| Portable continuous positive airway pressure system -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Portable continuous positive airway pressure systemUSPTO Application #: 20070089743Title: Portable continuous positive airway pressure system Abstract: A portable, wearable vest supports an air supply tube to a patient mask or interface in a continuous positive air pressure system. In one embodiment, the vest contains and supports motor and battery components. In another embodiment, the vest couples a remote CPAP unit to a patient interface. (end of abstract)
Agent: Beck And Tysver P.l.l.c. - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventor: Leslie Hoffman USPTO Applicaton #: 20070089743 - Class: 128204180 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Respiratory Method Or Device, Means For Supplying Respiratory Gas Under Positive Pressure The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070089743. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/664,108, filed Mar. 22, 2005, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/128,552, filed May 13, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is widely known. This therapy is predominately used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as other disorders. CPAP therapy is used to deliver pressurized air, to a patient's airway. In general, conventional CPAP systems include a bedside "generator" that operates off either wall current or a large external battery. This generator is a blower or pump that creates a supply of pressurized air. A physician would typically prescribe a maximum CPAP in the range of 5-15 cm of water to treat the disorder. For patient comfort, the generator device may "ramp up" to the prescribed pressure over a period of several minutes. [0003] The bedside generator is connected to the patient via a long flexible hose that transports the pressurized air from the generator to an interface worn by the patient. The term of art in this industry for the mask-like portion of the system is "interface" and the term is generic for oral, oral-nasal, or nasal designs. There are a wide variety of interfaces that are used and preferred by patients. It is important that the interface fit the patient securely to deliver pressurized air without substantial leakage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention is a portable CPAP unit that integrates a blower unit into a vest worn by the patient. In general the vest is relatively thick and made of foam covered with a cloth material. In one embodiment the vest provides space to house both the air handling system, power supply and control electronics in a balanced arrangement around the neck. [0005] The vest includes a collar portion that is worn around the neck. The collar portion connects with first and second extended panel portions carried over the shoulder onto the chest of the user. The vest is shaped such that its profile adjacent the patient's neck fits within the contours of the patient's neck and is sized so that it does not protrude beyond planes defined by the patient's body. [0006] In one preferred embodiment the vest contains a blower unit. The blower unit includes a clamshell housing defining a complex air path for a motor/impeller unit that is also contained within the clamshell housing. The motor/impeller unit and its associated diffuser housing are mechanically isolated from the clamshell housing, and together they form the blower unit. [0007] A motor control unit and battery pack are placed within the vest to create a self-contained portable wearable CPAP device for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other disorders. [0008] In an alternate embodiment the vest itself is coupled to the remote air pressure generator and it serves to transfer air from the generator to the interface. In this embodiment the vest serves to decouple the user and most importantly the nasal interface from the remote generator. It has been found that decoupling the mask improves acceptance of the therapy and in this embodiment the vest allows air to pass through the vest from the generator to the interface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Throughout several figures identical reference numerals refer to identical structure wherein: [0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a patient, lying down, wearing the wearable CPAP unit; [0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a patient wearing the portable CPAP unit; [0012] FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the orientation, relationship and position of various elements of the wearable CPAP unit; [0013] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the impeller diffuser inlet and outlet portion of the device; [0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an alternate embodiment; [0015] FIG. 6 is a view of an interface particularly suited for use in the system; and [0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the cannulas of the interface of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0017] FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of a portable self-contained wearable CPAP vest 14 being worn by a patient or user 10 who is depicted in a supine position on a bed 11 with a pillow 16 under his head. [0018] The vest 14 has a rounded neck portion or collar 30 positioned at the nape of the neck of the user. The collar 30 connects with and flares out onto a first panel 26 and a second panel 28 that lie over the chest of the user 10. Each panel 26, 28 has a lower edge 29, 31, respectively, and an inner edge 33, 35, respectively. The optimal size and shape of the collar 30 and the panels 26 and 28 will depend upon the stature of the user 10. In general, it is desirable that the cross-section of the collar 30 proximate the neck of the user be of reduced cross-section or diameter, and have a contoured shape such that it fits within the nape of the neck and does not act as a "pillow" or interfere with the patient's actual pillow 16 when the patient 10 reclines. This relationship is depicted in FIG. 2 which shows a supine patient 10 and an associated plane 32 defined by and extending from the back of the head to the shoulder blades. It is preferred to have the collar 30 not completely fill the nape of the neck so that the collar 30 does not touch or extend beyond the plane 32 toward the bed 11. [0019] Returning to FIG. 1, it is also preferred to have the exterior edges of the panel portions 26 and 28 lie within the shoulder-width of the patient and within the head-to-shoulder plane identified by reference numeral 34 in FIG. 1. It has been found that when these several conditions are met the patient 10 may rest on his side and roll over in his sleep with the head and shoulders in a natural posture. When appropriately sized, the collar 30 and panels 26, 28 do not interfere with the comfort of the patient. These geometric and dimensional attributes define the shape of a vest 14 that may be worn unobtrusively during sleep. It has been found that these design attributes associated with these cross-sectional areas and bulk of the panels are designed not to interfere with patient comfort. Continue reading... Full patent description for Portable continuous positive airway pressure system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable continuous positive airway pressure system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Portable continuous positive airway pressure system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Imaging system with anesthesia system Next Patent Application: Method for controlling a bi-level apparatus, and bi-level apparatus Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Portable continuous positive airway pressure system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.90736 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry |
||
