# US 12,551,641 B2 · Respiratory assistance apparatus

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- Number: US 12,551,641 B2
- Document ID: US12551641B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/313,008
- Filed: 2023-05-05
- Published: 2024-02-08
- Granted: 2026-02-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13
- Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Inventors: Adam John Darby; Donald Roy Kuriger; Johannes Nicolaas Bothma; Scott Bent
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12551641B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure}
- 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 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/0616: {with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure}
- A61M 16/0633: {with forehead support}
- A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor}
- A61M 16/1045: {Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas}
- F04D 29/023: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F04D 29/281: {for fans or blowers}
- F04D 29/30: Vanes
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/161: {with means for measuring the humidity}
- A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor}
- A61M 2016/0033: {electrical}
- A61M 2205/33: Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61M 2205/332: Force 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 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61M 2205/8243: by induction
- A61M 2205/8262: connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
- A61M 2205/8268: Fuel storage cells
- A61M 2209/086: Docking stations
- A61M 2209/088: on the body
- A61M 2210/06: Head
- A61M 2210/0618: Nose
- A61M 2210/0625: Mouth
- A61M 2230/10: Electroencephalographic signals
- F04D 25/08: the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
- F04D 29/053: Shafts
- F05D 2260/96: Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
- F05D 2300/43: Synthetic polymers, e.g. plastics; Rubber
- 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)}
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A head-mounted respiratory assistance apparatus configured to provide a respiratory gases stream to a user. The head-mounted respiratory assistance has a main body securable to the head of a user and a blower unit that is operable to generate a pressurised gases stream from a supply of gases from the surrounding atmosphere. A patient interface is provided on the main body that has a gases inlet which is fluidly connected to the blower unit and which is configured to deliver the pressurised gases to the user's nose and/or mouth.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A respiratory system comprising a base station unit that is operatively connectable to a respiratory assistance apparatus configured to provide a respiratory gases stream to a user, the respiratory assistance apparatus comprising:
a main body; and
a blower unit comprising a gases inlet to receive a supply of gases from a surrounding atmosphere, the blower unit operable to generate a pressurized gases stream at a gases outlet,
the base station unit is configured to be a docking station or mounting stand to or upon which the respiratory assistance apparatus can be docked or mounted, the base station unit comprising:
a power supply system configured to supply power to the respiratory assistance apparatus;
a data transfer system configured to send and receive data to and from the respiratory assistance apparatus; and
a control system configured to control the respiratory assistance apparatus via one or more control signals;
the control system is configured to automatically send the one or more control signals to the respiratory assistance apparatus to initiate or halt a plurality of operating modes based on whether an operative connection or docking between the base station unit and the respiratory assistance apparatus is detected, the plurality of operating modes comprising one or more of an on/off mode and a drying mode of the respiratory assistance apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer system comprises a first communication module configured to transfer the data between the base station unit and the respiratory assistance apparatus over a wired or wireless communication medium, and a second communication module configured to transfer the data between the base station unit and an external server over the wired or wireless communication medium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to send the one or more control signals to the respiratory assistance apparatus to control the plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes further comprising one or more of:
a charging mode; and
a data transfer mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The respiratory system of claim 3, wherein the control system is configured to automatically send at least one control signal of the one or more control signals to the respiratory assistance apparatus to control the charging mode or the data transfer mode based on whether the operative connection or the docking between the base station unit and the respiratory assistance apparatus is detected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The respiratory system of claim 4, wherein the at least one control signal of the one or more control signals automatically sent by the control system is configured for initiating or halting the charging mode or the data transfer mode of the respiratory assistance apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein:
the power supply system is configured to transfer the power to the respiratory assistance apparatus via one or more power transfer cables; or
the power supply system comprises a wireless power supply system that is configured to supply the power wirelessly to the respiratory assistance apparatus, and wherein the wireless power supply system comprises an integrated wireless power transfer mat or integrated into the base station unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The respiratory system of claim 6, wherein:
the wireless power supply system is configured to supply power to the respiratory assistance apparatus for powering of the blower unit,
the respiratory assistance apparatus comprises one or more sensors that are configured to sense various operational parameters and generate representative sensor signals or sensor data, or
the wireless power supply system is configured to supply the power to the one or more sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus comprises one or more wireless sensors mounted to or within the respiratory assistance apparatus, the one or more wireless sensors configured:
to sense a plurality of operational parameters and generate a plurality of representative sensor signals or sensor data;
transmit the plurality of representative sensor signals or sensor data to an onboard controller of the respiratory assistance apparatus; and
transmit, directly or indirectly, the plurality of representative sensor signals or sensor data wirelessly to a separate external device or system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The respiratory system of claim 8, wherein a communication module of the base station unit is configured to receive the plurality of representative sensor signals or sensor data from the one or more wireless sensors of the respiratory assistance apparatus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus further comprises:
an onboard wireless communication module configured to receive and send a plurality of data to at least one external device or system, and
an onboard electronic controller that is configured to store usage data indicative of use of the respiratory assistance apparatus by the user, wherein the onboard wireless communication module is configured to transfer the usage data wirelessly to a separate external device or system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the base station unit further comprises a battery dock configured for receiving a removable battery or battery pack of the respiratory assistance apparatus for recharging.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus is configured to be connectable to or comprises a patient interface having the gases inlet configured to be fluidly connected to the gases outlet of the blower unit and to deliver pressurized gases to a nose or a mouth of the user via one or more gases outlets, wherein the patient interface is configured to be provided on the main body of the respiratory assistance apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The respiratory system of claim 12, wherein:
the blower unit is configured to be provided on the main body of the respiratory assistance apparatus, or
the blower unit is configured to be fixedly or releasably mounted to a front of the patient interface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The respiratory system of claim 12, wherein a gases flow path from the gases inlet of the blower unit to the one or more gases outlets of the patient interface is configured to be sealed such that there is zero bias flow along the gases flow path, and the gases inlet of the patient interface is configured to be fluidly connected via the gases flow path to the gases outlet of the blower unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The respiratory system of claim 14, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus is configured so that exhaled gases into the patient interface from the user vents back through the gases flow path of the respiratory assistance apparatus in an opposite direction of the pressurized gases stream and exit the respiratory assistance apparatus into an atmosphere from the gases inlet of the blower unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus is configured to be portable or wearable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The respiratory system of claim 16, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus is configured to be head mountable and the main body of the respiratory assistance apparatus that is head mountable is configured to be securable to a head of the user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus is configured to operate as a continuation positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus, the CPAP respiratory assistance apparatus further comprises:
a headgear that is configured to secure or mount the main body to a head of the user, the headgear comprising one or more headstraps and one or more batteries or battery packs,
the one or more batteries or the battery packs configured to supply the power to the respiratory assistance apparatus, and
the one or more batteries or the battery packs configured to be mounted to or integrated with the headgear.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The respiratory system of claim 18, wherein the CPAP respiratory assistance apparatus further comprises one or more of:
a wireless power transfer receiver or circuitry that is configured to receive the power from a wireless power transfer transmitter for wireless charging of the one or more batteries or the battery packs;
an onboard electronic controller that is configured to be mounted to or within the CPAP respiratory assistance apparatus and to control a pressure of respiratory gases delivered to the user by controlling a motor speed or a motor located within the blower unit; and
the onboard electronic controller configured to store usage data indicative of a use of the respiratory assistance apparatus by the user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The respiratory system of claim 1, wherein the drying mode comprises the blower unit being run for a predetermined time to dry a gases flow path of the respiratory assistance apparatus after use.