Carbon Dioxide Inhalation Treatment Device for Central Sleep Apnea

Abstract

The present invention discloses a carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea comprising a blower, a gas cylinder filled with carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), an airbag, a mask, and a detection mechanism for detecting the central apnea by measuring the electromyographic activity of the chest wall muscles. The mask is provided with multiple holes providing a communication between the inside and outside of the mask in order to prevent any sense of resistance of breathing and to provide greater control of inspired CO.sub.2. Inspired CO.sub.2 from a gas mixture containing also a minimum 20% O.sub.2 is driven by air using a blower into a mixing chamber. This carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea can provide a stable, mild level of carbon dioxide for patients with central sleep apnea, thus by preserving respiratory drive correcting central sleep apnea without increasing the arousal and microarousal frequency.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea, comprising: a blower, a gas cylinder filled with a minimum 5% oxygen and up to 80% carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), a mixing chamber, wherein inhalable CO.sub.2 from a gas mixture comprising a mixture of oxygen and CO.sub.2 is driven by air using the blower, a mask configured to be worn by a user for receiving inhalable CO.sub.2, and a detection mechanism for detecting central apnea.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the mask is connected to the mixing chamber at an end via a first conduit comprising a pipe or tube, and wherein the blower and gas container are connected to an opposite end of the mixing chamber via an interconnected conduit comprising a second conduit comprising a second pipe or tube and a third conduit comprising a third pipe or tube.

9. The device of claim 7, characterized in that: the outer edge of the mask is loosely connected to a face of a wearer.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising multiple holes disposed along a portion of the mask, the holes providing a communication between the inside and outside of the mask in order to prevent any sense of resistance of breathing and to provide greater control of inspired CO.sub.2.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of holes are evenly divided into two groups that are respectively located on the left and right sides of the mask.

12. The device of claim 7, characterized in that: the volume percentage of carbon dioxide in the gas cylinder may be between 20% to 80%.

13. The device of claim 7, further comprising an alarm connected with the first conduit, that will wake the patient in the event of unsafe hypercapnia, hypoxia or tachypnea detection.

14. A system for use by a patient in need of treatment for sleep apnea, comprising: a carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device; and a detection mechanism, wherein the detection mechanism measures the presence or absence of myoelectricity as measured by one or both of an EEG and EGM signal, and adjusts the concentration of inhaled carbon dioxide administered by the treatment device, until an EMG signal no longer presents an intermittent disappearance indicating a sleep apnea event; the carbon dioxide treatment device configured to maintain an optimal concentration of carbon dioxide, via the detection mechanism, for administration to a patient by inhalation via a mask of the treatment device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a titration mechanism comprising at least one pair of electroencephalographic recording electrodes worn by the patient for collecting EEG signals, at least one pair of surface or esophageal electromyographic recording electrodes worn by the patient for collecting diaphragm EMG signals, a signal amplifier and a signal analyzer, the recording electrodes being connected to the signal analyzer through the signal amplifier.

16. A method of treating central sleep apnea, comprising: administering an inhalable CO.sub.2 treatment volume at an interval to a patient via a carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device according to claim 7.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the treatment volume is determined by a titration mechanism for measuring the presence or absence of myoelectricity as measured by one or both of a patient's EEG and EGM signals monitored, and adjusting the concentration of inhalable carbon dioxide administered by the treatment device, until the patient's EMG signal no longer presents an intermittent disappearance indicating a sleep apnea event.

18. The method according to claim 17, whereby the concentration of inhalable CO.sub.2 is sensed by a sensor from a delivery line and adjusted during the titration phase using a regulator placed at the gas cylinder of the device, using information from the EEG and EGM measurements comprising the chest wall or esophageal electromyographic sensors measuring the activity of the diaphragm during sleep.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising maintaining an optimal concentration of carbon dioxide, via a detection mechanism, and administering a fixed and non-adjustable amount of carbon dioxide to the patient by inhalation via the mask of the treatment device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of a carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea according to one embodiment of the Invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the overall system according to one embodiment of the invention, the system comprising a CO.sub.2 inhalation device, a detection mechanism, and a signal analyzer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] To facilitate those skilled in the art to understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to drawings and examples.

Example 1

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, this carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea comprises a blower 1, a gas cylinder 2 filled with carbon dioxide, an airbag 3, a mask 4, and a detection mechanism in FIG. 2 for detecting central apnea; the mask 4 is provided with a plurality of holes 5 communicating with the Inside and outside of the mask 4; the mask 4 extends and connects through a first pipe 6 and one end of the airbag 3; the other opposite end of the airbag 3 is connected with the blower 1 via a second pipe 7, and the gas cylinder 2 is connected to the second pipe 7 through a third pipe 8; and the third pipe 8 is provided with a flow meter 9. Specifically, moderate carbon dioxide is supplied stably by the blower 1 and the gas cylinder 2 (i.e., making the patient inhale carbon dioxide at the lowest effective concentration to eliminate central sleep apnea) to stimulate the respiratory center, thus effectively correcting the central sleep apnea, with the patient not be awakened caused by too high concentration of carbon dioxide, thereby improving the sleep quality of the patient. The gases stored in the gas cylinder 2 also include oxygen in addition to carbon dioxide, in which the volume percentage of carbon dioxide is up to 80%, and the volume percentage of oxygen is at least 20%.

[0025] FIG. 2, shows a schematic of the overall system, comprising the detection mechanism used in the attended titration phase comprising at least one pair of EEG recording electrodes consisting of electrodes 12 and 13 for collecting EEG signals 24, at least one pair of EMG recording electrodes consisting of electrodes 14 and 15 for esophageal recording or electrodes 16 and 17 for chest wall recording to collect diaphragm EMG signals 22 and 23. Both the EEG recording electrode 12 and 13 and the EMG recording electrode 14 and 15 for esophageal recording or electrodes 16 and 17 for surface recording being displayed on monitor 25 or 26. In this example, one pairs of the EEG recording electrodes 12 and 13 are used that are attached to a patient's head, so as to monitor the patient's sleep status in real time. The EMG recording electrode may be a recording electrode disposed in the esophagus, or placed on both sides of the chest. In this example, the EMG recording electrode 16 and 17 is paced on chest wall to monitor or detect the central apnea by the presence or absence of myoelectricity. On monitor screen 25, EMG 22 exists during sleep as judged by EEG signal 24, indicating no sleep apnea. On monitor screen 26, EMG 23 disappear over a period time during sleep as judged by EEG signal 24, indicating there were central sleep apnea events.

[0026] The outer edge of the mask 4 is loosely connected to the face of a patient. Loose connection means that the mask 4 and the face can be spaced rather than be connected in a sealed manner, which allows leakage, thus ensuring comfort of the patient wearing the mask.

[0027] In another embodiment, the carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea also includes an alarm 10, which is connected with the first pipe 6. The alarm 10 may monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide through the first pipe 6 at any time; when the concentration of carbon dioxide is high, the alarm 10 issues an alarm signal to prevent the patient from inhaling excessive carbon dioxide due to device failure, thus ensuring the patient's safety.

[0028] There are a plurality of holes 5, which are evenly divided into two groups that are respectively located on the left and right sides of the mask 4. This arrangement assures the smoothness of the exhaust of the mask 4, and Improves the comfort.

[0029] The use process of the carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea is described as follows:

[0030] Affixing the EEG recording electrodes 12 and 13 to the head of the patient, then placing the EMG recording surface electrodes 16 and 17 on the chest of the patient, aligning the mask 4 to the patient along the face, covering the nose and mouth, and securing the mask in position using a strap or rope 11, and then starting the blower 1, and making the blower 1 send a constant flow of air to the mask 4. Real-time monitoring the patient's sleep breathing condition, i.e., the signals detected by the EEG electrode and the EMG electrodes are displayed on the monitor as shown on monitor screen 25 or 26 after signal analyzer 21, with the patient assessed for central sleep apnea based on the signal displayed on the monitor.

[0031] When the patient falls asleep after the intermittent disappearance of the respiratory muscle myoelectricity as shown on monitor 26, gradually opening the valve of the gas cylinder 2 by starting from the flow rate of 0.1 i/min displayed on the flow meter 9 according to the intermittent disappearance of the respiratory muscle EMG. With the respiratory muscle EMG disappearance occurring two times within 10 min, increasing the flow rate of carbon dioxide of the gas cylinder to 0.05 L/min and gradually increasing concentration of the inhaled carbon dioxide, until the respiratory muscle EMG has no more intermittent disappearance as shown on monitor screen 25. When the lowest effective carbon dioxide concentration is achieved, fixing the valve to let the subject continue to be treated.

Example 2

[0032] This carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea is the same as Example 1 except for the following technical feature: The volume percentage of carbon dioxide in the gas cylinder is 60%.

Example 3

[0033] This carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea is the same as Example 1 except for the following technical feature: The volume percentage of carbon dioxide in the gas cylinder is 80%.

Example 4

[0034] This carbon dioxide inhalation treatment device for central sleep apnea is the same as Example 1 except for the following technical feature: The volume percentage of carbon dioxide in the gas cylinder is 5%.

[0035] The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other variations that do not depart from the technical solution of the present invention or other equivalent permutations are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.