Michael J Kane

US Patent:

6342040, Jan 29, 2002

Filed:

Nov 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/438081

Inventors:

Eric W. Starr - Allison Park PA
Michael T. Kane - Delmont PA
Eugene N. Scarberry - Trafford PA

Assignee:

Respironics, Inc.

International Classification:

A61B 508

US Classification:

600538, 600532

Abstract:

A patient monitoring apparatus for monitoring and/or measuring a physiological characteristic of said patient. A user interface having an interior portion communicates with an airway of a user such that substantially all gas inhaled and exhaled by the user enters the interior portion of the user interface. At least one vent element is associated with the user interface and communicates the interior portion of the user interface with an ambient atmosphere outside the user interface. The vent element and user interface define a flow element across which a pressure differential is created during inhalation and exhalation. The pressure differential is the pressure difference between the pressure within the interior portion of the user interface and the pressure of the ambient atmosphere outside the user interface. A sensor communicates with the interior portion of the user interface and measures a fluid characteristic resulting from this pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of the measured fluid characteristic. The output from the sensor is used alone or in combination with the output from other sensors that detect other physiological characteristics to provide a variety of information about the patient.

US Patent:

6544192, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Sep 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/961618

Inventors:

Eric W. Starr - Allison Park PA
Michael T. Kane - Delmont PA
Eugene N. Scarberry - Trafford PA

Assignee:

Respironics, Inc. - Murrysville PA

International Classification:

A61B 508

US Classification:

600538, 600532

Abstract:

A patient monitoring apparatus for quantatively measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient. A first patient interface communicates with an airway of a patient such that substantially all gas inhaled and exhaled by the patient passes through the first patient interface. One or more vent elements associated with the first patient interface communicate the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere so that a pressure differential is created between the pressure in the first patient interface and the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. A sensor communicates with the first patient interface and measures a fluid characteristic resulting from this pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of that characteristic. The output from the sensor is used alone, or in combination with the output from other sensors that detect other physiological characteristics, to provide a variety of information about the patient.

US Patent:

6849049, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Feb 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/372381

Inventors:

Eric W. Starr - Allison Park PA, US
Michael T. Kane - Delmont PA, US
Eugene N. Scarberry - Trafford PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

A61B 508
A62B 700
A62B 902
A62B 1802

US Classification:

600538, 600529, 12820418, 12820422, 12820525, 12820524, 12820621

Abstract:

A patient monitoring apparatus for quantatively measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient. A first patient interface communicates with an airway of a patient such that substantially all gas inhaled and exhaled by the patient passes through the first patient interface. One or more vent elements associated with the first patient interface communicate the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere so that a pressure differential is created between the pressure in the first patient interface and the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. A sensor communicates with the first patient interface and measures a fluid characteristic resulting from this pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of that characteristic. The output from the sensor is used alone, or in combination with the output from other sensors that detect other physiological characteristics, to provide a variety of information about the patient.

US Patent:

7011091, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Sep 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/243016

Inventors:

Peter D. Hill - Monroeville PA, US
Michael H. Kissel - Harrison City PA, US
John Frank - Harrison City PA, US
Michael T. Kane - Harrison CIty PA, US
Susan L. Bann - Glenshaw PA, US
Winslow K. Duff - Export PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, LLC. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

A62M 16/00

US Classification:

12820418, 12820421, 12820422, 12820423, 12820426

Abstract:

A ventilator supplies a plurality of volumes of fluid to a patient during a like plurality of inhalations by the patient. Each volume of fluid is supplied at an inspiratory positive airway pressure during a corresponding inhalation by the patient. A volume of fluid received by the patient is determined for each of the plurality of inhalations by the patient and an average volume of fluid received by the patient during each of the plurality of inhalations is determined. The average volume of fluid received by the patient during each inhalation is compared to a predetermined target volume and the inspiratory positive airway pressure each volume of fluid is supplied to the patient is adjusted as a function of the comparison.

US Patent:

7044129, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/930025

Inventors:

William A. Truschel - Oakmont PA, US
Winslow K. Duff - Export PA, US
Michael T. Kane - Harrison City PA, US
Andrew L. Shissler - Delmont PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, LLC. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

A61M 16/00
A62B 7/00

US Classification:

12820423, 12820418

Abstract:

A pressure generating system and method for generating a flow of fluid at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The system includes a pressure generator and a pressure regulator downstream of the pressure generator. The system monitors a characteristic associated with the pressure regulator, the fluid flow downstream of the pressure regulator to the patient, the fluid flow upstream of the pressure regulator, the fluid flow exhausted from the pressure regulator, or any combination thereof. A controller coupled to the pressure generator controls an operating speed of the pressure generator based on the monitored characteristic(s) so that the output of the pressure generator is only kept as high as needed to provide the desired pressure to the patient.

US Patent:

7168429, Jan 30, 2007

Filed:

Oct 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/268406

Inventors:

Greg Matthews - Plum PA, US
Michael T. Kane - Harrison City PA, US
Winslow K. Duff - Export PA, US
Rochelle Eisert - Pittsburgh PA, US
Daniel Martin - Delmont PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, LLC - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

A61M 16/00
A62B 7/00

US Classification:

12820421, 12820422, 12820423, 12820426

Abstract:

A pressure support system and method of treating disordered breathing that optimizes the pressure delivered to the patient to treat the disordered breathing while minimizing the delivered pressure for patient comfort. The controller in the pressure support system operates as a set of prioritized control layers, wherein each control layer competes for control of the pressure generating system to implement a unique pressure control process. The pressure support system also controls the pressure provided to the patient based on the variability of the monitored data and a trend analysis of this data, including an indication of the skewness of the patient's inspiratory waveform.

US Patent:

7574368, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

Dec 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/016506

Inventors:

James Pawlikowski - Aspinwall PA, US
Andrew L. Shissler - Delmont PA, US
Michael T. Kane - Delmont PA, US
Winslow K. Duff - Export PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, LLC - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 2, 705 3, 600300, 600301

Abstract:

A method of upgrading a medical device having a controller that controls operation of the medical device according to an operating routine executed by the controller. Upgrading the medical device includes communicating an external device, such as a conventional computer, with the controller. An external access key is provided to the external device and compared to an internal access key provided by the medical device. Upgrading of the medical device is enabled if the two access keys match. Upgrading includes modifying or rewriting the operating routine stored in the medical device. A medical device manufacturer, supplier, or seller controls the distribution of the external access keys, thereby providing the ability to track the medical devices being upgraded and the upgrade provided to that device.

US Patent:

7717110, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Sep 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/235520

Inventors:

Michael T. Kane - Harrison City PA, US
Susan L. Bann - Glenshaw PA, US
Rochelle Siirola - Pittsburgh PA, US
Winslow K. Duff - Export PA, US
Leonardo A. Baloa - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

RIC Investments, LLC - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

F16K 31/02

US Classification:

12820421, 12820423

Abstract:

A system and method for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. A characteristic that varies based on variations of the flow of the breathing gas is monitored and used to determine a Target Flow for the gas delivered to the patient. The Target Flow is set to a level sufficient to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration or a sleep disordered breathing event. The Target Flow is altered if the patient experiences a sleep disordered breathing event. In a further embodiment, the system determines an apnea detection time (Tapnea) as Tinsp plus a constant, and delivers a machine triggered breath if an amount since the start of inspiration reaches Tapnea. Yet another embodiment monitors the characteristic during an inspiratory phase of a respiratory cycle, and controls the flow of gas during the inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle based on a result of this comparison.