# US 12,594,398 B2 · System and methods for triggering sounds to mask noise from respiratory systems and their components

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- Number: US 12,594,398 B2
- Document ID: US12594398B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/959,881
- Filed: 2022-10-04
- Published: 2023-01-26
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-28
- Assignees: ResMed Sensor Technologies Limited
- Applicants: ResMed Sensor Technologies Limited
- Inventors: Shawna Wilkerson; Gregory Robert Peake; Redmond Shouldice; Ryan Mathew Hernandez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594398B2

## CPC

- A61M 21/02: for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021)
- G10K 11/175: using interference effects; Masking sound
- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- G10K 11/1752: {Masking}
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/406: {microphones}
- H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices}
- A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated}
- A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense}
- A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
- A61M 2205/15: Detection of leaks
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/332: Force measuring means
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
- A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
- A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- A61M 2230/04: Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
- A61M 2230/06: Heartbeat rate only
- A61M 2230/10: Electroencephalographic signals
- A61M 2230/205: partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
- A61M 2230/40: Respiratory characteristics
- A61M 2230/50: Temperature
- A61M 2230/60: Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
- A61M 2230/63: Motion, e.g. physical activity
- H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
- 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)}
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

A system includes a respiratory device, a mask, a microphone, a speaker, and a control system. The respiratory device is configured to supply pressurized air. The mask is coupled to the respiratory device and configured to engage a user during a sleep session to aid in directing the supplied pressurized air to the user. The microphone is configured to generate audio data. The speaker is configured to emit sound. The control system is configured to analyze the audio data to determine if noise associated with air leaking from the mask is occurring. Responsive to (i) the analysis resulting in a determination that noise associated with air leaking from the mask is occurring, (ii) the respiratory device determining that air is leaking from the mask, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), cause the speaker to emit the sound to aid in masking the noise associated with the air leaking from the mask.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving, via a control system having one or more processors, audio data from a microphone;
analyzing, via the control system, the audio data to determine (i) if background noise associated with one or more background devices is present and (ii) if operational noise associated with operation of a respiratory device, a mask, a tube, or any combination thereof is occurring, the mask being coupled to the respiratory device supplying pressurized air via the tube, the mask being configured to engage a user during a sleep session to aid in directing the supplied pressurized air to an airway of the user;
determining, based at least in part on the analysis of the audio data that (i) the background noise is present and (ii) the operational noise is occurring; and
responsive to the determination that (i) the background noise is present and (ii) the operational noise is occurring, emitting sound from a speaker to aid in masking the operational noise, the sound emitted by the speaker having fill-in sounds including one or more characteristics that increase an amplitude of relatively quieter frequencies of the background noise up to a target amplitude level to provide a relatively fuller background noise.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the operational noise includes noise associated with air leaking from the mask, noise associated with a pump of the respiratory device operating, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
receiving sensor data from a sensor, the sensor being different from the microphone;
determining that the operational noise is the noise associated with air leaking from the mask based on the sensor data, wherein the sensor data includes infrared data and/or motion data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more background devices include a box fan, a ceiling fan, a desk fan, a window fan, a furnace, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, an electrical device producing an electrical hum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristics of the sound emitted by the speaker include a frequency, an amplitude, a period, a wavelength, a velocity of wave, a pitch, dynamics, tone, timbre, duration, envelope, location, or any combination thereof of the background noise.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving second audio data from a second microphone; and
determining, based at least in part on an analysis of the second audio data, that a bed partner of the user is presently disturbed,
wherein the emitting the sound from the speaker is further responsive to the determination that the bed partner of the user is presently disturbed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the second audio data is indicative of movement of the bed partner, rustling of bedding produced by movement of the bed partner, a change in breathing of the bed partner, a change in sleep stage of the bed partner, the bed partner starting to snore, the bed partner speaking, the bed partner sighing, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving second audio data from the microphone while the speaker is emitting the sound;
analyzing the second audio data to determine if the operational noise associated with operation of the respiratory device, the mask, the tube, or any combination thereof is still occurring;
determining, based at least in part on the analysis of the second audio data that the operational noise is no longer occurring; and
responsive to the determination that the operational noise is no longer occurring, stop emitting the sound from the speaker.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving second audio data from the microphone while the speaker is emitting the sound;
analyzing the second audio data to determine if the operational noise associated with operation of the respiratory device, the mask, the tube, or any combination thereof is still occurring;
determining, based at least in part on the analysis of the second audio data that the operational noise is no longer occurring; and
responsive to the determination that the operational noise is no longer occurring, reducing a volume of the speaker associated with the sound from a first volume to a second volume.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the speaker is located in a housing separate from the respiratory therapy device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the speaker is located in a pillow.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a sleep stage of the user, wherein a volume associated with the sound is based on the sleep stage of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the volume associated with the sound is higher in NREM sleep stage and lower in REM sleep stage.

### Claim 14

A system for masking noises generated during use of a respiratory device, the system comprising:
a respiratory device configured to supply pressurized air;
a mask coupled to the respiratory device via a tube, the mask being configured to engage a user during a sleep session to aid in directing the supplied pressurized air to an airway of the user;
a memory storing machine-readable instructions; and
a control system including one or more processors configured to execute the machine-readable instructions to:
analyze audio data to determine (i) if background noise associated with one or more background devices is present and (ii) if operational noise associated with operation of the respiratory device, the mask, the tube, or any combination thereof is occurring;
determine, via the control system, that (i) the background noise is present and (ii) the operational noise is occurring; and
responsive to the determination that (i) background noise is present and (ii) operational noise is occurring, emit sound from a speaker to aid in masking the operational noise, the sound emitted by the speaker having fill-in sounds including one or more characteristics that increase an amplitude of relatively quieter frequencies of the background noise up to a target amplitude level to provide a relatively fuller background noise.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the operational noise includes noise associated with air leaking from the mask, noise associated with a pump of the respiratory device operating, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more background devices include a box fan, a ceiling fan, a desk fan, a window fan, a furnace, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, an electrical device producing an electrical hum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of characteristics of the sound emitted by the speaker include a frequency, an amplitude, a period, a wavelength, a velocity of wave, a pitch, dynamics, tone, timbre, duration, envelope, location, or any combination thereof of the background noise.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the machine-readable instructions to:
receive second audio data from a second microphone; and
determine, based at least in part on an analysis of the second audio data, that a bed partner of the user is presently disturbed,
wherein the emitting the sound from the speaker is further responsive to the determination that the bed partner of the user is presently disturbed.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the second audio data is indicative of movement of the bed partner, rustling of bedding produced by movement of the bed partner, a change in breathing of the bed partner, a change in sleep stage of the bed partner, the bed partner starting to snore, the bed partner speaking, the bed partner sighing, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the speaker is located in a housing separate from the respiratory therapy device.