Patent ID: 11918739
Assignee: FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A method of providing respiratory support using a breathing gases supply apparatus that comprises a positive airway pressure device, the device including a blower comprising a fan driven by an electric motor, a pressure sensor downstream to the fan, and a flow sensor downstream or upstream to the fan, the method comprising:
using a controller of the breathing gases supply apparatus:
receiving input indicative of patient breathing from one or both of the pressure sensor or the flow sensor, the pressure sensor and the flow sensor configured to measure a pressure and flow of gases breathed by or supplied to a user;
determining a sleep state in the user based on an occurrence of a breathing pattern indicative of sleep detected from the input received from one or both of the pressure sensor or the flow sensor; and
upon determining the sleep state, operating a transmitter in communication with the controller to send a control signal to an electronic apparatus to control the electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus is different from the breathing gases supply apparatus and the transmitter is remote from the positive airway pressure device,
wherein the breathing pattern indicative of sleep is a sleep disorder breathing (SDB) event, the SDB event comprising one or more of a flow limitation, hypopnea or apnea, and
wherein the controller is configured to determine the sleep state based on any one or more of the following:
a number of SDB events,
a duration of SDB events,
a spread of SDB events, or
types of SDB events.