Persons with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) may, or may not, recognize that they have symptoms of SDB, and/or that they may be at-risk of, or suffering certain health problems associated with SDB, including death. The disclosed Energy Conversion Monitor (ECM) sensor, when embodied, for example, in a wearable upper-armband format, has been demonstrated to be more sensitive and responsive than pulse oximetry monitoring of blood oxygen saturation as an indication of hypoxic stress induced by SDB, and is compatible with: (1) inclusion in sleep laboratory polysomnograph (PSG) testing instrumentation, (2) home-based diagnostic testing for SDB, (3) control of home-use airway therapy devices, (4) continuous remote surveillance and refinement of airway therapy, and (5) spot-check and continuous surveillance of sleep quality in the general population. The disclosed ECM also provides new measurements of physiologic stress during and following exercise. When applied during initial care of premature newborn infants, it offers improved therapeutic guidance during their transition from their limited in utero oxygen supply conditions, to the increased oxygen availability from breathing air. When applied during resuscitation of persons suffering from hypoxia and during reperfusion of ischemic tissue, such as during treatment of ischemic stroke, or ischemic heart attack, the ECM sensor can provide objective guidance regarding the safe and effective resupply of oxygen to the hypoxia-adapted tissue to help reduce or prevent microvascular occlusion and cellular injury. As a continuously worn physiologic surveillance monitor, the ECM offers the potential of early detection of sepsis. With the elderly and infirm, it offers a convenient and comfortable means of continuously assessing variations in status while awake and asleep.

Persons with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) may, or may not, recognize that they have symptoms of SDB, and/or that they may be at-risk of, or suffering certain health problems associated with SDB, including death. The disclosed Energy Conversion Monitor (ECM) sensor, when embodied, for example, in a wearable upper-armband format, has been demonstrated to be more sensitive and responsive than pulse oximetry monitoring of blood oxygen saturation as an indication of hypoxic stress induced by SDB, and is compatible with: (1) inclusion in sleep laboratory polysomnograph (PSG) testing instrumentation, (2) home-based diagnostic testing for SDB, (3) control of home-use airway therapy devices, (4) continuous remote surveillance and refinement of airway therapy, and (5) spot-check and continuous surveillance of sleep quality in the general population. The disclosed ECM also provides new measurements of physiologic stress during and following exercise. When applied during initial care of premature newborn infants, it offers improved therapeutic guidance during their transition from their limited in utero oxygen supply conditions, to the increased oxygen availability from breathing air. When applied during resuscitation of persons suffering from hypoxia and during reperfusion of ischemic tissue, such as during treatment of ischemic stroke, or ischemic heart attack, the ECM sensor can provide objective guidance regarding the safe and effective resupply of oxygen to the hypoxia-adapted tissue to help reduce or prevent microvascular occlusion and cellular injury. As a continuously worn physiologic surveillance monitor, the ECM offers the potential of early detection of sepsis. With the elderly and infirm, it offers a convenient and comfortable means of continuously assessing variations in status while awake and asleep.

A method for detecting sleep for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is disclosed. Discrete values of a control signal generated by a pressure controller to regulate delivered pressure at the patient are measured over a predefined time window encompassing one or more respiratory cycles. A baseline control signal value is generated from a weighted average of the measured discrete values of the control signal. Estimates of a respiratory cycle period, an inspiration control time, and an expiration control time are then generated. Estimates of one or more secondary control signal properties for each of the respective inspiration control time and expiration control time are generated. Pressure to the patient is increased in response to an evaluation of the estimates of the one or more secondary control signal properties being indicative of the patient reaching a sleep state.

An active breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed. A simple apparatus includes first, second and third sets of balloons in a base compartment; a compression component on or over the balloons, configured to expel air from the balloons; a tubing network connected to the balloons; a wearable breathing compartment at an outlet of the tubing network; first and second check valves in the tubing network, between the breathing compartment and (i) the third set of balloons and (ii) the first and/or second balloons, respectively; third and fourth check valves between atmospheric air and the first and second balloons, respectively; a cover securing the compression component to the base compartment; and a motion restricting component controlling movement of the compression component. The first and second sets of balloons are between the compression component and the base compartment, and the third set of balloons is between the compression component and the cover.

A wake-to-sleep transition for a subject is detected based on responsiveness to breathing cues provided to the subject. A pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of subject having one or more gas parameters that are adjusted to provide breathing cues to the subject. Based on a detected conformance of the respiration of the subject to the breathing cues, a determination is made as to whether the subject is awake or asleep.

A water reservoir includes a water reservoir base configured to hold a volume of water to be used for humidification of pressurized breathable air, a water reservoir lid connected to the water reservoir base, and a compressible resilient portion configured to seal between the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid. The base and the lid are movable relative to one another when connected whilst maintaining sealing therebetween due to the compressible resilient portion. A retainer is configured to secure the water reservoir to a water reservoir dock, and has a protrusion or recess to releasably engage one another when the water reservoir is received in the dock, with a reaction force to compression of the compressible resilient portion urging the protrusion and the recess into engagement with one another.

A water reservoir includes a water reservoir base configured to hold a volume of water to be used for humidification of pressurized breathable air, a water reservoir lid connected to the water reservoir base, and a compressible resilient portion configured to seal between the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid. The base and the lid are movable relative to one another when connected whilst maintaining sealing therebetween due to the compressible resilient portion. A retainer is configured to secure the water reservoir to a water reservoir dock, and has a protrusion or recess to releasably engage one another when the water reservoir is received in the dock, with a reaction force to compression of the compressible resilient portion urging the protrusion and the recess into engagement with one another.

Disclosed is an apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient. The apparatus comprises a pressure generator configured to deliver a flow of air at positive pressure to an airway of the patient through a patient interface, a sensor configured to generate a signal representative of respiratory flow rate of the patient, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the pressure generator to deliver ventilation therapy having a base pressure and a pressure support through the patient interface, detect an apnea from the signal representative of respiratory flow rate of the patient, control the pressure generator to deliver one or more probe breaths to the patient during the apnea, determine patency of the patient's airway from a waveform of the respiratory flow rate signal in response to one of the one or more probe breaths, compute an effective duration of the apnea based on the patency of the airway, and adjust a set point for the base pressure of the ventilation therapy in response to the apnea based on the effective duration of the apnea.

Disclosed is an apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient. The apparatus comprises a pressure generator configured to deliver a flow of air at positive pressure to an airway of the patient through a patient interface, a sensor configured to generate a signal representative of respiratory flow rate of the patient, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the pressure generator to deliver ventilation therapy having a base pressure and a pressure support through the patient interface, detect an apnea from the signal representative of respiratory flow rate of the patient, control the pressure generator to deliver one or more probe breaths to the patient during the apnea, determine patency of the patient's airway from a waveform of the respiratory flow rate signal in response to one of the one or more probe breaths, compute an effective duration of the apnea based on the patency of the airway, and adjust a set point for the base pressure of the ventilation therapy in response to the apnea based on the effective duration of the apnea.

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.