Abstract: A method and system of generating indicia indicative of start of an inhalation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising sensing respirations of a patient, determining the start of an inhalation portion of a respiration, and providing a first indicia indicative of the start of the inhalation portion (the first indicia associated with a representation of the respiration).

Abstract: At least some of the illustrative embodiments are hose systems for use with a positive airway pressure device comprising a first hose configured to fluidly couple on a device end to a first outlet of the positive airway pressure device and on a patient end to a first naris of a patient, and a second hose configured to fluidly couple on a device end to a second outlet of the positive airway pressure device and on a patient end to a second naris of the patient (wherein the second hose is fluidly independent from the first hose). The hose system is configured such that the first hose only couples to the first outlet and the second hose only couples to the second outlet.

Abstract: A method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of a therapeutic gas cylinder, and filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device substantially to the rated pressure.

Abstract: A system for filling a portable cylinder with therapeutic gas, and providing therapeutic gas to a patient. Therapeutic gas delivery to a patient may be through a conserver, or may be in a continuous mode. Some embodiments of the invention may test the contents of the portable cylinder prior to filling. The specification also discloses a silent mode of operation where therapeutic gas is provided from the system by means of internal and/or external cylinders.

Abstract: A method and related systems to selective control operational modes of positive airway pressure systems. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising inserting a memory card into a card reader of a positive airway pressure device, and selectively operating the positive airway pressure device in at least one of a first pressure control mode where pressure applied is substantially continuous across a patient's respiratory cycle, or a second pressure control mode where the pressure applied is reduced during exhalation of the patient (the operating based on information stored on the memory card).

Abstract: A method and system of individually controlling positive airway pressure of a patient's nares. Some exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising applying therapeutic gas pressure within a first naris of a patient during respiration, and applying therapeutic gas pressure within a second naris of the patient during the respiration. The therapeutic gas pressures applied to each naris are different.

Abstract: A method and related system of leak detection in application of positive airway pressure. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising supplying positive airway pressure to a patient, and simultaneously sensing proximate to the patient an attribute of airflow indicative of air leaks. The air leaks could be from a mask used by the patient, or the air leak could be through the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A method and related system of controlling therapeutic gas provided to a patient in positive airway pressure applications. Some of the illustrative embodiments may be a method comprising supplying therapeutic gas at a first pressure to a first naris of patient during a current respiratory cycle and a subsequent respiratory cycle, selecting a second pressure based on an attribute of airflow through a second naris of the patient, and supplying therapeutic gas at the second pressure to the second naris during the current respiratory cycle.

Abstract: A trans-fill method and system comprising obtaining therapeutic gas from a therapeutic gas source, compressing the therapeutic gas from the therapeutic gas source in at least two stages to create an intermediate therapeutic gas stream and a high pressure therapeutic gas stream, supplying therapeutic gas to a patient from the intermediate therapeutic gas stream, and filling a cylinder with the therapeutic gas from the high pressure therapeutic gas stream substantially simultaneously with supplying therapeutic gas to the patient.

Abstract: A method and system of scoring sleep disordered breathing. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising sensing an attribute of respiratory airflow of a first breath of a patient, converting the attribute to a volume value proportional to the volume of the air respired by the patient, and determining whether the patient experienced a hypopnea or an apnea by comparing the volume value to a reference value created using a value proportional to the volume of a breath preceding the first breath.

Abstract: A nasal cannula. Some illustrative embodiments are a cannula comprising a first nasal tube having a device end and an aperture end (the cannula configured to place the aperture end in fluid communication with the first naris of a patient), a second nasal tubing having a device end and an aperture end (the cannula configured to place the aperture end of the second nasal tubing in fluid communication with a second naris of the patient), and an oral tubing having a device end and an aperture end, and the oral tubing mechanically coupled to at least one of the first or second nasal tubing (the cannula configured to place the aperture end of the oral tubing in fluid communication with the mouth of a patient). The first nasal tubing, the second nasal tubing and the oral tubing are fluidly independent between their aperture ends and their device ends.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapeutic gas to a patient to prevent breathing airway collapse during sleep. Some exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising providing a flow of therapeutic gas to a patient during a plurality of inhalations, detecting a flow rate of the therapeutic gas of at least one of the patient's nares during a first inhalation of the plurality of inhalations, and increasing the flow of therapeutic gas in a second inhalation of the plurality of inhalations based on an amount the flow rate of therapeutic gas in the first inhalation is less than a set point therapeutic gas flow.

Abstract: An improved nasal cannula. Some illustrative embodiments are a cannula comprising a first nasal tube having a device end and an aperture end (wherein the cannula is configured to place the aperture end in fluid communication with the first naris of a patient), a second nasal tubing having a device end and an aperture end (wherein the cannula is configured to place the aperture end of the second nasal tubing in fluid communication with a second naris of the patient), and an oral tubing having a device end and an aperture end, and the oral tubing mechanically coupled to at least one of the first or second nasal tubing (wherein the cannula is configured to place the aperture end of the oral tubing in fluid communication with the mouth of a patient). The first nasal tubing, the second nasal tubing and the oral tubing are fluidly independent between their aperture ends and their device ends.

Abstract: A method and related system to determine nasal resistance to airflow. Some of the exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising measuring an attribute of airflow through a first naris of a patient without blocking a second naris of the patient, measuring an attribute of airflow through the second naris of the patient without blocking the first naris, and determining a value indicative of nasal resistance to airflow based on the attributes measured.

Abstract: A system for filling a portable cylinder with therapeutic gas, and providing therapeutic gas to a patient. Therapeutic gas delivery to a patient may be through a conserver, or may be in a continuous mode. Some embodiments of the invention may test the contents of the portable cylinder prior to filling. The specification also discloses a silent mode of operation where therapeutic gas is provided from the system by means of internal and/or external cylinders.

Abstract: A method and system of individually controlling positive airway pressure of a patient's nares. Some exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising applying therapeutic gas pressure within a first naris of a patient during respiration, and applying therapeutic gas pressure within a second naris of the patient during the respiration. The therapeutic gas pressures applied to each naris are different.