A fluid delivery system provides fluid, such as supplement oxygen, to a patient in response to inhalation. The fluid delivery system includes a valve assembly that is triggered by sensing onset of inspiration by measuring a change in temperature of air flow in a nasal or oral cannula, mask or helmet.

A fluid delivery system provides fluid, such as supplement oxygen, to a patient in response to inhalation. The fluid delivery system includes a valve assembly that is triggered by sensing onset of inspiration by measuring a change in temperature of air flow in a nasal or oral cannula, mask or helmet.

A pressure support methodology and system that utilizes at least two, and possibly all three, of information relating to (i) airway patency, i.e., the degree to which the patient's airway is open, (ii) the primary cause of the current sleep disordered breathing event, and (iii) the patient's response to previous pressure changes to automatically titrate pressure when presented with a sleep disordered breathing event. In another embodiment, pressure may be automatically titrated based solely on the primary cause of the sleep disordered breathing event.

Methods and apparatus provide automated controls for a respiratory pressure therapy device, such as a servo-ventilator. For example, a controller of a respiratory pressure therapy device may control application of pressure support ventilation therapy to an airway of a patient. The controller may control the respiratory pressure therapy device to auto-titrate an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) of a pressure support ventilation therapy so as to maintain airway patency of the patient. The EPAP may be bounded below by a floor pressure limit. The controller may control the respiratory pressure therapy device to repeatedly adjust the floor pressure limit depending on events of interest during the auto-titration of the EPAP. Such methodologies may improve treatment for patients such as those suffering from sleep disordered breathing-comorbid hyperarousal disorders.

A breathing assistance apparatus is configured with features that improve serviceability of the apparatus. The apparatus can include animations to provide instruction regarding correcting easily-identified fault conditions and to provide instruction regarding routine maintenance routines. The apparatus also can be configured with top level control menus that are obscured in a manner to limit manipulation of the top level control elements by unauthorized users.

Methods and system for treating obstructive sleep apnea and snoring are disclosed. The system generally comprises a mask for delivering pressurized air to patient's breathing orifice, a sensing mechanism for continuously assessing the state of patient's breathing and a pressure generator for generating the pressurized air in the mask. The pressurized air is applied to the breathing orifice only during selected portions of the breathing cycle, when such pressure might be required to prevent occlusion of the airway or to restore patency of the airway after such occlusion occurs.

An apparatus and method of controlling the delivery of therapeutic gas delivered to a patient undergoing positive airway pressure therapy is described. The method includes providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, obtaining information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the flow, and adjusting the pressure based on the information. The apparatus includes a blower for providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, a sensor to measure a characteristic of the flow, a controller to obtain information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the characteristic, and a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure based on the information.

There is provided an apparatus for delivering a flow of gas having a controller, a housing defining a gasflow passage, a motor with an impeller to deliver gas through the gasflow passage, and a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the motor for electrically connecting the motor to the controller. There is also provided an apparatus for delivering a flow of gas having a housing defining a gasflow passage. The gas flowing through the gasflow passage is a high concentration oxygen gas. The apparatus has a motor with windings and an impeller to deliver gas through the gasflow passage, and an elastomeric shield to pneumatically isolate the windings from the gasflow passage.

A humidification system for delivering humidified gases to a user can include a heater base, humidification chamber having an inlet, outlet, and associated fluid conduit, and breathing circuit including a supply conduit, inspiratory conduit, and optional expiratory conduit. The humidification system can include various features to help make set-up less difficult and time-consuming. For example, the supply conduit, inspiratory conduit, and optional expiratory conduit can be coupled into a one-piece circuit to aid set-up. Various components can be color-coded and can have corresponding structures to indicate which components should be connected to one another during set-up. Such features can also help make the set-up process more intuitive for an operator, which can reduce the need for specialized training and reduce the number of potential errors.

A pressure support system that comprises a patient circuit, a docking assembly, and a tank. The patient circuit delivers a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient. The docking assembly has an inlet and an outlet that is adapted to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas, and is also adapted to be connected with the patient circuit. The tank is constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the docking assembly, and enables the pressurized flow of breathable gas to pass therethrough. The tank is also adapted to contain a liquid such that a humidity level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas is elevated as the pressurized flow of breathable gas passes therethrough.