WO2004105846A2

WO2004105846A2 - Control device for anti-snoring apparatus and an anti-snoring apparatus, for example for copd treatment

Info

Publication number: WO2004105846A2
Application number: PCT/DE2004/001065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Baecke; Harald Genger; Hartmut Schneider
Original assignee: Seleon Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-05-21
Filing date: 2004-05-21
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Also published as: DE10322964A1; WO2004105846A3; DE10322964B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (1) for an anti-snoring apparatus comprising an input connection (19) for a pressure-producing unit wherein an over- pressurized air in comparison with environment air is inputted. The inventive control device (40) also comprises an air glass connection for an air glass used an applicator for applying over- pressurized air to a user's nose, and a control device (3,4). Said control device (3,4) is connected to the input connection and the air glass connection and is provided with a sensor (11,12,13) in such a way that the over-pressurized air is supplied to the respiratory unit connection exclusively during the inspiratory phase. The invention also relates to an anti-snoring apparatus provided with said control device (3,4) and an air glass (22). The invention further relates to an anti-snoring apparatus provided with a tracheal cannula (30) and to an anti-snoring apparatus in which conveyed air is mixed with an active agent.

Description

Control unit for anti-snoring device and anti-snoring device z. B. for the

COPD therapy

The invention relates to a control device of the type mentioned in the preamble of patent claim 5 as well as anti-snoring devices of the type mentioned in the preambles of claims 1, 8 and 9. Inventive objects can be used, for example, for the therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) be used.

Obstructive respiratory disorders lead to apneas (respiratory arrest), which awakens the sleeping person. Frequent apneas prevent the sleeping person from relaxing in deep sleep. People who suffer apneas during sleep are therefore no sleep during the day, which can lead to social problems in the workplace and in the worst case to fatal accidents, for example in professional drivers.

Devices for carrying out CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy are known in the prior art. The CPAP therapy is in Chest. Vol. 110, pages 1077 to 1088, October 1996 and Sleep, Vol. 19, pages 184 to 188 described in more detail.

In CPAP therapy, a patient is given a constant positive pressure via a nasal mask. If the overpressure is properly selected, it will ensure that the upper airways remain fully open throughout the night, preventing obstructive respiratory disorders. The required pressure depends, among other things, on the sleeping stage and the body position of the sleeping person. WO 02/083221 A2 (HEWO5) discloses a therapy device (AutoCPAP) which automatically adjusts the respiratory pressure and thus adapts it to the sleep stage and the body situation in order to limit the overpressure that is perceived as unpleasant to the required level. WO 02/083221 A2 is incorporated by reference into this application.

Especially unpleasant the overpressure is felt when exhaling. Some CPAP devices also compensate for the pressure drop across the tube between CPAP

Device and mask not, so that when exhaling the mask pressure even something higher than inhalation. In this case, the patient has the feeling of having to breathe against a resistance. To facilitate breathing, BiPAP devices and multilevel devices have also been developed. These devices have the property of helping the patient to breathe by lowering the pressure during exhalation and increasing the pressure again when inhaling. These devices work with at least two print levels.

Such a device is known for example from DE 691 32 030 T2. The pressure is raised by a valve during inhalation and lowered during exhalation. The valve is controlled to maintain constant pressure during inhalation and exhalation. If the valve position changes only slowly during an inhalation process, this is interpreted as the end of the inhalation process. Inaudible vibrations or pressure changes can be evaluated to determine if the patient's breathing is regular, irregular or apneic. In addition, the duration of inhalation and exhalation and the flow rates can be determined. This information can be stored in memory. Finally, an admittance from respiratory flow divided by pressure can be calculated. The time course of the admittance can be compared with stored admittance schemes. The number of the most appropriate admittance scheme may be used as a "pointer" to a table containing the action to be taken, such as an increase in pressure.

Because these devices do not operate at a constant pressure, they are referred to below as PAP devices for performing PAP therapy.

WO 02/26283 A2 discloses a method and a device for generating a variable overpressure in the airways in order, among other things, to treat sleep apnea. A distinction is made between positive pressure during inspiration IPAP (inspiratory positive airway pressure) and overpressure during expiratory EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure). A pressure generating system includes a gas flow generator and a pressure controller, such as a valve. The gas flow generator may be a blower, as used in conventional CPAP devices, the respiratory gas from a suitable source such as a pressurized tank with oxygen or air and / or the surrounding atmosphere. As a patient interface, for example, a nasal or oral mask, nose pad or a trachea cannula come into question. Further, a flow sensor is provided to measure the flow of the breathing gas to the patient. In particular, the peak flow during the patient's breathing cycles is measured to detect Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR).

Also, JP2002-143307 A discloses an oxygen ventilator.

WO 88/10108 A1 discloses a device for monitoring respiration during sleep and for controlling CPAP therapy. A microphone is used to record snoring and breathing sounds. If the evaluation of the microphone signal indicates snoring, the CPAP pressure will be increased.

Furthermore, oxygen glasses for the oxygen treatment are known from the prior art. With the oxygen goggles air is applied to the patient with an increased oxygen partial pressure (> 210 mbar) or pure oxygen in the nose. For example, oxygen treatment occurs in acute or chronic hypoxemia due to respiratory or cardiovascular disorder (myocardial infarction, shock) or certain poisoning, for example, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fluorescent gas or smoke.

WO 02/062413 A2 (HEWO1) discloses the use of oxygen spectacles in an anti-snoring device. Oxygen goggles are referred to in this context as air goggles. From WO 02/062413 A2 air goggles with integrated jet pumps are also known, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

It is the object of the invention to specify an improved control unit for an anti-snoring device as well as an anti-snoring device.

This object is achieved by the teaching of the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims. An advantage of a control device which ensures that an application device applies air, especially during inspiration, is that the respiratory activity of the patient is supported. The patient therefore has less the feeling of having to exhale against resistance. In addition, the mean air flow decreases, because during the expiratory phases no or only a few air is applied. This increases the service life of a gas cartridge filling, if a gas cartridge is used as a pressure generator.

The advantage of using a tracheostomy tube is that it applies the air directly to the respiratory tract. This reduces the required air flow to the application through goggles to maintain a constant overpressure in the airways to prevent flow restriction by restricting the airways during inhalation. The narrowing of the airways can cause snoring.

By adding active ingredients to the applied air, other diseases can be treated in addition to snoring. For PAP devices, a perceived fragrance may cause the patient to more readily and regularly use the PAP device, thereby increasing the success of the therapy.

An advantage of the use of a pair of goggles as an application device is their low price. In addition, the wearing of a pair of goggles is perceived by many patients to be more comfortable than wearing a face mask or nasal mask.

If a humidifier is present, an active agent may be added to the water bath of the humidifier. No additional equipment is required for this.

Because of the high pressure drop on a pair of goggles or a tracheostomy tube, it is difficult to determine a patient's respiratory status due to pressure measurement at the inlet of the goggles or tracheostomy tube. The pressure fluctuations due to the respiratory activity of the patient are relatively low compared to the pressure drop across the tube between the inlet and outlet of the goggles or tracheostomy tube. In addition, the pressure fluctuations due to the respiratory activity are damped by the hose, so that they are less strong at the inlet than at the outlet. There are therefore pressure sensors with a high dynamic range required. Also, the tube may be caused by the air flow vortex, which are superimposed on the attributable to the breathing activity pressure fluctuations and distort them. These problems are avoided by the air supply and pressure measurement via two separate hoses. Thus, the tracheostomy tube for air supply and the nasal mask for pressure measurement or vice versa. Alternatively, double outlet air goggles per nostril may be used, with one outlet for air delivery and the other for pressure measurement. Similarly, a tracheostomy tube with two outlets, one for pressure measurement, the other for air supply can be used.

The method disclosed in DE 101 18 968 A1 and WO 02/083221 A2 for CPAP devices, in which the flow measured at constant pressure is evaluated, can also be advantageously used for measured pressure at constant flow.

The use of gas cartridges allows a cost reduction, since the anti-snoring device no longer has to be equipped with a turbine, which is also referred to as a fan, compressor or blower. The gas in the gas cartridge can be added to the factory with active ingredients. An additional device, which is required, for example, for displacing the air delivered by a fan with active substance, can advantageously be dispensed with.

A jet pump is an inexpensive component that significantly extends the useful life of a gas cartridge filling in an advantageous manner.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

FIG. 1 shows an inventive control device for an anti-snoring device;

FIG. 2 shows a sleeper with air goggles and tracheal cannula;

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of an anti-snoring device;

FIG. 4 shows a section through a pair of air-rimmed goggles; such as Figure 5 is a equipped with two jacketed airbags.

FIG. 1 shows an inventive control device 1 for an anti-snoring device. The control unit 1 may comprise a glass bottle 2, a valve 3, a microprocessor 4, a jet pump 5, a humidifier 6, a flow sensor 11, a first pressure sensor 12, a second pressure sensor 13 and a microphone 16. The gas cylinder 2 may contain compressed air. In addition to the compressed air, the gas bottle 2 may contain an active substance 17, which is shown in FIG. 1 by small dots. Aerosols, fragrances such as a seawater additive or medicine can be added to the air as an active ingredient. Gas bottles can be disposable gas bottles or refillable gas cylinders.

The gas cylinder 2 is connected to the valve 3 via an inlet port 19. Alternatively, the inlet port 19 may be connected to a clinical compressed air supply or other compressed air network instead of the gas cylinder 2. The valve 3 is controlled by the microprocessor 4. In one embodiment, the microprocessor 4 further opens the valve 3 the more the pressure of the gas cylinder 2 decreases. In another embodiment, the microprocessor 4 closes the valve 3 during the expiration phases. During the inspiration phases, the valve is increasingly opened in accordance with the time drop of the pressure in the gas cylinder 2. The microprocessor 4 can open the valve 3 all the more, the stronger the sleeper's snoring.

The outlet of the valve 3 is connected to a first inlet of the jet pump 5. Through a second inlet, the jet pump 5 sucks ambient air. The jet pump converts high pressure and low flow at the first inlet into low pressure and high flow at the outlet. Since the gas cylinder 2 does not have to supply the entire flow through the use of the jet pump 5, the anti-snoring device can be operated longer with a bottle filling, so that the service life of the gas cylinder is increased.

The outlet of the jet pump 5 is connected to humidifier 6. The humidifier 6 comprises a water supply 7. In one embodiment, the water supply 7 is controlled by electrical line 9 controlled by microprocessor 4. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the output power of the microprocessor 4 must be increased for heating. For example, a phase control may provide the power required by a heater. In addition, an unillustrated temperature sensor may be connected via line 10 to the microprocessor 4, so that the microprocessor can keep the temperature of the water supply 7 constant. The target temperature can be selected, for example, by an input unit, not shown in Figure 1 by the user and displayed in a display unit, also not shown.

Water supply 7 may also contain a second active agent 18 such as a seawater additive, which is shown in Fig. 1 by small crosses. An active ingredient can either be added to the air in the gas bottle 2 or the water supply 7. Also, both the air of the gas cylinder 2 and the water supply 7 of the humidifier 6 may contain different or the same active ingredients.

The air space of humidifier 6 may be separated by a membrane 8 of water supply 7 of the humidifier 6. In this case, the humidifier is referred to as an osmotic humidifier. Membrane 8 can serve to control the delivery of water and drug 18 to the air.

The outlet of humidifier 6 is connected to gas outlet 14 of controller 1. A flow sensor 11 and a pressure sensor 12 may be provided to measure the flow of air through the gas outlet 14 and the pressure at the gas outlet 14. In addition, the control unit 1 may have a so-called sensor connection 15, which is connected to a pressure sensor 13. As far as the sensors are present in the selected embodiment, they are also connected to microprocessor 4 so that microprocessor 4 can use the measurement signals to control valve 3.

In order to determine the intensity of the snoring, a microphone 16 may be provided, which supplies its output signal to the microprocessor 4 via microphone connection 20. Between microphone 16 and microprocessor 4 are usually a preamplifier and an analog-to-digital converter connected, which are not shown in Figure 1. Also, the analog-to-digital converter may be integrated in the microprocessor 4. The microprocessor 4 can perform frequency filtering to select the frequency range relevant to snoring (20 to 100 Hz). Subsequently, the intensity of the frequency-filtered signal may be determined as an average mean square or mean amplitude magnitude with respect to an average. The reference to the mean value is used to filter out a DC voltage component (offset). In another embodiment, the number of zero crossings of the frequency-filtered signal can be determined, as disclosed in WO 02/083221 A2 for the AC component of the CPAP actual pressure.

Frequency filtering by the microprocessor 4 can also be omitted. In particular, the microphone 16 may be designed to accommodate only the frequency range relevant to snoring. The higher the intensity of the detected snoring, the higher the pressure in the airways is set. This control loop may also include an integral portion such that the pressure in the airways is increased as long as the intensity of the detected snore is higher than a threshold and vice versa.

FIG. 2 shows a sleeping person or user 21 with, by way of example, two application devices. As application devices, an air mask 22, a tracheostomy tube 30 or a conventional face under nasal mask can be used. An oxygen eyewear consists essentially of a supply hose with an inner diameter of about 4 mm and a hose loop, which consists of a hose with about 2 mm inner diameter. A Y-gate 24 connects one end of the supply hose to both ends of the hose loop. The hose loop has two outlet openings, one of which projects into a nostril of the sleeping person when in use. The hose loop rests against the upper lip of the sleeper, is clamped between the ears and head of the sleeper and then led to the transition region between the lower jaw and neck, where there is a sliding ring 25. By the sliding ring 25, the length of the hose loop can be adapted to the head shape of the sleeper.

A goggle 22 is very similar to an oxygen goggle. However, with air bladders, hoses with a slightly larger inside diameter can be used to minimize the pressure drop across the hoses. The outer diameter of the Hose loop is essentially limited by the fact that the hose loop should be clamped behind the ears, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, hoses with outer diameters of up to about 10 mm can be used for the hose loop, the inner diameter of about 8 to 9 mm. The supply hose can have even larger diameter, since it is not bound to body dimensions of the sleeper.

Oxygen goggles and goggles have in common that their two outlet openings do not close the nostrils of the patient tightly. Rather, the patient can breathe past both outlet openings. In addition, the goggles may have a measuring tube 24. The measuring tube protrudes parallel to the outlet openings into the nostrils of the patient. Through the measuring tube, it is possible to measure the air pressure in the nose of the patient, regardless of a pressure drop on the supply hose and the hose loop 23 of the air goggles 22. Since the measuring hose does not have to transport any appreciable air flow, it can have a small inner diameter of, for example, 1 to 2 mm.

The tracheal cannula 30 may comprise one or two cannulas. The thicker of the two cannulas is connected to tube 31, is applied via the air into the respiratory tract of the patient. The thinner of the two cannulas is connected to measuring tube 32. The latter cannula allows the pressure in the patient's airways below the larynx to be measured independently of the pressure drop across hoses or cannulas.

In a simple embodiment, the anti-snoring device may comprise only one pressure sensor 12 or 13. The air flow results from the dimensions of the components used, in particular the hoses, the position of valve 3 and the pressure supplied by the glass bottle 2. From the valve position, a signal can be derived, which is at least in monotone with the air flow. Although the air flow also depends on the pressure in the gas cylinder 2, this changes only slowly compared with the duration of individual sleepers breaths. The steady drop in air flow is due to the pressure drop in gas cylinder 2 is partially compensated by that at As the flow of air decreases, the snoring slowly increases and therefore the valve 3 is slowly opened more and more.

The pressure signal may be supplied by the pressure sensor 12. In this embodiment, the control unit has no sensor connection 15 and no second pressure sensor 13. Therefore, a simple air mask 22 without measuring tube 24 or a simple tracheal cannula 30 is sufficient as an application device.

Alternatively, the pressure signal may be supplied from the second pressure sensor 13. In this embodiment, the control unit has a sensor connection 15. In this embodiment, an air mask 22 with measuring tube 24 can be used as an application device. In this case, the thicker hose of the aerial goggles is connected to the gas outlet 14 of the control unit 1 and the thinner measuring hose 24 to the sensor connection 15. Alternatively, the sensor connection 15 can also be connected to a simple tracheostomy tube 30. The latter case, the measuring tube 24 is not required.

Furthermore, the tracheal cannula can be connected to the gas connection 14 and the air goggles to the sensor connection 15. In the latter case, the air goggles, such as oxygen goggles, can consist of thin tubes with diameters in the range of 1 to 2 mm. Finally, a double tracheal cannula 30 can be used, wherein the thicker cannula with gas connection 14 of the control unit 1 is connected to the sensor connection 15 via tube 31 and the thinner tracheal cannula via measuring tube 32.

The above embodiments can be improved by providing a flow sensor 11 that measures the flow through the gas outlet 14. In this case a stable flux signal is available. By the additional flow signal, the increasing pressure drop in gas cylinder 2 can be compensated by gradually opening valve 3, without forcing the sleeping person to intensified snoring.

In addition to the second pressure sensor 13 and the flow sensor 11, a first pressure sensor 12 may be provided. For the application facilities, the Embodiments made in connection with the embodiments having the second pressure sensor 13.

Since both a flow signal and a pressure signal are available in all the above embodiments, the control of the valve 3 can take place analogously to WO 02/083221 A2. In an inner loop, which is often traversed during a breath, the actual pressure is regulated to a target pressure. In an outer loop, the target pressure is adjusted to the state of the sleeper or user. For this purpose, characteristics and from the features detectors are determined from the flow signal, due to which the target pressure is set.

According to the method disclosed in WO 02/083221 A2, the transitions between inspiration and expiration are determined on the basis of the local extrema in the first derivative of the respiratory flow curve. Based on this information, the valve 3 can be completely closed during the exhalation phases. This measure extends the service life of the glass bottle 2 without refilling. In addition, the sleeping person is thereby supported in his breathing activity. The sleeping person has less the feeling of having to exhale against a resistance.

The pressure and flow fluctuations caused by the switching on and off of the valve influence the determination of features and, in extreme cases, render the control algorithm useless. To prevent this, areas around the turn-on and turn-off times can be cut out of the flow signal. In one embodiment, two percent of the duration of a respiratory cycle before and 8 percent of the duration of a respiratory cycle after each detected transition between inspiration and expiration may be deleted from the measured flow rates so that only 80 percent of the measurement data is used to detect the sleep state of the respiratory condition. The asymmetry of the deletion with respect to the detected transition between inspiration and expiration stems from the fact that the change in pressure takes place seriously after the transition has been detected. Instead of the percentages related to the duration of a breathing cycle, fixed values such as, for example, B. 60 ms before a transition and 240 ms after a transition from the flow curve to be deleted. In another embodiment, only the inspiration phases are used to calculate the backward correlation according to WO 02/083221 A2. Here, too, eight percent of the duration of a respiratory cycle can be deleted from the respiratory flow curve after a transition from expiration to inspiration and two percent before a transition from inspiration to expiration.

To calculate the mean curvature of the respiratory flow during inspiration, in one embodiment, the same time duration of, for example, six percent of the duration of a respiratory cycle after the beginning of an inspiratory phase and its end is deleted from the respiratory flow curve.

It is not important to quantify the mean inspiratory volume. Rather, it is sufficient to determine a parameter that changes monotonically to the volume of inspiration in a similar form of breath. Because the detectors according to WO 02/083221 A2 only depend on a change in the inspiratory volumes. Where these changes with constants such. B. inspiration_volume_change_schwelle, the constants can be adapted to the parameter or converted into relative changes at the expense of a slightly higher computational effort. This is noted in particular with regard to the embodiments in which a flow signal is determined from a valve position.

Since air glasses are "open" systems, the pressure and flow can be reversed in the control algorithm. Therefore, regardless of the application device, this application also discloses embodiments in which the air flow is kept constant in an inner loop and the inner loop is frequently passed through during a breathing cycle. In an outer loop, the airflow is adjusted to the sleeping state to prevent or minimize snoring.

Even in these embodiments, the air flow during the exhalation phases can be turned off. To determine the correct desired flow, certain areas of the pressure curve before and after a transition between inspiration and expiration can be deleted and / or only those parts of the pressure curve that were measured during an inspiration phase can be taken into account. Figure 3 shows a controller 40 which is similar to a conventional CPAP device. To the controller, an external humidifier 49 is connected. As an application device a pair of air goggles with hoses 51 and 54, ring 53 and Y-turnout 52 is shown. The sleeper or user is shown in a seated position, so that the tube 54 of the air-rimmed glasses is guided over the ears to the back of the head of the sleeping person.

The control unit 40 comprises a fan housing 41, a gas cylinder 42, a fan 43, soundproofing foam 44, a rotary control 45 and a valve 46. The fan 43, which is also referred to as a turbine, blower or fan, conveys ambient air to humidifier 49 and onwards to application device. As with CPAP equipment, the soundproofing foam 44 provides noise insulation. The gas bottle 42 contains a first active substance which can be added to the conveyed air. The first active ingredient 17 is exemplified by dots as in FIG. The concentration of the first active ingredient in the delivered air is adjusted by the position of valve 46. The active ingredient can be stored in gas cylinder 42 under overpressure. On the other hand, the active ingredient can be sucked out of the gas cylinder by the pumped air through a jet pump. Knob 45 exemplifies controls through which, for example, a CPAP pressure or the concentration of the first active ingredient 17 can be adjusted. The control unit 40, similarly to the control unit 1, can contain pressure and / or flow sensors, a sensor connection, a microprocessor, a microphone and an integrated humidifier. The latter elements are not shown in FIG. The pressure and flow control can be carried out as explained in connection with control unit 1 above.

The external humidifier 49 includes a supply of water 47 and a temperature controller 48. The water supply 47 may include, as an alternative to the gas cylinder 42 and valve 46 or in addition to both elements, a second active agent 18 represented by small crosses. By means of temperature controller 48, the temperature of the water supply 47 and thus the humidity can be adjusted. Humidifier 49 may additionally include a membrane between water reservoir 47 and the air space to control the delivery of the second active in proportion to the evaporation of water. Fig. 4 shows a section through a particular embodiment of a pair of aerial goggles, which can be advantageously used with a control device according to the invention. Fig. 5 shows this embodiment in perspective. These goggles include feeders 65, a manifold 68 and a jacket tube 61 for each nostril of a patient. Each of the jacket tubes has at its nose-side end on its outer circumference on an ergonomic pad 64 which closes tightly or substantially tightly with a nostril of the patient during use. In each casing tube, a nozzle 70 is arranged, is blown through the air under an overpressure in the direction of the nostril. The inner cross-section of the jacket tube has a constriction 62 between the nozzle 70 and the nose-side end of the jacket tube. The area between the constriction 62 and the nose-side end of the jacket tube, in which the clear cross-section of the jacket tube widens toward the nose-side end of the jacket tube, is referred to as diffuser 63. In addition, one or both jacket tubes may have a measuring tube 66, via which the pressure inside the nose can be measured.

The interior of the jacket tube 61 interacts with the nozzle 70 like a jet pump. Through the nozzle 70, a small stream of air enters the jacket tube, pumping additional air through the open end of the jacket tube into the patient's nose. In other words, the nozzle 70, in cooperation with the jacket tube 61, transforms a small air flow, which is generated by a higher overpressure, into a larger airflow, which is at a lower overpressure. This is advantageous in particular in that only part of the air flow flowing into the nose has to be transported from the gas outlet 14 to the nozzle 70. Due to the lower air flow, the pressure drop across the hose 65 is lower. On the other hand, if one is ready to accept a constant pressure drop, the cross-section of the tube 65 may be made smaller using a pair of air-rides shown in Figs.

The control units 1 and 40 should be able to generate 100 to 1000 mbar overpressure compared to the ambient pressure. In particular, the outer shape of the ergonomic pad, but also the jacket tube are adapted to the nose shape of the patient. The jacket tube can be made circular with a diameter of 4 to 12 mm. In other embodiments, the jacket tube may have an elliptical cross-section, with the smaller and larger radius in the Range from 2 to 6 mm. The jacket tube may have a length of 20 to 50 mm, in particular of 30 mm. The hose 51 has a length of 1 to 2 m. Other dimensions result from the size of the respective body parts of the patient.

The invention has been explained in detail above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 control unit 40 control unit

2 gas bottle 41 fan housing

3 valve 30 42 gas bottle

5 4 microprocessor 43 fans

5 Jet pump 44 Soundproofing foam

6 Humidifier 45 Pressure regulator

7 water supply 46 valve

8 Membrane 35 47 Water supply

10 9 Heating cable 48 Temperature controller

10 Temperature measuring line 49 Humidifier

11 Flow sensor 51 Hose

12, 13 Pressure sensor 52 Y-switch

14 gas outlet 40 53 ring

15 15 Sensor connection 54 Hose

16 microphone 55 sleeping

17, 18 Active substance 61 Jacket tube

19 inlet connection 62 constriction

20 Microphone connection 45 63 Diffuser

20 21 Sleeping 64 ergonomic upholstery

22 goggles 65 hoses

23 Hose loop 66 Measuring hose

24 Measuring hose 67 Nose

25 ring 50 68 distributor

25 30 Tracheostomy tube 69 Upper lip

31 hose 70 nozzle

32 measuring hose

Claims

claims

1. Anti-snoring device with:

pressure generating means (2; 43) for providing air under overpressure to the ambient air pressure; and

an application device (30; 22; 51-54; 61-68) whose inlet communicates with the

Pressurizing means for applying air mixed with an active agent (17; 18) under pressure into the respiratory tract of a patient;

characterized in that

the term active ingredient is a seawater additive, aerosols, or a fragrance

Medicine are understood.

2. An anti-snoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the pressure generating device (2; 43) and the inlet of the application device, a humidifier (6; 49) is installed, the water supply (7; 47) is offset with an active substance (18).

3. Antischnarchgerat according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the application device is a goggle.

4. An anti-snoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the anti-snoring device further comprises a control device (3, 4) connected to the application device (30; 22; 51-54; 61-68) and the pressure generating device (2; 43), wherein the control device supplies air under overpressure to the application device only during inspiration phases.

5. Control unit (1; 40) for an anti-snoring device with:

an inlet port (19) configured to communicate with a

Pressure generating means (2; 43) can be connected, so that can be provided at the inlet port by the pressure generating means air under pressure over the ambient air pressure; and an air goggle connection (14) for an aerial goggle (22, 51, 52, 53, 54) as an application device for applying air under overpressure into the nose of a user;

marked by

a control device (3, 4) which is pneumatically connected to the inlet port (19), the control device having a sensor (11, 12, 13) for supplying air under overpressure to the airglass port only during inspiration phases; and

a jet pump (5) whose one inlet is pneumatically connected to the control device (3, 4), the second inlet of the jet pump (5) being

Ambient air sucks and the outlet of the jet pump is pneumatically connected to the air gland port (14), so that air, when provided under positive pressure at the inlet port (19), from the inlet port (19) via the control device and the jet pump (5) to Air eye port (14) flows.

6. Control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control device has a microphone port (20), wherein the control device (3, 4) evaluates the signal applied to the microphone port for snoring out and applies a higher pressure at the Luftbrillenanschluss (14), depending the snoring is stronger.

7. Control device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the control device (1; 40) further comprises a measuring port (15) which is connected to the sensor, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor (13), wherein the control device (3, 4) evaluates the sensor signal, wherein the control device, the pressure during the inspiration phases on

Air eye port increased if the sensor signal indicates flow limitation.

8. Anti-snoring device with:

pressure generating means (2; 43) for providing air under overpressure to the ambient air pressure; and an airglass (22; 51, 52, 53, 54) as an applicator for applying air under overpressure to the nose of a user, the inlet of the airglass being connected to the pressure generator;

marked by

a control device (3, 4) which is connected to the pressure-generating device and the inlet of the goggles, wherein the control device supplies air under pressure to the goggles only during inspiration phases; and

a tracheal cannula (30) pneumatically connected to a pressure sensor (13) which in turn is electrically connected to the control means (3, 4), the control means controlling the pressure at the

Application device (30; 22; 51-54; 61-68) adjusts depending on the pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

9. anti-snoring device with:

pressure generating means (2; 43) for providing air under overpressure to the ambient air pressure;

a control device (3,4) which is pneumatically connected to the pressure generating means (2; 43);

a tracheal cannula (30) which is pneumatically connected as an application device to the control device (3, 4) and serves to apply air under positive pressure into the respiratory tract of a patient,

characterized in that

the tracheostomy tube (30) comprises a return line (32) which is pneumatically connected to a pressure sensor (13), which in turn is electrically connected to the control device (3, 4), the pressure sensor providing a pressure signal to the control device indicating the pressure at the

Tracheal cannula (30) depending on the pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

10. anti snoring device according to claim 9, characterized in that the

Control device (3, 4) delivers air under pressure to the application device only during inspiration phases.

An anti-snore apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 8 or 10, characterized in that the anti-snoring apparatus further comprises a microphone (16) coupled to the control means (3, 4), the control means supplying the microphone (16) Evaluates signal for snoring and applied the higher the pressure to the application device (30; 22; 51-54; 61-68), the stronger the snoring.

12. Antichnarchgerat according to any one of claims 4 or 11, characterized in that the anti-snoring device further comprises a tracheostomy tube (30) which is connected to a pressure sensor (13) which in turn is connected to the control device (3, 4) the control device controls the pressure at the application device (30; 22; 51-54; 61-68) as a function of

Set 15 by the pressure sensor measured pressure.

13. Antischnarchgerat according to any one of claims 4, 8 or 11, characterized in that the Antischnarchgerat further comprises a pressure sensor (12) which is pneumatically connected to the inlet of the application device and the control device (3, 4), wherein the pressure sensor ( 12)

20 measures the pressure at the inlet of the application device and supplies a pressure signal to the control device, which adjusts the pressure at the application device as a function of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

14. Antischnarchgerat according to any one of claims 4 or 11, as far as claim 11 refers back to claim 10, characterized in that the goggles

25 (22) comprises a return line (23, 24) which is connected to a pressure sensor (13), which in turn is connected to the control device (3, 4), wherein the pressure sensor supplies a pressure signal to the control device which indicates the pressure the application device adjusts depending on the pressure measured by the pressure sensor (13).

15. Antischnarchgerat according to any one of claims 12 or 14, characterized in that due to the measured pressure inspiratory and expiratory phases are determined.

16. Antischnarchgerat according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized 5, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) the measured pressure

Snoring analysis and applies a higher pressure to the application device, the stronger the snoring is.

17. Antischnarchgerat according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) performs a method according to one of o claims of DE 101 18 968 A1 or WO 02/083221 A2.

18. An anti-snoring device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure-generating device is formed by a gas cartridge (2) containing a compressed gas.

19. Antischnarchgerat according to claim 18, characterized in that between 5 of the gas cartridge (2) and the application device, a jet pump (5) for

Flux increase and pressure reduction is installed.