Patents by Inventor Colin E. Sullivan

Colin E. Sullivan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6886564
    Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of a human includes a series of flexible stretchable straps formed from an elastomeric material for locating the mask against the human face. The straps are integrally formed or joined to define a perimeter enclosing an aperture adapted to fit around the nasal area of a human. The straps are configured to approximate to the three dimensional shape of the region around the nasal area of the human face as they arm stretched, to form a tight fitting seal. The mask may be used with or without a manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Australian Centre for Advanced Medical Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Paul Wilkie
  • Patent number: 6705315
    Abstract: A CPAP apparatus including: a variable pressured air source and means to vary the air pressure delivered therefrom; a nose piece for sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system; an air communication line from the air source to the nose piece; a sound transducer adapted to be in sound communication with the patient's respiratory system; and a feedback system controlling the output pressure of the air source in response to an output from the transducer so as to increase the output air pressure from said air source, in response to detection of sound indicative of snoring, in accordance with a predefined procedure. The sound transducer, in its most general form, comprises a pressure transducer which, in addition to detecting snoring sounds, can detect other respiratory parameters such as the rate of breathing, inhaled air flow volume, and inhaled air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Publication number: 20030145857
    Abstract: A mask (10) for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of a human includes a series of flexible stretchable straps (12, 14, 16) formed from an clastomeric material for locating the mask (10) against the human face. The straps (12, 14, 16) are integrally formed or joined to define a perimeter (18) enclosing an aperture (20) adapted to fit around the nasal area of a human. The straps (12, 14, 16) are configured to approximate to the three dimensional shape of the region around the nasal area of the human face as they arm strethed, to form a tight fitting seal. The mask may be used with or without a manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Paul Wilkie
  • Publication number: 20020096173
    Abstract: The present invention discloses both a method of operating CPAP apparatus, and the apparatus itself in which a breathable gas delivery device, or mask (1), is connected to a gas supply pump (14) via a conduit which includes a restriction to gas flow such as a small bore portion (3). A pressure transducer (11) is used to sense the gas pressure at the patient's nose and the transducer output is used to servo-control the pump (14) to maintian the sensed pressure substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: MICHAEL BERTHON-JONES, MICHEL CALLUAUD, CHRISTOPHER E. LYNCH, COLIN E. SULLIVAN
  • Patent number: 6398739
    Abstract: Patient may operate a CPAP system to deliver appropriate airway pressure home. A patient's apnea problem can be diagnosed at home without supervision with a CPAP device which delivers a continuously minimum appropriate pressure for substantially the entire period of therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Publication number: 20020007127
    Abstract: A CPAP apparatus including: a variable pressured air source and means to vary the air pressure delivered therefrom; a nose piece for sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system; an air communication line from the air source to the nose piece; a sound transducer adapted to be in sound communication with the patient's respiratory system; and a feedback system controlling the output pressure of the air source in response to an output from the transducer so as to increase the output air pressure from said air source, in response to detection of sound indicative of snoring, in accordance with a predefined procedure. The sound transducer, in its most general form, comprises a pressure transducer which, in addition to detecting snoring sounds, can detect other respiratory parameters such as the rate of breathing, inhaled air flow volume, and inhaled air flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Patent number: 6039044
    Abstract: A mask for use in delivering gas to a user and which accommodates relative movement of a connecting gas supply line. The mask has a face contacting portion (28) which is shaped to define a chamber (29) through which gas is delivered to the respiratory tract of the user and, in a preferred form of the mask, the face contacting portion (28) is formed with a convex end region (30) which is arranged in use of the mask to be depressed by and to accommodate facial features of the user. A gas supply port (27) is formed integrally with a wall portion (35) of the chamber (29) and the port provides for connection of a supply of pressurized gas to the interior of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: University of Sydney
    Inventor: Colin E. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5817035
    Abstract: A device and method for monitoring over a period of time a foetus in a pregnant mammalian animal. A piezoelectric synthetic plastics material detector is applied to the abdomen of the pregnant animal and produces an electrical signal as a result of foetal activity such as foetal body movement, breathing movement and heart rate. This signal is received in receiver means and is compared with previously determined signals characteristic of various types of foetal activity. Output means produce an output indicative of the activities of the foetus over the monitored period from which can be gauged foetal development and/or well being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The Institute of Respiratory Medicine Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin E. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5522382
    Abstract: An air flow device and a method useful for the treatment of upper airway disordered breathing. The invention provides an airflow device having a means for delivering variable pressure levels of breathable air to a patient's respiratory system with a means for controlling the time during which the delivered pressurized air rises from an initial pressure level to a higher operating pressure level. The device increases the pressure level of gas delivered to the patient over a plurality of breaths taken by the patient. This type of device is useful for treating a wide variety of sleeping and breathing disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: ResCare Limited
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Patent number: 5245995
    Abstract: A CPAP apparatus including: a variable pressured air source and means to vary the air pressure delivered therefrom; a nose piece for sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system; an air communication line from the air source to the nose piece; a sound transducer adapted to be in sound communication with the patient's respiratory system; and a feedback system controlling the output pressure of the air source in response to an output from the transducer so as to increase the output air pressure from said air source, in response to detection of sound indicative of snoring, in accordance with a predefined procedure. The sound transducer, in its most general form, comprises a pressure transducer which, in addition to detecting snoring sounds, can detect other respiratory parameters such as the rate of breathing, inhaled air flow volume, and inhaled air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: ResCare Limited
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Patent number: 5243971
    Abstract: A nasal mask which is suitable for use in a continuous positive airway pressure system. The mask has a face contacting portion mounted to a shell which is sized and shaped to overfit the nose region of an intended wearer, and the face contacting portion is in the form of a distendable membrane which is moulded from an elastic plastics material. The distendable membrane and the shell together define a chamber, and pressurised gas admitted to the chamber causes the membrane to distend outwardly from the shell. When placed in contact with the face of the wearer, the distendable membrane is caused to overlay the covered facial regions and, under the influence of the pressurised gas, to conform three-dimensionally with the contours of the overlayed regions. An orifice is formed within the membrane and is shaped and positioned to admit gas from the chamber to the nasal passages of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Jakob W. Bruderer
  • Patent number: 5199424
    Abstract: A CPAP apparatus including: a variable pressured air source and means to vary the air pressure delivered therefrom; a nose piece for sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system; an air communication line from the air source to the nose piece; a sound transducer adapted to be in sound communication with the patient's respiratory system; and a feedback system controlling the output pressure of the air source in response to an output from the transducer so as to increase the output air pressure from said air source, in response to detection of sound indicative of snoring, in accordance with a predefined procedure. The sound transducer, in its most general form, comprises a pressure transducer which, in addition to detecting snoring sounds, can detect other respiratory parameters such as the rate of breathing, inhaled air flow volume, and inhaled air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventors: Colin E. Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
  • Patent number: 4944310
    Abstract: A device which may be used in the treatment of snoring sickness. An air blower supplies high volume air at slightly greater than atmospheric pressure to a flexible tube (2). Such air is communicated via tube (2) through nose piece (3), further through flexible tube (4) and a restrictive air outlet device (9). Communicating with nose piece (3) is a face mask (5) adapted to be sealingly attached to a patient's nose and providing communication between the patient's nostrils and the interior of nose piece (3). By varying the restriction of device (9) the air pressure at the region of nose piece (3) and also the patient's nostrils can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Somed Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin E. Sullivan
  • Patent number: D322318
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Baxter Centre For Medical Research Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Colin E. Sullivan