Aerosol delivery apparatus and method for pressure-assisted breathing systems

CPAP apparatus for the delivery of an aerosolized medicament to a patient's respiratory system comprising:

• a pressure-generating circuit that maintains continuous positive pressure within the system;
• a patient interface device coupled to a patient's respiratory system;
• a respiratory circuit that provides gas communication between the pressure-generating circuit and the patient interface device;
• a nebulizer that introduces aerosolized medicament into the gas flow in the respiratory circuit;
• a flow sensor disposed in an auxiliary circuit in gas communication with the respiratory circuit;
• and
• electronic circuitry connecting the flow sensor to the nebulizer, whereby the flow sensor sends a first electronic signal that causes the nebulizer to turn off when the flow sensor detects an increase in the volumetric flow rate of gas in the auxiliary circuit as the result of the patient commencing exhalation.

A method of delivering an aerosol to a patient's respiratory system which comprises the steps of:

• providing a CPAP system having a pressure-generating circuit, a respiratory circuit coupled to a patient interface device and a nebulizer coupled to the respiratory circuit;
• introducing a liquid into the nebulizer;
• turning on the nebulizer during patient inhalation so that aerosol particles formed by the nebulizer are introduced into the respiratory circuit and inhaled by the patient through the patient interface device;
• and
• turning off the nebulizer during patient exhalation so that aerosol particles formed by the nebulizer are not introduced into the respiratory circuit during such exhalation.