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US 2015/0032020 A1Published application
Inhalation support apparatus and method for inhalation support
AssigneeDieter Kirsch
InventorsDieter Kirsch, Anja Kirsch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an inhalation support apparatus and the use thereof and to a method for supporting the inhalation of an inhalation mixture that is to be inhaled. The invention further relates to a device for the control of pressure changes, their use in the medical and non-medical field and a method for detecting respiratory problems.
Claims26
1:
- An inhalation support apparatus (30) for an inhalation device (10) that has a mouthpiece (12) and an inhalation mixture generator (14) for supplying an inhalation mixture to be inhaled,
- comprising
- a pressure sensor adapter (32), between the inhalation mixture generator (14) and the mouthpiece (12), detecting
- pressure changes of the inhalation mixture;
- and a control device (34) for controlling a program running on a data processing installation (62), wherein the control device (34) is configured to control the program as a function of the pressure changes.
2 more elements
2:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device (34) is pressure-connected to the pressure sensor adapter (32) feeding the detected pressure changes to the control device (34).
3:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor adapter (32) is releasably situated between the inhalation mixture generator (14) and the mouthpiece (12).
4:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor adapter (32) defines a through-flow channel (52) and a pressure sensor port (54) communicating pressure in a through-flow channel (52) to the control device (34).
5:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor adapter (32) is pressure-connected to the control device (34) via a flexible pressure sensor line (42) forwarding the detected pressure changes.
6:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 5, wherein a filter element (44) is provided in the pressure sensor line (42).
7:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor adapter (32) is free from electronic components, current-carrying components or voltage-carrying components.
8:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device (34) has a housing (36) provided with a plug connector (38) establishing a communication link with the data processing installation (62).
9:
- The apparatus (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program is storable in the control device (34).
10-11. (canceled)
12:
- A method for treatment and/or alleviation of diseases, wherein the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 is used.
13-17. (canceled)
18:
- A method for supporting the inhalation of an inhalation mixture that is to be inhaled by means of an inhalation apparatus (60), said method comprising the following steps:
- detecting a pressure change of the inhalation mixture that is to be inhaled;
- converting the pressure change into control signals for controlling a data processing installation (62);
- controlling a program running on the data processing installation (62) by the control signals and as a function of the pressure change.
1 more element
19:
- (canceled)
20:
- An apparatus (70) for detecting pressure changes,
- comprising
- a control device (34),
- a pressure sensor hose (42) operably connected to the control device (34), and
- optionally a filter element (44) in the pressure sensor hose (42),
- wherein the control device (34) is responsive to inhalation mixture pressure changes, has a housing (36) defining a pressure port (40) in communication with the pressure sensor hose (42), and, optionally, a communication link plug connector (38).
3 more elements
21:
- The apparatus (70) as claimed in claim 20 wherein, the control device (34) is pressure-connected to an apparatus in which pressure changes occur.
(canceled)
23:
- A method for diagnosis of respiratory problems comprising the use of the apparatus (70) as claimed in claim 20.
(canceled)
25:
- The method of claim 23, wherein said method is for the diagnosis of respiratory problems in sleep medicine.
26-28. (canceled)
29:
- The method of claim 23, wherein the apparatus (70) is used to monitor pressure changes.
30:
- The method as claimed in claim 29, comprising the steps of:
- connecting the apparatus (70) to a data processing installation;
- operably attaching the apparatus (70), by means of the pressure sensor hose (42), to an appliance for monitoring respiration of a patient, in such a way that the control device (34) is pressure-connected to the appliance for monitoring the respiration;
- detecting pressure changes and generating electrical measurement signals in the control device (34);
- converting the electrical measurement signals from the control device (34) into measurement data by means of a computer program stored on the data processing installation (62);
- storing the measurement data on the data processing installation;
- evaluating the measurement data, in particular comparing the measurement data obtained from a patient against the data from a healthy subject who has normal respiration;
- determining divergences or impairments of the respiration of the patient in relation to the normal respiration of a healthy subject;
- diagnosing the nature of the respiratory problems.
6 more elements
31:
- A process for monitoring respiration comprising the use of the apparatus (70) as claim in claim 20.
32-33. (canceled)
34:
- An inhalation support apparatus for an inhalation device which comprises
- an inhalation mixture generator defining an inhalation channel;
- a removable mouthpiece connected to the inhalation mixture generator and in communication with said inhalation channel;
- a removable pressure sensor adapter between said mouthpiece and said inhalation mixture generator;
- and
- a control device operably connected to said pressure sensor adapter and responsive to pressure changes in said inhalation channel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.