Respiratory therapy filter, flow control, and patient interface apparatuses, systems, and methods

A method for determining when a filter for a respiratory device needs to be replaced, the method comprising:

• positioning a filter on a hose port of a housing of a respiratory device, the filter having an identification tag, wherein the identification tag is provided with a unique identification number;
• reading the identification tag with a tag reader carried by the housing in proximity to the hose port;
• tracking a usage of the filter with the respiratory device;
• and
• storing a number indicating the usage of the filter in a memory of the respiratory device;
• and
• prior to delivery of a respiratory therapy, running a self-check diagnostic to determine whether the filter is suitable for use by discharging air into the filter and detecting blockage by using at least one sensor positioned upstream from the filter to measure a pressure or a flowrate of air being discharged from the hose port toward the filter without the use of any sensor downstream from the filter.

A respiratory device comprising:

• a housing having a hose port;
• a control system coupled to the housing and including a tag reader positioned in proximity to the hose port;
• a filter sized to be positioned on the hose port of the housing, the filter having a filtration chamber positioned between a filter inlet and a filter outlet;
• and
• an identification tag coupled to the filter,
• wherein the tag reader reads the tag to identify the filter when the filter is coupled to the hose port, and
• wherein, prior to delivery of a respiratory therapy, the control system is configured to run a self-check diagnostic to determine whether the filter is suitable for use by discharging air into the filter and detecting blockage by using at least one sensor positioned upstream from the filter to measure a pressure or a flowrate of air being discharged from the hose port toward the filter without the use of any sensor downstream from the filter.