Method and apparatus for delivering an additive with a cpap machine

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for delivering an additive with a continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) machine. The invention includes mixing an additive with humidifier water and providing the additive to the patient with the CPAP machine. According to certain embodiments, the additive can be an aromatic additive or a therapeutic additive.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method of delivering additive with a continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) machine comprising:
 mixing an additive with humidifier water using an additive delivery device; and   providing the additive to the patient with the CPAP machine, wherein a portion of the water and additive are taken up by the air in the CPAP machine and delivered as a humidified air flow to a CPAP machine mask.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the additive is an aromatic additive. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the additive is a therapeutic additive. 
   
   
       20 . An additive delivery apparatus for delivering an additive to a fluid reservoir of a continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) machine comprising:
 an additive delivery device configured to be arranged on the fluid reservoir, the additive delivery device comprising:
 an additive inlet port configured to be coupled to the fluid reservoir in an area between an air flow inlet and air flow outlet of the CPAP machine, the additive inlet port for introducing the additive to the fluid reservoir; and 
 a flow control device configured to be in fluid communication with the additive inlet port, the flow control device for controlling delivery of the additive to the CPAP machine. 
   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the flow control device is a metering dial. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the flow control device is a ball-valve system. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the additive is an aromatic additive. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the additive is a therapeutic additive. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for delivering an additive to a continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) machine comprising:
 a reservoir configured with an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet;   an additive delivery component associated with the reservoir, the delivery component comprising:   an additive inlet port arranged at the air flow inlet; and   a metering component in fluid communication with the inlet port the metering component configured to meter the additive to the fluid in the fluid reservoir.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the additive is an aromatic additive. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the additive is a therapeutic additive. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the metering component is a metering dial. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the metering component is a ball-valve system. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the delivery component is integral with the reservoir. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the delivery component is operably coupled with the reservoir by a tube.