U.S. patent application number 17/125632 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-01 for method and apparatus for increasing therapy compliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited. Invention is credited to Hayden Owen Briscoe, Philip John Dickinson, Samuel Frew, Cameron Jon Haxton, Venkata Subbarao Potharaju, Robin Lynn Randolph, Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon, Christie Jayne Stanton, Yi-Cheng Sun, Steven John Worthington.
Application Number | 20210196919 17/125632 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005447832 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210196919 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Potharaju; Venkata Subbarao ;
et al. |
July 1, 2021 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THERAPY COMPLIANCE
Abstract
A breathing assistance unit for providing pressurized heated
humidified air to a user increases user compliance. The breathing
assistance unit generates positive emotional and cognitive states
of a user about the therapy.
Inventors: |
Potharaju; Venkata Subbarao;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Stanton; Christie Jayne;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Salmon; Andrew Paul Maxwell;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Sun; Yi-Cheng; (Auckland, NZ)
; Briscoe; Hayden Owen; (Auckland, NZ) ; Frew;
Samuel; (Auckland, NZ) ; Worthington; Steven
John; (Auckland, NZ) ; Dickinson; Philip John;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Haxton; Cameron Jon; (Auckland,
NZ) ; Randolph; Robin Lynn; (Woodland Park,
CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited |
Auckland |
|
NZ |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005447832 |
Appl. No.: |
17/125632 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15402972 |
Jan 10, 2017 |
10898670 |
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17125632 |
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14971638 |
Dec 16, 2015 |
9579480 |
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15402972 |
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12964575 |
Dec 9, 2010 |
9220865 |
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14971638 |
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12513752 |
Oct 14, 2009 |
8555879 |
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PCT/NZ2007/000328 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
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12964575 |
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60864501 |
Nov 6, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2205/3653 20130101;
A61M 16/10 20130101; A61M 16/1075 20130101; A61M 2205/36 20130101;
A61M 2205/502 20130101; A61M 39/1055 20130101; A61M 16/109
20140204; A61M 16/0066 20130101; A61M 16/16 20130101; A61M 2205/362
20130101; A61M 16/0816 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61M 16/16 20060101
A61M016/16; A61M 16/10 20060101 A61M016/10; A61M 16/08 20060101
A61M016/08; A61M 39/10 20060101 A61M039/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2007 |
NZ |
560235 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A breathing assistance apparatus comprising: a housing
comprising an outer surface; a blower unit disposed within the
housing; a humidification compartment disposed within the housing,
the humidification compartment being adapted to receive a
humidifier chamber, wherein the humidifier chamber comprises a
container with a heat-conducting surface; and a control interface
and a control display, the control display comprising a clock
display, wherein the clock display is time-zone adjustable; and
wherein the adjustment for time zones allows for changes in time
zones to be reflected during logging of data related to the
breathing assistance apparatus.
3. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the data
is compliance data.
4. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 3 wherein compliance
data is: a duration of nightly use of the apparatus, or the amount
of time that the apparatus is switched on and being worn.
5. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 3 wherein the
control display is configured to display compliance feedback to a
user.
6. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 5 wherein the
compliance feedback comprises a smiley face shaped indicator.
7. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the
control interface includes a control knob configured to be twisted
or pushed to generate a control signal.
8. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 7 wherein the
control display is positioned adjacent to or above the control
knob.
9. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the
housing has a footprint of less than about 40,000 mm.sup.2.
10. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 further
comprising an internal power supply positioned within the
housing.
11. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outer
surface of the housing comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first
side wall extending between the front wall and the rear wall and a
second side wall extending between the front wall and the rear
wall, the front wall inclined such that an upper portion of the
front wall is closer to the rear wall than a lower portion of the
front wall, the front wall connected to each of the first side wall
and the second side wall with a rounded corner, and a top wall
connected to each of the front wall, the first side wall, the
second side wall and the rear wall.
12. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 11 wherein the
control interface and the control display are positioned on the
front wall.
13. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 11 further
comprising an airflow outlet extending from the rear wall, the
airflow outlet being connected to the humidification chamber and
the rear wall.
14. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 13, wherein the
airflow outlet is rotatable to either side of the housing.
15. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the
housing includes a heater plate configured to generate heat.
16. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 15 wherein the
heater plate is disposed at a bottom of the humidification
compartment or is configured to give under a downward pressure.
17. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 further
comprising the humidifier chamber, wherein the humidifier chamber
is adapted to hold at least about 420 ml of water.
18. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein the
humidification compartment includes a ledge and wherein the
humidifier chamber is arranged to be complimentary with the ledge
of the humidification compartment to reduce the likelihood of the
humidifier chamber being oriented incorrectly in use.
19. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 2 wherein an upper
portion of the humidification compartment is covered by a lid.
20. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 20, wherein the lid
is a hinged lid or is removably attached to the housing.
21. The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 20, wherein the lid
defines a handhold location for carrying of the breathing
assistance apparatus.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS
[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic
priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed
with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference
under 37 CFR 1.57. This application is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/402,972, filed Jan. 10, 2017, which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/971,638,
filed Dec. 16, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,480, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/964,575, filed
Dec. 9, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,220,865, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/513,752, filed on Oct. 14, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,555,879,
which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of PCT Application
No. PCT/NZ2007/000328, filed on Oct. 31, 2007, which claims the
priority benefit of New Zealand Application No. 560235, filed on
Jul. 30, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/864,501,
filed on Nov. 6, 2006, each of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
[0002] This application hereby incorporates by reference the
entirety of the following applications: (1) U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/084,322, which was filed on Jul. 29, 2008; (2)
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/173,656, which was filed
on Apr. 29, 2009; (3) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/184,379, which was filed on Jun. 5, 2009; (4) U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/250,186, which was filed on Oct. 9, 2009;
(5) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/267,270, which was
filed on Dec. 7, 2009; (6) PCT/NZ2009/000151, which was filed on
Jul. 29, 2009; (7) PCT/NZ2010/000083, which was filed on Apr. 29,
2010; (8) PCT/NZ2010/000103, which was filed on Jun. 3, 2010; (9)
PCT/NZ2010/000201, which was filed on Oct. 8, 2010; and (10) U.S.
Design patent application Ser. No. 29/334,652, which was filed on
Oct. 1, 2009.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present invention generally relates to methods and
apparatus for sensing a condition of a body of a living thing
receiving a respiratory gas. More particularly, the present
invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving patient
compliance in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and
bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) treatment. Compliance, as
used in the CPAP field, can mean the duration of nightly use of the
device, or the amount of time that the device is switched on and
being worn.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep breathing
disorder affecting approximately 2-4% of the middle-aged
population. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel
positive airway pressure (BiPAP) are two treatments for OSA. While
CPAP and BiPAP provide an effective treatment of OSA, compliance is
often low.
SUMMARY
[0005] Applicants have discovered that an often overlooked
influence on CPAP compliance is the psychological aspect of
devices. People who have a more positive impression of CPAP therapy
are believed to be more likely to adhere to and comply with
treatment. This includes people who are more likely to understand
the risks associated with OSA and the benefit of CPAP and people
who describe a positive belief in their ability to use the
CPAP.
[0006] Thus, the user-friendliness of a device may be important in
improving compliance. Similarly, a device that is aesthetically
pleasing may promote interaction and reduce cognitive dissonance as
a barrier to therapy. This interaction between the aesthetics and
the objective elements of treatment has been described in the dual
process model of Leventhal H et al., The impact of communications
on the self-regulation of health beliefs, decisions, and behavior,
Health Education Behavior 1983; 10(1): 3-29. The theory states that
the quality (emotional elements such as aesthetics) and clarity
(cognitive elements such as ease of use) of a medical message, such
as in the interaction with a medical device, can determine a
patient's adherence.
[0007] Historically, to improve compliance, CPAP designers and
manufacturers have focused on technological improvements, such as
pressure modification and humidification. However, there is limited
evidence that these technology-centric advances have any impact on
compliance. Instead, improved user perception of treatment may lead
to improved compliance with that treatment. It is believed that,
through making the device more aesthetically pleasing and easy to
use, the patient is more likely to comply with treatment.
[0008] Thus, a device has been designed to include means for
improving the user-friendly nature of the device while also
improving the aesthetics of the device.
[0009] In some configurations, a positive airway pressure device is
configured to improve patient compliance by providing an improved
user-friendliness and by reducing cognitive dissonance as a barrier
to therapy. The positive airway pressure device comprises a housing
comprising an outer surface. The outer surface comprises a front
wall, a rear wall, a first side wall extending between the front
wall and the rear wall and a second side wall extending between the
front wall and the rear wall. The front wall is slightly inclined
such that an upper portion of the front wall is closer to the rear
wall than a lower portion of the front wall. The front wall is
connected to each of the first side wall and the second side wall
with a rounded corner. A top wall is connected to each of the front
wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the rear wall.
A control knob and a control display are positioned on the front
wall with the control display being positioned directly above the
control knob. The control display comprises a clock display and a
smiley face shaped indicator. A blower unit is disposed within the
housing. An inlet to the blower unit is fluidly connected to
ambient air and extends through at least one of the front wall, the
first side wall, the second side wall and the rear wall. A
humidification compartment is disposed within the housing. An upper
portion of the humidification compartment is covered by a removable
lid. The lid is removably attached to the housing and defines a
handhold location for carrying of the positive airway pressure
device. The humidification compartment is adapted to receive a
humidifier chamber. The humidifier chamber is an open top container
with a heat-conducting surface. An airflow outlet extends from one
of the front wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and
the rear wall. The airflow outlet is pivotable or rotatable
relative to the housing and the airflow outlet is connected to one
of the humidification chamber and one of the front wall, the first
side wall, the second side wall and the rear wall. An internal
power supply is positioned within the housing.
[0010] In some configurations, a positive airway pressure device is
configured to improve patient compliance by providing an improved
user-friendliness and by reducing cognitive dissonance as a barrier
to therapy. The positive airway pressure device comprises a housing
comprising an outer surface. The outer surface comprises a front
surface, a first side surface and a second side surface extending
rearward from the front surface. A smooth contour is formed by the
front surface, the first side surface and the second side surface.
A control knob and a control display are positioned on the front
wall. The control display comprises a clock display and a smiley
face shaped indicator. A blower unit is disposed within the housing
with an inlet to the blower unit being fluidly connected to ambient
air and extending through at least one of the front wall, the first
side wall, and the second side wall. A humidification compartment
also is disposed within the housing. An internal power supply is
positioned within the housing.
[0011] In some configurations, a method of improving patient
compliance with a program of positive airway pressure therapy
comprises providing a positive airway pressure device that
comprises means for generating positive emotional and cognitive
states of a user with respect to the therapy.
[0012] This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the
parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the
specification of the application, individually or collectively, and
any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements
or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which
have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates,
such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if
individually set forth.
[0013] The term `comprising` as used m this specification means
`consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting
statements in this specification which include that term, the
features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be
present but other features can also be present.
[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
breathing assistance apparatus which goes some way to overcoming
the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the
public or industry with a useful choice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings of a preferred embodiment, which embodiment is intended to
illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which
figures:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a user receiving humidified
air from a modular blower/humidifier system of a known, prior art,
type.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a user receiving humidified
air from an integrated blower/humidifier system of a known, prior
art, type.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the integrated blower/humidifier of the present invention, which
has a separate humidifier chamber and assisted breathing unit that
are shown with the humidifier chamber in place within the blower
unit ready for use.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the blower unit of FIG.
3, with the humidifier unit removed (not shown).
[0020] FIG. 5a shows a rear view of the blower unit of FIG. 3, with
a section line D-D shown and FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional view
along section line D-D of the blower unit of FIG. 5a.
[0021] FIG. 5c shows an inlet to a blower unit of an example
positive airway pressure device having a replaceable air
filter.
[0022] FIG. 5d shows a hinged lid of a blower unit of an example
positive airway pressure device.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the blower unit and the
humidifier unit of FIG. 3.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a schematic detail view along section line DD
of the internal structure of the blower unit.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a cutaway view of the blower unit from
underneath and to the rear looking forwards, with detail of an air
inlet duct, a power supply and power supply sub-housing, a fan, and
an air path through the unit shown.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view of the blower unit from
underneath and to the rear looking forwards, with the rearmost part
of the blower unit cut away to show detail of the air path around
the power supply sub-housing.
[0027] FIGS. 10a and 10b show cutaway views of the blower unit from
underneath and to the rear looking forwards, with FIG. 10a showing
the blower unit with the base and part of the rear wall removed,
and FIG. 10b showing the rear part of the blower cutaway further
forward than the view of FIG. 10a, to show detail of the air path
over the power supply sub-housing.
[0028] FIG. 11a shows a cutaway bottom view of the blower unit of
the preceding Figures, with the base removed.
[0029] FIG. 11b shows a schematic view of the blower of FIG. 11a,
with the air path and turbulence shown as the air passes firstly
into the air inlet duct, then over and around the power supply
sub-housing, and then into and out of the fan.
[0030] FIG. 12 shows a schematic line view of the blower unit
underneath and to the rear looking forwards, with the air path and
turbulence shown as the air passes firstly into the air inlet duct,
then over and around the power supply sub-housing, and then into
and out of the fan.
[0031] FIG. 13a shows a rear view of the humidifier chamber of the
present invention, with a humidifier chamber lid and a locking
handle shown in exploded view above the humidifier chamber, and a
section line A-A shown.
[0032] FIG. 13b shows a cross sectional view along the line A-A of
the humidifier chamber, humidifier chamber lid and locking handle
of FIG. 13a.
[0033] FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross-section of part of the front
of the blower unit.
[0034] FIG. 15 shows a preferred form of main menu that is
displayed on a display panel of the integrated blower/humidifier of
FIG. 3.
[0035] FIG. 16 shows a schematic view of the internal structure of
the preferred form of fan and motor that can be used in the blower
unit of FIG. 5b.
[0036] FIG. 17 shows a partial view of the lid of FIG. 6, and a
locking handle used to hold the lid in position, with the lid and
locking handle separated.
[0037] FIG. 18 shows a preferred form of carry case that can be
used with the breathing assistance apparatus of the present
invention, closed and upright resting on its end base.
[0038] FIG. 19 shows a cutaway side view of the carry case of FIG.
18, resting on its side base, ready to be opened, with an
integrated breathing assistance apparatus of the type shown in FIG.
3 located in the carry case.
[0039] FIG. 20 shows a top view of the carry case of FIGS. 18 and
19, with the lid or top half not shown, and an integrated breathing
assistance apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 3 located in the
carry case ready for transport.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] A schematic view of a user 3a receiving air from a known
(prior art) modular assisted breathing unit and humidifier system
is shown in FIG. 1. Pressurized air is provided from an assisted
breathing unit or blower 1a via a conduit 41 to a humidifier
chamber 2a. Humidified, heated and pressurized gases exit the
humidifier chamber 2a via a conduit 21, and are provided to the
patient or user 3 via a user interface 4. The user interface 4
shown in FIG. 1 is a nasal mask, covering the nose of the user 3.
However, it should be noted that in systems of these types, a full
face mask, nasal cannula, tracheostomy fitting, or any other
suitable user interface could be substituted for the nasal mask
shown.
[0041] A schematic view of the user 3 receiving air from a known,
prior art integrated blower/humidifier unit 5 is shown in FIG. 2.
The system operates in the same manner as the modular system shown
in FIG. 1, except that humidifier chamber 2b has been integrated
with the blower unit 1b to form the integrated unit 5.
[0042] The integrated blower/humidifier unit 6 of the present
invention can be substituted for the unit 5 of FIG. 2. The
preferred form of the integrated blower/humidifier unit 6 is shown
assembled and ready for use in FIG. 3. The unit 6 has two main
parts: An integrated assisted breathing unit 7 (also known as a
blower unit), having an outer shell which forms part of the
breathing unit 7 and also encloses the working parts of the
assisted breathing unit--e.g. the fan, internal-ducting and the
internal control system; and a humidification unit 31 (described in
detail below).
Assisted Breathing Unit
[0043] The preferred form of assisted breathing unit or integrated
unit 6 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4-17.
[0044] The integrated unit 6 consists of two main parts: an
assisted breathing or blower unit 7 and a humidification unit 31.
The humidification unit 31 is enclosed within the external casing
of the integrated unit 6 in use, except for the top part. The
structure of the humidification unit 31 is described in detail
below.
[0045] The blower unit 7 has an outer shell that is a generally
rectangular block with substantially vertical side and rear walls,
and a front face that is angled slightly rearwards. In the
preferred embodiment, the walls, base and top surface are all
manufactured and connected as far as possible to minimize the
occurrence of seams, and any necessary seams are sealed. In some
embodiments, the housing or outer shell comprises the front wall,
the side walls and the rear wall. The housing also can include a
top wall or upper wall. At least the front wall and the side walls
preferably are connected by rounded corners to provide a more
aesthetically pleasing appearance. These features are clearly shown
in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8.
[0046] The illustrated housing has a dramatically reduced
footprint. In some embodiments, the footprint is less than about
200 mm by about 200 mm. Preferably, the footprint is about 190 mm
deep by about 170 mm wide. Given a typical bedside table with a
width of about 480 mm and a depth of about 480 mm, the footprint
occupies less than about 20% or, more preferably, less than about
15% of the typical table top area. Preferably, the footprint is
less than about 40000 mm.sup.2. More preferably, the footprint is
less than about 35000 mm.sup.2. Even more preferably, the footprint
is less than about 32300 mm.sup.2. The housing also preferably is
less than about 300 mm high, more preferably less than about 200 mm
high and even more preferably less than about 160 mm high. The
volume of the housing preferably is less than about 0.008 m.sup.3.
More preferably, the volume of the housing is less than about 0.006
m.sup.3.
[0047] This outer shell encloses the working parts of the blower
unit 7, and forms part of the blower unit 7. As shown in FIG. 4, a
control knob 8 is located on the lower section of the front face of
the integrated unit 6, with a control display 9 located directly
above the knob 8. A patient outlet 25 is shown passing out of the
rear wall of the integrated unit 6. In the preferred embodiment, in
use the free end of the outlet 25 faces upwards for ease of
connection. However, the preferred form of patient outlet 25 can be
rotated to one side or the other to move or align it in a more
convenient position for storage or for a more convenient use
position. The patient outlet 25 is adapted to allow both pneumatic
and electrical connection to one end of a conduit--e.g. conduit
21--running between the unit 6 and a patient interface--e.g.
interface 4. An example of the type of connector that can be used
and the type of dual connection that can be made is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,354. It should be noted that for the purposes
of reading this specification, the patient interface can be thought
of as including both the interface 4 and the conduit 21 where it
would be appropriate to read it in this manner.
[0048] In FIG. 3, a locking handle 22 is shown in position on the
top surface of the integrated unit 6. The locking handle 22 is a
separate item that can be unlocked and removed from the remainder
of the integrated unit 6. The locking handle 22 includes a grip 30,
adapted to act as a handle to allow a user to lift and carry the
integrated unit 6, and also adapted to enable the handle 22 to be
rotated from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking
handle 22 can be releasably locked to the remainder of the
integrated unit 6. The function of the locking handle 22 will be
more fully described below in the `humidifier unit` section.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows the integrated unit 6 with the locking handle
22 removed and the humidification unit 31 not shown. That is, just
the blower unit 7 is shown. The top surface of the blower unit 7
includes a circular humidifier aperture 1000, leading to an
internal humidifier compartment 11. The opening includes a rim 24
located around the circumference of the opening. In use, a
humidifier chamber 12 is located within the compartment 11. The
humidifier chamber 12 will be described in detail below. The
humidifier chamber 12 is in use fully enclosed inside the
compartment 11, except for the uppermost part. When the chamber 12
is described as enclosed in the blower unit 7, it can be taken to
mean fully enclosed except for the uppermost portion, as well as
fully enclosed including the uppermost portion.
[0050] The internal structure of the blower unit 7 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. A heater base 23 is
located at the bottom of the compartment 11. The heater base 23 is
mounted to the floor of the compartment 11 in such a way that it
has a small amount of elastic or compression resilience. That is,
it can be pushed downwards a short distance within the compartment,
but will push back against any downwards force that is applied. In
the absence of any downwards force it will return to its initial
position. This can be achieved by spring loading the base 23, or by
any other of the methods that are known in the associated arts. A
blower inlet port 13 and blower outlet port 14 are located on the
wall of the compartment 11, towards the top of the compartment 11.
A replaceable filter 135 can be provided at the inlet port 13.
Preferably, the filter is replaceable from outside of the outer
shell or housing of the blower unit.
[0051] In the preferred embodiment, the blower ports 13, 14 are
aligned so as to mate with humidifier ports 15, 16 located on the
humidifier chamber 12 in use (described in detail below) so as to
form a blower-to-humidifier gases route that allows gases to exit
the blower 7 and enter the humidifier chamber 12. It should be
noted that other forms of blower inlet are possible. For example, a
conduit running between the blower unit 7 and e.g. the lid of the
humidifier chamber 12.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the integrated unit 6 includes an
inlet vent 101 to draw air in from atmosphere. The integrated unit
6 also includes a mechanism for providing a pressurized air flow
from the inlet vent 101 to the humidifier chamber. This vent 101
can be located wherever is convenient on the external surface of
the integrated unit 6. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 8, it is located on the rear face of the blower unit 7. In the
preferred embodiment, air is drawn in through the vent 101 by a fan
unit 100 that acts as the preferred form of pressured air flow
mechanism (described in detail below). The air is ducted or
otherwise directed through the casing to the inlet port 13. In use,
air will exit the main body of the blower unit 7 via the inlet port
13 and then enter the humidifier chamber 12, where it is humidified
and heated, before passing out of the chamber 12 through the outlet
port 14, which is directly connected to the patient outlet 25. The
heated humidified gas is then passed to the user 3 via e.g. a
conduit 21. The patient outlet 25 is adapted to enable pneumatic
attachment of the patient conduit 21, and in the preferred
embodiment, electrical connection at the outlet 25 is also enabled
via an electrical connector 19. A combined electrical and pneumatic
connection can be useful for example if the conduit 21 is to be
heated. Electrical heating of a conduit such as conduit 21 can
prevent or minimize the occurrence of condensation within the
conduit 21. It should also be noted that the outlet connection does
not have to be via the housing of the integrated unit 6. If
required, the connection for the conduit 21 could be located
directly on an outlet from humidifier chamber 12. The preferred
form and variations can generally be referred to as connection
mechanisms.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inlet port 13 is offset. That
is, the port is positioned facing into or out of the corner of the
integrated unit 6 between the side wall and the front face. In
contrast, outlet port 14 is directly aligned with the rear wall of
the integrated unit 6. It can also be seen from FIG. 6 that the
circular compartment 11 is sized to just fit within the generally
square plan view profile of the integrated unit 6. Offsetting the
inlet port 13 towards the corner allows a more efficient use of the
space within the assisted breathing integrated unit 6, and allows
the size of the integrated blower/humidifier unit 6 to be
minimized.
[0054] The locking handle 22 and the integrated unit 6 include a
locking mechanism for locking the handle 22 to the integrated unit
6. In the preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism is as
follows: the rim 24 includes two mating grooves 26 located just
below the rim 24, spaced opposite each other on the circumference
of the rim 24. More than two of the mating grooves 26 can be used
if required. The grooves 26 correspond to an equal number of mating
lugs 27 on the locking handle 22. The mating groove or grooves 26
have an entry point 28 on the rim 24, with the main part of the
groove 26 located slightly below the rim 24. The lugs 27 are pushed
downwards into the entry points 28, and the handle is rotated so
that the lugs enter the main part of the grooves 26 to hold the
handle 22 in place. Different locking mechanisms can be used if
desired.
Humidifier Chamber with Lid
[0055] The humidifier unit 31 will now be described in more detail
with particular reference to FIGS. 13 and 17.
[0056] In the preferred embodiment, the humidifier unit 31 is
comprised of three main parts: humidifier chamber 12, lid 32 and
locking handle 22 (counted as part of the humidifier unit for
describing the operation of the integrated unit 6).
[0057] The preferred embodiment of the humidifier chamber 12 is an
open-topped container, with a heat conducting base. In some
configurations, the humidifier chamber 12 is desired to be
dishwasher safe and can be cleaned in a standard dishwasher. The
chamber 12 is sized to fit snugly within the compartment 11 on the
integrated unit 6. Preferably, the chamber 12 is sized to
accommodate at least about 420 ml of water. While the chamber 12
can be larger or smaller, about 420 ml has been determined to be a
desirable amount of water for use in the apparatus.
[0058] The chamber 12 is enclosed within the blower unit except for
the open top of the chamber 12. A fully open topped chamber 12 is
the preferred form. However, an alternative form of the chamber 12
could have a closed top surface, and would include an opening on
the chamber (not necessarily on the top surface), sized
appropriately so that a user can easily fill the chamber 12. The
preferred form of chamber 12 with an open top, and the alternative
form that includes a fill opening on the top are referred to as
`open top`, or `top openings` within this specification. The open
top may also be referred to as a `top EU aperture`. It should also
be noted that when the humidifier chamber 12 is referred to as
`enclosed`, or `substantially enclosed` in relation to the
integrated breathing assistance apparatus, this has the meanings
defined above. The chamber 12 is generally circular, but the lower
part of the rear (relative to the integrated unit 6) is flattened
as shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b to correspond to a ledge 33 on the
lower rear side of the compartment 11. This reduces the likelihood
that the chamber 12 will be oriented incorrectly in use. It should
be understood that other methods of achieving the same result could
also be used. For example, the chamber 12 and integrated unit 6
could include complementary grooves and slots. The chamber 12 can
also include features such as a fill or level line if required. The
humidifier inlet port 15 and a humidifier outlet port 16 are
located in the wall of the humidifier chamber 12, towards the top
of the chamber wall. These are positioned so as to align with the
blower inlet and outlet ports 13 and 14 when the humidifier chamber
12 is in position, forming the blower-to-humidifier gases route as
described above. It is preferred that the corresponding ports on
the blower 7 and humidifier chamber 12 are shaped so as to minimize
airgaps. A good seal is preferred but not required. In the
preferred form, the rim or perimeter of the chamber 12 includes a
chamber seal 10, formed from soft silicone or similar. When the
chamber 12 is placed in position in the humidifier compartment 11,
the chamber seal 10 is pressed against the wall or walls of the
compartment 11, and the body of the chamber 12 and the seal 10
increase the likelihood that the chamber 12 is sealed, so that air
exiting the blower through the port 13 cannot escape to atmosphere.
This helps increase the likelihood that a pressurized airstream
enters the humidifier chamber 12 in use. If required, a
substantially unbroken ring of sealing material such as soft
silicone can be added to the wall of the compartment 11 at or close
to the upper rim of the chamber 12, to form a compartment seal (not
shown) instead of or as well as the chamber seal 10. In alternative
embodiments the ports 13, 14 are surrounded by resilient sealing
gaskets 132,142 such as silicone gaskets to assist in forming a
seal in use. If preferred, the resilient sealing gaskets around the
ports can be used as well as the compartment and/or chamber
seals.
[0059] Air enters the humidifier chamber 12 through the humidifier
inlet port 15, and passes along a generally horizontal entry
passage 34 towards the centre of the humidifier chamber 12. Passage
34 is offset towards one of the front corners of the unit to align
with the inlet port 13 as described above. The air exits the entry
passage 34 through a first aperture or opening 200 in the centre of
the humidifier chamber 12 aligned facing upwards (that is, in the
top of the passage). The air is then directed into the main part of
the chamber by a baffle 35. In cross section, the baffle 35 is
T-shaped, with a vertical central portion to deflect gases entering
the chamber 12, and a substantially horizontal top `umbrella`
portion 202, which is circular in plan view, as shown in FIGS. 6
and 13. Air is deflected by the baffle 35 as it exits the passage
34, and then enters the main part of the chamber 12 where it is
heated and humidified. The heated and humidified gases then enter
an exit passage 36 on the other side of the baffle 35 through a
second aperture or opening 201, with the air passing through the
exit passage 36 to the chamber exit port 16 and then into the
breathing unit outlet port 14, and on to the user 4 as described
above. It can be seen that the baffle 35 prevents air from the
inlet passage 34 from directly entering the exit passage 36 before
it has been heated and humidified. The passage and baffle
arrangement also serves the purpose of acting as a splash baffle as
well as an air baffle. Water is obstructed from entering the
passages 34 and 36 if the chamber 12 is tilted while it contains
water. The umbrella portion 202 of the baffle 35 acts as a shield
for the passages 34, 36, vertically occluding the apertures 200,
201, so that when a user is pouring or refilling the chamber 12,
the user cannot directly pour into either of the apertures 200,
201. The top surface of the passages 34, 36 also acts as a shield
to prevent a user pouring water into the passages 34, 36. It is
preferred that the exit and entry apertures 200, 201 in the
passages 34, 36 face upwards, as this helps to prevent water or
liquid in the chamber splashing into the passages 34, 36, or
otherwise entering the passages 34, 36 when the chamber 12 is
tilted. The passages, 34, 36 and the baffle 35 can be generally
referred to as the baffle, or the baffle mechanism.
[0060] In use, the chamber 12 is positioned (in the correct
orientation) within the compartment 11. The lid 32 is then placed
on top of the chamber 12. The lid 32 is sized so that it will pass
through the top opening of the integrated unit 6, with the lower
surface of the lid 32, close to the edge, sealing onto the upper
edge of the chamber 12. In the preferred embodiment, the lid 32 has
an edge perimeter portion that is aligned facing downwards. This
has a central recess that is filled with a silicone seal 70 or
similar that is pressed onto the upwards facing edge of the chamber
12 when the lid 32 is in position. This arrangement is shown in
FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the handle 22 is also shown vertically above
the lid 32 (separate from the lid 32). The lid 32 is sized to fit
into the recess shown in the handle 22 (if the handle shown in FIG.
13 is pressed vertically downwards onto the lid 32). If required,
the two contacting portions of the lid 32 and the chamber 12 can
also be shaped to improve the seal between the two. The central
part of the lid 32 is bulged upwards so that it will stand proud of
the baffle 35. The lid 32 is placed in position on the chamber 12
once the chamber 12 has been filled. The locking handle 22 is then
positioned above the lid 32. As has been described above, lugs 27
on the circumference of the locking handle 22 engage with
complementary grooves 26 on the rim 24. In order to engage
correctly, it is necessary in the preferred embodiment for the
locking handle 22 to be pressed or pushed downwards, pushing both
the lid 32 and the chamber 12 downwards onto the heater plate 23.
The heater plate 23 will give slightly under the downwards
pressure, allowing the locking handle 22 to be rotated so that the
lugs 27 engage with the grooves or slots 26. Once the downwards
force is removed, the chamber 12, lid 32, and locking handle 22
will be pressed upwards by the reaction force from the heater plate
23, with the assembly held in place by the lugs 27 and slots 26. In
the preferred embodiment, the slots 26 are shaped so that the
locking handle 22 cannot be rotated to disengage the lugs 27
without pressing the locking handle 22 downwards slightly
first.
[0061] The locking handle 22 also includes the grip 30, which in
the preferred embodiment is an arched member passing from one side
of the handle 22 to the other, sized and shaped so that a user can
pass at least some of their fingers underneath, so as to manipulate
the locking handle 22 and to carry the integrated unit 6 if
necessary. In the preferred embodiment, the locking handle 22 and
the lid 32 are separate items, as described. If the handle 22 is
used without the lid 32, the chamber will not be sealed, and the
heated, humidified air will escape or vent to atmosphere before
entering the exit port 14. Any air that does enter the port 14 will
be at a lower pressure than required, due to the leaking. To
increase the likelihood of correct operation, the lid can be used
to seal the chamber in the preferred embodiment. This will reduce
the likelihood that the unit is used incorrectly. For example, if a
user fills the compartment 11 directly without using the chamber
12, or if a user forgets to place the lid 32 in position.
[0062] In the preferred form, the top portion of the lid 32 fits
into a central recess in the handle 22, as can best be seen in FIG.
6b. The lid 32 and the handle 22 are sized so that the lid 22 will
snap-fit and be held in place in the handle 22 to form an
integrated lid unit. The lid 22 can be disengaged from the handle
32 by pressing on its top surface or similar. However, it is
preferred that the snap-fit will keep them engaged in normal usage.
As the handle recess and the lid 22 are circular, they can easily
rotate relative to one another when engaged. When the handle 22 is
rotated to disengage it from the integrated unit 6, it will rotate
easily relative to the lid 32 (which will not rotate easily due to
the seal on the perimeter edge). When the handle 22 has been
disengaged from the integrated unit 6, it can be lifted away from
the integrated unit 6 to remove both the handle 22 and the lid
32.
[0063] It should be noted that although a round chamber 12, lid 32
and a locking mechanism (lugs 27 and slots 26) have been described,
and locking/unlocking of the lid 32 is achieved by rotating the
separate locking handle 22, this is not the only way in which this
effect can be achieved. If a different locking mechanism is used in
place of the lugs 27 and grooves 26, chambers with different
profiles can be used in place of the round chamber 12 described
above. For example, spring loaded clips could be used, with the
clips released by a button placed in a convenient location, such as
on a handle or on the outer surface of the integrated unit 6. As
shown in FIG. 5d, a hinged lid 32 could also be used, with a clip
and complementary catch located on the lid 32 and the blower unit,
to hold the lid 32 closed in use and a hinge 32a. Alternatively or
as well as, the chamber lid 32 and the locking handle 22 could be
integrated as a single unit. This single unit could either be
separable from the integrated unit 6 or the humidifier unit 31, or
an integral part of it, for example a hinged lid similar to that
suggested above. The intention of the lid 32 and handle 22 in the
arrangement described above is that a user can easily remove the
lid 32 in order to access the chamber 12 for refilling or similar,
and that a user can then easily replace the lid 32 and handle 22 to
hold the lid 32 and the chamber 12 in position inside the assisted
breathing integrated unit 6.
[0064] It should be noted that as outlined above, use of a round
chamber 12, with a generally square profile integrated unit 6
allows an efficient use of space so that the overall size of the
integrated unit 6 can be minimized. This should be considered if
using an alternative layout or locking mechanism.
Control Knob
[0065] The preferred form of construction of the control knob
assembly including operable control knob 8, and attachment to the
integrated unit 6 will now be described with particular reference
to FIG. 14. The knob 8 is manipulable by a user to change the
settings of the integrated unit. This is achieved by twisting and
pushing the knob 8 to generate control signals.
[0066] In the preferred embodiment, the integrated unit 6 includes
a removable mounting plate removable faceplate 37 that removably
attaches onto the front face of the integrated unit 6--e.g. by
friction-fit push clips or similar, sufficient to hold the
faceplate 37 in place in use or during transport, but allowing the
faceplate 37 to be removed e.g. by pressing a knife blade under one
side and twisting or similar. The faceplate 37 includes an aperture
that aligns with the control screen 9, so that the screen can be
viewed through the aperture in use. FIG. 14 shows a schematic
cross-section of the front surface of the integrated unit 6, viewed
from above. For clarity, the various elements shown in FIG. 8 are
shown not in contact with one another. As shown in FIG. 14, the
face plate 37 includes a concave hollow, depression or recess 38,
into which the knob 8 locates in use. The depression 38 is sized
and shaped so that the knob 8 fits snugly. The bottom of the
depression 38 contains a fastening mechanism 39. In the preferred
embodiment, the fastening mechanism 39 is formed as an integral
part of the plate 37. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening
mechanism 39 is a ring or crown of sprung fasteners or fastening
clips 39, with their tips or upper portions 60 facing or pointing
inwards. The fastening clips 39 are aligned perpendicular to the
base of the depression 38. The knob 8 is made up of a central,
non-rotating portion or button 61 and an outer, rotatable portion
or boss 62 that can be rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise by
a user. The outer portion 62 is ring-shaped, with a central
aperture. The inner portion 61 has a T-shape in cross-section, with
fasteners 63 integral with the upright of the T. In use, the
fasteners 63 connect with the sprung fasteners 39 to hold the inner
portion in position. The knob assembly is assembled by placing the
outer (rotatable) portion 62 of the knob 8 in position in the
depression 38, and then pushing the inner (non-rotatable) portion
61 into position. The flat upper part of the inner portion acts as
a flange to hold the outer portion 62 in position. In the preferred
embodiment, the outer portion 62 also has a slight central hollow,
with the cross-portion of the T-section of the inner portion 62
fitting snugly into this hollow so that the inner portion 61 and
the outer portion 62 together form a flush outer surface.
[0067] What has been described above is the preferred form of
fastening mechanism to hold the knob 8 in position on the faceplate
37. However, any suitable fastening mechanism could be substituted
for the one described.
[0068] The knob 8, or more specifically the outer portion 62, is
fitted with a ring magnet 45. The outer portion 62 generally has
the form of a hollow cup, with the open face facing inwards towards
the centre of the depression 38 in use. The ring magnet 45 is
fitted running around the inside of the outer portion, just below
the rim. The centre of the ring magnet 45 is aligned with the axis
of rotation of the knob 8. As the outer portion 62 rotates, the
ring magnet 45 also rotates. The front face or wall 50 of the
assisted breathing or integrated unit 6 is located behind the
faceplate 37. The front face 50 includes an aperture 43, through
which the rearmost part of the depression or recess 38 passes in
use. A connector board 44 is located just behind, and generally
planar with, both the faceplate 37 and the front face 50 of the
integrated unit 6. Magnetic or magnetized sections 46 are embedded
on the inner surface of the connector board 44. These are
positioned so as to form a generally circular shape, corresponding
to the ring magnet 45, so that the magnetized sections 46 align
with the ring magnet 45. The magnetic fields of the ring magnet 45
and the magnetized sections 46 (detector magnetic components, or
boss detector magnetic components) interact as the knob is rotated
in use. Control circuitry and sensors (not shown) located within
the blower unit 6 are connected to the ring magnet 45 so that as
the boss portion 62 of the knob 8 is turned it can detect the
fluctuations of the interacting magnetic fields. In the preferred
form, the ring magnet 45 is continuous (that is, a continuous
annular component), but divided into a number of discrete magnetic
sections (That is, there are no physical gaps between the
sections). The number of sections can be varied depending on the
number of positions required. One advantage of using a ring magnet
such as ring magnet 45 is that is has discrete sections. This means
that as the boss portion of the knob 8 is rotated, it will have a
number of discrete positions, having preferred `rest` positions as
the fields of the magnetized sections 46 and the fields of the
sections of the ring magnet 45 interact to reach an equilibrium
point, an effect known as `cogging`. The outer portion 62 of the
knob 8 will rest at these equilibrium points until acted on by an
external force--e.g. a user exerting a rotational force on the
rotatable outer portion 62 of knob 8. The knob 8 will therefore
tend to naturally `jump` from one rest position to the next as it
is rotated. As the relative positions of the magnets 45 and 46
changes, the fluctuations of the relative magnetic fields changes
is detected by the sensors, and the results of the fluctuations are
passed to the control circuitry 300 located inside the housing of
the respirator 7 (e.g. located on the circuit board 44), which
alters the output parameters of the integrated unit 6 according to
pre-programmed responses (e.g. altering the power to the heater
base 23, fan speed, etc.) as required by a user.
[0069] The preferred form of ring magnet 45 and magnetized sections
46 has been described above. It should be noted that the positions
of the ring magnet 45 and magnetized sections 46 could be reversed.
Also, the ring magnet 45 could be composed of discrete sections,
with gaps between them. That is, an annular arrangement of
individual magnetic components. Magnetized sections 46 have been
described. These could be actual magnets, or alternatively these
could be electromagnetic elements that act as both magnets and
sensors to exert a cogging force and provide positioning
feedback.
[0070] In the preferred embodiment, the knob 8 is also adapted to
allow limited movement along its axis of rotation 51. That is, it
can be pressed inwards to act as a button. This can be achieved in
a number of ways. However, in the preferred embodiment, a spring
(not shown) is placed inside the circle or crown of the preferred
form of fastening mechanism 39. When compressed, this spring is
slightly under compression, and pushes outwards against the knob 8
so that it has a rest position when not depressed and an operative
position when depressed. When pressed inwards towards the
integrated unit 6, the spring is compressed slightly more, and will
act to return the knob 8 to its initial position once the pressing
force is removed. The centre of the knob 8 also holds a magnet 48.
A corresponding central magnet 49 (or button detector magnetic
component) is located at the centre of the circle formed by
sections 46. In a similar fashion to that described above, as the
relative positions of the magnets 48 and 49 changes, the
fluctuations of the relative magnetic fields are detected, and
these changes are passed to a control unit that varies the output
parameters of the integrated unit 6 accordingly. For example, using
the arrangement described above, the knob 8 can be rotated
clockwise and anticlockwise to scroll between menu options, and
then pressed inwards to choose the option to which the user has
scrolled. The knob 8 can also be used as e.g. an on/off switch,
either by scrolling to the required on/off menu choice and
pressing, or by pressing and holding the knob in for a longer
period than would naturally occur if the unit 6 was accidentally
knocked--for example 5 seconds. Alternatively, the controls could
be set so that a user is required to pull the knob 8 slightly out
from the unit 6 to turn it off.
[0071] What has been described above is an assembly where the
medical device (blower unit 7) includes a faceplate 37 which
includes a recess, and which fits over the front face 50 of the
blower 7. The faceplate is unbroken, in that there are no apertures
or gaps through which moisture or dirt can enter the medical
device. Also, the components external to the blower 7 are not
moisture or dirt sensitive, so if they get wet or dirty, their
operational effectiveness is not adversely affected. It should be
noted that what is described above is the preferred embodiment, and
the principles of the operation could be applied equally well to a
device which does not include a separate faceplate, and which has a
single flat face (i.e. no recess), with magnetic elements 46, 63
located behind the face, and the control knob, boss, fastening
mechanism, etc. located external to the face. It should also be
noted that another possible variation of the layout described above
could also be used, with the front face 50 unbroken and including a
recess, and the faceplate including an aperture through which the
control knob locates into the recess on the faceplate. It should
also be noted that the faceplate does not have to be present at
all, but is present in the preferred forms.
Control Menu
[0072] The preferred form of display shown on the display panel 9
is shown in FIG. 15. In the preferred embodiment, the control menu
as displayed on the display 9 is a single layer menu, in order to
keep the operation of the unit 6 simple. In the preferred
embodiment, the display is an LCD display, with a circular ring of
options around the outside of the display. The display also can
include various indicators (e.g., a smiley face shaped indicator to
indicate compliance or progress toward compliance). At a central
portion of the illustrated display 9 is a clock read out (see the
inclusion of "am/pm" below the number readout indicators). In some
embodiments, the clock can be adjusted to account for travel to
differing time zones. Such an adjustment can be performed in any
suitable manner and can allow for data logging of compliance data
that allows changes in time zones to be reflected in the data.
[0073] In addition, the display indicates a music note just below
the numbers and an alarm bell just to the right of the music note.
The music note relates to the ability of the apparatus to play
music files and other sound files. In some embodiments, the sound,
audio or music file can be contained on a media stick, a solid
state memory component, a flash drive or the like. More preferably,
the files are contained on a removable memory component. Thus, the
display can facilitate the playback of sound, audio, music files or
the like. The alarm bell relates to the ability of the apparatus to
function as an alarm clock. Thus, it is possible to awaken to
music, to fall asleep to music or to be awakened by other sounds.
See PCT/NZ2009/000151, filed on Jul. 29, 2010, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. These features improve
the user-friendly nature of the device and provide a better
experience for the user when compared with previously marketed
breathing assistance devices.
[0074] As the knob 8 is rotated, each of the options will light up
in turn. When the knob is depressed, that option will be chosen.
Once an option is chosen, for example `Output power`, the level of
this parameter can be adjusted by rotating the knob 8 clockwise and
anticlockwise. A user can then exit this submenu and return to the
main menu by, for example, tapping the knob inwards or pulling it
outwards. The control circuitry can be programmed as required.
Other options can be pre-programmed as required. For example,
pushing and holding in the knob 8 (or pulling it outwards and
holding it out) could turn the unit off. It is preferred that the
discrete positions (the `cogging` positions) that the knob 8
reaches as it is rotated correspond to different menu options.
Blower Unit
[0075] The internal structure of the blower unit 7 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7-11. In the preferred
embodiment, heater base 23 is located at the bottom of the
compartment 11, as described above. It should be noted that the
blower unit and humidification chamber could be configured so that
the volume of water within the humidifier chamber is heated e.g.
through the side walls. That is, contact with a heater element or
unit through a heat conducting surface on the side wall of the
chamber, rather than on the base of the chamber. This configuration
would achieve substantially the same effect. However, heating
through the base is preferred for reasons of simplifying the
chamber construction and overall operation of the heater/humidifier
unit. When `heater base` is referred to in this specification, it
should be taken to mean heating through the base of the humidifier
chamber, or alternatively the side walls.
[0076] As described above, the integrated unit 6 includes an inlet
vent 101 to draw air in from atmosphere. The integrated unit 6 also
includes a mechanism and structure by which a pressurized air flow
is provided from the inlet vent 101 to the humidifier chamber. The
vent 101 can be located wherever is convenient on the external
surface of the integrated unit 6, but in the preferred embodiment,
as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is located on the rear face of the
blower unit 7, on the right hand side of the rear face (right hand
side when looking forwards). In the preferred embodiment, air is
drawn in through the vent 101 by a fan unit 100 that provides a
pressurized gases stream through the blower unit 7. The pressurized
gases stream is ducted or otherwise directed from the inlet vent
101 through the casing to the humidifier inlet port 13. The air
path and the ducting will be described in detail in the `Fan Unit
and Air Path` section below. In use, air exits the main body of the
blower unit 7 via the inlet port 13 and enters the humidifier
chamber 12, where it is humidified and heated, before passing out
of the chamber 12 through the outlet port 14, which is directly
connected to the patient outlet 25. The heated humidified gas is
then passed to the user 3 via e.g. a conduit 21. The patient outlet
25 is adapted to enable pneumatic attachment of the patient conduit
21, and in the preferred embodiment, electrical connection at the
outlet 25 is also enabled via an electrical connector 19.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the inlet port 13 is offset. That
is, the port is positioned facing into or out of the corner of the
integrated unit 6 between the side wall and the front face. In
contrast, outlet port 14 is directly aligned with the rear wall of
the integrated unit 6. It can also be seen that the circular
compartment 11 is sized to just fit within the generally square
plan view profile of the integrated unit 6. Offsetting the inlet
port 13 towards the corner allows a more efficient use of the space
within the assisted breathing integrated unit 6, and allows the
size of the integrated blower/humidifier unit 6 to be
minimized.
[0078] Fan Unit The fan unit and ducting of the preferred
embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 7-12
and 16. The fan unit 100 is intended to sit in the recess 400 shown
in FIG. 5b. Air is drawn into the fan unit 100 through an inlet
vent 101. Once inside the housing, the air is then is drawn upwards
into the casing of the fan unit 100 through an aperture 110 in the
centre of the casing of the fan unit 100, and is directed outwards
through a duct 120 (shown schematically as hidden detail in FIG.
16) to the inlet 13. The duct 120 runs from the recess 400 up
between the side wall and the front wall of the integrated unit 6.
The air path through the fan unit is shown by arrows 130. In the
preferred embodiment, fan unit 100 is electromagnetically powered,
with magnetic segments 1 11 interacting with electromagnetic coils
112, located above the fan unit 100, as shown in FIG. 7. The fan
110 is held in place by a bearing unit 113 that includes a spindle
for the fan 1 10.
Fan Unit and Air Path
[0079] The fan unit and ducting of the preferred embodiment will
now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 8 to 12. A
power supply sub-housing 500 is located within and integrated with
the outer housing or outer shell of the breathing unit 7. The power
supply sub-housing 500 is a rectangular cuboid structure at the
rear of the blower unit 7, integrated as part of the rear wall 80
of the blower unit 7. The cuboid sub-housing 500 shares one of its
two largest faces with the rear wall 80 of the blower unit 7
(although it should be noted that the outer dimensions of the
sub-housing 500 are substantially less than the dimensions of the
rear wall 80). The other large face 510 is common with the fan
recess 400, and the humidifier aperture 1000. The sub-housing 500
is generally centrally located on the inner rear wall of the blower
unit 7. Once the unit is assembled, the sub-housing 500 is
substantially closed off from atmosphere and the rest of the
internal volume of the outer shell of the blower unit 7, apart from
small apertures necessary for external electrical connections or
similar (not shown). The power supply component board 501 is
comprised of electrical components connected to a mother board, and
slotted into the space within the sub-housing 500 during assembly.
It is not necessary to detail or individually number all of the
components used to make up the power supply component board 501, as
the make-up and variations of the construction of power supply
boards is well-known in the art. However, it should be noted that
these components generate heat during use, which cannot dissipate
or vent to atmosphere due to the power supply being enclosed. This
heat therefore builds up, potentially leading to less efficient
operation. It is preferred that the sub-housing 500 is sealed or
enclosed in the sub-housing 500 in this manner in order to protect
the components of the power supply component board 501, so that
dirt, moisture or similar cannot enter the sub-housing 500.
However, the power supply component board could be merely located
within the external casing or shell of the blower unit 7. It should
be noted that when `power supply` or `power supply unit` are
referred to in this specification, this means either the power
supply sub-housing 500, the power supply component board 501, or
both together. In some embodiments, a power cord that is adapted to
be plugged directly into a power supply outlet (e.g., house power)
can extend outward from the housing through one of the front wall,
the side walls or the rear wall. As shown, for example, in FIG. 3,
the power cord 40 can extend outward from the rear wall of the
outer shell of the blower unit 7.
[0080] In order to help reduce the temperature of the sub-housing
500 and the temperature of the components of the power supply
component board 501 in the sub-housing 500, air from atmosphere is
drawn into the housing by the fan unit 100 and then ducted directly
over the power supply unit sub-housing 500 to cool the power supply
component board 501. It is preferred that the air is ducted over
the sub-housing 500 directly after it enters the outer housing of
the integrated unit 6, as the air will be at its coolest at this
point--direct from the atmosphere. In order to most effectively
cool the power supply component board 501 and the sub-housing 500,
the air is ducted over the greatest possible surface area of the
sub-housing 500, while still maintaining the integrity and
operation of the integrated unit 6, and still maintaining a
practical compact and integrated design.
[0081] Air from atmosphere is drawn in through the air inlet vent
101, the side of which is substantially the same height as one of
the side walls of the sub-housing 500. In the preferred embodiment,
the inlet 101 is directly next to the sub-housing 500. It should
also be noted that in the preferred form, the height of the air
inlet 101 is substantially the same as the dimension of the
neighboring wall 502. The air entering the external shell through
the inlet 101 therefore immediately contacts the side wall 502 of
the sub-housing 500. This first contact is made across
substantially the entire surface area of the wall, as the height
dimension of the neighboring vent 101 is substantially the same as
the height or length of the wall 502. This has the advantage that
all the air contacting this wall will be at atmospheric temperature
as it contacts the wall. The air is then drawn by the fan 100
upwards and across the top wall 503 of the sub-housing 500, passing
across or over the entire outer surface area of the top wall 503.
The air is then ducted down the other or inner side wall 504 of the
sub-housing 500, passing across the entire outer surface area of
wall 504. It should be noted that the walls of the sub-housing 500
are as thin as is practical in order to minimize their insulating
effect, and maximize heat transfer between the air flow and the
power supply board. The air is then drawn inwards, away from the
power supply, along the curved path 505, through aperture 506 into
the recess 400 and then into the fan unit 100. Air is drawn into
the fan unit 100 through aperture 110, and is then directed
outwards through a plenum chamber or duct 120 inside the blower 7
to the inlet 13 (duct 120 is shown schematically and for the
purposes of illustration only as hidden detail in FIG. 16. The
representation of the duct 120 as shown in FIG. 16 does not
necessarily match the actual path or size of the duct). The duct
120 runs from the recess 400 up between the right side wall (from
behind looking forwards) and the front wall of the integrated unit
6, up to the blower inlet port 13.
[0082] It can be seen that for an outer casing with a sub-housing
500 and air path configured in this manner, air passes over the
entire surface area of three walls (502, 503, and 504) of the
sub-housing 500, substantially adding to the cooling of the power
supply component board 501. This is the most preferred
configuration of the cooling path, as manufacture in this
configuration allows repeatability and a high number of units
within design tolerance, while minimizing costs. It has been found
that this configuration gives the most efficient use of both space
and air cooling, allowing a good degree of cooling, while still
ensuring the unit 6 can be configured compactly to minimize
footprint. It should be noted that if the power supply component
board 501 is not enclosed in a sub-housing, the cooling air can be
ducted directed over the board and the components thereon. Other
configurations are possible. For example, the air could be ducted
along a space between the large wall 510 of the sub-housing 500,
and the rear wall of the humidifier aperture 1000. However, in
order to make this configuration work effectively, without the air
in this space stagnating, the gap between the fan recess 400 and
the power supply sub-housing 500 has to be over a certain size, and
this can detract from the overall compact nature of the overall
structure. Furthermore, it can add to the manufacturing difficulty.
It should also be noted that the blower unit could be redesigned to
allow the air path to pass over the lower wall of the sub-housing,
as well as or instead of, the side and upper walls.
[0083] As described above, the sub-housing 500 is located at the
rear of the blower unit 7. It could of course be located anywhere
suitable, such as the sides or base, with the air ducting and inlet
configured and located accordingly. The rear is preferred as this
configuration allows the other elements of the blower unit to be
configured to minimize the overall device `footprint`.
[0084] In the most preferred form, the outer surfaces of the walls
502, 503 and 504 are ribbed, in order to increase the surface area
available for cooling and to aid in heat dissipation by acting in a
similar manner to heat sinks. Also, in the most preferred form, air
flows over at least two and preferably three walls of the
sub-housing 500 in order to maximize the cooling.
Carry Case
[0085] As has been noted above, one problem that can occur when a
user packs their breathing assistance apparatus in a case for
travel is forgetting to empty the humidifier chamber, and the
contents may then spill during travel, causing at least
inconvenience. It is a long felt want by users of domestic
breathing assistance apparatus that this problem is addressed.
[0086] In the preferred embodiment, a carry case 600 is used with
the integrated unit 6 described above to help overcome this
problem. When a user wishes to pack their breathing assistance
device for transport, the carry case 600 can be used.
[0087] The carry case 600 is shown in FIGS. 18-20. The carry case
600 is formed from a rigid plastic in the preferred embodiment. The
case 600 in the preferred form comes in two parts or halves, an
upper half 604 and a lower half 605 (half is used in this context
as a term of convenience and does not necessarily indicate that the
upper and lower halves are required to be exactly or even close to
the same size). In the closed position, the carry case 600 has one
generally flat end 601, with the opposite end 602 coming to a
rounded point when viewed side on. It is preferred that end 602
includes a handle 609 to aid a user in transporting the case 600.
In the preferred form, the handle 609 is formed when the case is
closed, the upper and lower halves 604, 605 including apertures
that align to form one aperture when the case is closed, a user
gripping the handle portion thus formed. The parts that form the
handle are preferably rounded, and sized to facilitate their acting
as a handle. The case 600 can be stood upright and rested on the
flat end, or end base 601, in use. Alternatively, the carry case
can be rested on the side base 603 which forms the lower side of
the lower half 605. It should be noted that `upper` and `lower` are
only directional indicators when the carry case 600 is resting on
the side base 603. The two halves are connected by hinges--the
upper half 604 attached to the lower half 605 so that the case can
be opened by e.g. rotating or pivoting the upper half 605 relative
to the stationary lower half 605, with the case 600 resting on side
base 603, for packing or unpacking. In the fully closed position,
the edges of the two come together to enclose a volume of space or
an internal volume of the case. The hinges are adapted to allow the
two halves a full range of movement--e.g. substantially 180 degrees
of rotation relative to one another. This allows the upper half 604
to be rotated far enough that its outer surface can rest on the
same surface as the lower half 605, for example a table or similar,
and a user can freely access the inside of the case. In the
preferred embodiment, the hinges 610 are located at the flat end
601, and form part of the flat base in use. The inside contains
packaging or padding 606, in the preferred form including a pocket
or recess 608 formed by moulding and shaping the padding 606, so
that the pocket 608 conforms generally to the external shape and
dimensions of the blower unit 7, so that at least the lower portion
of the blower unit can be placed in the recess 608 in the packaging
606 in an upright position, with the packaging or padding 606
partially enclosing at least the lower portion of the blower unit
7, to hold the blower unit 7 securely in position during transport.
As described above, the preferred form of chamber 31 is a top fill
chamber with a removable lid 32. To prevent the user from
inadvertently packing their integrated unit 6 away with chamber 31
still partially full and containing liquid, the carry case 600 is
adapted in the following manner so that the case 600 cannot be
closed fully if the lid 32 is still in position on the chamber 31.
It should be noted at different forms of the carry case could be
used to transport other types of systems that provide heated,
humidified gases to a user. For example, systems that have push fit
chambers filled through their inlets or outlets, rather than
through a top fill aperture.
[0088] When the user needs to transport their integrated
blower/humidifier unit, the user packs the integrated unit 6 in the
carry case 600 by placing the integrated unit 6 in recess 608 in
the packaging 606, the recess 608 shaped to enclose at least the
base of the integrated unit 6. It is intended that the case 600 is
as compact as possible. This helps a user to transport their unit
as, for example, hand luggage on an aircraft, as it can be fitted
in an overhead locker. Therefore, in the preferred form, the
humidifier chamber 31 is located in the same position in which it
is used in the blower 7, and not in a separate recess. The upper
half 604 of the case 600 includes at least one protrusion 607
extending inwards from the inner surface of the upper half 604
(i.e. downwards towards lower half 605). The at least one
protrusion 607 is sized and shaped so that the upper half and lower
half 604, 605 cannot be brought fully together (i.e. the case 600
cannot be closed) when the humidifier chamber lid 32 is still in
position on the chamber 31. When the humidifier chamber lid 31 is
removed, the protrusion or protrusions 607 fit down inside the
chamber 31. The lid 32 therefore has to be removed from the chamber
31 before the carry case 600 can be shut. It is preferred that the
separate handle 22 can be located onto the blower unit 7, with the
protrusion or protrusions 607 extending past the handle 22 to
extend downwards into the chamber 31. The carry case 600 is
preferably adapted to include an internal pocket or similar--e.g.
in the packaging 606--which the user can use to store the lid 32
for travel.
[0089] It is preferred that the carry case can also be fitted with
a strap or straps, to allow it to be carried in the same manner
that a day sack or small knapsack would be carried, or slung over
one shoulder and carried by one strap.
[0090] It should be noted that blower unit 7 is used as an example
for the above described preferred form of carry case. In other,
alternative forms, the carry case is adapted to carry respiratory
humidification systems of the type where the humidifier chamber and
the blower unit rigidly mate. In this alternative form, the padding
includes a first pocket and a second pocket. The first pocket is
adapted to enclose at least the base of the blower unit, and the
second pocket is adapted to at least partly enclose the humidifier
chamber. The two pockets are separate, so that the humidifier
chamber will be disconnected from the blower before the chamber and
the blower can be placed in their respective pockets. That is, the
blower and the chamber cannot be mated to be correctly stored in
the case in their respective pockets. The inner surface of the
upper half includes a protrusion, facing inwards. When the case is
closed, the protrusion locates into a space adjacent to the blower
pocket, and increases the likelihood that the blower cannot be
placed into the first pocket with the chamber rigidly mated to the
blower, and the lid them closed. The protrusion will interfere with
the chamber if a user attempts to close the lid while the chamber
is in position on the blower.
[0091] To provide for increased compliance, the device described
above has been designed with a number of features. For example, the
user-friendliness of the device may be important in improving
compliance. For this reason, the display has been positioned on the
front face of the unit, which improves user-friendliness. In
addition, the display has been designed to incorporate a clock.
Moreover, in some configurations, the clock is designed to
accommodate changes in time zones for travelers. The display also
has been designed to provide compliance feedback to the user, such
as through a smiley face shaped indicator. The device also has been
designed with a control knob interface that is easy to use and
provides a user-friendly experience in controlling the device. To
improve usability, the knob is positioned adjacent to the
display.
[0092] Similarly, a device that is aesthetically pleasing has been
found to promote interaction and reduce cognitive dissonance as a
barrier to therapy. Thus, the illustrated device has been designed
to incorporate into a single small footprint housing several
components that previously were provided as separate components.
For example, the illustrated device integrates into a single
housing the blower unit, the humidifier unit and the power supply.
In so doing, the illustrated device resembles a larger alarm clock
and blends more aesthetically with the environment of a bedroom. In
fact, the illustrated device includes the abilities to play music
or sound files and to set alarms, which emulates features normally
found on alarm clocks, such that the device can replace an alarm
clock in a bedroom setting. Moreover, the smaller footprint allows
the illustrated device to fit comfortably in its entirety on a
bedside stand. Furthermore, the illustrated device has been
designed with few, if any, sharp corners such that the device takes
on a sleek appearance.
[0093] Through the incorporation of one or more of the
above-described features, the illustrated device has been found to
elicit positive emotional and cognitive responses from patients. As
a result, OSA patients have been found to use the illustrated
device more than devices with a different aesthetic and user
interface. The above-described features result in the positive user
response and this translates into increased compliance. A
discussion of an online survey and compliance study are found
below.
[0094] Over a period of time, OSA patients were invited to take
part in an online survey. A total of 179 people completed the
survey, of which 169 (94%) said they were diagnosed with OSA. Of
the 158 people who said they used a CPAP device, 55 (35%) used a
ResMed device, 52 (33%) used a Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
device, and 38 (24%) used a Respironics device. When first
diagnosed with OSA, the majority of respondents (52%) had a
negative initial reaction (freaked out', `confused and
overwhelmed`) to having to use a CPAP device while 44% had a
positive responses (`excitement`, `finally, some relief!`). In
contrast, 48% of respondents reported positive initial reactions to
the ICON.TM. and only 19% reported negative reactions. When shown a
picture of the illustrated device, 59% of those who had not seen it
before reported positive responses while only 4% had a negative
initial response to the product. This is clear evidence of the
positive psychological impact of the illustrated device.
[0095] Positive comments on the illustrated device included: `Nice
machine, easy to use`, ` . . . better design . . . `, ` . . .
stylish looking machine`, `looks good`, and `it's small and compact
. . . ` These comments are strongly related to the emotional
(aesthetic) and cognitive (ease of use) elements. Specific features
that were identified as more likely to promote CPAP usage included
ease of use, user-friendly interface, small and compact size, small
number of connecting parts, internal power supply, discreet,
rounded with smooth edges, and sleek looking. After seeing the
features and a picture of the illustrated device, almost half (87,
49%) of respondents said they would be more likely to use the
illustrated device than their current CPAP device.
[0096] Current CPAP users who had a Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
device were asked to try the illustrated device with the same
settings as their previous device. After one week, compliance with
the illustrated device was compared to the compliance with the
previous device. A total of 18 patients completed the study. On the
days when CPAP was used, the compliance with the illustrated device
was, on average, higher than the previous device. When compliance
is calculated including days when the CPAP was not used, the
illustrated device was used for about 66 minutes more than the
previous device.
[0097] All technological settings were kept the same as the
previous device in this study so the only difference was the style
and function of the illustrated device. It is possible that some of
the increase in due to the Hawthorne effect (simply by being in a
study, the behavior of participants is altered). However, the
increase in compliance is rather large to be only due to this. The
only known comparable study was recently completed by ResMed where
patients were given a new S9 device and it was shown that they used
it for, on average, 30 minutes more per night. This is under half
what was shown by the Fisher & Paykel study.
[0098] Improved perception of treatment and more positive emotional
and cognitive states result in increased adherence to therapy. As
discussed above, the illustrated device elicits more positive
emotional and cognitive responses from OSA patients due to the
style and features in the design of the device. This has also
translated into over 1 hour longer compliance with the illustrated
device as compared to equivalent therapy on an older device.
[0099] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of a certain embodiment, other embodiments apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art also are within the scope of this
invention. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
instance, various components may be repositioned as desired.
Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are
necessarily required to practice the present invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be
defined only by the claims that follow.
* * * * *