Braided hose for use in sleep apnea treatment systems that decouples force

• US 10,556,081 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresca Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fresca Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Dominguez, Andrew, Ewers, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deal, David R
• Application Number:
  US16/378,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20190232011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 138126
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/02 made of fibres or threads, e.g. of textile which may or may not be impregnated, or provided with an impermeable layer, e.g. fire-hoses
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/04 made of rubber or flexible plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/10 with reinforcements not embedded in the wall F16L11/11 takes precedence

Abstract

A hose is described that includes a braided matrix with an interior lumen. The matrix also includes filaments that intersect each other and create a braid, and a longitudinal axis that runs along the lumen, wherein the filaments intersect the longitudinal axis at a braid angle. The braid angle can be varied by compressing or expanding the matrix along the direction of the longitudinal axis. A polymer coating is applied to the matrix such that the matrix is substantially impermeable to air. The hose has two states: (1) a relaxed state, where the hose does not experience a force in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and (2) a stressed state where the hose experiences a force in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The braid angle is larger in the relaxed state as compared to the stressed state. A method of manufacture for the hose is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of manufacture of a hose, the method comprising:

providing a braided matrix with an interior lumen, the matrix including;

filaments that intersect each other and create a braid;

a longitudinal axis that runs along the lumen, wherein the filaments intersect the longitudinal axis at a braid angle;

and wherein the braid angle can be varied by compressing the matrix along the direction of the longitudinal axis or by expanding the matrix perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

compressing the matrix so as to increase the braid angle relative to the braid angle of the matrix in the non-compressed state;

stabilizing the braid angle by applying heat to the matrix; and

applying a polymer to the matrix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix is compressed at least 50% prior to the stabilization step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the braid angle is increased by at least 30 degrees prior to the stabilization step.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after the polymer is applied, the hose is stretched.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix has a length after the stabilization step and the method further includes stretching the matrix by at least 130% of the length after the polymer is applied.