Patient interface assembly for respiratory therapy

• US 10,195,381 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Vyaire Medical Consumables LLC
• Inventors: Dunsmore, Thomas J., Wise, Geoffrey C., Wilschke, Thomas C., Mingione, Louis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddie, Elliot S
• Application Number:
  US14/575,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20150096562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 12820423
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0012 by Venturi means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0093 by adsorption, absorption or filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/127 by Venturi effect, i.e. entrainment mixers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 : Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 : Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 : non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 : Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 : automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 : with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

A patient interface assembly includes a housing that defines an inlet port and an outlet port. A jet pump receives pressurized gas flow from the inlet port and delivers the gas flow to the outlet port. A nebulizer is fluidly coupled to the outlet port and positioned to introduce medication into the gas flow and deliver medicated gas flow to a patient.

Claims

1. A method for delivering respiratory therapy to a patient, comprising:

delivering pressurized gas flow to an inlet port of a housing;

drawing in ambient air from an entrainment port in the housing;

combining the pressurized gas flow with the ambient air using a jet pump disposed within the housing;

delivering combined air from the jet pump to a nebulizer;

introducing medication into the combined air using the nebulizer;

forming a seal between the jet pump and an inner sealing surface of the housing to close a flow path between an exhalation port and an outlet port of the housing;

progressively occluding a cut-out through the housing, between the exhalation port and the inner sealing surface, as the jet pump moves toward the inner sealing surface; and

delivering medicated gas flow to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising exhausting air flow received from the patient through the exhalation port.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

combining the pressurized gas flow with the ambient air in an entrainment region of the jet pump;

forcing the combined air through a throat region of the jet pump; and

delivering the combined air to an expansion region of the jet pump.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a spring biases the jet pump with respect to the housing in a direction toward the inlet port.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein as the jet pump moves away from the outlet port, a flow path is created between the exhalation port and the outlet port.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a nebulizer port fluidly coupling the nebulizer to the housing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cut-out is defined through the housing and tapers toward the outlet port.

8. A method for delivering respiratory therapy to a patient, comprising:

delivering pressurized gas flow to an inlet port of a housing;

drawing in ambient air from an entrainment port in the housing;

combining the pressurized gas flow with the ambient air using a jet pump slideably disposed within the housing;

delivering combined air from the jet pump to an outlet port in the housing; and

forming a seal between an exhalation port and the outlet port when the jet pump engages against an inner sealing surface of the housing, wherein forming the seal progressively occludes a cut-out through the housing, between the exhalation port and the inner sealing surface of the housing, as the jet pump moves toward the inner sealing surface outlet port.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cut-out through the housing is tapered toward the outlet port.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising exhausting, via the exhalation port, air flow received from the outlet port.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

combining the pressurized gas flow with the ambient air in an entrainment region of the jet pump;

forcing the combined air through a throat region of the jet pump; and

delivering the combined air to an expansion region of the jet pump.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a spring biases the jet pump with respect to the housing in a direction toward the inlet port.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein as the jet pump moves away from the outlet port, a flow path is created between the exhalation port and the outlet port.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a nebulizer port fluidly coupling a nebulizer to the housing.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein as the jet pump moves away from the outlet port, an orifice of the cut-out is progressively unblocked.