Method and apparatus for treating apnea/hypopnea

A method of treating a patient with sleep-disordered breathing, the method comprising:

• providing a supply of pressurized breathable gas at a selectable treatment pressure according to a first treatment mode, wherein the first treatment mode provides a constant treatment pressure during patient inspiration and patient expiration;
• generating a first signal when an obstructive event is detected;
• adjusting the treatment pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas to treat the patient for the obstructive event in response to the first signal;
• generating a second signal when a hypopnea event is detected;
• providing a supply of pressurized breathable gas according to a second treatment mode to normalize the hypopnea in response to the second signal, wherein the second treatment mode provides an increased pressure during patient inspiration compared to the pressure provided during patient expiration;
• and,
• when the hypopnea event is normalized, providing a supply of pressurized breathable gas according to the first treatment mode.

A system for delivering therapeutic treatment pressure to a patient suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, comprising:

• a controllable flow generator operable to generate a supply of pressurized breathable gas to be delivered to the patient at a treatment pressure, the treatment pressure being substantially constant during patient inspiration and patient expiration;
• a sensor operable to generate a signal related to the presence and/or absence of a hypopnea event;
• a processor operable to control the controllable flow generator, and further operable to determine whether a hypopnea event is occurring based at least in part on the signal;
• and,
• a pressure boost circuit responsive to the signal operable to instruct the controllable flow generator to increase pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas to a boosted pressure during patient inspiration when the signal corresponds to the occurrence of a hypopnea event until the hypopnea event is normalized.

A system for delivering therapeutic treatment pressure to a patient suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, comprising:

• a controllable flow generator operable to generate a supply of pressurized breathable gas to be delivered to the patient at a treatment pressure, the treatment pressure being substantially constant during patient inspiration and patient expiration;
• a sensor operable to generate a first signal related to the presence and/or absence of a hypopnea event and a second signal related to the presence and/or absence of an obstructive event;
• a processor operable to control the controllable flow generator, and further operable to determine whether a hypopnea event is occurring based at least in part on the first signal and to determine whether an obstructive event is occurring based at least in part on the second signal;
• and,
• a pressure boost circuit responsive to the first signal operable to instruct the controllable flow generator to increase pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas to a boosted pressure during patient inspiration when the first signal corresponds to the occurrence of a hypopnea event until the hypopnea event is normalized.

A PAP device for treating a patient suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, comprising:

• a controllable flow generator operable to generate a supply of pressurized breathable gas to be delivered to the patient;
• and,
• a processor configured to operate in a first mode for treating an obstructive event, and further configured to operate in a second mode for treating a non-obstructive event;
• wherein the first mode includes causing the controllable flow generator to provide the supply of pressurized breathable gas at a first treatment pressure, and
• wherein the second mode includes causing the controllable flow generator to provide the supply of pressurized breathable gas at a second treatment pressure until the non-obstructive event is normalized, the second treatment pressure at least during patient inspiration being higher than the first treatment pressure.