Abstract:
A stand along continuous pressure airwave pressure (CPAP) device and associated method are described for use in treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders. The CPAP device includes the interconnected components of a mouthpiece, a housing, an airway, a blower, a cover, a control circuit and an on/off switch. The method includes the steps of allowing, attaching, biting, coupling, detaching, downloading, moisturizing, obtaining, pressing, sleeping, and withdrawing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to treatment and/or diagnosis of partial or complete upper airway occlusion. More particularly to a stand along continuous pressure airwave pressure (CPAP) device and associated method of using the CPAP device for use in treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Sleep apnea is a syndrome where a person stops breathing during sleep. When the airflow ceases for more than 10 seconds it is called “apnea”. Apneas can lead to decreased blood oxygenation and can often disrupt sleep. Apneas can be categorized as either central apneas, where there is no respiratory effort, or as obstructive apneas, where there is respiratory effort. In some central apneas and all obstructive apneas, the airway becomes completely closed. This closure usually occurs at the level of the tongue or soft palate. Finally, the airway may also be only partially obstructed which can also lead to decreased ventilation (hypopnea) and decreased blood oxygenation, as well as, disturbed sleep. 
         [0003]    A treatment of sleep apnea is the administration of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). It is thought that the CPAP treatment acts as a pneumatic splint of the airway by the provision of a positive pressure. The ancillary air is often supplied to the airway by a motor driven blower whose outlet passes via an air delivery hose to a nose (or nose and/or mouth) mask sealingly engaged to a patient&#39;s face. An exhaust port is often provided somewhere along the delivery tube proximate to the mask. The mask is often either a nose and/or face mask or nasal prongs, pillows or cannulae. 
         [0004]    Sometimes the CPAP device ends up warming the air through the compression in the fan and that the relative humidity of the air is consequently reduced. This dry air created by CPAP can sometimes lead to irritating the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages by desiccation. 
         [0005]    While presently known CPAP techniques fulfill many of their respective objectives and requirements, the no CPAP techniques or devices describe a CPAP device having the interconnected components of a mouthpiece, a housing, an airway, a blower, a cover, a control circuit and an on/off switch for treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders. This combination of interconnected elements would specifically match the user&#39;s particular individual needs of making it possible to provide a stand alone means for treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders in a convenient manner. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved CPAP device and an associated method of using this new and improved CPAP device for treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea. In this respect, the CPAP device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a convenient means for making it possible to treat and/or diagnose sleep apnea which is a stand alone CPAP device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present continuous pressure airwave pressure (CPAP) device and method of using, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes a number of the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel CPAP device for use in treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders. The CPAP device includes the interconnected components of a mouthpiece, a housing, an airway, a blower, a cover, a control circuit and an on/off switch. The method includes the steps of allowing, attaching, biting, coupling, detaching, downloading, moisturizing, obtaining, pressing, sleeping, and withdrawing. 
         [0008]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known type CPAP devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved CPAP device, which will be described subsequently in great detail, is to provide a new and improved CPAP device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0009]    To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises the interconnected components of a mouthpiece, a housing, an airway, a blower, a cover, a control circuit and an on/off switch. The method includes the steps of allowing, attaching, biting, coupling, detaching, downloading, moisturizing, obtaining, pressing, sleeping, and withdrawing. 
         [0010]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0011]    The invention may also include any number of optional components such as humidifier chamber, a cartridge, and an air filter. 
         [0012]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0013]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved CPAP device that has many of the advantages of the prior CPAP device and minimizing a number of their disadvantages. 
         [0015]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved CPAP device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
         [0016]    An even further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new and improved CPAP device that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making CPAP economically available to the buying public. 
         [0017]    Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a CPAP device that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thererof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
         [0018]    Even still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a CPAP device having interconnected components of a mouthpiece, a housing, an airway, a blower, a cover, a control circuit and an on/off switch so that the device can be used treating and/or diagnosing sleep apnea disorders. 
         [0019]    Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of using comprising the steps of using the CPAP device includes the steps of allowing, attaching, biting, coupling, detaching, downloading, moisturizing, obtaining, pressing, sleeping, and withdrawing. 
         [0020]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0021]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the CPAP device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the CPAP device of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of the CPAP device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    Referring now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 to 3  thereof, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . One preferred embodiment of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device  10  comprises a mouthpiece  12 , a housing  14 , an airway  16 , a blower  18 , a cover  24 , a power unit  26 , a control circuit  28 , and an on/off switch  30 . The housing  14  is attached to the mouthpiece  12 . The airway  16  is attached to the mouthpiece  12  and to the housing  14  in which the airway  16  traverses through the mouthpiece  12  and the housing  14 . The blower  18  is attached to the housing  14  in which the blower  18  has an inlet  20  and an outlet  22 . The inlet  20  of the blower  18  is configured to be in fluid communications with the outlet  22  of the blower  18 , as well as, the outlet  22  and inlet  20  of the blower  18  are configured to be in fluid communications with the airway  16 . The cover  24  is attached to the housing  14 . The power unit  26  is attached to the housing  14  in which the power unit  26  is operatively coupled to the blower  18 . The control circuit  28  is attached to the housing  14  in which the control circuit  28  is operatively coupled to the power unit  26  and to the blower  18 . The on/off switch  30  is attached to the cover  24  in which the on/off switch  30  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0028]    An optional humidifier chamber  32  and a cartridge  34  may be added to the device  10 . The optional humidifier chamber  32  is attached to the housing  14  and to the blower  18  in which the humidifier chamber  32  is in fluid communications with the airway  16  and the outlet  22  of the blower  18 . The optional cartridge  34  is attached to the humidifier chamber  32  in which the optional cartridge  34  is in fluid communications with the airway  16 . 
         [0029]    An optional air filter  36  may be added to the device  10  in which the optional air filter  36  is attached to the blower  18  wherein the air filter  36  is configured to be in fluid communications with the airway  16 . 
         [0030]    An optional light emitting diode (LED)  38  may be added to the device  10  in which the light emitting diode (LED)  38  is attached to the cover  24 , wherein the LED  38  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The optional LED  38  may be operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  for indicating conditions selected from the group consisting of power charging conditions (CHG), on/off power conditions (PWR), and moisture conditions (H2O). 
         [0031]    An optional detector  40  may be attached the airway  16  in which the detector  40  being operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The optional detector  40  may be selected from the group consisting of a humidity detector  40 , a temperature detector  40 , a pressure detector  40 , and an air flow detector  40 . 
         [0032]    An optional speaker  42  may be added to the device  10  in which the in which the optional speaker  42  may be attached to the cover  24  wherein the speaker  42  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0033]    An optional microphone  44  may be added to the device  10  in which the in which the optional microphone  44  may be attached to the cover  24  wherein the microphone  44  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0034]    An optional speaker  42  may be added to the device  10  in which the in which the optional speaker  42  may be attached to the cover  24  wherein the speaker  42  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0035]    An optional combination of a speaker  42  and a microphone  44  may be added to the device  10  in which the control circuit  28  is operatively configured to input an electrical input from the microphone  44  and to output an electrical output to the speaker  42  to drive the speaker  42  to produce noise cancellation functions in response to snoring noises. Alternately, the control circuit  28  may be operatively configured to input an electrical input from the microphone  44  and to output an electrical output to the speaker  42  to drive the speaker  42  to produce siren alarm sounds in response to snoring noises. Yet another configuration of the control circuit  28  is that it is operatively configured to output an electrical output to the speaker  42  to drive the speaker  42  to produce a musical melody. 
         [0036]    An optional electrical socket  46  may be added to the device  10  in which the optional electrical socket  46  is attached to the cover  24  and operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  wherein the electrical socket  46  for charging the power supply. 
         [0037]    An optional flash memory  46  may be added to the device  10  in which the optional flash memory  48  is attached to the housing  14  wherein the flash memory  48  is operatively attached to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0038]    An optional parallel interface  50  may be added to the device in which the optional parallel interface  50  is attached to the cover  24  and is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . 
         [0039]    An optional heat pump  52  may be added to the device  10  in which the optional heat pump  52  is attached to the cover  24  and is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The optional heat pump  52  may be any commercially available heat pump such as a Peltier heat pump  52 . 
         [0040]    An optional exhaust valve  54  may be added to the device  10  in which the optional exhaust valve  54  is attached to the housing  14  wherein the exhaust valve  54  in fluid communications with the airway  16 . 
         [0041]    Another preferred embodiment of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device  10  comprises a mouthpiece  12 , a housing  14 , an airway  16 , a blower  18 , a cover  24 , a power unit  26 , a control circuit  28 , an on/off switch  30 , a humidifier chamber  32 , a cartridge  34 , an air filter  36 , at least one light emitting diode (LED)  38 , a detector  40 , a speaker  42 , a microphone  44 , an electrical socket  46 , a flash memory  48 , a parallel interface  50 , a heat pump  52 , and an exhaust valve  54 . The housing  14  is attached to the mouthpiece  12 . The airway  16  is attached to the mouthpiece  12  and to the housing  14  in which the airway  16  traverses through the mouthpiece  12  and the housing  14 . The blower  18  is attached to the housing  14  in which the blower  18  has an inlet  20  and an outlet  22 . The inlet  20  of the blower  18  being in fluid communications with the outlet  22  of the blower  18 . The outlet  22  and inlet  20  of the blower  18  are in fluid communications with the airway  1   6 . The cover  24  is attached to the housing  14 . The power unit  26  is attached to the housing  14 , the power unit  26  operatively coupled to the blower  18 . The control circuit  28  is attached to the housing  14  in which the control circuit  28  is operatively coupled to the power unit  26  and to the blower  18 . The on/off switch  30  is attached to the cover  24  in which the on/off switch  30  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The humidifier chamber  32  is attached to the housing  14  and to the blower  18  in which the humidifier chamber  32  is in fluid communications with the airway  16  and the outlet  22  of the blower  18 . The cartridge  34  is attached to the humidifier chamber  32  in which the cartridge  34  is in fluid communications with the airway  16 . The air filter  36  is attached to the blower  18  in which the air filter  36  is in fluid communications with the airway  16 . At least one light emitting diode (LED)  38  is attached to the cover  24  in which the LED  38  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The LED  38  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  for indicating conditions selected from the group consisting of power charging conditions (CHG), on/off power conditions (PWR), and moisture conditions (H2O). The detector  40  is attached the airway  16  wherein the detector  40  being operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  in which the detector  40  is selected from the group consisting of a humidity detector  40 , a temperature detector  40 , a pressure detector  40 , and an air flow detector  40 . The speaker  42  is attached to the cover  24  in which the speaker  42  operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The control circuit  28  is operatively configured to output an electrical output to the speaker  42  to drive the speaker  42  to produce a musical melody. The microphone  44  is attached to the cover  24  in which the microphone  44  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The electrical socket  46  is attached to the cover  24  and is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  wherein the electrical socket  46  is for charging the power supply. The flash memory  48  is attached to the housing  14  in which the flash memory  48  is operatively attached to the control circuit  28 . The parallel interface  50  is attached to the cover  24  and is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The heat pump  52  is attached to the cover  24  and is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 . The exhaust valve  54  is attached to the housing  14  in which the exhaust valve  54  is in fluid communications with the airway  16 . 
         [0042]    On preferred embodiment of a method of using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device  10  comprises the steps of: allowing, attaching, biting, coupling, detaching, downloading, moisturizing, obtaining, pressing, sleeping, and withdrawing. The obtaining step comprises obtaining the device  10  comprising: a mouthpiece  12 ; a housing  14  attached to the mouthpiece  12 ; a airway  16  attached to the mouthpiece  12  and the housing  14 , the airway  16  defining an airway  16  traversing through the mouthpiece  12  and the housing  14 ; a blower  18  attached to the housing  14 , the blower  18  having an inlet  20  and an outlet  22 , the inlet  20  of the blower  18  being in fluid communications with the outlet  22  of the blower  18 , the outlet  22  and inlet  20  of the blower  18  in fluid communications with the airway  16 ; a cover  24  attached to the housing  14 ; a power unit  26  attached to the housing  14 , the power unit  26  operatively coupled to the blower  18 ; a control circuit  28  attached to the housing  14 , the control circuit  28  operatively coupled to the power unit  26  and to the blower  18 ; an on/off switch  30  attached to the cover  24 , the on/off switch  30  operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 ; a humidifier chamber  32  attached to the housing  14  and to the blower  18 , wherein the humidifier chamber  32  in fluid communications with the airway  16  and the outlet  22  of the blower  18 ; a cartridge  34  attached to the humidifier chamber  32 , the cartridge  34  in fluid communications with the airway  16 ; an air filter  36  attached to the blower  18  wherein the air filter  36  in fluid communications with the airway  16 , at least one light emitting diode (LED)  38  attached to the cover  24 , the LED  38  operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  wherein the LED  38  operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  for indicating conditions selected from the group consisting of power charging conditions (CHG), on/off power conditions (PWR), and moisture conditions (H2O); a detector  40  attached the airway  16  wherein the detector  40  being operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  wherein the detector  40  is selected from the group consisting of a humidity detector  40 , a temperature detector  40 , a pressure detector  40 , and an air flow detector  40 ; a speaker  42  attached to the cover  24 , the speaker  42  operatively coupled to the control circuit  28  wherein the control circuit  28  is operatively configured to output an electrical output to the speaker  42  to drive the speaker  42  to produce a musical melody; a microphone  44  attached to the cover  24  wherein the microphone  44  is operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 ; an electrical socket  46  attached to the cover  24  and operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 , the electrical socket  46  for charging the power supply; a flash memory  48  attached to the housing  14 , the flash memory  48  operatively attached to the control circuit  28 ; a parallel interface  50  attached to the cover  24  and operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 ; a heat pump  52  attached to the cover  24  and operatively coupled to the control circuit  28 ; and an exhaust valve  54  attached to the housing  14 , the exhaust valve  54  in fluid communications with the airway  16 . The biting step comprises biting onto the mouthpiece  12  to mount the device  10  in a mouth of a user. The pressing step comprises pressing onto the on/off switch  30  to activate the control circuit  28 . The detaching step comprises detaching the cartridge  34  from the humidifier chamber  32 . The moisturizing step comprises moisturizing the detached cartridge  34 . The attaching step comprises attaching the moistened cartridge  34  to the humidifier chamber  32 . The sleeping step comprises sleeping with the device  10  mounted in the mouth of the user. The allowing step comprises allowing the control circuit  28  to store sleep response data into the flash memory  48 . The withdrawing step comprises withdrawing the mouthpiece  12  from the mouth of a user. The coupling step comprises coupling the parallel interface  50  to a computer. The downloading step comprises downloading the sleep response data stored in the flash memory  48   
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  which depicts a perspective view of an CPAP device  10  showing the mouthpiece  12 , the housing  14 , the blower  18 , the cover  24 , the on/off switch  30 , the cartridge  34 , the air filter  36 , the LED  38 , the speaker  42 , the microphone  44 , the electrical socket  46 , the parallel interface  50 , the heat pump  52 , and the exhaust valve  54 . The housing  14  is shown attached to the mouthpiece  12 . The blower  18  is shown attached to the housing  14  with an inlet  20 . The cover  24  is shown attached to the housing  14 , The on/off switch  30  is shown attached to the housing  14 . The cartridge  34  is shown mounted within the cover  24 . The LED  38  is shown attached to the cover  24  The speaker  42  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The microphone  44  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The electrical socket  46  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The parallel interface  50  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The heat pump  52  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The exhaust valve  54  is shown attached to the housing  14 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  which depicts an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the CPAP device  10  showing the mouthpiece  12 , the housing  14 , the airway  16 , the blower  18 , the cover  24 , the power unit  26 , the control circuit  28 , the on/off switch  30 , the humidifier chamber  32 , the cartridge  34 , the air filter  36 , the LED  38 , the detector  40 , the speaker  42 , the microphone  44 , the electrical socket  46 , the flash memory  48 , the parallel interface  50 , the heat pump  52 , and the exhaust valve  54 . The housing  14  is shown attached to the mouthpiece  12 . The airway  16  is shown attached to the housing  14  in which the airway  16  traverses through the mouthpiece  12  and the housing  14 . The blower  18  is shown having an inlet  20  and an outlet  22 . The on/off switch  30  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The LED  38  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The detector  40  is shown attached the airway  16 . The speaker  42  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The microphone  44  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The electrical socket  46  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The flash memory  48  is shown. The parallel interface  50  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The heat pump  52  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The exhaust valve  54  is shown attached to the housing  14  in which the exhaust valve  54  is in fluid communications with the airway  16 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  which depicts a front plan view of the CPAP device  10  showing the mouthpiece  12 , the housing  14 , the blower  18 , the cover  24 , the on/off switch  30 , the cartridge  34 , the LED  38 , the speaker  42 , the microphone  44 , the electrical socket  46 , the heat pump  52 , and the exhaust valve  54 . The housing  14  is shown attached to the mouthpiece  12 . The blower  18  is shown having an inlet  20 . The on/off switch  30  is attached to the cover  24 . The LED  38  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The speaker  42  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The microphone  44  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The electrical socket  46  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The heat pump  52  is shown attached to the cover  24 . The exhaust valve  54  is shown attached to the housing  14 . 
         [0046]    As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
         [0047]    While a preferred embodiment of the CPAP device has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0048]    Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or the term “includes” or variations, thereof, or the term “having” or variations, thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers. In this regard, in construing the claim scope, an embodiment where one or more features is added to any of the claims is to be regarded as within the scope of the invention given that the essential features of the invention as claimed are included in such an embodiment. 
         [0049]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modification which fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. 
         [0050]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, failing within the scope of the invention,