Acclimatization therapy for first time users
Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses for acclimatizing a user to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy are provided. Generally, a sub-therapeutic treatment pressure is provided initially. It may be ramped up to a full treatment pressure over the course of one or more therapy sessions. The pressure level may be ramped up based on, for example, sleep state, sleep phase, patient compliance with types of treatment (e.g. bilevel vs. CPAP, etc.), clinician input (either at the site, remotely, via pre-programmed smartcards, etc.), etc. Such techniques may be used alone or in combination.
1. A method of acclimatizing a patient to therapy for treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of full treatment pressures, each full treatment pressure being associated with a sleep stage;
determining the sleep stage of the patient;
providing a supply of pressurized breathable gas to the patient in dependence on the sleep stage of the patient; and
for each sleep stage:
providing the breathable gas at a limited pressure lower than a full treatment pressure; and,
ramping up the pressure of the breathable gas from the limited pressure to the full treatment pressure for the associated determined sleep stage of the patient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first pressure provided to the patient during a comparatively active sleep stage is lower than a second pressure provided to the patient during a comparatively inactive sleep state.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the comparatively active sleep stage is REM sleep, and the comparatively inactive sleep stage is NREM sleep.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the supply of breathable gas is provided at a low pressure when the patient is awake.
5. A PAP device for acclimatizing a patient to therapy for treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, comprising:
a sensor for determining a sleep stage of the patient, each sleep stage having a treatment pressure associated therewith;
a flow generator configured to:
provide a supply of pressurized breathable gas to the patient in dependence on the sleep stage of the patient;
adjust the treatment pressure of the breathable gas if the sensor determines that the sleep stage of the patient changes,
for each sleep stage:
initially provide the breathable gas at a limited pressure lower than the treatment pressure associated with the sleep stage; and
ramp up the pressure of the breathable gas from the limited pressure to the treatment pressure associated with the sleep stage.
6. The PAP device of claim 5 , wherein a first pressure provided to the patient during a comparatively active sleep stage is lower than a second pressure provided to the patient during a comparatively inactive sleep state.
7. The PAP device of claim 6 , wherein the comparatively active sleep stage is REM sleep, and the comparatively inactive sleep stage is NREM sleep.
8. The PAP device of claim 5 , wherein the flow generator provides the breathable gas at a low pressure when the sensor indicates that the patient is awake.
9. A method of supplying a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the method comprising:
monitoring a breathing parameter of the patient that is indicative of the patient's breathing by deriving indications of a flow limitation that includes at least one of flow flattening, snore, and the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI);
determining a first sleep stage of the patient based on the monitored breath parameter;
supplying the flow of breathable gas to a patient interface from a blower via an air conduit, the flow of breathable gas supplied at a first pressure that is based on the first sleep stage;
detecting a change from the first sleep stage in accordance with the monitored breathing parameter; and
adjusting the flow of breathable gas to a second pressure based on the detected change.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the flow of breathable gas to the second pressure includes a decrease from the first pressure to the second pressure.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second pressure is substantially no pressure.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second pressure is a comfortable awake pressure.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second pressure is associated with a sleep stage is when the patient is awake.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first sleep stage is when the patient is asleep.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting a change from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage further includes detecting an arousal in the patient.
16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for controlling a flow of breathable gas from a blower via an air conduit to a patient interface that is worn by a patient, the stored instructions comprising instructions configured to:
receive measured pressure and/or flow data from a sensor that is configured to monitor the patient breathing;
classify a patient into one of a plurality of sleep states, the plurality of sleep states including first and second sleep states in accordance with the measured pressure and/or flow;
control a supply of breathable gas to the patient interface at a first pressure when the patient is classified into the first sleep state;
detect a transition of the patient from the first sleep state to the second sleep state in accordance with the measured pressure and/or flow; and
change a supply of breathable gas to the patient interface from the first pressure to a second pressure in accordance with detection of the transition.
17. The medium of claim 16 , wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure.
18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the second pressure is substantially no pressure or a comfortable awake pressure for the patient.
19. The medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further configured to detect arousal(s).
20. The medium of claim 19 , wherein the transition detected is further based on the detected arousal(s).
21. The medium of claim 16 , wherein the second sleep state corresponds to an awake state of the patient.
22. The medium of claim 21 , wherein the first sleep state corresponds to the patient sleeping.
23. A PAP apparatus comprising:
a flow generator that is configured to supply pressurized breathable gas to a patient; and
a sensor configured to monitor a breathing parameter that is indicative of a measured pressure and/or flow that is associated with the pressurized breathable gas supplied to the patient; and
at least one processor configured to:
distinguish a first sleep stage from a plurality of sleep stages based on the monitored breathing parameter;
detect when the patient is transitioning to a second stage from the first sleep stage based on the monitored breathing parameter,
wherein the flow generator is configured to adjust a pressure of the supplied breathable gas to the patient in accordance with detection of the transition.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second sleep stage corresponds to an awake state of the patient.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the first sleep stage corresponds to the patient being asleep.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the adjusted pressure is decreased.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the adjusted pressure is substantially no pressure or a comfortable awake pressure for the patient.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , where the flow generator is further configured to control the flow of pressurized breathable gas to the patient based a transition from the second sleep stage to the first sleep stage.
29. The PAP apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the flow generator is further configured to adjust an inspiratory pressure of the supplied breathable gas to the patient differently that an expiratory pressure in accordance with detection of the transition.