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EP-4734832-A1 - PATIENT SENSING FOR RESPIRATORY THERAPY

EP4734832A1EP 4734832 A1EP4734832 A1EP 4734832A1EP-4734832-A1

Abstract

A wearable device for use with a respiratory therapy system is disclosed. The device comprises a body configured to locate with respect to an ear of a patient under respiratory therapy. The patient tracker includes at least one sensor to obtain sensor data of the patient when so located. The wearable device can be configured to provide sensor data to a processor to aid in respiratory therapy of the patient under the respiratory therapy system. A treatment system and method of determining an adjustment to a respiratory therapy for a patient is also disclosed.

Inventors

  • SUNG, JAMES
  • GILLETT, Andrew, William
  • HOLLEY, LIAM
  • SHOULDICE, REDMOND

Assignees

  • ResMed Sensor Technologies Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A wearable device for use with a respiratory therapy system, the device comprising a body configured to locate with respect to an ear of a patient under respiratory therapy and including at least one sensor to obtain sensor data including physiological data of the patient when so located, the wearable device being able to be worn by the patient independently of the respiratory therapy system and the at least one sensor being configured to acquire the physiological data during an off therapy period, the device being configured to provide the sensor data to a processor to aid in respiratory therapy of the patient under the respiratory therapy system.
  2. 2. A wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data further comprises activity data of the patient.
  3. 3. A wearable device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor data further comprises environmental data surrounding the patient.
  4. 4. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to acquire physiological data during an on therapy period.
  5. 5. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is configured to provide the sensor data to a processor of the respiratory therapy system.
  6. 6. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor data is provided to the processor to effect change to the respiratory therapy.
  7. 7. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor data is provided to the processor to determine one or more characteristics of the patient related to the respiratory therapy.
  8. 8. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor is configured to determine a correlation between the sensor data of the patient and the respiratory therapy of the patient, and wherein the wearable device is configured to receive and communicate information relating to the correlation to the patient to aid in the respiratory therapy of the patient.
  9. 9. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the device is configured to locate with respect to an external auditory canal of the patient.
  10. 10. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one sensor is configured with respect to the body to be: i. in contact with the patient’s skin for collecting physiological data of the patient; and/ or ii. spaced from the patient’s skin for collecting environmental data related to the patient.
  11. 11. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, further comprises an audio unit operable to selectively generate at least one sound.
  12. 12. A wearable device according to any preceding claim, further comprising an ear hook configured to locate with respect to the patient’s external ear.
  13. 13. A wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the ear hook includes the at least one sensor.
  14. 14. A treatment system comprising: a respiratory system comprising: a flow generator configured to generate a flow of air; a patient interface constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of the patient’s face surrounding an entrance to the patient’s airways, the patient interface being configured to deliver the pressurised or breathable air to the patient’s airways for respiratory therapy; and an air delivery tube coupled between the flow generator and the patient interface to deliver the flow of air from the flow generator to the patient interface as the pressurised or breathable air; and a wearable device configured to locate with respect to an ear of the patient, the device being as defined in any one of claims 1 to 13 and being configured to provide sensor data to a processor to aid in respiratory therapy of the patient under the respiratory system.
  15. 15. A treatment system according to claim 14, wherein the respiratory system further comprises a processor to interact with the wearable device.
  16. 16. A treatment system according to claim 15, wherein the respiratory system processor is configured to control an operation of the respiratory system responsive to the sensor data of the device.
  17. 17. A treatment system according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the sensor data is provided to the respiratory system processor to determine one or more characteristics of the patient.
  18. 18. A treatment system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the respiratory system processor is arranged in the flow generator.
  19. 19. A treatment system according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the respiratory system processor controls an operation of the flow generator.
  20. 20. A treatment system according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the flow generator comprises a display interface and the respiratory system processor is configured to generate an alert to be displayed on the display interface based on sensor data of the at least one sensor of the device.

Description

PATIENT SENSING FOR RESPIRATORY THERAPY 1 BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY 1.1 FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY [0001] The present technology relates to one or more of the screening, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, prevention and amelioration of respiratory-related disorders. The present technology also relates to medical devices or apparatus, and their use. 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 1.2.1 Human Respiratory System and its Disorders [0002] The respiratory system of the body facilitates gas exchange. The nose and mouth form the entrance to the airways of a patient. [0003] The airways include a series of branching tubes, which become narrower, shorter and more numerous as they penetrate deeper into the lung. The prime function of the lung is gas exchange, allowing oxygen to move from the inhaled air into the venous blood and carbon dioxide to move in the opposite direction. The trachea divides into right and left main bronchi, which further divide eventually into terminal bronchioles. The bronchi make up the conducting airways, and do not take part in gas exchange. Further divisions of the airways lead to the respiratory bronchioles, and eventually to the alveoli. The alveolated region of the lung is where the gas exchange takes place, and is referred to as the respiratory zone. See “ Respiratory Physiology” , by John B. West, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 9th edition published 2012. [0004] A range of respiratory disorders exist. Certain disorders may be characterised by particular events, e.g. apneas, hypopneas, and hyperpneas. [0005] Examples of respiratory disorders include Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR), respiratory insufficiency, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Neuromuscular Disease (NMD) and Chest wall disorders. [0006] Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a form of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB), is characterised by events including occlusion or obstruction of the upper air passage during sleep. It results from a combination of an abnormally small upper airway and the normal loss of muscle tone in the region of the tongue, soft palate and posterior oropharyngeal wall during sleep. The condition causes the affected patient to i stop breathing for periods typically of 30 to 120 seconds in duration, sometimes 200 to 300 times per night. It often causes excessive daytime somnolence, and it may cause cardiovascular disease and brain damage. The syndrome is a common disorder, particularly in middle aged overweight males, although a person affected may have no awareness of the problem, e.g. see US Patent No. 4,944,310 (Sullivan). [0007] Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR) is another form of sleep disordered breathing. CSR is a disorder of a patient's respiratory controller in which there are rhythmic alternating periods of waxing and waning ventilation known as CSR cycles. CSR is characterised by repetitive de-oxygenation and re-oxygenation of the arterial blood. It is possible that CSR is harmful because of the repetitive hypoxia. In some patients CSR is associated with repetitive arousal from sleep, which causes severe sleep disruption, increased sympathetic activity, and increased afterload, e.g. see US Patent No. 6,532,959 (Berthon- Jones). [0008] Respiratory failure is an umbrella term for respiratory disorders in which the lungs are unable to inspire sufficient oxygen or exhale sufficient CO2 to meet the patient’s needs. Respiratory failure may encompass some or all of the following disorders. [0009] A patient with respiratory insufficiency (a form of respiratory failure) may experience abnormal shortness of breath on exercise. [0010] Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) is defined as the combination of severe obesity and awake chronic hypercapnia, in the absence of other known causes for hypoventilation. Symptoms include dyspnea, morning headache and excessive daytime sleepiness. [0011] Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) encompasses any of a group of lower airway diseases that have certain characteristics in common. These include increased resistance to air movement, extended expiratory phase of respiration, and loss of the normal elasticity of the lung. Examples of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is caused by chronic tobacco smoking (primary risk factor), occupational exposures, air pollution and genetic factors. Symptoms include: dyspnea on exertion, chronic cough and sputum production. [0012] Neuromuscular Disease (NMD) is a broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that impair the functioning of the muscles either directly via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly via nerve pathology. Some NMD patients are characterised by progressive muscular impairment leading to loss of ambulation, being wheelchair-bound, swallowing difficulties, respiratory muscle weakness and, eventually, death from respiratory failure. Neuromuscular disorders can be divided into rapidly progressive and