable gas at an expiration pressure (EPAP), the EPAP being lower than the IPAP, and detect when the patient is at least one of awake and/or asleep. The system is also configured to receive or generate a back-up time related variable which is compared with a time related variable of at least a portion of a breath of the patient such that the breathable gas delivered to the patient is automatically controlled at IPAP, if inspiration is not detected in accordance with the back-up time related variable. The back-up time related variable may be a rate or duration for example. The delivery of breathable gas to the patient is further controlled if inspiration is not detected in accordance with the back-up time related variable and the system detects that the patient is awake. For example, if the patient is awake, the system may not automatically switch to IPAP, even if a breath is not detected within a predetermined time.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a respiratory therapy system configured to supply a breathable gas to a patient. The system includes a flow generator that delivers breathable gas via a patient interface, and one or more sensors that detect pressure or flow of gas from within the patient interface and generate corresponding signals. A controller receives and analyzes the signals to determine when the patient is inhaling or exhaling and to determine when the patient is awake or asleep.
Based on the inhaling/exhaling determinations, the controller controls delivery at an inspiration pressure (IPAP) when inhaling is detected and at an expiration pressure (EPAP) when exhaling is detected, where EPAP is lower than IPAP. The controller further receives or generates a back-up time related variable and compares it with a time related variable of at least a portion of a breath. When the controller determines the patient is not inhaling in accordance with the back-up time related variable, it automatically controls the flow generator to deliver a back-up breath with breathable gas delivered to the patient at IPAP for a first predetermined time.
The core improvement is conditioned back-up behavior based on awake status. The controller varies a maximum value (Dmax) for an amount of time breathable gas is provided at IPAP when the controller determines that the patient is awake, and the controller overrides delivery of the back-up breath when it is determined that the patient is awake. The described control includes using awake determination to alter or deactivate back-up behavior so that back-up delivery is prevented or modified during wake to address discomfort.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim (clm-00001) defines a single inventive concept with multiple inventive features: awake/asleep detection from pressure/flow signals, IPAP/EPAP pressure control with EPAP lower than IPAP, a back-up mechanism using a back-up time related variable compared to a time related variable of at least a portion of a breath, variation of an IPAP maximum duration value (Dmax) based on awake determination, and an override of back-up delivery when awake.
Awake/asleep and inhaling/exhaling detection from pressure or flow
A controller configured to receive and analyze signals from one or more sensors detecting a pressure or a flow of gas from within the patient interface to determine when the patient is inhaling or exhaling and to determine when the patient is awake or asleep.
Inspiration and expiration pressure control with EPAP lower than IPAP
The controller controls the flow generator to deliver an inspiration pressure (IPAP) when the controller determines that the patient is inhaling and to deliver an expiration pressure (EPAP) when the controller determines that the patient is exhaling, the EPAP being lower than the IPAP.
Back-up breath delivery triggered by comparison of breath time variables
The controller is configured to receive or generate a back-up time related variable, compare it with a time related variable of at least a portion of a breath, and automatically control the flow generator to deliver a back-up breath at IPAP for a first predetermined time when the controller determines that the patient is not inhaling in accordance with the back-up time related variable.
Awake-conditioned variation of maximum IPAP duration (Dmax)
The controller is configured to control the flow generator to vary a maximum value (Dmax) for an amount of time breathable gas is provided to the patient at IPAP when the controller determines that the patient is inhaling, wherein Dmax varies based on a determination by the controller that the patient is awake.
Override back-up breath delivery when awake
The controller is configured to override delivery of the back-up breath when it is determined by the controller that the patient is awake.
Across the independent claim, the system integrates sensor-based inhaling/exhaling detection and awake/asleep determination to control IPAP/EPAP delivery, adds a back-up breath mechanism based on a comparison of breath time variables, and modifies the back-up behavior by varying Dmax and overriding back-up delivery when awake.
Stated Advantages
Prevents or overrides delivery of the back-up breath when the patient is awake, thereby avoiding back-up discomfort during wake.
Documented Applications
A bilevel respiratory therapy system that uses sensor signals to detect inhalation/exhalation and awake/asleep state and controls IPAP/EPAP delivery with awake-conditioned back-up behavior.
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