SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE FOR TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

摘要

In the treatment ofobstructive sleep apnea, amethod and apparatus (70)are disclosed for optimizingthe controlled positivepressure to minimizethe flow of air from aflow generator (86) whilestill ensuring that flowlimitation in the patient'sairway doest not occur.In particular, the inventionrelates to a breathing device(70) and method of use toadjust a controlled positivepressure to the airway ofa patient by detecting flowlimitation from analysisof an inspiratory flowwaveform. Once thepresence of flow limitationhas been analyzed thesystem determines an actionto take for adjustmentof the controlled positivepressure. The pressuresetting is raised, loweredor maintained depending on whether flow limitation has been detected and on the previous actions taken by the system. The preferredbreathing apparatus (70) consists of a flow generator (86), a flow sensor (72), an analog to digital converter (78), a microprocessor (80),and a pressure controller (82, 84), a patient supply hose (74), a nasal fitting, and, optionally, a pressure transducer (90). Using the methodof the present invention, the microprocessor (80) adjusts the air pressure in the patient supply hose (74) when flow limitation is detected inthe airway of the patient.