Respiratory interface with elbow

• US 10,500,365 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Tebbutt, Adam Alexander, Neal, Blair Albert, Gradon, Lewis George, McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Haycock, Mark Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis, LaToya M
• Application Number:
  US15/185,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/049 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A respiratory interface, such as a mouthpiece having a vestibular shield overlapping a user'"'"'s teeth and gums, gases passageway extending through the vestibular shield allowing for the passage of the gases through mouthpiece and an extra oral seal associated with the gases passageway, wherein the passageway in use causes gases to be diffused when exiting from the gases passageway. Mouthpiece may have an adjustment mechanism to alter distance between the vestibular shield and the extra-oral seal. The interface may include an elbow having a vent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivery of pressurized gas to a user for treatment of sleep disorders, comprising:

an interface configured to contact and form a seal with the user'"'"'s face such that the interface can deliver a flow of the pressurized gas to the user'"'"'s airways;

a connecting tube configured to deliver the flow of the pressurized gas to the interface;

a substantially L-shaped elbow that couples the connecting tube to the interface, wherein the elbow is configured such that it can be disconnected from the interface, a first swivel joint that permits relative rotation between the elbow and the interface about a first swivel axis, and a second swivel joint that permits relative rotation between the elbow and the connecting tube about a second swivel axis; and

a vent arrangement defined by an annular portion of the elbow and configured to expel expired gases from the interface, the annular portion of the elbow comprising;

a first diameter and a second diameter defined by a tapered surface and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the annular portion with the first diameter being downstream from the second diameter relative to the flow of the pressurized gas from the connecting tube towards the interface, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter;

a length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

a plurality of elongate vent paths defined by the tapered surface and positioned along the length extending between the first and second diameters;

wherein the plurality of elongate vents are upstream from at least one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint and the tapered surface is directly physically connected at one end with and adjacent to one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint;

wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths are disposed around both a first half and a second half of the tapered surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is tapered along the length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is narrowest at a location nearest the second diameter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent arrangement is a diffuser configured to provide low noise diffusion of the expired gases.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths comprises a first width relatively closer to the first diameter and a second width relatively closer to the second diameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an end of the elbow to which the connecting tube is coupled faces the user'"'"'s chest in use such that the connecting tube can be laid across the chest of the user in use.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first swivel joint couples the L-shaped elbow at the interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an orientation of an axis of the tapered surface relative to an axis of the first swivel axis is fixed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tapered surface is aligned along a central longitudinal axis, a first lateral plane is perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis, and a second lateral plane is perpendicular with the first lateral plane and aligned at the central longitudinal axis, the second lateral plane bisecting a circular portion of the tapered surface into a first semi-circular portion, the first semi-circular portion being the first half, and a second semicircular portion, the second semi-circular portion being the second half;

wherein the first and second semi-circular portions cooperate to define the circular portion and the plurality of elongate vent paths are disposed on both the first semi-circular portion and the second semi-circular portion.

13. An apparatus for delivery of pressurized gas to a user for treatment of sleep disorders, comprising:

an interface configured to create a seal with a face of the user and deliver a flow of the pressurized gas to the user'"'"'s airways, the interface having a passage that permits the flow of pressurized gas to enter the interface by moving in a first direction through the passage;

a connecting tube coupled to the interface and configured to deliver the flow of the pressurized gas to the passage;

a substantially L-shaped elbow that couples the connecting tube to the interface and delivers the flow of the pressurized gas to the passage, wherein the elbow is configured such that it can be disconnected from the interface,

a first swivel joint that permits relative rotation between the elbow and the interface about a first swivel axis, and

a second swivel joint that permits relative rotation between the elbow and the connecting tube about a second swivel axis; and

a vent arrangement defined by an annular portion of the elbow, wherein the vent arrangement is configured to expel expired gases from the interface in a second direction, the annular portion of the elbow having a tapered surface in the second direction from a first diameter to a second diameter, the first diameter and the second diameter defined by the tapered surface and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the annular portion with the first diameter being downstream from the second diameter relative to the flow of the pressurized gas from the connecting tube towards the interface, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the tapered surface defines a plurality of elongate vent paths extending in the second direction between the first and second diameters, a length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

the plurality of elongate vent paths positioned along the length extending between the first and second diameters;

wherein the first diameter is at one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint and the second diameter is offset from the one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint;

wherein the first diameter is a first end of the tapered surface and the second diameter is a second end of the tapered surface, the tapered surface having sufficient rigidity to maintain an orientation of the first end relative to the second end;

wherein the plurality of elongate vents are upstream from at least one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint and the tapered surface is directly physically connected at one end with and adjacent to one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint;

wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths are disposed around both a first half and a second half of the tapered surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths tapers in the second direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is narrowest at a location nearest the second diameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vent arrangement is a diffuser configured to provide low noise diffusion of the expired gases.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths comprises a first width relatively closer to the first diameter and a second width relatively closer to the second diameter.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an end of the elbow to which the connecting tube is coupled faces the user'"'"'s chest in use such that the connecting tube can be laid across the chest of the user in use.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first swivel joint couples the L-shaped elbow at the interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of elongate vents are disposed in the second direction from at least one of the first swivel joint and the second swivel joint.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a lateral plane passes through one of the first swivel axis and the second swivel axis and divides the tapered surface into a first half and a second half, and the plurality of elongate vent paths are disposed on both the first half and the second half.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first diameter is located in a first plane and the first plane is fixed relative to the first diameter during use of the elbow and the second diameter is located in a second plane and the second plane is fixed relative to the second diameter during use of the elbow;

and

wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane during use of the elbow and an orientation of the first and second planes relative to the first swivel axis is fixed during use of the elbow.