Patent Description:
Respiratory disorders affect the ability of a sufferer to breathe. One treatment of respiratory disorder involves delivering pressurised breathing gases to a person experiencing the disorder. A common respiratory disorder is an apnea. Apneas are caused by the collapse of the muscles supporting a person's airways during sleep, resulting in a partial or complete blockage of the breathing passages. This is commonly known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Other events such as hypopneas and restricted breathing (flow limitations) also fall into the broad category of sleep disorder breathing (SDB) events. A hypopnea involves episodes of overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate. Restricted breathing is caused by a restriction in the person's airway most commonly caused by the person's airway partially closing. These events (that is, SDB events) also occur during sleep and cause a person to wake mid sleep, and can limit the amount of sleep a person can get.

SDB events are commonly treated using Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy. PAP involves delivering breathing gases at a pre-determined pressure above atmospheric to the patient. The raised pressure breathing gases force the user's airways open to maintain a substantially unrestricted breathing passage. The predetermined pressure at which treatment is delivered is generally determined by clinical trials prior to regular treatment. In particular Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is used to treat SDB events. In basic CPAP therapy the pressure is constantly maintained at a predetermined pressure. There are other PAP therapies like Bi level PAP and auto CPAP in which there is a high positive pressure at inspiration and a lower pressure at expiration is delivered to maintain open airways.

PAP therapy is delivered to a patient by a treatment system for delivering breathing gases to the patient. The system typically includes a flow generator for generating a flow of gases, a conduit to transport the breathing gases generated by the flow generator, and a patient interface to deliver the gases to the patient. The system may include a humidifier to humidify the breathing gases prior to delivering the gases to a user.

PAP treatment systems are generally used in the home by a user. PAP treatment systems are used by a person or patient during sleep to prevent SDB events such as OSA and sometimes provide inspiratory assistance, as is the case for bi-level PAP. However PAP treatment systems are also utilised by a person when the person is awake and preparing for sleep. The treatment system continues to operate after the person has fallen asleep.

<CIT> discloses a respiratory apparatus, in particular a CPAP-apparatus, and includes an illumination device and a controller for the illumination device. The controller has a sensor which detects impacts or sound and is configured to switch on the illumination device. The illumination device illuminates a display of the respiratory apparatus.

<CIT> discloses a non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) system and includes a projector device and a sleep stage monitor which detects eye movement or receives signals from electrodes attached to a patient'.

<CIT> discloses detection of sleep condition in conjunction with treatment of sleep disordered breathing by a pressure treatment apparatus.

Aspects and embodiments of the invention are set out in the appended claims.

Quite often the user or person is watching TV or listening to the radio or has other appliances or electrical apparatuses operating while the user is using a PAP treatment system. As the user falls asleep these appliances may remain switched on without the user realising. For example, the user may be watching TV, utilising the PAP treatment system and falls asleep and the TV continues to run throughout the night causing excessive power use. Another example is the user may be in bed or on the couch using the PAP treatment system and falls asleep while the lights remain on throughout the night. This is again disadvantageous because it causes higher power consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to control an electronic apparatus using a breathing gases supply apparatus or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

The terms "sleep" and "asleep" as used in this specification are intended to encompass a) the onset of sleep, b) an actual sleep state where the patient is asleep (such as the REM sleep state and the non-REM sleep state), or c) a change in sleep state, for example from non-REM sleep to REM sleep or any other such sleep state change. A change in sleep state can also be considered the onset of sleep, going from a non-sleep state to a sleep state.

The term "comprising" is used in the specification and claims, means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting a statement in this specification and claims that includes "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus such as a home appliance, using a PAP apparatus or other breathing assistance apparatus (breathing gases supply apparatus). The present invention also relates to a PAP apparatus that can control an electronic apparatus. The occurrence of an SDB event or other event or pattern of breathing indicative of sleep determined by the PAP apparatus can serve as an indicator that the person is asleep, and can be used as a trigger to control an electronic apparatus. As noted earlier, the terms "asleep" and "sleep" should be interpreted broadly and can cover various sleep states comprising the onset of sleep, actual sleep and also a change in sleep state. So the SDB or other event or pattern of breathing indicative of sleep can serve as an indicator of actual sleep, and/or onset of sleep or change in sleep state. Any of these types of sleep, once detected can be used to trigger to control an electronic apparatus.

An electronic apparatus can be interpreted generally to cover any type of electrical or electronic equipment such as home appliances and/or other electrical/electronic devices. For example, an electronic apparatus could be one or more of a:.

In one embodiment, a PAP apparatus is configured to measure data or parameters indicative of a patient's breathing (such as breath flow data/parameters or pressure data/parameters), determine the occurrence of an SDB event or other sleep indicative breathing pattern (e.g. sleep indicative breathing characteristic) in a controller/control system, from that determine sleep in the person (e.g. if the person is actually asleep, has reached onset of sleep or has changed sleep state), and control one or more electronic apparatus based on the determination.

Common breathing patterns indicative of sleep are SDB events, which comprise apneas, hypopneas and flow restrictions in the airways. Other breathing patterns detected or determined can be a lower tidal volume, a lower breath rate, lack of variability or a change in pulse rate. Any one or more or a combination of one or more changes listed above can be detected or determined by the system. Such changes in the breathing result in a breathing pattern indicative of sleep. Breathing characteristics that may be indicative of sleep, and are detected or determined by the controller are tidal volumes breathing rates, pulse rates and variability in breathing. Any one or more of these or a combination of these can be indicative of sleep.

In general, the PAP apparatus can from the flow or pressure data/parameters determine any patterns that indicate sleep, and from that trigger control of an electronic apparatus.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a breathing gases supply system/apparatus <NUM> incorporating the present invention. The full system comprises a PAP apparatus <NUM> for delivering a supply of breathing gases, a breathing circuit <NUM> and a patient interface <NUM>.

The supply conduit <NUM> extends from an outlet in the PAP apparatus <NUM> and to the patient interface <NUM>. The patient interface may be any suitable sealing patient interface such as a full face mask, nasal mask, nasal pillows, oro-nasal mask, oral mask, oral interface, nasal seal, nasal cannula or the like.

The PAP apparatus <NUM> comprises a blower. The blower preferably comprises a fan <NUM> driven by an electric motor <NUM>. Air is drawn into the PAP apparatus <NUM> through the inlet <NUM> by the fan <NUM>. Pressurised air leaves the fan <NUM> for supply to the patient. Alternatively, controllable flow generators may draw on a source of high pressure gas, and regulate a flow of gas from the high pressure source.

The PAP apparatus <NUM> preferably comprises a humidifier <NUM>, as shown in the embodiment of <FIG>. In alternative embodiments, the humidifier <NUM> may be separate from the PAP apparatus and part of the breathing gases supply system <NUM> or alternatively there may be no humidifier <NUM> present. The humidifier <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is a pass over type humidifier where air passing through the humidifier picks up a quantity of water vapour from a reservoir of water <NUM>. The water reservoir <NUM> may be heated by a heater <NUM>. The humidifier <NUM> is preferably integrated into the housing of the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively the humidifier <NUM> may be a separate component within the housing of the PAP apparatus or separate from the PAP apparatus <NUM> with a conduit connecting between the PAP apparatus <NUM> and the humidifier <NUM>. Other types of humidifiers, other than a pass over type may be used. In some forms multiple humidifiers may used in the breathing gases supply system <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are supplied by a power supply (PS) <NUM>. The amount of power supplied to the motor determines the speed the fan <NUM> turns at. The amount of power supplied to the heater <NUM> determines the amount of water vapour produced by the humidifier <NUM> and hence is one way of controlling the amount of humidification of the breathing gases supplied by the PAP apparatus100. The amount of power supplied by the power supply <NUM> is controlled by the outputs of a controller.

The PAP apparatus comprises at least a first controller <NUM>. The first controller <NUM> is used to control the blower and breathing circuit. The controller <NUM> may also be configured to control other components as described later. The controller <NUM> is supplied by power from the power supply <NUM>. The controller receives inputs from a user interface (III) <NUM>. The user interface could be in the form of any suitable user interface such as a knob, a plurality of buttons, a screen or any combination thereof. The user interface <NUM> allows the PAP apparatus <NUM> to display information to the user and also allows a user to input information to the PAP apparatus, more particularly to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may also be provided with an interface <NUM> for connecting to an external data source. The external data source may for example, be a communication interface such as a modem, or may be an interface to an external memory such as a smart card, USB, flash drive, disk drive or the like. The interface is capable of connection with a mobile storage device. For generic use, the interface <NUM> may be a data communications port according to any available standards for example a universal serial bus (USB) port. The interface <NUM> may alternatively or additionally be capable of wireless communications using any suitable technology such as RF (e.g. BluetoothTM), infrared or sonic communications technology. The interface <NUM> may also be capable for connecting to a wide range of peripheral devices.

The controller <NUM> typically comprises an embedded microcomputer with stored control programs for controlling and operation of various aspects of the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may be removable from the PAP apparatus <NUM>. In a further alternative form the controller <NUM> can be remote to the PAP apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> and the components of the PAP apparatus <NUM> and the components of the breathing gases supply apparatus <NUM> can be configured to communicate by wired or wireless methods. The controller <NUM> preferably comprises inputs for receiving inputs from one or more sensors, which preferably comprise a flow sensor <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM> downstream to the fan and a flow sensor <NUM> that is placed close to or on the patient interface to determine the flow or velocity of gases supplied to the patient or user. The flow sensor <NUM> may be positioned upstream or downstream to the fan <NUM>. The sensors shown in <FIG> are one configuration of sensors that can be used in the breathing gases supply system <NUM>. Any other configuration of sensors and any other types of sensors may be used. There may be fewer or more sensors than those shown in <FIG>. There may be a variety of other sensors that measure other data such as humidity sensors, mass flow sensors, temperature sensors, EEG sensors and the like. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the breathing gases supply system <NUM> comprises a flow sensor <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM> in the PAP apparatus <NUM> and a flow sensor <NUM> adjacent the patient interface <NUM>. The information/data measured by the sensors, that is flow and pressure, can be referred to as breathing information/data because it relates to the breathing of the patient.

The two common parameters measured are pressure and flow of gases breathed or supplied to the patient or user.

While the controller <NUM> might comprise a microprocessor implementing the control programs, it could alternatively comprise a programmed logic circuit (such as an FPGA) implementing the control programmed, or any other suitable implementation. Electronic circuits and logic circuits implementing the control programme may be readily devised by persons skilled in the art. The control program/controller functionality will be described later in detail with respect to <FIG>.

The PAP apparatus has a control system <NUM> configured for operating electronic apparatus <NUM> upon determining sleep (that is, actual sleep, onset of sleep or change in sleep state). The control system <NUM> can comprise a controller and other components of the PAP apparatus already described in relation to <FIG>. <FIG> shows a block diagram of the control system <NUM> of the PAP apparatus <NUM> in further detail showing how it is configured to operate electronic apparatus <NUM> upon determining sleep in a patient.

The control system <NUM> comprises at least one sensor to detect/measure breathing parameters (these being sensor(s) that might already form part of the PAP apparatus), a controller for determining sleep, and a transmitter <NUM> operated by the control to communicate with an electronic apparatus such as a home appliance to control it upon sleep. The control system <NUM> preferably forms part of the breathing gases supply system <NUM>. Preferably the control system <NUM> is part of the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively only some components of the control system <NUM> are housed within the PAP apparatus <NUM> or formed integrally within the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Some or all of the other components of the control system <NUM> can be positioned outside the PAP apparatus <NUM>.

In one embodiment, as per <FIG>, the control system <NUM> comprises the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> mentioned previously. That is, the controller <NUM> and sensors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> that are used for the normal operation of the PAP apparatus also form part of the control system <NUM> for operating electronic apparatus upon determining sleep. In such an embodiment, the controller <NUM> receives data indicative of patient breathing from the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or any other sensors and is programmed to process the data received from the sensors. The controller <NUM> processes the data to determine sleep in a patient based on the occurrence of SDB events detected from the received data. In particular, it is programmed to detect SDB events from the received data, and from one or more of those detected SDB events, determine patient sleep.

In this context SDB events comprise but are not limited to apneas, hypopneas, and flow limitations. The controller <NUM> can determine sleep by the detection of a single SDB event based on the presumption that SDB events only occur during sleeping. Alternatively, the sleep can be determined from a combination of quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of one or more detected SDB events. For example, sleep can be determined based on the:.

Alternatively, sleep can be determined by determining another breathing pattern indicative of sleep. Other sleep indicative breathing patterns are determined by measuring characteristics/parameters of breathing flow or pressure. These sleep indicative breathing patterns can be determined by, for example, measuring and processing a change in tidal volume, a reduced tidal volume, a reduced breathing rate, lack of variability in breathing or a change in the pulse rate. It should be realised breathing patterns indicative of sleep can be determined by measuring any other suitable characteristic/parameter of breathing flow or pressure besides the ones listed above.

The controller <NUM> can be pre-programmed during manufacture of the controller, or manufacture of the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively the controller <NUM> may be programmed at a later point, by a suitable person. The program can be loaded onto the controller <NUM> by any suitable device or method. For example program is loaded onto the controller <NUM> by a mobile storage device that can be connected to the controller <NUM> via the interface <NUM>. The mobile storage device may be a smart card, a micro-chip, a flash drive, a portable hard drive or any other such suitable device.

The controller <NUM> can be programmed with any suitable method to determine sleep and/or detect the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep from the sensor data. Preferably the controller <NUM> utilises a method that can process a variety of different input types to determine the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep based on the data measured by the sensors, e.g. <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>).

One such suitable method of determining the occurrence of an SDB event, like an apnea, hypopnoea or a flow limitation is described in <CIT> (<CIT>). <CIT> (<CIT>) describes a system that determines events by analysing the flow signal provided by a flow sensor. The system determines an apnea based on a period where the flow signal indicates a lack of patient breathing. The system determines a hypopnea based on a period of reduced breathing volume. The system determines obstructed breathing (flow limitation) on an analysis of the discrete energy spectrum of the flow signal of patient breaths. The controller <NUM> can implement the method or methods of determining various SDB events such as apneas, hypopneas or flow limitations, as described in <CIT> (<CIT>). Other suitable alternative methods of determining the occurrence of SDB events, such apneas, hypopneas and flow limitations can also be implemented. In alternative methods SDB events may be determined based on the changes in the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, or SDB events may be determined based on signals from any other suitable sensor. The controller <NUM> may implement any one method or any combination of any methods described earlier.

Alternatively, or as well as detecting SDB events, the PAP is arranged to determine other sleep indicative breathing patterns are determined by measuring characteristics/parameters of breathing flow or pressure. <CIT> describes methods for using breathing patterns to determine a patient's state, including their sleep state. This patent describes determining a regular breathing state, an SDB state and REM sleep state and a trouble wakefulness state. For example, a change from erratic to rhythmic breathing or vice versa might indicate or detection of just one of those states could be a breathing pattern indicative of sleep. Any of these breathing patterns or the states could be used to infer sleep in a patient for use in triggering control of an electronic apparatus.

The controller <NUM> determines the SDB event or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep for as part of its normal operation as part of the normal operation of the PAP apparatus. The breathing pattern(s) indicative of sleep are preferably also used for triggering control of other operations of the PAP apparatus during its normal used, such as for altering pressure and flow rates.

The controller <NUM> can also be programmed with sleep indicative breathing patterns (such as breathing pattern characteristics indicative of sleep. ) The controller <NUM> determines breathing patterns and measures characteristics like tidal volume, variability of breathing, breath rate, pulse rate and any other suitable pattern or characteristic from the sensor data fed to the controller. The controller <NUM> compares the measured breathing pattern or breathing characteristics with the pre-programmed breathing patterns and determines if the measured breathing pattern is indicative of sleep. If the measured breathing pattern or breathing characteristic is identical or substantially similar to the stored sleep indicative breathing, the controller <NUM> determines if sleep has occurred in a patient.

In a further embodiment the controller <NUM> may store particular breathing characteristics indicative of sleep. Examples may be a set tidal volume, a set breathing rate, a set pulse rate, a set variability or any other suitable characteristic. The controller <NUM> can determine breathing characteristics from the data measured by the sensors. Once the breathing characteristics have been measured the controller <NUM> can check the determined breathing characteristic with the stored characteristic indicative of sleep. If the determined breathing characteristic is similar to the stored characteristic the controller <NUM> resolves the patient is sleeping.

The controller <NUM> determines the sleep based on the SDB events, or other breathing pattern of the patient indicative of sleep, or the breathing characteristics or a combination of any two or all of these parameters. The controller <NUM> preferably uses a combination of all three parameters to provide better accuracy to determine sleep in a patient.

The transmitter <NUM> of the control system <NUM> is connected or connectable to the controller <NUM> and the power supply. The controller <NUM> is configured to operate the transmitter <NUM> to send control signals generated by the controller to one or more electronic apparatus <NUM> to control one or more of the electronic apparatus <NUM>. As another alternative, the transmitter <NUM> can produce a signal once it receives a control signal from the controller <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> communicates with electronic apparatus <NUM> via a suitable medium, such as:.

Any suitable transmitter <NUM> can be used with the PAP apparatus <NUM> and controller <NUM>. Preferably the transmitter <NUM> is positioned within the PAP apparatus <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, or formed integrally into the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively the transmitter <NUM> can be separate and remote to the PAP apparatus <NUM> and either wired to the controller <NUM> or alternatively wirelessly in communication with the controller <NUM>. In another alternative, a transceiver is used instead of a transmitter. In this case, there can be two way communications between the electronic apparatus <NUM> and the transceiver <NUM>, meaning the transceiver <NUM> can also receive signals from the electronic apparatus <NUM>. These return signals could be related to the operation of the electronic apparatus <NUM>.

Once the controller <NUM> determines sleep, it generates a control signal and operates the transmitter <NUM> to send the control signal to wirelessly control the operation of any electronic apparatus <NUM> associated with the system/PAP apparatus, as shown in <FIG>. The control signal sent from the transmitter <NUM> changes the state of the electronic apparatus <NUM>. For example, the transmitter <NUM> can send a signal to switch off or on appliances such as televisions, radios, electric heaters, media players or other electronic apparatus such as lights, heat pumps, air conditioners, alarm devices (such as alarm clocks) and the like. Alternatively the transmitter <NUM> can send a signal to change the state of the electronic apparatus <NUM>. For example, it can reduce the volume of televisions, radios and media players, or reduce the intensity of heaters/air conditioners or dim lights. The transmitter <NUM> can also be configured to switch on electronic apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> or transmitter <NUM> can be configured to communicate with and control a plurality of appliances and other electronic devices simultaneously.

<FIG> shows a method for controlling electronic apparatus with a PAP apparatus <NUM>, in particular using the control system within a PAP apparatus as per <FIG>. The controller <NUM> is configured (e.g. via a program) to implement the method. In overview, the method comprises the steps of obtaining input (data/information) indicative of a patient's breathing at step <NUM>. The next step involves determining/detecting the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep at step <NUM>. Step <NUM> involves determining if there is sleep. Step <NUM> comprises sending a control signal to an electronic apparatus <NUM> if sleep is detected at step <NUM>.

The method for controlling electronic apparatuses <NUM> using a PAP apparatus commences at step <NUM>. At step <NUM> the controller <NUM> receives input (information/data) from the one or more sensors (e.g. <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>). Step <NUM> is periodically performed by the controller <NUM> at a suitable sampling rate. The sampling rate is determined by the internal clock of the controller <NUM> or any other clock within the PAP apparatus <NUM>. Once data from the sensors has been received by the controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> processes the sensor data to detect the occurrence of one or more SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep at step <NUM>. Optionally, the controller <NUM> uses the method or methods of determining SDB events such as apneas, hypopneas or flow limitations, as described in <CIT> (<CIT>). Any other suitable method of determining SDB events can be implemented by the controller <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> uses other methods of determining breathing patterns indicative of sleep, such as those described in <CIT>.

At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> then determines sleep in a patient based on the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep. The controller <NUM> determines sleep based on any suitable relationship of SDB events or the quantitative/qualitative analysis of SDB events, or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep as described previously.

For example, in one embodiment, sleep is determined by the occurrence of a single SDB event. In other embodiments, sleep is determined based on one or more of the:.

In a further embodiment, at step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may also or alternatively determine sleep based on the breathing pattern of the patient and whether the patient's measured breathing pattern is one that is indicative of sleep. The controller compares the measured breathing pattern or breathing characteristics with stored breathing patterns indicative of sleep, such as by using methods described in <CIT>. If the measured breathing pattern is identical or similar, the controller determines the occurrence of sleep for a patient or in a patient. These breathing patterns indicative of sleep can be any one of reduced tidal volume, lack of variability, reduced breath rate or a change in pulse. The controller <NUM> may measure the change in breathing pattern to determine sleep. In a further embodiment the controller may also measure particular breathing characteristics that are indicative of sleep in a patient. The breathing characteristics have been explained earlier.

At step <NUM> the controller <NUM> determines sleep based on the SDB events, or the breathing pattern of the patient, or the breathing characteristics or a combination of any two or all of these parameters. The controller <NUM> preferably uses a combination of all three parameters to provide better accuracy to determine sleep.

The controller <NUM> may determine sleep based on only SDB events, other breathing patterns indicative of sleep, or a combination of SDB events and breathing pattern changes or a combination of both. The controller can implement any suitable algorithm that uses SDB event information or breathing pattern information or a combination of both to determine if sleep has occurred.

If the method determines a patient is sleeping (YES), step <NUM>, then the method proceeds to step <NUM>. Otherwise, the method returns to step <NUM> by loop <NUM>. Loop <NUM> is a continuous loop and the method remains in this loop until sleep is determined at step <NUM>. At step <NUM> the controller operates the transmitter <NUM> to transmit the control signal to control the electronic apparatus <NUM> associated with the system/PAP apparatus. The method of the present invention may comprise a further step of receiving confirmation that the state of an appliance <NUM> has been switched. The controller can update itself or a memory element or a register within the controller memory that the electronic apparatus <NUM> has changed state. The controller preferably includes registers in the controller memory. The controller uses the registers to track the states of the various electronic apparatus <NUM> that are being controlled. The controller may be configured to determine if the electronic apparatus is ON or OFF and store the state in the register. The state may be a simple high low indicator, for example a <NUM> may indicate the electronic apparatus <NUM> is ON and a <NUM> may indicate the electronic apparatus <NUM> is off. The controller may be configured to store the state and remember the previous state of the electronic apparatus <NUM>. The controller can be configured to only change the state of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, by sending a control signal, if the previous state was an ON state. The controller is preferably adapted to switch the electronic apparatus <NUM> OFF when sleep is detected. The PAP apparatus <NUM> or control system <NUM> may also include further sensors to determine the state of the electronic apparatus <NUM> when the PAP apparatus is started.

The PAP apparatus <NUM> and method defined above is advantageous because the PAP apparatus is adapted to automatically control electronic apparatus <NUM> without any input from the patient or other person. The PAP apparatus <NUM> determines sleep, and automatically controls electronic apparatus <NUM> when sleep is detected. In particular the PAP apparatus <NUM> preferably switches off electronic devices such as televisions, radios and any other electronic apparatus. This is particularly advantageous because the patient can sleep without being disturbed by the electronic apparatus being on. The invention is also advantageous because the invention can save power by controlling the electronic apparatus <NUM>. The PAP apparatus automatically controls electronic apparatus <NUM>, which makes using the PAP apparatus easy for the user since there is no user input required to control the electronic apparatus. The PAP apparatus <NUM> and the method is advantageous because the user can remain sleeping and enjoy an undisturbed sleep because the PAP apparatus automatically controls the electronic apparatuses around the patient once sleep in a patient is detected.

<FIG> shows a one embodiment of the PAP apparatus of the present invention. There are other alternative embodiments of the PAP apparatus that are also possible. Some possible alternatives are described below.

In one alternative embodiment, the humidifier of the PAP apparatus is separate to the PAP apparatus <NUM>. The humidifier can be positioned adjacent the PAP apparatus. In this alternative embodiment the PAP apparatus only comprises a blower, a motor, flow and pressure sensors, a user interface and a controller. The humidifier can comprise a water reservoir, a heater plate and a humidity sensor. Such a PAP system can still be part of the present invention since the controller of the PAP apparatus can be configured to control an appliance <NUM> or other electronic device based on determining if a person is asleep from the SDB events or the patient's other breathing patterns (such as particular breathing characteristics) indicative of sleep or a combination of these, determined from data measured by sensors.

In another alternative embodiment, the PAP apparatus comprises a plurality of controllers. In one form there is a second controller for controlling the blower and breathing circuits and the first controller can obtain data indicative of a patient's breathing, determine sleep in a patient and control the transmitter to transmit a signal to control electronic apparatus. In another alternative form there can be one controller configured to control the electric motor and the blower. Another controller can be configured to control the heater plate. A further controller can be configured to control the transmitter <NUM> and the power supply, with an overarching controller controlling all the sub-controllers. The controllers can also be positioned anywhere in the PAP apparatus or external to the PAP apparatus. For example the controllers can be stand alone components that communicate with each other. There are a number of other possibilities and arrangements of controllers that can be used in the PAP apparatus. The controller <NUM> shown is a preferred embodiment showing a general controller that controls all the functions of the PAP apparatus and is configured to implement a preferred method as per <FIG>. Any other arrangement of controllers is also suitable for implementing the method and apparatus of the present invention and for implementing the control of electronic apparatus <NUM> based on SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep.

In another alternative embodiment, the controller or controllers in the PAP apparatus are removable from the PAP apparatus. In particular, the controller <NUM> is removable from the PAP apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> or controllers is removably attached, meaning the controller <NUM> or controllers can be removed from the PAP apparatus <NUM> and re-attached to PAP apparatus. This is advantageous because it allows a patient or a clinician to remove the controller to program it or troubleshoot without having to transport the whole PAP apparatus <NUM>.

In another alternative embodiment, the PAP apparatus comprises a variety of sensors in addition to those described. Some examples are humidity sensors, mass flow sensors and sound recording sensors. The controller can be configured to determine the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep based on input (information/data) from any of these sensors or other sensors used.

A further alternative embodiment comprises a plurality of transmitters used with the PAP apparatus and controller <NUM>. In one form there may a dedicated transmitter adapted to transmit a control signal to a particular appliance, for example one transmitter for a television, a separate transmitter for a radio and so on. In an alternative, the transmitter is separate to the PAP apparatus <NUM> and can interface with a controller <NUM> (or with multiple controllers) by wired or wireless methods.

In a further alternative embodiment, an algorithm is be loaded on to the controller in a variety of ways from wired connection to wireless methods. In one form, the program for determining the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing pattern indicative of sleep is programmed into the controller at manufacture and is stored in the memory of the controller. In another form, a program for the method is loaded on by a portable memory device such as a USB or flash drive. In a further alternative form, the program for the method is loaded on to the controller by wireless transmission of data from a remote server or a remote location. In a further alternative form, the controller has programs for several methods stored on it for detecting the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing patterns indicative of sleep. The method implemented by the controller depends on the type of sensors used in the PAP apparatus and the type of sensor data. The controller uses the appropriate program to process the sensor data in order to determine the occurrence of SDB events or other breathing patterns indicative of sleep.

Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment the electronic apparatus is an alarm device (e.g. such as an alarm clock 400a or 400b) and the PAP apparatus <NUM> is configured to operate the alarm device 400a or 400b to wake up a person during a sleep state that is conducive to the patient being woken up. A patient has different sleep states. Some sleep states result in "deep sleep" (e.g. non-REM sleep) from which it is difficult to wake up from, and/or once woken up from will cause the patient to be sleepy. Alternatively, some sleep states result in "shallow sleep" (e.g. REM sleep) from which it is relatively easy for a patient to wake up. In a shallow sleep state, a patient is more conducive to being woken up. In this embodiment, the PAP apparatus <NUM> is configured to operate the alarm device 400a or 400b to only wake up a patient when they are in a shallow sleep state, or as close as possible in time to such a sleep state (either option being a sleep state conducive to being woken).

More particularly, the PAP apparatus control system <NUM> comprises an alarm device 400a or is adapted to operate a separate alarm device 400a through the controller <NUM>. The alarm device, such as an alarm clock, can be programmed in the usual way (either directly or via the PAP apparatus <NUM>/control system <NUM>) to sound an alarm at a desired time (e.g. <NUM>:<NUM> am) to wake up a patient. This is the nominal alarm time. However, the alarm device 400a or 400b will not automatically activate the alarm at the desired/nominal time. To activate the alarm, the alarm device must receive a control signal from the PAP apparatus <NUM>, for example via the controller <NUM>. To do so, the PAP apparatus controller <NUM> monitors the time and also when the pre-programmed alarm wake up time is. In addition, the controller <NUM> monitors the sleep state of the patient using any of the methods described above. Once the time reaches the pre-programmed desired time, the controller <NUM> will only send a control signal to the alarm device 400a or 400b to activate the alarm if the patient's sleep state is one conducive to waking up (e.g. a shallow sleep state). If the sleep state is not conducive to waking up, the controller <NUM> will not send an alarm activation control signal to the alarm device, but rather wait until the patient has reached a sleep state conducive to waking up and then send the control signal to activate the alarm. So, for example, if at 7am the patient is still in deep sleep state, the controller <NUM> will wait until it determines the patient is in a shallow sleep state and then send the activation control signal, which may for example not be until <NUM>.

A maximum time delay could be set (by the user or manufacturer) indicating the longest time the controller <NUM> should delay after the nominal alarm time before sending an alarm activation control signal. After that time, the controller <NUM> will send an alarm activation control signal to the alarm device 400a or 400b irrespective of the patient's sleep state. This avoids the possibility that the patient will sleep too long after the desired/nominal wake up time. Alternatively, the controller could have a time window either side of the desired/nominal alarm time - e.g. 7am +/-<NUM> minutes, within which time the controller <NUM> can activate the alarm device 400a or 400b. For example, once <NUM>. 45am is reached the controller <NUM> will send the alarm activation control signal to the alarm device 400a or 400b as soon as the patient reaches a shallow sleep state, and at latest by <NUM>. A patient could set the maximum delay and/or time window.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a positive airway pressure (PAP) apparatus (<NUM>) comprising a blower, the blower comprising a fan (<NUM>) driven by an electric motor (<NUM>),
a pressure sensor (<NUM>) downstream of the fan to measure pressure of gases breathed or supplied to a patient, and a flow sensor (<NUM>) downstream or upstream of the fan to measure flow of gases breathed or supplied to a patient,
a controller (<NUM>) as part of, removable from or remote to the PAP apparatus (<NUM>), and
a transmitter (<NUM>) configured to send control signals generated by the controller (<NUM>) to an electronic apparatus (<NUM>),
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is configured to
monitor the time,
receive input from at least one sensor (<NUM>,<NUM>)
determine a sleep state in a patient from the received input,
wherein upon reaching a desired time and determining a sleep state conducive to being woken, operating the transmitter to send the control signal to change a state of an electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus is a home appliance.