Patent ID: 7267121

Claim:
A CPAP apparatus for the delivery of an aerosolized medicament to a patient's respiratory system comprising: a pressure-generating circuit that maintains continuous positive pressure throughout the apparatus during the breathing cycle of the patient; a patient interface device adapted to be coupled to a patient's respiratory system; a respiratory circuit that provides gas communication between the pressure-generating circuit and the patient interface device, whereby the patient breathes gas under continuous positive pressure; a nebulizer that introduces aerosolized medicament into the gas flow in the respiratory circuit; an auxiliary circuit in gas communication with the respiratory circuit whereby a portion of the gas flow in the respiratory circuit is diverted to the external atmosphere to provide a secondary gas flow; a flow sensor disposed in the auxiliary circuit for measuring the flow rate of the secondary gas flow; and electronic circuitry connecting the flow sensor to the nebulizer, whereby the flow sensor sends a first electronic signal that causes the nebulizer to turn off when the flow sensor detects an increase in the flow rate of the secondary gas flow as the result of the patient commencing exhalation.