Patent ID: 8381724

Claim:
A pressure support therapy system comprising: (a) a data transmission assembly located at a first location, comprising: (1) a data transmission housing, (2) a first electrical contact disposed at a first location on a first member of the data transmission assembly, and (3) a modem disposed in the data transmission housing, the modem being operatively coupled to the first electrical contact and adapted to communicate with a second location remote from the first location; (b) an information storage device, comprising: (1) an information storage housing, (2) a second electrical contact disposed at a first location on the information storage housing, and (3) a first storage element disposed on information storage housing operatively coupled to the second electrical contact; and (c) a pressure support system located at the first location, comprising: (1) a pressure support housing, wherein the data transmission housing is separate from and external to the pressure support housing, (2) a pressure generating system disposed within the pressure support housing for generating a flow of breathing gas, (3) a controller disposed within the pressure support housing and in communication with the pressure generating system, wherein the controller controls the operation of the pressure generating system such that a pressure of the flow of breathing gas remains substantially constant during at least a portion an inspiratory phase of a patient's respiratory cycle and corresponds to a pressure sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea, (4) a receiving port defined in an exterior surface of the pressure support housing, wherein the receiving port is sized and configured for selectively and individually receiving at least a portion of the first member of the data transmission assembly including the first electrical contact while the modem is operatively coupled to the first electrical contact and at least a portion of the information storage housing including the second electrical contact, and (5) a third electrical contact disposed in the receiving port, wherein the first electrical contact operatively couples to the third electrical contact responsive to the at least a portion of the first member of the data transmission assembly being disposed in the receiving port and wherein the second electrical contact operatively couples to the third electrical contact responsive to the at least a portion of the information storage housing being disposed in the receiving port.