Split-Night Sleep Diagnostic System

Abstract

A split-night sleep diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing and treating sleep apnea in a single night. The diagnostic system includes a blower, a respiratory interface and a conduit connected between the blower and the respiratory interface. Also included is a valve disposed along the conduit. The valve includes an aperture formed in the conduit between the blower and the respiratory interface, and a valve member movable between a first position partially occluding the conduit so that air flows through the aperture and a second position blocking the aperture so that continuous positive airway pressure is provided to a patient. Both diagnosis and titration can be performed using a single system at a single location over the course of a single night.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . A method for managing breathing assistance to a patient during a sleep session, comprising: 
 monitoring a patient's breathing at least once during a first portion of a sleep session, the first portion of the sleep session having a predetermined duration;    at the end of the predetermined duration of the first portion of the sleep session, automatically beginning to provide continuous positive airway pressure to the patient; and    continuing to provide continuous positive airway pressure to the patient during a second portion of the sleep session.    
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein a blower providing air flow to the patient is set to a minimum pressure during the predetermined duration of the first portion of the sleep session.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein the second portion of the sleep session comprises the remainder of the sleep session after the first portion of the sleep session.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising automatically increasing the continuous positive airway pressure during the second portion of the sleep session.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein automatically beginning to provide continuous positive airway pressure to the patient includes controlling a valve.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising analyzing the patient's breathing at least once during the second portion of the sleep session.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 determining that the patient is experiencing apnea during the second portion of the sleep session;    in response to the apnea determination, increasing the continuous positive airway pressure until the apnea ceases; and    recording the level of continuous positive airway pressure being provided to the patient when the apnea ceases.    
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 determining that the patient stops experiencing apnea during the second portion of the sleep session; and    monitoring the patient's breathing at least once after the patient stops experiencing apnea and before discontinuing providing continuous positive airway pressure to the patient.    
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein providing continuous positive airway pressure begins automatically at the end of the first portion of the sleep session, and not as a result of the monitoring of the patient's breathing.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising recording breathing patterns of the patient during the first portion of the sleep session.  
   
   
       48 . A method for managing breathing assistance to a patient, comprising: 
 during a first time period, providing continuous positive airway pressure to a patient experiencing apnea;    automatically increasing the level of the continuous positive airway pressure until the apnea ceases;    automatically discontinuing providing continuous positive airway pressure to the patient at some point after the apnea ceases; and    automatically monitoring the patient's breathing at least once after the apnea ceases and before discontinuing providing continuous positive airway pressure to the patient.    
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 48 , further comprising if the apnea ceases before the end of a predetermined interval, continuing to monitor the patient's breathing for the remainder of the predetermined interval.  
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 not providing continuous positive airway pressure to the patient during a second time period prior to the first time period, the second time period having a predetermined duration; and    automatically beginning to provide continuous positive airway pressure to the patient at the end of the predetermined second time period.    
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 not providing continuous positive airway pressure to the patient during a second time period prior to the first time period; and    monitoring the patient's breathing at least once during the second time period prior to the first time period.    
   
   
       52 . An apparatus for a breathing assistance system, comprising: 
 a valve member disposed between a first conduit portion and a second conduit portion, the valve member moveable between: 
 (a) a first position wherein the valve member allows gas flow through a conduit aperture and provides a gas flow path directing gas to flow from the first conduit portion into the second conduit portion to purge expired respiratory gases located in the second conduit portion through the conduit aperture, and  
 (b) a second position blocking the conduit aperture so that continuous positive airway pressure is provided to a patient.  
   
   
   
       53 . An apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein the valve member is fully open in the first position.  
   
   
       54 . An apparatus according to  claim 52 , further comprising a controller for controlling the valve member.  
   
   
       55 . An apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein the valve member pivots between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       56 . An apparatus for a breathing assistance system, comprising: 
 a valve controller configured to move a valve member between: 
 (a) a first position wherein the valve member allows gas flow through a conduit aperture and provides a gas flow path directing gas to flow from the first conduit portion into the second conduit portion to purge expired respiratory gases located in the second conduit portion through the conduit aperture, and  
 (b) a second position blocking the conduit aperture so that continuous positive airway pressure is provided to a patient.  
   
   
   
       57 . An apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the controller communicates electrical signals to control the rotational position of the valve member.