US 12,214,139 B2
Pulsating positive airway pressure devices and methods of use
Liran Oren, Mason, OH (US); Ephraim Gutmark, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Mehmet Tomac, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Appl. No. 17/287,575
Filed by University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 1, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/059301
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/092857, PCT Pub. Date May 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/755,850, filed on Nov. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,936, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0393904 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 16/20 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/202 (2014.02) [A61M 16/0057 (2013.01); A61M 16/024 (2017.08); A61M 2206/16 (2013.01); A61M 2206/20 (2013.01); A61M 2230/40 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for delivery of pulsated air to a user, the device comprising:
a flow generator to generate a continuous air flow;
at least one actuator comprising a pulsated flow delivery mechanism having one or more valves and configured to generate a pulsated air flow from the continuous air flow based on a pre-determined duty cycle to vary a frequency of the pulsated air flow;
a user interface configured to generate and deliver vortices of pulsated air to the user at the frequency of the pulsated air flow; and
a set of tubing to couple the flow generator, the at least one actuator, and the user interface;
wherein the continuous air flow is received by the pulsated flow delivery mechanism at a percentage associated with a first duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle, and the continuous air flow is blocked from reception at a percentage associated with a second duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle, and wherein a decrease in the first duty cycle value relative to a base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices generated to increase relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value, and an increase in the first duty cycle value relative to the base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices to decrease relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value.
 
10. A system for delivery of pulsated air to a user, the system comprising:
a device comprising a flow generator at an upstream position, at least one actuator comprising a pulsated flow delivery mechanism having one or more valves, a user interface at a downstream position, and a set of tubing;
a processor communicatively coupled to the device; and
a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
generate a continuous air flow via the flow generator for receipt at the at least one actuator;
generate via the pulsated flow delivery mechanism a pulsated air flow from the continuous air flow based on a pre-determined duty cycle to vary a frequency of the pulsated air flow; and
generate and deliver vortices of pulsated air to the user at the frequency of the pulsated air flow through a distal portion of the set of tubing coupled to the user interface at the downstream position disposed downstream of the pulsated flow delivery mechanism;
wherein the continuous air flow is received by the pulsated flow delivery mechanism at a percentage associated with a first duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle, and the continuous air flow is blocked from reception at a percentage associated with a second duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle, and wherein a decrease in the first duty cycle value relative to a base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices generated to increase relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value, and an increase in the first duty cycle value relative to the base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices to decrease relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value.
 
14. A method for delivery of pulsated air to a user, the method comprising:
generating vortices of pulsated air at a variable frequency based on a pre-determined duty cycle utilizing a device comprising a flow generator at an upstream position, at least one actuator comprising a pulsated flow delivery mechanism having one or more valves and configured to generate a pulsated air flow from a continuous airflow generated by the flow generator at a percentage associated with a first duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle and the continuous air flow is blocked from reception at a percentage associated with a second duty cycle value of the pre-determined duty cycle, wherein the pulsated air flow is generated at the variable frequency based on the pre-determined duty cycle, a user interface at a downstream position, and a set of tubing to couple the flow generator, the at least one actuator, and the user interface;
monitoring breathing pressure of the user via one or more pressure sensors communicatively coupled to the device; and
delivering the vortices of pulsating air to the user in coordination with a negative breathing pressure of the user as sensed by the one or more pressure sensors, wherein a decrease in the first duty cycle value relative to a base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices generated to increase relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value, and an increase in the first duty cycle value relative to the base first duty cycle value causes the strength of the vortices to decrease relative to the strength of the vortices generated with the base first duty cycle value.