US 12,420,038 B2
Flow path fault detection method for a respiratory assistance apparatus
Kevin Peter O'Donnell, Auckland (NZ); John Han, Auckland (NZ); Jack Che-Wei Hsu, Auckland (NZ); Samuel Robertson Frame, Auckland (NZ); and Grant Martin Dover, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/178,005.
Application 18/178,005 is a division of application No. 16/518,827, filed on Jul. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,617,844.
Application 16/518,827 is a division of application No. 14/402,583, granted, now 10,398,861, issued on Sep. 3, 2019, previously published as PCT/NZ2013/000088, filed on May 23, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/650,680, filed on May 23, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0201496 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01); A61M 16/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/0051 (2013.01) [A61M 16/024 (2017.08); A61M 16/16 (2013.01); A61M 2016/003 (2013.01); A61M 2016/0039 (2013.01); A61M 16/0069 (2014.02); A61M 16/1095 (2014.02); A61M 16/161 (2014.02); A61M 2205/14 (2013.01); A61M 2205/15 (2013.01); A61M 2205/18 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3334 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3365 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/502 (2013.01); A61M 2205/52 (2013.01); A61M 2205/70 (2013.01); A61M 2205/705 (2013.01); A61M 2205/707 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting a fault in a flow path of a respiratory assistance apparatus, the flow path comprising a motor-driven blower unit that is configured to generate a flow of gases and which is connected to a humidification unit that is configured to heat and humidify the flow of gases, comprising:
determining the motor speed of the blower unit required to generate a first set flow rate in the flow path;
detecting that a motor speed falls below a stored first threshold at the first set flow rate;
increasing the flow rate to a higher second set flow rate when the motor speed falls below the first threshold;
determining the motor speed of the blower unit required to generate the second set flow rate in the flow path; and
detecting that the motor speed falls below a stored second threshold at the second set flow rate and generating a fault detection signal when the motor speed at the second set flow rate falls below the stored second threshold.