Abstract: A cannula configured to provide positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and oxygen to a patient, including: a base including an oxygen opening and an inhalation opening; a valve including an inhalation flap valve that closes the inhalation opening and a PEP flap valve; a valve retainer including a flow opening and an exhalation opening, wherein the PEP flap valve closes the exhalation opening; and a nasal pillow seated on the valve retainer.

Abstract: A mucus clearance system and method for automatically adjusting various parameters of a ventilator, including Fall Time, Rise Time, and Inspiratory Time, within a prescribed pressure, which are adjusted and based on sensor input data to achieve a targeted Flow Bias difference or ratio.

Abstract: A method for controlling a ventilator to provide variable volume (VV) with average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS), including: producing a VV target volume using a VV distribution function; producing a volume error Verror that is the difference between the VV target volume and a measured volume of the previous breath; scaling the volume error Verror; producing a VV target difference as the difference between VV target volume and the VV target volume of the previous breath; producing a modified volume error by adding the VV target difference to the scaled volume error Verror; producing a delta pressure support ?PS based upon the modified volume error and a dynamic compliance; and producing a current pressure support value based upon the delta pressure support ?PS and the pressure support value of the previous breath.

Abstract: A cannula configured to provide positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and oxygen to a patient, including: a base including an oxygen opening and an inhalation opening; a valve including an inhalation flap valve that closes the inhalation opening and a PEP flap valve; a valve retainer including a flow opening and an exhalation opening, wherein the PEP flap valve closes the exhalation opening; and a nasal pillow seated on the valve retainer.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a patient condition includes receiving sensor information over an observation period, generating one or more metrics based on the sensor information, comparing the one or metrics to reference information to determine deviation information, and generating a risk score indicating a probability that a patient is experiencing an COPD-related event based on the deviation information. The sensor information is received from one or more sensors at predetermined locations of a patient location.

Abstract: A parameter translation system configured to determine respiratory therapy control parameters is provided. When a subject is prescribed respiratory therapy, his or her regimen will likely include receiving therapy from several different respiratory therapy devices. Respiratory therapy devices are often designed and/or approved for a niche depending on acuity of respiratory distress and/or insufficiency in the subject, the physical location of the subject, and/or other factors. These respiratory devices are made by a variety of manufacturers and deliver therapy with a variety of therapy regimes, settings, alarm parameters, and/or other control parameters. It is a laborious process to transfer such control parameters between two or more respiratory therapy devices.

Abstract: A ventilator that is small, lightweight, and portable, yet capable of being quickly adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes and configurations to deliver a variety of therapies to a patent. A porting system having a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, and a number of porting blocks is used to reconfigure the ventilator so that it operates as a single-limb or dual limb ventilator. In the single-limb configuration, an active or passive exhaust assembly can be provided proximate to the patient. The ventilator is capable of operate in a volume or pressure support mode, even in a single-limb configuration. In addition, a power control mechanism controls the supply of power to the ventilator from an AC power source, a lead acid battery, an internal rechargeable battery pack, and a detachable battery pack.

Abstract: A ventilator that is small, lightweight, and portable, yet capable of being quickly adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes and configurations to deliver a variety of therapies to a patient. A porting system having a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, and a number of porting blocks is used to reconfigure the ventilator so that it operates as a single-limb or dual limb ventilator. In the single-limb configuration, an active or passive exhaust assembly can be provided proximate to the patient. The ventilator is capable of operate in a volume or pressure support mode, even in a single-limb configuration. In addition, a power control mechanism controls the supply of power to the ventilator from an AC power source, a lead acid battery, an internal rechargeable battery pack, and a detachable battery pack.

Abstract: A method of estimating the upper airway resistance of a patient using a gas delivery system includes delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient through the patient circuit of the gas delivery system, superimposing an oscillatory pressure on the flow of breathing gas during an expiratory phase of the patient, determining a first amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas pressure provided to the patient at an end of the expiratory phase, determining a second amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas flow provided to the patient at the end of the expiratory phase, determining a first resistance value based on the ratio of the first amplitude to the second amplitude, and determining an upper airway resistance value based on the first resistance value.

Abstract: Sleep apnea can be treated using positive airway pressure. Methods and systems for determining a level of airway obstruction allow beneficial adjustments to the level of expiratory positive airway pressure used to treat a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a parameter translation system configured to determine respiratory therapy control parameters. When a subject is prescribed respiratory therapy, his or her regimen will likely include receiving therapy from several different respiratory therapy devices. Respiratory therapy devices are often designed and/or approved for a niche depending on acuity of respiratory distress and/or insufficiency in the subject, the physical location of the subject, and/or other factors. These respiratory devices are made by a variety of manufacturers and deliver therapy with a variety of therapy regimes, settings, alarm parameters, and/or other control parameters. It is a laborious process to transfer such control parameters between two or more respiratory therapy devices.

Abstract: A pressurized flow of breathable gas is delivered to the airway of a subject in accordance with a therapy regimen. The therapy regimen calls for maintenance of an average tidal volume. The therapy ensures that the subject breaths at a therapeutic breath rate. The breath rate may be determined dynamically based on breathing of the subject early on in a therapy session and/or based on a detected wakefulness of the subject. Inspiration for spontaneous and non-spontaneous breaths may be supported at different levels. The therapy regimen further maintains a beneficial positive end expiratory pressure, to reduce respiratory obstructions and/or for other purposes.

Abstract: A pressurized flow of breathable gas is delivered to the airway of a subject in accordance with a therapy regimen. One or more fluid parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas are adjusted based on the therapy regimen. The therapy regimen dictates that such adjustments be made based on the respiratory state of the subject. Transitions in respiratory state are identified without relying on measurement or estimation of flow at or near the airway of subject. Transitions in respiratory state are identified based on changes in the first time derivative of flow at or near the airway of the subject. In one embodiment, an effort parameter is determined that approximates the second time derivative of flow. Based on comparisons of the effort parameter to a dynamic threshold, transitions in respiratory state are identified.

Abstract: The disclosed concept maintains that Qp=Qc?Qleak, where, Qp is the estimated patient flow, Qleak is the estimated leak and Qc is the measured total circuit flow. Qleak is given by a transfer function ?(?) where x is a set of independent measured or fixed variables. The transfer function is thus Qleak=?(?). The transfer function (?(?) is adjusted given the constraint that, Qp shall be zero. The transfer function converges over time to accurately estimate the leak because over an extended time the mean patient flow will always be zero. In one example, ?(?)=gorfP? and the coefficient gorf is adapted until Qp is zero.

Abstract: A ventilator that is small, lightweight, and portable, yet capable of being quickly adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes and configurations to deliver a variety of therapies to a patent. A porting system having a plurality of sensors structured to monitor a number of parameters with respect to the flow of gas, and a number of porting blocks is used to reconfigure the ventilator so that it operates as a single-limb or dual limb ventilator. In the single-limb configuration, an active or passive exhaust assembly can be provided proximate to the patient. The ventilator is capable of operate in a volume or pressure support mode, even in a single-limb configuration. In addition, a power control mechanism controls the supply of power to the ventilator from an AC power source, a lead acid battery, an internal rechargeable battery pack, and a detachable battery pack.

Abstract: A method of estimating the upper airway resistance of a patient using a gas delivery system includes delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient through the patient circuit of the gas delivery system, superimposing an oscillatory pressure on the flow of breathing gas during an expiratory phase of the patient, determining a first amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas pressure provided to the patient at an end of the expiratory phase, determining a second amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas flow provided to the patient at the end of the expiratory phase, determining a first resistance value based on the ratio of the first amplitude to the second amplitude, and determining an upper airway resistance value based on the first resistance value.

Abstract: A method of operating a ventilator that includes steps of (a) providing a specified ventilation therapy to a patient through a ventilator according to a specification; (b) determining and storing a backup parameter relating to the operation of the ventilator or the breathing of the patient during the step of providing the specified ventilation therapy; (c) determining that an alarm condition exists that indicates a problem with the ventilator that would prevent the ventilator from providing the specified ventilation therapy to the patient according to the specification; and (d) responsive to determining that the alarm condition exists, providing backup ventilation therapy to the patient through the ventilator that is based at least partially on the stored backup parameter. Also, a ventilator that is adapted to perform the method just described.

Abstract: Sleep apnea can be treated using positive airway pressure. Methods and systems for determining a level of airway obstruction allow beneficial adjustments to the level of expiratory positive airway pressure used to treat a subject.

Abstract: A pressure generating system and method for generating a flow of fluid at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The system includes a pressure generator and a valve that controls the pressure/flow of gas delivered to the patient. The system monitors energy provided to the valve, a characteristics associated with movement of the valve, a position of the valve, or any combination thereof. In addition, the controller controls an operating speed of the pressure generator such that the valve operates over a majority of the range of positions during use of the pressure support system.

Abstract: A gas delivery system including a pressure generator, a pressure sensor, a control valve, and a processor. The pressure generator pressurizes breathable gas for delivery to a patient. The pressure sensor measures a pressure difference between the pressurized breathable gas and atmospheric pressure. The control valve is disposed downstream from the pressure generator and is constructed and arranged to control a flow rate of the pressurized breathable gas. The processor controls the control valve to bring the flow rate of the pressurized breathable gas to substantially zero while the pressure generator is operating and, when the flow rate is substantially zero, determines at least one of atmospheric pressure, an atmospheric air density, or a density correction factor based at least in part on the pressure difference between the pressurized breathable gas and the atmospheric pressure.