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US-12623043-B2 - CPAP apparatus

US12623043B2US 12623043 B2US12623043 B2US 12623043B2US-12623043-B2

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, a CPAP apparatus that has a humidification function and that has high portability is provided. A CPAP apparatus includes a body unit and a base unit on and from which the body unit is mountable and removable. The body unit includes a first housing that has a first inlet and a first outlet, an air-sending device that discharges, via the first outlet, air that is introduced via the first inlet, and a first control unit that controls the air-sending device. The base unit includes a second housing that has a second inlet and a second outlet, a humidifier that humidifies air that is introduced via the second inlet, and a second control unit that controls the humidifier.

Inventors

  • Shigeru Tsuji

Assignees

  • MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210831
Priority Date
20190423

Claims (12)

  1. 1 . A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus that delivers air drawn in the apparatus to an airway of a user, the CPAP apparatus comprising: a body; and a base on which the body is mountable, and from which the body is removable, wherein the body comprises a first housing, a first inlet and a first outlet, a blower configured to discharge, via the first outlet, air that is introduced to the blower via the first inlet, and a first controller configured to control the blower, wherein the base comprises a second housing, a second inlet and a second outlet, a third inlet and a third outlet, a humidifier configured to humidify air that is introduced to the humidifier via the second inlet, and a second controller configured to control the humidifier, wherein, when the CPAP apparatus is in a first use state in which the body is mounted on the base, the third outlet is connected to the first inlet, the first outlet is connected to the second inlet, and a tube through which air is delivered to the user is connected to the second outlet, such that air is drawn into the apparatus via the third inlet, and passes from the base to the body to the base to the tube, and wherein, when the CPAP apparatus is in a second use state in which the body is not mounted on the base, air is drawn into the apparatus via the first inlet and the tube is connected to the first outlet.
  2. 2 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first controller and the second controller are digitally connected to each other and are configured to receive digital signals from each other.
  3. 3 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a first temperature sensor that has an analog connection to the first controller, and that is configured to detect a temperature of air that is introduced into the first housing by the blower, and wherein when the CPAP apparatus is in the first use state, the first controller is configured to report a first temperature that is detected by the first temperature sensor to the second controller, and the second controller is configured to control the humidifier based on the first temperature that is received from the first controller.
  4. 4 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the humidifier comprises a container that is configured to store water, a heater that is configured to heat the water in the container, and a second temperature sensor that is configured to detect a heater temperature of the heater, and wherein the second controller is configured to set a target heater temperature based on the first temperature, and to control the heater such that the heater temperature that is detected by the second temperature sensor becomes equal to the target heater temperature.
  5. 5 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a pressure sensor that is configured to detect a pressure of air that is discharged by the blower, and a flow rate sensor that is configured to detect a flow rate of air between the blower and the tube, and wherein the first controller is configured to control the blower based on a value of the pressure that is detected by the pressure sensor, and a value of the flow rate that is detected by the flow rate sensor.
  6. 6 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second controller is configured to communicate with an additional device that is configured to detect a state of the user, and to transmit state information to the first controller, the state information representing the state of the user that is detected by the additional device, and wherein the first controller is configured to control the blower based on the value of the pressure, the value of the flow rate, and the state information.
  7. 7 . A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus that delivers air sucked in the apparatus to an airway of a user, the CPAP apparatus comprising: a body; and a base on which the body is mountable, and from which the body is removable, wherein the body comprises a first housing that has a first inlet and a first outlet, a blower configured to discharge, via the first outlet, air that is introduced via the first inlet, and a first controller configured to control the blower, wherein the base comprises a second housing that has a second inlet and a second outlet, a humidifier configured to humidify air that is introduced via the second inlet, and a second controller configured to control the humidifier, wherein, when the CPAP apparatus is in a first use state in which the body is mounted on the base, the second inlet is connected to the first outlet, and a tube through which air is supplied to the user is connected to the second outlet, wherein, when the CPAP apparatus is in a second use state in which the body is not mounted on the base, the tube is connected to the first outlet, wherein the second housing has a third inlet and a third outlet that is connected to the first inlet when the CPAP apparatus is in the first use state, wherein the base further comprises a first temperature sensor that has an analog connection to the second controller, and that is configured to detect a temperature of air that is introduced into the second housing via the third inlet by the blower, and wherein when the CPAP apparatus is in the first use state, the second controller is configured to control the humidifier based on a first temperature that is detected by the first temperature sensor.
  8. 8 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the humidifier comprises a container that is configured to store water, a heater that is configured to heat the water in the container, and a second temperature sensor that is configured to detect a heater temperature of the heater, and wherein the second controller is configured to set a target heater temperature based on the first temperature, and to control the heater such that the heater temperature that is detected by the second temperature sensor becomes equal to the target heater temperature.
  9. 9 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the first controller and the second controller are digitally connected to each other and are configured to receive digital signals from each other.
  10. 10 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the CPAP apparatus is in the first use state, the first controller is configured to report the first temperature that is detected by the first temperature sensor to the second controller, and the second controller is configured to control the humidifier based on the first temperature that is received from the first controller.
  11. 11 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the body further comprises a pressure sensor that is configured to detect a pressure of air that is discharged by the blower, and a flow rate sensor that is configured to detect a flow rate of air between the blower and the tube, and wherein the first controller is configured to control the blower based on a value of the pressure that is detected by the pressure sensor, and a value of the flow rate that is detected by the flow rate sensor.
  12. 12 . The CPAP apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second controller is configured to communicate with an additional device that is configured to detect a state of the user, and to transmit state information to the first controller, the state information representing the state of the user that is detected by the additional device, and wherein the first controller is configured to control the blower based on the value of the pressure, the value of the flow rate, and the state information.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/012250 filed on Mar. 19, 2020 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-082052 filed on Apr. 23, 2019. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) apparatus that delivers air sucked in the apparatus to the airway of a user. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus (referred to below as a CPAP apparatus) that supplies a fluid to a user has been used for treatment of sleep-related disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The CPAP apparatus includes an air-sending apparatus that contains a fan and supplies the fluid (for example, air) to a mask that is equipped on the mouth or nose of the user from the air-sending apparatus at pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure to open an airway (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-34411 BRIEF SUMMARY It is known that humidification of the air that is supplied to the user is beneficial to the user. For this reason, it is thought that a humidification function is fulfilled. The CPAP apparatus needs to be continuously used every day. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry the CPAP apparatus, for example, in the case where the user stays away from home overnight. For this reason, the CPAP apparatus needs to have a decreases size and weight. However, the humidifier poses a risk to decrease in the portability of the apparatus. The present disclosure provides a CPAP apparatus that has a humidification function and that has high portability. A CPAP apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a CPAP apparatus that delivers air sucked in the apparatus to an airway of a user. The CPAP apparatus includes a first unit and a second unit on and from which the first unit is mountable and removable. The first unit includes a first housing that has a first inlet and a first outlet, an air-sending device that discharges, via the first outlet, air that is introduced via the first inlet, and a first control unit that controls the air-sending device. The second unit includes a second housing that has a second inlet and a second outlet, a humidifier that humidifies air that is introduced via the second inlet, and a second control unit that controls the humidifier. In a first use state in which the first unit is mounted on the second unit, the second inlet is connected to the first outlet, and a tube via which air is supplied to the user is connected to the second outlet. In a second use state in which the second unit is not mounted on the first unit, the tube is connected to the first outlet. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a CPAP apparatus that has a humidification function and that has high portability can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a body unit and a base unit in a CPAP apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the CPAP apparatus viewed at a different angle. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base unit that is mounted on the body unit. FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a first use state of the CPAP apparatus, and FIG. 4B schematically illustrates a second use state of the CPAP apparatus. FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of a function block of the CPAP apparatus in the first use state. FIG. 6 illustrates the structure of a function block of the CPAP apparatus in the second use state. FIG. 7 illustrates a function block of the CPAP apparatus. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of a CPAP apparatus according to a modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION An embodiment will now be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, a CPAP apparatus 1 includes a body unit 10 that serves as a first unit and a base unit 40 that serves as a second unit. The body unit 10 includes an air-sending device 22 that serves as a main component. The base unit 40 includes a humidifier 51 that serves as a main component. The body unit 10 is mountable on and removable from the base unit 40. According to the present embodiment, the CPAP apparatus 1 can be used in a first use state or in a second use state. The first use state is a state in which the body unit 10 is mounted on the base unit 40. The second use state is a state in which the body unit 10 is not mounted on the base unit 40. In the first use state, the body unit 10 and the base unit 40 are used. In the second use state, only the body unit 10 is used, but the base unit 40 is not used. The CPAP apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment becomes highly convenient, for example, when not only being at home but also staying away from home overnight in a manner in which the CPAP apparatus 1 includes multiple units, and the multiple units are confi