Patent ID: 7793660
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising the steps of: providing a pressure support system that includes, a first housing, a pressure generator disposed in the housing, a patient circuit having a first end coupled to an outlet of the pressure generator, and a patient interface device coupled to a second end of the patient circuit; delivering a pressure support therapy to a patient to treat obstructive sleep apnea using the pressure support system; providing a modular compliance monitor that includes a second housing separate from the first housing, wherein the second housing includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage defined through the second housing from the inlet to the outlet, the modular compliance monitor including a sensor disposed within the second housing and operatively coupled to the passage, and a processor disposed within the second housing and operatively coupled to the sensor, the processor being adapted to: (i) determine from an output of the sensor whether the patient is breathing into the patient circuit, and (ii) generate compliance data indicative of usage of the pressure support system based on the determination of whether the patient is breathing into the patient circuit; removeably attaching the modular compliance monitor in-line with the patient circuit by attaching a first portion of the patient circuit to the inlet of the modular compliance monitor and attaching a second portion of the patient circuit to the outlet of the modular compliance monitor so that gas flows through the passage between the inlet of the modular compliance monitor and the outlet of the modular compliance monitor; sensing a parameter indicative of patient breathing via the sensor; determining in the processor from the sensed parameter whether the patient is breathing into the patient circuit; generating in the processor compliance data indicative of usage of the pressure support system by the patient to provide the pressure support therapy based on an outcome of the determining, the compliance data comprising a total amount of time that the pressure support system was used by the patient in a usage session; and outputting the generated compliance data from the processor.