Mask system comprising a combined air delivery and stabilizing structure
First Claim
1. A mask system to deliver respiratory therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
- a patient interface that includes a nasal cushion portion shaped to seal around both nostrils of the patient and deliver pressurized air from a breathing chamber defined by the patient interface through a single air delivery orifice to both nostrils, the single air delivery orifice of the patient interface being sized to receive both nostrils without the patient interface having positively intruding features inside the nostrils, the patient interface defining a first passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a first lateral side of the patient interface and a second passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a second lateral side of the patient interface that opposes the first lateral side of the patient interface; and
a conduit headgear system that provides a combined air delivery and stabilizing structure for the patient interface, the conduit headgear system including;
a first inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the first passage, the first inlet conduit structured to engage against a first side of a head of the patient and pass between a first ear of the patient and a first eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the first inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the first inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the first inlet conduit against bedding;
a second inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the second passage, the second inlet conduit structured to engage against a second side of the head of the patient and pass between a second ear of the patient and a second eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the second inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the second inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the second inlet conduit against bedding;
a back strap to extend across an occiput of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the back strap being attachable with the first inlet conduit above the first ear of the patient and being attachable with the second inlet conduit above the second ear of the patient; and
a manifold shaped to connect a supply of pressurized air to both the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit while the manifold engages against a top of the head of the patient.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air delivery system for providing a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure to an interfacing structure located at the entrance to the airways of a patient includes a manifold adapted to connect with the supply of positive air pressure and at least one tube connected to the manifold and adapted to deliver the supply of air to the interfacing structure. Each tube is structured to allow movement between an open phase in which the tube allows the passage of air and a collapsed phase in which the tube is collapsed. Each tube is structured such that weight of a typical patient'"'"'s head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the tube from the open phase to the collapsed phase.
451 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A mask system to deliver respiratory therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
-
a patient interface that includes a nasal cushion portion shaped to seal around both nostrils of the patient and deliver pressurized air from a breathing chamber defined by the patient interface through a single air delivery orifice to both nostrils, the single air delivery orifice of the patient interface being sized to receive both nostrils without the patient interface having positively intruding features inside the nostrils, the patient interface defining a first passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a first lateral side of the patient interface and a second passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a second lateral side of the patient interface that opposes the first lateral side of the patient interface; and a conduit headgear system that provides a combined air delivery and stabilizing structure for the patient interface, the conduit headgear system including; a first inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the first passage, the first inlet conduit structured to engage against a first side of a head of the patient and pass between a first ear of the patient and a first eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the first inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the first inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the first inlet conduit against bedding; a second inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the second passage, the second inlet conduit structured to engage against a second side of the head of the patient and pass between a second ear of the patient and a second eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the second inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the second inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the second inlet conduit against bedding; a back strap to extend across an occiput of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the back strap being attachable with the first inlet conduit above the first ear of the patient and being attachable with the second inlet conduit above the second ear of the patient; and a manifold shaped to connect a supply of pressurized air to both the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit while the manifold engages against a top of the head of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A mask system to deliver respiratory therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
-
a patient interface that includes a nasal cushion portion shaped to seal around both nostrils of the patient and deliver pressurized air from a breathing chamber defined by the patient interface through a single air delivery orifice to both nostrils, the single air delivery orifice of the patient interface being sized to receive both nostrils without the patient interface having positively intruding features inside the nostrils, the patient interface defining a first passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a first lateral side of the patient interface and a second passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a second lateral side of the patient interface that opposes the first lateral side of the patient interface; and a conduit headgear system that provides a combined air delivery and stabilizing structure for the patient interface, the conduit headgear system including; a first inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the first passage, the first inlet conduit structured to engage against a first side of a head of the patient and pass between a first ear of the patient and a first eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the first inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the first inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the first inlet conduit against bedding, wherein the first inlet conduit has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape; a second inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the second passage, the second inlet conduit structured to engage against a second side of the head of the patient and pass between a second ear of the patient and a second eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the second inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of pressurized air through the second inlet conduit is reduced to a negligible amount upon the head of the patient resting on the second inlet conduit against bedding, wherein the second inlet conduit has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape; a back strap to extend across an occiput of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the back strap being attachable with the first inlet conduit above the first ear of the patient and being attachable with the second inlet conduit above the second ear of the patient; and a manifold shaped to connect a supply of pressurized air to both the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit while the manifold engages against a top of the head of the patient, the manifold including a base portion that is integrally formed as a unitary structure with (i) a first elongate portion of the first inlet conduit that is shaped to pass between the first ear and the first eye, and (ii) a second elongate portion of the second inlet conduit that is shaped to pass between the second ear and the second eye. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A mask system to deliver respiratory therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
-
a patient interface that includes a nasal cushion portion shaped to seal around both nostrils of the patient and deliver pressurized air from a breathing chamber defined by the patient interface through a single air delivery orifice to both nostrils, the single air delivery orifice of the patient interface being sized to receive both nostrils without the patient interface having positively intruding features inside the nostrils, the patient interface defining a first passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a first lateral side of the patient interface and a second passage for introduction of pressurized air into the breathing chamber at a second lateral side of the patient interface that opposes the first lateral side of the patient interface, wherein the nasal cushion portion of the patient interface includes a membrane flap and is adapted to seal around the nostrils of the patient through deflection of the membrane flap, wherein the patient interface is shaped to seal entirely below a nasal bridge of the patient, wherein the patient interface includes means for connecting to the first inlet conduit and means for connecting to the second inlet conduit; and a conduit headgear system that provides a combined air delivery and stabilizing structure for the patient interface, the conduit headgear system including; a first inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the first passage, the first inlet conduit structured to engage against a first side of a head of the patient and pass between a first ear of the patient and a first eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the first inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of gas through the first inlet conduit is reduced to negligible amounts upon the head of the patient resting on the first inlet conduit against bedding, wherein the first inlet conduit has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape, wherein the first inlet conduit maintains an approximately constant hydraulic diameter along a longitudinal length of the first inlet conduit despite a cross-sectional shape of the first inlet conduit varying along the longitudinal length of the first inlet conduit, wherein the first inlet conduit is removably attachable to the patient interface at a first joint and the first inlet conduit and the patient interface provide no visible step change across the first joint when the first inlet conduit is attached to the patient interface; a second inlet conduit to introduce pressurized air into the breathing chamber of the patient interface through the second passage, the second inlet conduit structured to engage against a second side of the head of the patient and pass between a second ear of the patient and a second eye of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the second inlet conduit being biased open and being structured to transition to a collapsed phase in which conductance of gas through the second inlet conduit is reduced to negligible amounts upon the head of the patient resting on the second inlet conduit against bedding, wherein the second inlet conduit has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape, wherein the second inlet conduit maintains an approximately constant hydraulic diameter along a longitudinal length of the second inlet conduit despite a cross-sectional shape of the second inlet conduit varying along the longitudinal length of the second inlet conduit, wherein the second inlet conduit is removably attachable to the patient interface at a second joint and the second inlet conduit and the patient interface provide no visible step change across the second joint when the second inlet conduit is attached to the patient interface; a back strap to extend across an occiput of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the back strap being attachable with the first inlet conduit above the first ear of the patient and being attachable with the second inlet conduit above the second ear of the patient, wherein the mask system lacks a headgear strap other than the back strap, the first inlet conduit, and the second inlet conduit to maintain the patient interface in a desired position on the head of the patient; and a manifold shaped to connect a supply of pressurized air to both the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit while the manifold engages against a top of the head of the patient, the manifold including a base portion that is integrally formed as a unitary structure with (i) a first elongate portion of the first inlet conduit that is shaped to pass between the first ear and the first eye, and (ii) a second elongate portion of the second inlet conduit that is shaped to pass between the second ear and the second eye, wherein the manifold includes means for connecting to the supply of pressurized air.
-
Specification