Apparatus and method for adaptive ramped control of positive airway pressure (pap)

Abstract

Methods and/or apparatus automate setting of a pressure ramp to permit pressure to gradually arrive at a treatment pressure such as in the initial or pre-sleep stages of use of a respiratory therapy pressure device for treatment of a respiratory disorder during sleep (e.g., sleep disordered breathing). In an example, apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder may include a breathable gas pressure generating device. The apparatus may include a controller, including a processor(s). The controller may be configured to collect historic sleep onset parameter(s) concerning timing of a patient falling asleep. The apparatus may determine, based on the historic sleep onset parameter(s), a pre-sleep limit. The apparatus may determine a pre-sleep profile of pressure versus time having a duration spanning the pre-sleep limit and having a plurality of ramping sub-therapeutic pressures. The apparatus may control, upon initiation of treatment, setting of the pressure generating device according to the pre-sleep profile.

1 . An apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder comprising:
 a breathable gas pressure generating device, and   a controller, including at least one processor, the controller configured to:
 collect a plurality of historic pre-sleep parameters concerning a patient initially falling asleep with the apparatus; 
 upon initiation of treatment, control, based on the historic pre-sleep parameters, operation of the apparatus according to a pre-sleep limit wherein the pre-sleep limit is set based on at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters; 
 wherein the operation of the apparatus comprises delivery of a pre-sleep profile of pressure versus time having a duration spanning the pre-sleep limit, wherein the pre-sleep profile comprises at least one sub-therapeutic pressure amount determined based on at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters; and 
 control operation of the apparatus to provide a plurality of ramping sub-therapeutic pressures based on the pre-sleep limit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to collect the historic pre-sleep parameters by:
 detecting, with one or more sensors, sleep onset of the patient during use of the breathable gas pressure generating device; and   determining a length of time for the sleep onset of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to collect the historic pre-sleep parameters by receiving a sleep onset time at a user input device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the controller is configured to collect the plurality of the historic pre-sleep parameters according to a window timeframe comprising a number of treatment sessions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the window timeframe is a rolling window timeframe. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set a default pre-sleep limit in an absence of a sufficient collection of the historic pre-sleep parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 control a display to provide a prompt for input, the prompt for input including: one or both of (a) at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters, and (b) at least one statistic concerning the historic pre-sleep parameters; and   determine the pre-sleep limit based on input received in response to the prompt.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-sleep profile starts delivered pressure at a first pressure and ends at a minimum therapeutic pressure, the minimum therapeutic pressure being higher than the first pressure. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a pressure treatment for a respiratory disorder comprising:
 generating a flow of breathable gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure with a pressure generating apparatus, and   in one or more controllers:
 collecting a plurality of historic pre-sleep parameters concerning a patient initially falling asleep with the apparatus; 
 upon initiation of treatment, controlling, based on the historic pre-sleep parameters, operation of the apparatus according to a pre-sleep limit wherein the pre-sleep limit is set based on at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters, wherein the operation of the apparatus comprises delivery of a pre-sleep profile of pressure versus time having a duration spanning the pre-sleep limit, wherein the pre-sleep profile comprises at least one sub-therapeutic pressure amount determined based on at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters; and 
 control operation of the apparatus to provide a plurality of ramping sub-therapeutic pressures based on the pre-sleep limit. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising in the one or more controllers, collecting the historic pre-sleep parameters by:
 detecting, with one or more sensors, sleep onset of the patient during use of the pressure generating device; and   determining a length of time for the sleep onset of the patient.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the collecting the historic pre-sleep parameters comprises receiving a sleep onset time at a user input device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising, in one or more controllers, collecting the plurality of the historic pre-sleep parameters according to a window timeframe comprising a number of treatment sessions. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the window timeframe is a rolling window timeframe. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising, in one or more controllers, setting a default pre-sleep limit in an absence of collection of the historic pre-sleep parameters. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising, in the one or more controllers:
 controlling a display to provide a prompt for input, the prompt for input including: one or both of (a) at least one of the historic pre-sleep parameters, and (b) at least one statistic concerning the historic pre-sleep parameters; and   determining the pre-sleep limit based on input received in response to the prompt.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the pre-sleep profile starts delivered pressure at a first pressure and ends at a minimum therapeutic pressure, the minimum therapeutic pressure being higher than the first pressure.