Respiratory assistance apparatus

Abstract

A head-mounted respiratory assistance apparatus configured to provide a respiratory gases stream to a user. The head-mounted respiratory assistance has a main body securable to the head of a user and a blower unit that is operable to generate a pressurised gases stream from a supply of gases from the surrounding atmosphere. A patient interface is provided on the main body that has a gases inlet which is fluidly connected to the blower unit and which is configured to deliver the pressurised gases to the user's nose and/or mouth.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus configured to provide a respiratory gases stream to a user, comprising:
 a patient interface; and   a blower unit comprising a lightweight impeller, the blower unit being fixedly or releasably mounted to the front of the patient interface and having a gases inlet to receive a supply of gases from the surrounding atmosphere and being operable to generate a pressurised gases stream at a gases outlet,   wherein the patient interface has a gases inlet which is fluidly connected to the gases outlet of the blower unit and which is configured to deliver the pressurised gases to the user's nose and/or mouth via one or more gases outlets,   wherein a gases flow path from the gases inlet of the blower unit to the gases outlet(s) of the patient interface is substantially sealed such that there is zero bias flow along the gases flow path, and   wherein the apparatus is configured so that excess exhaled gases from the user vent back through the gases flow path in the opposite direction of the pressurised gases stream and exit the head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus into the atmosphere from the gases inlet of the blower unit.   
     
     
         59 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  wherein the gases flow path volume between the gases inlet of the blower unit and the gases outlet(s) of the patient interface is less than approximately 200 mL. 
     
     
         60 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  further comprising headgear that is configured to secure the apparatus to the head of a user, the headgear comprising one or more headstraps. 
     
     
         61 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 60  wherein the respiratory assistance apparatus further comprises one or more onboard power supply modules that are configured to supply power to the apparatus, and wherein the power supply modules are mounted to or integrated with the headgear. 
     
     
         62 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 61  wherein the power supply module(s) are releasably mounted to a part of the headgear such that they are detachable from the headgear. 
     
     
         63 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  wherein the lightweight impeller of the blower unit is shroudless. 
     
     
         64 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  further comprising an onboard electronic controller that is mounted to or within the respiratory assistance apparatus and which is operable to control the pressure of respiratory gases delivered to the user by controlling the blower unit. 
     
     
         65 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 64  further comprising one or more sensors mounted to or within the respiratory assistance apparatus that are configured to sense operational parameters and generate representative sensor signals. 
     
     
         66 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 65  wherein the one or more sensors are wireless sensors. 
     
     
         67 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 66  wherein the one or more wireless sensors are configured to send the generated sensor signals to the controller. 
     
     
         68 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 66  wherein the one or more wireless sensors are configured to transmit, directly or indirectly, the generated sensor signals wirelessly to a separate external device or system. 
     
     
         69 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  further comprising a wireless communication module that is operable to receive and send data to external devices and/or systems. 
     
     
         70 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  further comprising an onboard wireless power transfer receiver that is configured to receive power from a wireless power transfer transmitter. 
     
     
         71 . A head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  wherein the apparatus is configured as a positive airway pressure (PAP) device. 
     
     
         72 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  wherein the patient interface comprises any one of the following: a full face mask configured to sealingly engage with the user's face so as to cover their nose and mouth; a nasal pillows mask that sealingly engages the user's nostrils; an unsealed nasal cannula that is configured to be positioned inside the user's nostrils; or an oral interface that is configured to sealingly engage with or within the user's mouth. 
     
     
         73 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 58  that is configured to be operatively connectable to a separate base station, the base station comprising:
 a power supply system that is operable to supply power to the respiratory assistance apparatus; 
 a data transfer system that is operable to send and receive data to and from the respiratory assistance apparatus; and 
 a control system that is operable to control the respiratory assistance apparatus via control signals. 
 
     
     
         74 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 73  wherein the power supply system of the base station is configured to transfer power to the respiratory assistance apparatus via one or more power transfer cables and/or comprises wireless power transfer circuitry that is configured to transfer power to the respiratory assistance apparatus wirelessly. 
     
     
         75 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 74  wherein the data transfer system of the base station comprises a first communication module that is operable to transfer data between the base station and the respiratory assistance apparatus over a wired or wireless communication medium. 
     
     
         76 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 75  wherein the data transfer system of the base station further comprises a second communication module that is operable to transfer data between the base station and an external server over a wired or wireless communication medium. 
     
     
         77 . The head-mountable respiratory assistance apparatus according to  claim 73  wherein the control system of the base station is operable to send control signals to the respiratory assistance apparatus to control any one or more of the following operational modes: on/off mode, charging mode, drying mode, and/or data transfer mode.