# US 2016/0354567 A1 · Rainout control in a pressure support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354567 A1 - Document ID: US20160354567A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/168,958 - Filed: 2016-05-31 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-03 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: JONATHAN SAYER GRASHOW - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354567A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/161: {with means for measuring the humidity} - A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor} - F24F 11/80: for controlling the temperature of the supplied air - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital - A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth® - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 2110/20: Humidity - 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)} - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A pressure support system includes a pressure generating device, an airflow path, and a control system. The control system is structured to determine a first measurement indicative of an amount of water vapor in the airflow path or an amount of condensation in the airflow path and generate a number of control signals structured to control an environmental control device structured to control an environmental parameter in an environment including the pressure support system, wherein the control signals are generated based on at least the first measurement and are configured to cause the environmental control device to adjust the environmental parameter in a manner that will reduce a degree or a likelihood of rainout in the airflow path, and transmit the control signals to the environmental control device so that it may be controlled to reduce the degree or likelihood of rainout. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure support system for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising: a pressure generating device structured to generate the flow of breathing gas; an airflow path coupled to the pressure generating device and structured to carry the flow of breathing gas; and a control system, wherein the control system stores and is structured to execute a number of routines, the number of routines being structured to: determine a first measurement indicative of an amount of water vapor in the airflow path or an amount of condensation in the airflow path; generate a number of control signals structured to control an environmental control device structured to control an environmental parameter in an environment including the pressure support system, wherein the number of control signals are generated based on at least the first measurement and are configured to cause the environmental control device to adjust the environmental parameter in a manner that will reduce a degree or a likelihood of rainout in the airflow path; and transmit the number of control signals to the environmental control device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the first measurement is a measurement of humidity within the airflow path, and wherein the environmental parameter is ambient temperature within the environment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pressure support system according to claim 2, wherein the pressure support system includes a humidity sensor structured to generate a first sensed signal indicative of the humidity within the airflow path and an ambient temperature sensor structured to generate a second sensed signal indicative of the ambient temperature within the environment, wherein the first measurement is a humidity measurement based on the first sensed signal, wherein the routines are structured to determine a second measurement indicative of the ambient temperature within the environment based on the second sense signal, and wherein the number of control signals is determined based on the first measurement and the second measurement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pressure support system according to claim 3, wherein the environmental control device is structured to control the ambient temperature within the environment, and wherein the number of control signals specifies a specific temperature and is structured to control the environmental control device to cause the ambient temperature to equal the specific temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pressure support system according to claim 4, wherein the routines are structured to determine a dew point based on the first measurement and the second measurement, and wherein the specific temperature is based on the dew point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pressure support system according to claim 5, wherein the specific temperature is greater than or equal to the dew point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pressure support system according to claim 5, wherein the specific temperature is offset from the dew point by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure support system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure generating device and the control system are provided within a pressure generating device base unit (4), wherein the pressure generating device base unit further includes a wireless communications module coupled to the controller and structured to wirelessly transmit the number of control signals to the environmental control device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pressure support system according to claim 1, further comprising a patient interface device forming a part of the airflow path, wherein the patient interface device has a rainout monitor attached thereto, wherein the control system is a control unit provided as part of the rainout monitor, and wherein the rainout monitor has a wireless communications module coupled to the control unit and structured to wirelessly transmit the number of control signals to the environmental control device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pressure support system according to claim 9, wherein the rainout monitor includes an ambient temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. ### Claim 11 A method of controlling rainout in a pressure support system for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient through an airflow path, comprising: determining a first measurement indicative of an amount of water vapor in the airflow path or an amount of condensation in the airflow path; generating a number of control signals structured to control an environmental control device structured to control an environmental parameter in an environment including the pressure support system, wherein the number of control signals are generated based on at least the first measurement and are configured to cause the environmental control device to adjust the environmental parameter in a manner that will reduce a degree or a likelihood of rainout in the airflow path; and transmitting the number of control signals to the environmental control device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the first measurement is a measurement of humidity within the airflow path, and wherein the environmental parameter is ambient temperature within the environment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising generating a first sensed signal indicative of the humidity within the airflow path and a second sensed signal indicative of the ambient temperature within the environment, wherein the first measurement is a humidity measurement based on the first sensed signal, wherein the routines are structured to determine a second measurement indicative of the ambient temperature within the environment based on the second sense signal, and wherein the number of control signals is determined based on the first measurement and the second measurement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pressure support system according to claim 13, wherein the environmental control device is structured to control the ambient temperature within the environment, and wherein the number of control signals specifies a specific temperature and is structured to control the environmental control device to cause the ambient temperature to equal the specific temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes determining a dew point based on the first measurement and the second measurement, and wherein the specific temperature is based on the dew point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the specific temperature is greater than or equal to the dew point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the specific temperature is offset from the dew point by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 18 A method of controlling rainout in a pressure support system for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient through in airflow path including a patient circuit having an exhaust vent for exhausting exhaled gas from the patient circuit, the method comprising: determining a first measurement indicative of an amount of water vapor in the airflow path or an amount of condensation in the airflow path; and controlling a ratio of the breathing gas to the exhaled gas within the airflow path based on at least the first measurement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the controlling comprises automatically adjusting an amount of leak from the exhaust vent based on the first measurement. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the controlling comprises increasing and air pressure provided by the breathing gas within the airflow path to drive more of the exhaled gas through the exhaust.