Patent · US Expired

Determination of mask fitting pressure and correct mask fit

US6425395B1 · kind B1 · utility

145Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 1999
Grant dateJul 30, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA62B27/00
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A CPAP treatment apparatus, as one form of positive pressure ventilatory assistance, includes a turbine/blower, operated by a mechanically coupled electrical motor that receives air or breathable gas at an inlet thereof, and supplies the breathable gas at a delivery pressure to a delivery tube/hose having a connection at the other end thereof with a nose mask. A microcontroller has an operational “Mask-Fit” mode. An initial constant pressure level is applied by the blower to the mask. If the functional mode is a manual mode, then the mask-fit test pressure is the current ‘set’ pressure. If the functional mode is the automatic titration mode, the mask-fit test pressure is the 95th percentile pressure of the previous session, otherwise it is the base treatment pressure, e.g. 10-12 cm H2O. This constant pressure is applied for a period of time, typically 1-3 minutes. The microcontroller continuously determines mask leak as the value, fLEAK, from a flow sensor, comparing this to a threshold, and providing the patent with a visual indication of degree of leak. In this way the patient can manipulate the mask to ensure correct fitting as indicated by the appropriat…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.