mePAP - Low cost, Multipurpose, Equitable, Positive Airway Pressure Device

The mePAP consists of a simple 3D printed housing, with a 12V brushless DC motor blower unit, a motor driver, and pressure sensor encased inside. Some current devices have an added humidification unit to warm the air to increase comfort levels. The devices are fully functional without this addition, and hence it was removed to keep costs low, while keeping comfort high. The mePAP is controlled through an ergonomic app, making it easier to set the pressures especially during the night. The app also allows for data collection, with open access to breathing data throughout the night, which is currently withheld on many PAP devices. Current PAP devices range from NZD $800-$2500, with the mePAP only NZD$250. This reduction in cost makes it more equitable for lower-socio economic users, who are more susceptible to sleep apnea. No current PAP devices to date connect to, or utilize external sensor systems, which ensures this project is making a step forward from current state-of-the-art. The additional mini sensor at the mouthpiece provides another level of accuracy with a feedback response implemented to ensure the pressure the subject receives is as close to that set, along with giving more accurate measurements to base BiPAP and APAP control from. This mini sensor unit has been designed to fit at the end of the hose and connect to the mask with ease, being small and light weight to minimise disruptions to the user. Files are split into two main sections: Code; and Hardware. Code files include the mobile phone app for control, ESP32 code for CPAP, BiPAP, APAP and mini sensor control, and Matlab code for plotting of results. Hardware comprises of 3D printed components and printed circuit boards (PCB's). Both the main mePAP housing and the additional mini sensor 3D printed components are available as SolidWorks parts and STL files. SolidWorks files can be adapted to suit user needs, or STL files for direct 3D printing as is. Hardware PCB's contains the control PCB and pressure sensor PCB. Both can be adapted as required.

mePAP采用简约的3D打印外壳，内部集成12V无刷直流电机鼓风单元、电机驱动器与压力传感器。当前部分同类设备会增设加湿单元以加热气流、提升使用舒适度，但该设备无需该模块即可实现完整功能，因此我们移除了加湿单元，在保障使用舒适度的同时降低了成本。
mePAP可通过符合人体工程学的应用程序进行控制，尤其便于夜间睡眠时设置压力参数。该应用还支持数据采集功能，用户可随时获取整夜呼吸数据——而这一功能在多数现有持续气道正压通气（PAP）设备中均未开放。
现有PAP设备的售价区间为800至2500新西兰元，而mePAP的售价仅为250新西兰元。这一成本优势大幅提升了社会经济地位较低人群的可及性，而这类人群恰恰更易罹患睡眠呼吸暂停。
截至目前，尚无现有PAP设备支持外接或利用外部传感器系统，这使得本项目相较于当前主流技术实现了突破性进展。增设于呼吸接口处的微型传感器可进一步提升精度，其内置的反馈机制能够确保用户实际接收的压力与设定值尽可能贴合，同时可为双水平气道正压通气（BiPAP）与自动持续气道正压通气（APAP）的控制提供更精准的测量依据。该微型传感器单元专为呼吸管路末端设计，可便捷连接至面罩，其小巧轻便的特性可将对用户的干扰降至最低。
本项目的文件主要分为两大板块：代码与硬件。代码文件涵盖用于设备控制的移动端应用程序、用于持续气道正压通气（CPAP）、BiPAP、APAP及微型传感器控制的ESP32代码，以及用于结果绘图的Matlab代码。硬件板块包含3D打印部件与印制电路板（PCB）。mePAP主体外壳与附加微型传感器的3D打印部件均提供SolidWorks零件文件与STL文件两种格式：SolidWorks文件可根据用户需求进行修改，而STL文件可直接用于3D打印。硬件PCB板块包含控制PCB与压力传感器PCB，二者均可根据需求进行定制修改。