Wearable Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) with Primary and Bolus Airflow
This invention can be embodied as a wearable self-contained device that provides energy-efficient Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This device includes a primary airflow member and a bolus airflow member which operate together in a coordinated manner to provide just the right amount of pressure that is needed at any given time in order to keep the person's airway open in the most energy-efficient manner. The bolus airflow member can accumulate energy over multiple respiratory cycles and use this energy to release a bolus of air when needed. Energy efficiency is particularly critical for wearable self-contained Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) systems that a person can wear on their head without a tube connection to a bedside unit or a continuous wire connection to an external power source.
1 . A wearable positive airway pressure device comprising:
a primary airflow member that creates pressurized airflow which is sent into a person's airway, wherein this airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body; and
a bolus airflow member that accumulates energy during a time when there is a low probability of the person having an airway obstruction event and uses this accumulated energy to send a bolus of pressurized air into the person's airway during a time when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event; wherein airflow from the primary airflow member can be directed into the person's airway without going through a portion of the bolus airflow member; wherein airflow from the bolus airflow member can be directed into the person's airway without going through a portion of the primary airflow member; and wherein the bolus airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body.
2 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the winding of a spring or other tensile member and creates a bolus of airflow from the release of this energy as the spring or other tensile member unwinds.
3 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy transduced from an electric motor.
4 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy transduced from airflow from the primary airflow member.
5 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy transduced from airflow from the person's exhalation.
6 . The time when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event in claim 1 wherein this time is based on one or more selected portions of the person's respiratory cycle.
7 . The time when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event in claim 1 wherein this time is based on results from a sensor that monitors to detect airway obstruction events.
8 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member can accumulate energy over the span of multiple respiratory cycles.
9 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member transduces energy accumulated over the span of multiple respiratory cycles into a bolus of airflow that is sent into the person's airway only during a selected respiratory cycle when there is a high probability that the person is having, or could have, an airway obstruction event.
10 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the stretching of an elastic member and creates a bolus of airflow from the release of this energy as the elastic member contracts.
11 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the acceleration of a flywheel and creates a bolus of airflow from the release of this energy as the flywheel decelerates.
12 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the inflation of a variable-volume air reservoir and creates a bolus of airflow from the release of this energy as the variable-volume air reservoir deflates.
13 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the pressurization of a fixed-volume air reservoir and creates a bolus of airflow from the release of this energy as the variable-volume air reservoir depressurizes.
14 . The bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein this bolus airflow member accumulates energy in the charging of a battery, chip, and/or capacitor with electricity and creates a bolus of airflow from the discharge of electricity from this battery, chip, or capacitor.
15 . The primary airflow member and bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein these members are worn outside the person's body.
16 . The primary airflow member and bolus airflow member in claim 1 wherein these members are partially or completely placed within the person's nasal cavity and/or oral cavity.
17 . A wearable positive airway pressure device comprising:
a primary airflow member that creates pressurized airflow which is sent into a person's airway, wherein this airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body;
a bolus airflow member that accumulates energy during a time when there is a low probability of the person having an airway obstruction event and uses this accumulated energy to send a bolus of pressurized air into the person's airway during a time when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event; wherein this bolus airflow member transduces energy accumulated over the span of multiple respiratory cycles into a bolus of airflow that is sent into the person's airway only during a selected respiratory cycle when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event; wherein airflow from the primary airflow member can be directed into the person's airway without going through a portion of the bolus airflow member; wherein airflow from the bolus airflow member can be directed into the person's airway without going through a portion of the primary airflow member; and wherein the bolus airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body; and
a control unit that controls the accumulation of energy in the bolus airflow member over the span of multiple respiratory cycles and the release of the bolus of airflow from that accumulated energy only during a selected respiratory cycle when a sensor indicates that there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event.
18 . The control unit in claim 18 wherein this control unit allows adjustment of one or more of the following operational parameters: the timing, duration, efficiency, or amount of energy accumulated during a respiratory cycle; the timing, duration, efficiency or amount energy accumulated over the span of multiple respiratory cycles; the criteria for release of the airflow bolus; and the timing, duration, efficiency or amount of the airflow bolus.
19 . A method of providing positive airway pressure device comprising:
accumulating energy within a bolus airflow member during a time when there is a low probability of the person having an airway obstruction event, wherein the bolus airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body;
using energy accumulated within the bolus airflow member to create a bolus of pressurized air which is sent into a person's airway only when there is a high probability of the person having an airway obstruction event; and
and also creating a more-continuous pressurized airflow which is sent into a person's airway using a primary airflow member, wherein airflow from the primary airflow member can be directed to reach the person's airway without going through a portion of the bolus airflow member; wherein airflow from the bolus airflow member can be directed into the person's airway without going through a portion of the primary airflow member; and wherein the primary airflow member is configured to be located substantially within nine inches of the surface of the person's body.