Cpap flow driver for using nebulizer with cpap apparatus

Abstract

A CPAP flow driver is adapted to split supplied breathable fluid into a first portion delivered to a venturi throat to generate a pressure drop to draw in ambient air to create a CPAP flow And a second portion that is delivered to a nebulizer to drive the nebulizer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow driver for CPAP applications, comprising:
 an outer housing enclosing an interior volume;   an ambient air inlet in fluid communication with the interior volume; and   a CPAP mask fluid supply outlet in fluid communication with the interior volume and adapted to be coupled to a CPAP mask;   a guide tube extending into the interior volume and having a constriction aperture at one end thereof, the constriction aperture disposed inside the housing;   a fluid supply inlet in fluid communication with the guide tube and otherwise isolated from the interior volume;   a venturi throat disposed inside the housing, the venturi throat being larger than the constriction aperture and arranged in fluid communication with the constriction aperture, the ambient air inlet and the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet via the interior volume;   the constriction aperture and the ambient air inlet being disposed upstream of the venturi throat and the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet being disposed downstream of the venturi throat;   the constriction aperture and the venturi throat cooperating to generate, for fluid flow from the constriction aperture into the venturi throat, a pressure drop across the venturi throat to draw fluid from the ambient air intake into the venturi throat;   characterized in that:   a nebulizer supply outlet is disposed at the end of the guide tube opposite the constriction aperture, the nebulizer supply outlet adapted to be coupled in fluid communication to a nebulizer inlet for driving a nebulizer;   wherein the guide tube is adapted to split fluid received from the fluid supply inlet into a nebulizer supply portion and a CPAP supply portion and to guide the nebulizer supply portion toward the nebulizer supply outlet and to guide the CPAP supply portion through the constriction aperture toward the venturi throat.   
     
     
         2 . The flow driver of  claim 1 , wherein the ambient air inlet is adapted to removably receive a filter assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The flow driver of  claim 2 , further comprising an MDI port communicating with the interior volume of the housing downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The flow driver of  claim 3 , wherein the interior volume of the housing is in fluid communication with an airway pressure gauge downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The flow driver of  claim 4 , wherein the airway pressure gauge is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The flow driver of  claim 2 , wherein the interior volume of the housing is in fluid communication with an airway pressure gauge downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The flow driver of  claim 6 , wherein the airway pressure gauge is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The flow driver of  claim 1 , further comprising an MDI port communicating with the interior volume of the housing downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The flow driver of  claim 8 , wherein the interior volume of the housing is in fluid communication with an airway pressure gauge downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The flow driver of  claim 9 , wherein the airway pressure gauge is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The flow driver of  claim 1 , wherein the interior volume of the housing is in fluid communication with an airway pressure gauge downstream of the venturi throat and upstream of the CPAP mask fluid supply outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The flow driver of  claim 11 , wherein the airway pressure gauge is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operating a CPAP mask in conjunction with a nebulizer, the method comprising:
 supplying breathable fluid to a guide tube;   feeding a first portion of the breathable fluid from one end of the guide tube into a venturi throat coupled in fluid communication with the CPAP mask to draw ambient air through an ambient air inlet into the venturi throat and supply CPAP fluid to the CPAP mask via a venturi effect; and   feeding a second portion of the breathable fluid from the other end of the guide tube to a nebulizer coupled in fluid communication with the CPAP mask to drive the nebulizer.