# US 12,377,239 B2 · Respiratory device for providing bubble CPAP

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- Number: US 12,377,239 B2
- Document ID: US12377239B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/593,353
- Filed: 2020-03-20
- Published: 2022-06-02
- Granted: 2025-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-21
- Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Inventors: Peter Chi-Yang Hsu; Simei Gomes Wysoski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12377239B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/14: by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
- A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure}
- A61M 16/0006: {with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways}
- A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices}
- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/0069: {the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation}
- A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor}
- A61M 16/1005: {with O2 features or with parameter measurement}
- A61M 16/1085: {after being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent}
- A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/125: {Diluting primary gas with ambient air}
- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 16/209: {Relief valves}
- A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00)
- A61M 16/0465: {Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/0672: {Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy}
- A61M 16/101: {using an oxygen concentrator}
- A61M 16/161: {with means for measuring the humidity}
- A61M 16/204: {used for inhalation control}
- A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2016/1025: {the O2 concentration}
- A61M 2202/0266: Nitrogen (N)
- A61M 2205/15: Detection of leaks
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate
- A61M 2205/3348: Pressure measurement using a water column
- A61M 2205/3365: Rotational speed
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital
- A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
- A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Respiratory systems with a flow generator can provide bubble CPAP therapy by controlling the pressure of a flow of gas delivered to a patient. The controller of the respiratory system can control a motor speed of its flow generator so as to control the pressure of the flow of gas. The controller can also detect presence of bubbling and/or possible leaks in the gas pathway of the system. The respiratory system can include a high flow respiratory system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A respiratory system which is programmed to deliver both a high flow therapy and a bubble CPAP therapy, wherein the respiratory system comprises:
a flow generator;
a humidifier in fluid communication with the flow generator;
an inspiratory conduit in fluid communication with the humidifier; and
a controller configured to control the flow generator to provide the high flow therapy and the bubble CPAP therapy, the controller changeable between the high flow therapy and the bubble CPAP therapy;
wherein the controller is further configured to detect bubbling of a bubbler by monitoring a variation in a flow parameter signal, and wherein in response to the controller detecting bubbling, the controller is configured to output an indication that bubbling is detected or select or switch to the bubble CPAP therapy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide is nasal high flow therapy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, further comprising a non-sealing patient interface coupled to the inspiratory conduit for use when high flow therapy is provided.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The respiratory system of claim 3, wherein the non-sealing patient interface is a nasal cannula.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, further comprising:
a sealed patient interface coupled to the inspiratory conduit; and
an expiratory conduit coupled to the sealed patient interface for use when bubble CPAP therapy is provided;
wherein the expiratory conduit is coupled to a pressure regulator to regulate pressure within the sealed patient interface and/or a patient's airways, wherein the pressure regulator comprises a chamber with a column of water, the expiratory conduit being submerged into the column of water at a depth, and wherein the pressure provided to a user is defined or is set by the depth of submersion of the expiratory conduit within the column of water.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the flow generator and humidifier are integrated into the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the inspiratory conduit is configured to be used during the high flow therapy and the bubble CPAP therapy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:
a high flow therapy control program associated with the high flow therapy; and
a bubble CPAP therapy control program associated with the bubble CPAP therapy;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
select and apply the high flow therapy control program when the high flow therapy is selected; and
select and apply the bubble CPAP therapy control program when the bubble CPAP therapy is selected.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The respiratory system of claim 8, wherein the high flow therapy control program and/or the bubble CPAP therapy control program define operating parameters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The respiratory system of claim 9, wherein the operating parameters comprise at least one of:
one or more motor speed or pressure limits,
one or more alarm conditions,
one or more temperature set points, or
one or more flow limits.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The respiratory system of claim 9, wherein the operating parameters comprises one or more humidity parameters defining a humidity level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The respiratory system of claim 11, wherein a humidity level to be provided during the high flow therapy is greater than the humidity level to be provided during the bubble CPAP therapy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch therapies when bubbling of the bubbler is detected.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the flow parameter signal comprises a flow signal, a pressure signal, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the variation in the flow parameter signal is a variation of a flow parameter signal amplitude from a threshold value or wherein the variation in the flow parameter signal is analyzed in a frequency domain.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the controller providing one of the high flow therapy or the bubble CPAP therapy is a mode selection configured to be selectable by a user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, further comprising a high flow therapy mode kit, wherein the high flow therapy mode kit comprises: a non-sealing patient interface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, further comprising a bubble CPAP therapy mode kit, wherein the bubble CPAP therapy mode kit comprises: a sealing patient interface, an expiratory conduit, and/or a bubbler.