Positive airway pressure system with head position control
The invention is directed to a positive airway pressure (PAP) system with a head mounted harness assembly with a housing and a head position sensor located within or secured to the housing that detects the position of a patient's head, and communicates this head position information to a controller of the system which may be disposed within the housing having the position sensor or a second housing. The controller varies the output pressure of the pressure source, e.g. a rotary compressor, based, at least in part, on the head position information provided by the head position sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the position sensor is an accelerometer.
1. A method for providing pressurized air to an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
delivering pressurized air from a pressure source to the patient's airway;
sensing the patient's head position with a sensor; and
adjusting, using a controller, pressure of the pressurized air so that pressure delivered is at a maximum when the patient's head position is a supine head position, there is a pressure drop of the pressurized air delivered when the patient's head is at a position between the supine head position and a position 90° from the supine head position, and there is a maximum rate of pressure drop of the pressurized air delivered when the patient's head is between 30° and 60° from the supine head position.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting pressure in multiple pressure drop steps between the supine head position and the position 90° from the supine head position.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the rate of pressure drop between 30° and 60° from the supine head position is constant.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting pressure in a plurality of pressure steps between the supine head position and 90° from the supine head position.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering the pressurized air to the patient's airway through a mask attached to the patient.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising attaching a head position sensor to the patient's head.
7. A positive airway pressure system for delivering pressurized air to an airway of a patient, the system comprising:
a pressure source configured to provide the pressurized air;
a mask configured to deliver the pressurized air to the patient's airway;
a head position sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a position of the patient's head; and
a controller configured to receive the head position sensor output signal and to adjust pressure of the pressurized air so that the pressure is at a maximum when the patient's head position is a supine head position, there is a pressure drop of the pressurized air delivered when the patient's head is at a position between the supine head position and a position 90° from the supine head position, and there is a maximum rate of pressure drop of the pressurized air delivered when the patient's head is between 30° and 60° from the supine head position.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the head position sensor is configured to be attached to the patient's head.