Method and apparatus for providing positive airway pressure to a patient

Abstract

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system includes a gas flow generator and a patient interface. The system delivers a flow of gas to the patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface. The system determines that the patient is experiencing an apnea and, in response, performs a pressure change maneuver. This maneuver includes increasing a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time, and decreasing the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase. The system then monitors the change in flow rate for the flow of gas resulting from the pressure change maneuver, if any, and determines whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in the flow rate.

1 . A method of delivering pressurized gas to an airway of a patient, comprising the steps of:
 providing a gas flow generator and a patient interface adapted to couple the gas flow generator to an airway of a patient;   delivering a flow of gas to such a patient using the gas flow generator and the patient interface;   determining that the patient is experiencing an apnea;   performing a pressure change maneuver responsive to determining that the patient is experiencing the apnea, wherein the pressure change maneuver includes increasing a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time, and decreasing the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase;   monitoring a change in flow rate for the flow of gas resulting from the pressure change maneuver; and   determining whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in the flow rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing the pressure of the flow of gas delivered to the patient in response to determining that the airway of the patient is closed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the flow of gas to the patient includes generating a flow of gas using a blower, and wherein the step of increasing the pressure of the flow of gas includes changing an operating speed of the blower. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering a flow of gas to the patient includes generating a flow of gas using an blower, and wherein the step of increasing the pressure of the flow of gas comprises: (a) controlling a pressure controller valve provided downstream of the blower, (b) changing an operating speed of such a blower, or (c) controlling the valve and changing an operating speed of the blower. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the flow of gas to the patient comprises:
 differentiating between an expiratory phase and an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle of the patient;   establishing a reduced pressure profile for a pressure of the flow of gas provided to the patient, wherein the reduced pressure profile has a contour that is predetermined prior to initiation of the expiratory phase, and wherein the contour defines a changing pressure over a period of time; and   controlling the gas flow delivered to the patient so that (1) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided at a first pressure level during at least a portion of the inspiratory phase, and (2) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided according to the reduced pressure profile during at least a portion of the expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a first gain, and wherein the step of delivering the flow of gas to the patient comprises:
 monitoring a characteristic associated with the flow of gas; and   controlling the flow of gas such that the flow of gas is delivered to the patient at (1) a therapy pressure during at least a portion of an inspiratory portion of a respiratory cycle, wherein the therapy pressure is a pressure sufficient to counter airway collapsing forces, and (2) based on the first gain and the monitored characteristic during at least a portion of an expiratory phase of a respiratory cycle   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus adapted to deliver a flow of gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a gas flow generator adapted to generate a flow of gas;   (b) a conduit adapted to carry the flow of gas generated by the gas flow generator to the airway of the patient;   (c) a sensor coupled to the gas flow generator or the conduit and adapted to monitor a characteristic associated with the flow of gas; and   (d) a processor adapted to:
 (1) determine that the patient is experiencing an apnea based on an output of the sensor, 
 (2) control the gas flow generator so as to increase a pressure of the flow of gas for a period of time responsive to determining that the patient is experiencing the apnea, and to decrease the pressure of the flow of gas after the pressure increase, 
 (3) monitor a change in flow rate for the flow of gas based on the pressure increase, and 
 (4) determine whether the airway of the patient is open or closed based on the monitored change in flow rate. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further adapted to control the gas flow generator so as to increase the pressure of the flow of gas delivered to the patient in response to determining that the airway of the patient is closed. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gas flow generator is a blower, and wherein the increases in the pressure of the flow of gas includes changing an operating speed of the blower. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gas flow generator is a blower, and wherein the increase in the pressure of the flow of gas comprises: (a) controlling a pressure controller valve provided downstream of the blower, (b) changing an operating speed of such a blower, or (c) controlling the valve and changing an operating speed of the blower. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is adapted to:
 differentiate between an expiratory phase and an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle of the patient;   establish a reduced pressure profile for a pressure of the flow of gas provided to the patient, wherein the reduced pressure profile has a contour that is predetermined prior to initiation of the expiratory phase, and wherein the contour defines a changing pressure over a period of time; and   control the gas flow delivered to the patient so that (1) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided at a first pressure level during at least a portion of the inspiratory phase, and (2) the pressure of the flow of gas is provided according to the reduced pressure profile during at least a portion of the expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an input device adapted to select a first gain, and wherein the processor is adapted to:
 monitor a characteristic associated with the flow of gas based on an output of the sensor; and   control the gas flow generator so that the flow of gas is delivered to the patient at (1) a therapy pressure during at least a portion of an inspiratory portion of a respiratory cycle, wherein the therapy pressure is a pressure sufficient to counter airway collapsing forces, and (2) based on the first gain and the output of the sensor during at least a portion of an expiratory phase of a respiratory cycle.