Systems and methods for reverse pressure pulse therapy delivery

Abstract

A system and method for providing a therapy to a subject may include a lumen configured to be coupled to a portion of a respiration passage of the subject to receive air respired by the subject. A sensor is configured to monitor the lumen and generate a signal based on the air respired by the subject. A pressure pulse delivery system is configured to deliver a pressure pulse along the lumen to the subject and a reservoir of therapeutic agent is coupled to the lumen. A processor is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine, from at least the signal, an exhalation period of the subject, and based on the exhalation period, cause the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure pulse to the subject. Following the pressure pulse, the processor can cause the therapeutic agent to be delivered from the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing a therapy to a subject, the system comprising:
 a lumen configured to be coupled to a portion of a respiration passage of the subject to receive air respirated by the subject;   a sensor configured to monitor the lumen and generate a signal based on the air respirated by the subject;   a pressure pulse delivery system configured to deliver a pressure pulse along the lumen to the subject;   a supply of therapeutic agent coupled to the lumen; and   a processor configured to:
 receive the signal from the sensor; 
 determine, from at least the signal, an exhalation of the subject; 
 based on the exhalation, cause the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure pulse to the subject; and 
 following the pressure pulse, cause the therapeutic agent to be delivered from the supply. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is further configured to determine, from at least the signal, an inhalation of the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the processor is further configured to cause the pressure pulse delivery system to pause delivery of the pressure pulse when the processor detects the inhalation period of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2  further comprising a user interface configured to receive a user selection of a pressure-pulse delivery frequency and wherein the processor is further configured to coordinate operation of the pressure pulse delivery system based on the user selection and the exhalation. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a user selection of a pressure-pulse delivery strength and wherein the processor is further configured to control operation of the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure-pulse based on the user selection of the pressure-pulse delivery strength. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a user selection of a therapy delivery strength and wherein the processor is further configured to control operation of the supply to deliver a therapy based on the user selection of the therapy delivery strength. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the processor is further configured to cause the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure pulse to the subject after the delivery of the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing a therapy to a subject, the method including steps comprising:
 (a) monitoring the respiration cycle of the subject;   (b) determining an exhalation of a subject based on monitoring the respiration cycle of the subject;   (c) identifying a predetermined point in the respiration cycle relative to the exhalation;   (d) delivering a pressure pulse to the subject at the predetermined point in the respiration cycle; and   (e) following the pressure pulse, delivering the therapy to the respiratory passage of the subject to be inhaled by the subject.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein step (c) further comprises determining a delivery frequency for the pressure pulse based on at least monitoring the respiration cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein step (c) further comprises determining a delivery strength of the therapy based on at least monitoring the respiration cycle. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 (d) determining a patient inhalation; and 
 (e) pausing delivery of the pressure pulse and delivery of the therapy to the subject upon determining patient inhalation in step (d). 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein step (c) further comprises determining a delivery strength for the pressure pulse based on at least monitoring the respiration cycle. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising (g) following the delivery of the therapy, delivering a pressure pulse to the subject. 
     
     
         14 . A system for providing a therapy to a subject, the system comprising:
 a lumen configured to be coupled to a portion of a respiration passage of the subject to receive air respirated by the subject;   a sensor configured to monitor the lumen and generate a signal based on the air respirated by the subject;   a pressure pulse delivery system configured to deliver a pressure pulse along the lumen to the subject;   a supply of therapeutic agent coupled to the lumen; and   a processor configured to:
 receive the signal from the sensor; 
 cause the therapeutic agent to be delivered from the supply; and 
 following delivery of the therapeutic agent, cause the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure pulse to the subject. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the processor is further configured to determine, from at least the signal, an inhalation of the subject and cause the therapeutic agent to be delivered from the supply based on the inhalation. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the processor is further configured to determine, from at least the signal, an exhalation of the subject and cause the pressure pulse delivery system to deliver a pressure pulse to the subject based on that exhalation. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the processor is further configured to cause the therapeutic agent to be delivered after the delivery of the pressure pulse based on the exhalation of the subject. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)