Federal regulators cleared ResMed‘s (NYSE:RMD) variable positive airway pressure device for at-home use for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The VPAP device, used at night to prevent acute respiratory exacerbations, was built on San Diego-based ResMed’s S9 platform, according to a press release.

"Many stage 3 or stage 4 COPD patients are admitted to the hospital 2-3 times a year because of their condition, and hospital discharge planners need ways to reduce that figure with better at-home respiratory care," said Geoff Neilson, president of the respiratory care business unit, in prepared remarks. "Minimizing the likelihood of acute events that lead to readmissions starts at the point of discharge, sending patients home with the best tools like ResMed’s VPAP COPD to help them breathe better when their lungs have been damaged by the disease."

Last month, ResMed filed a lawsuit against APEX Medical to protect patents pertaining to respiratory masks and flow generators.