High flow therapy device utilizing a non-sealing respiratory interface and related methods

1. A high flow therapy system for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient, the system comprising:

a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the pressurized respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor; a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas; a pressure pathway

for monitoring pressure of the airway of the patient and communicating the monitored pressure to the microprocessor; and,

a sensor disposed in communication with the pressure pathway, the sensor further disposed in communication with the microprocessor and configured to measure pressure in the airway of the patient,

wherein the system is configured for controlling the flow rate of the respiratory gas delivered to the patient based on the monitored pressure of the airway of the patient during use.

2. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the non-sealing respiratory interface includes a nasal cannula.

3. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed at least partially within the upper airway of the patient.

4. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent the oral cavity of a patient.

5. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further including a fluid conduit extending to the airway of the patient.

6. The high flow therapy system of claim 5 , further including a gas analyzer disposed in communication with the microprocessor.

7. The high flow therapy system of claim 5 , further including a pump disposed in mechanical cooperation with a portion of the conduit and being configured to pump air from the airway of the patient to the high flow therapy system.

8. The high flow therapy system of claim 5 , further including a pump disposed in mechanical cooperation with a portion of the conduit and being configured to pump fluid from the high flow therapy system towards the patient.

9. The high flow therapy system of claim 5 , further including a valve in mechanical cooperation with the fluid conduit, the fluid conduit being configured to allow gas to travel towards the patient.

10. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further including a conduit extending between the oral cavity of the patient and the sensor.

11. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of respiration rate, tidal volume and minute volume are calculated by the microprocessor using data from the airway pressure sensor.

12. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to control at least one of the temperature of the gas, the humidity of the gas, the amount of oxygen in the gas, the flow rate of the gas and the volume of the gas delivered to the patient.

13. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further comprising a blower disposed in mechanical cooperation with the non-sealing respiratory interface and capable of advancing the gas at least partially through the non-sealing respiratory interface.

14. The high flow therapy system of claim 13 , wherein the blower is configured for providing a patient with gas flow rates of up to 60 liters per minute.

15. The high flow therapy system of claim 13 , further including an oxygen inlet configured to connect to an external source of oxygen.

16. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure inspiration pressure and expiration pressure of the patient.

17. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to adjust flow rates based on at least one of a pre-programmed algorithm and a setting inputted by an operator.

18. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further including an oxygen inlet configured to connect to an external source of oxygen.

19. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further including a gas analyzer disposed in communication with the microprocessor.

20. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , further including an alarm in communication with the microprocessor for signaling when patient airway conditions deviate from pre-determined criteria.

21. The high flow therapy system of claim 20 , wherein the alarm provides at least one of visual and auditory feedback.

22. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure pathway is at least partially enclosed within the gas flow pathway.

23. The high flow therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure pathway and the gas flow pathway are provided by a dual lumen conduit.

24. A high flow therapy device for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient, the high flow therapy device, comprising:

a microprocessor configured to control a flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas;

a respiratory gas flow pathway; a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas; a first interface

configured to deliver the gas to a patient; and

a sensor disposed in communication with the microprocessor and configured to measure pressure in an airway of the patient; and

a second interface configured to facilitate measuring pressure of the airway of the patient disposed in mechanical communication with the sensor.

25. The high flow therapy device of claim 24 , further including at least one conduit extending between a portion of the second interface and the sensor.

26. The high flow therapy device of claim 24 , wherein the second interface includes a mouthpiece.

27. A high flow therapy system for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient, the system comprising:

a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the pressurized respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor; a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas; and,

a pressure pathway for monitoring pressure of the airway of the patient and communicating the monitored pressure to the microprocessor;

wherein the system is configured to provide for adjustment of the flow rate of the respiratory gas so that the flow rate of the respiratory gas is one of equals and exceeds the inspiratory flow rate of the patient during use.

28. The high flow therapy system of claim 27 , wherein the non-sealing respiratory interface includes a nasal cannula.

29. The high flow therapy system of claim 27 , wherein the system is configured for controlling the flow rate of the respiratory gas delivered to the patient based on the monitored pressure of the airway of the patient during use.

30. The high flow therapy system of claim 27 , further including an alarm in communication with the microprocessor for signaling when patient airway conditions deviate from pre-determined criteria.

31. The high flow therapy system of claim 27 , further including a sensor disposed in communication with the pressure pathway, the sensor further disposed in communication with the microprocessor and configured to measure pressure in the airway of the patient.

32. The high flow therapy system of claim 31 , wherein at least one of respiration rate, tidal volume and minute volume are calculated by the microprocessor using data from the airway pressure sensor.

33. The high flow therapy system of claim 31 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure inspiration pressure and expiration pressure of the patient.

34. The high flow therapy system of claim 27 , wherein the system is configured for providing a patient with gas flow rates of up to 60 liters per minute.

35. A high flow therapy system for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient, the system comprising:

a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the pressurized respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor; a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas; and,

a pressure pathway for monitoring pressure of the airway of the patient and communicating the monitored pressure to the microprocessor;

wherein the system is configured to provide for adjustment of the flow rate of the respiratory gas so that the monitored inspiratory pressure of the airway of the patient during use is one of equals and exceeds the ambient air pressure.

36. The high flow therapy system of claim 35 , wherein at least one of respiration rate, tidal volume and minute volume are calculated by the microprocessor using data from the monitored airway pressure.

37. A high flow therapy system for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient, the system comprising:

a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the pressurized respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor; a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway; a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas; and,

a pressure pathway for monitoring pressure of the airway of the patient and communicating the monitored pressure to the microprocessor;

wherein the system is configured to provide for adjustment of the flow rate of the respiratory gas so that entrainment of ambient air by the patient during use is one of minimized and eliminated.

38. The high flow therapy system of claim 37 , wherein the system is configured for controlling the flow rate of the respiratory gas delivered to the patient based on the monitored pressure of the airway of the patient during use.

39. The high flow therapy system of claim 37 , wherein at least one of respiration rate, tidal volume and minute volume are calculated by the microprocessor using data from the monitored airway pressure.

40. The high flow therapy system of claim 37 , further including an alarm in communication with the microprocessor for signaling when patient airway conditions deviate from pre-determined criteria.

41. The high flow therapy system of claim 37 , wherein the system is configured for providing a patient with gas flow rates of up to 60 liters per minute.