Abstract: A pressure support ventilatory assist device is disclosed. Pressure is provided by a blower which is operated at the minimum speed necessary to achieve the desired inspiration pressure. Pressure regulation is achieved by means of a novel pressure regulator valve, rather than by modulating blower speed, thereby reducing perceptible noise. The flow sensor is removed from its conventional location between the regulator valve and the patient mask to a location upstream of the regulator valve to minimize resistance to patient expiration and to isolate the valve from possible fluids in the tubing. Since the flow sensor in this location cannot sense expiration flows, the device includes circuitry for generating a model of the expiratory waveform based upon the inspiratory waveform. Actual pressure is then modulated to conform to the model waveform.

Abstract: A pressure support ventilatory assist device is disclosed. Pressure is provided by a blower which is operated at the minimum speed necessary to achieve the desired inspiration pressure. Pressure regulation is achieved by means of a novel pressure regulator valve, rather than by modulating blower speed, thereby reducing perceptible noise. The flow sensor is removed from its conventional location between the regulator valve and the patient mask to a location upstream of the regulator valve to minimize resistance to patient expiration and to isolate the valve from possible fluids in the tubing. Since the flow sensor in this location cannot sense expiration flows, the device includes circuitry for generating a model of the expiratory waveform based upon the inspiratory waveform. Actual pressure is then modulated to conform to the model waveform.

Abstract: A pressure support ventilatory assist device is disclosed. Pressure is provided by a blower which is operated at the minimum speed necessary to achieve the desired inspiration pressure. Pressure regulation is achieved by means of a novel pressure regulator valve, rather than by modulating blower speed, thereby reducing perceptible noise. The flow sensor is removed from its conventional location between the regulator valve and the patient mask to a location upstream of the regulator valve to minimize resistance to patient expiration and to isolate the valve from possible fluids in the tubing. Since the flow sensor in this location cannot sense expiration flows, the device includes circuitry for generating a model of the expiratory waveform based upon the inspiratory waveform. Actual pressure is then modulated to conform to the model waveform.

Abstract: A device treats sleep apnea by supplying pressurized air to the nasal passages of a user through a connection device connected to said control device through a hose. The device includes a blower which pressurizes air and which supplies the pressurized air to the connection device, and a control device adapted to control the pressure level supplied by the generating device. The control device incudes a ramp generating device adapted to selectively control the generating device to generate pressurized air at a pressure level which increases for a preset time to a preset prescribed pressure level, and an override device which, when actuated, overrides the ramp generating device and which controls the generating device to immediately generate pressurized air at the preset prescribed pressure level.