Nasal assembly

• US 20040226566A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guney, Memduh, Lithgow, Perry D., Gunaratnam, Michael K., Hitchcock, Robin G., Veliss, Lee J., Sokolov, Richard, Lynch, Susan R., Kwok, Philip R., Darkin, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape

Abstract

A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a frame having a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, each side frame member including an integrally formed first connector portion;

a nozzle assembly including a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles, the nozzle assembly being coupled with the main body of the frame with the pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use;

at least one inlet conduit structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient;

a pair of second connector portions provided to a respective first connector portion of the frame, at least one of said second connector portions being in communication with said at least one inlet conduit; and

a headgear assembly removably connected to at least one of the pair of second connector portions so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient'"'"'s face.

2. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame may be rotated with respect to the pair of second connector portions so as to adjust a position of the nozzles with respect to the patient'"'"'s nose in use, without detaching the first and second connector portions.

3. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair of second connector portions are releasably interlockable with the headgear assembly.

4. The nasal assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pair of second connector portions include respective grooves that are engagable with retaining members provided on yokes of the headgear assembly.

5. The nasal assembly according to claim 4, wherein the retaining members are ring shaped members.

6. The nasal assembly according to claim 5, further comprising an angle connector provided to each said second connector portion, each said angle connector including a first locking member and the headgear includes a second locking member.

7. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the second connector portions includes an interlock for engagement with an angle connector.

8. The nasal assembly according to claim 7, wherein the interlock is an undercut.

9. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet conduit includes a plurality of channels.

10. The nasal assembly according to claim 9, further comprising an angle connector provided to each said second connector portion, each said angle connector including elongated connectors structured to engage each of the channels of the respective inlet conduit.

11. The nasal assembly according to claim 10, wherein the elongated connectors have a tapered configuration to facilitate connection.

12. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly helps retain the second connector portions on the frame.

13. The nasal assembly according to claim 12, wherein the headgear assembly includes a pair of retaining members engaged with respective second connector portions so as to transfer headgear force to the frame and thereby help prevent inadvertent detachment of the second connector portions from the frame.

14. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly is connected to both the second connector portions and associated angle connectors.

15. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly is structured to transfer a tube force to the headgear assembly or the frame, to avoid application of the tube force to the nozzle assembly.

16. The nasal assembly according to claim 15, wherein the headgear assembly includes a pair of retaining or locking members engaged with respective second connector portions and/or angle connectors, so as to transfer the headgear force to the frame.

17. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly allows symmetrical adjustment.

18. The nasal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the headgear assembly includes a pair of headgear yokes coupled to one another by a headgear buckle, the headgear buckle structured to allow symmetrical adjustment of the headgear assembly.

19. The nasal assembly according to claim 18, wherein the headgear buckle includes a first locking portion adapted to be removably and adjustably coupled with one of the pair of headgear yokes and a second locking portion adapted to be removably and adjustably coupled with the other of the pair of headgear yokes.

20. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein each second connector portion is formed with an adjustment portion that allows relative movement between the second connector portion and an angle connector.

21. The nasal assembly according to claim 20, wherein the adjustment portion comprises a flexible corrugation in the second connector portion.

22. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flow generator connector structured to interconnect the at least one inlet conduit with a pressurized supply.

23. The nasal assembly according to claim 22, wherein the flow generator connector includes a first elongated connector structured to engage the at least one inlet conduit and a second elongated connector structured to engage the another said at least one inlet conduit.

24. The nasal assembly according to claim 23, wherein the flow generator connector has a general Y-shape with the first elongated connectors angled with respect to the second elongated connectors.

25. The nasal assembly according to claim 23, wherein the first and second elongated connectors have a tapered configuration to facilitate connection.

26. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly wraps around the main body of the frame.

27. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is secured to the frame with a clip.

28. The nasal assembly according to claim 27, wherein the nozzle assembly includes a pair of opposing spaced apart end portions, the end portions being secured between the frame and the clip.

29. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame is secured to the nozzle or nasal assembly such that the frame is angled away from an upper lip of the patient in use.

30. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is easily removable from the frame to facilitate cleaning of the nozzle assembly.

31. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is accessible for cleaning.

32. The nasal assembly according to claim 31, wherein the nozzle assembly has a generally tubular configuration with a longitudinal opening.

33. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly has a generally tubular configuration with a longitudinal opening to facilitate manufacturing.

34. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inlet conduits provide low impedance.

35. The nasal assembly according to claim 34, wherein the inlet conduits provide impedance less than about 3 cmH₂O, for a given flow rate.

36. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second connector portions are flexible to dampen tube drag forces.

37. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inlet conduits have a low profile.

38. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second connector portions are flexible without obstructing airflow.

39. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is contoured to accommodate a patient'"'"'s septum.

40. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly includes stiffeners to add rigidity to the headgear assembly.

41. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet conduit is constructed with kink and/or occlusion resistant tubing.

42. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second connector portions include a seal ring provided to one said first connector portion and a plug provided to another said first connector portion, said at least one inlet conduit being provided to the seal ring.

43. The nasal assembly according to claim 42, wherein the plug and the seal ring are non-rotatably mounted on the headgear.

44. The nasal assembly according to claim 43, wherein the headgear includes a yoke arranged to non-rotatably mate with respect to at least one of the plug and the seal ring.

45. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tube retainer including a first portion provided to a portion of the headgear, and a second portion constructed to receive the at least one inlet conduit.

46. The nasal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the second portion includes at least one slot to receive a ribbed portion of the inlet conduit.

47. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit is rotatably provided to one of the second connector portions, wherein rotation is limited to a predetermined angular extent.

48. The nasal assembly according to claim 47, wherein one said second connector portion is a seal ring provided with at least one stop to define said angular extent.

49. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet conduit includes an elbow connector provided to one of said second connector portions, said elbow connector having first and second legs that are angled at more than 90 degrees from one another.

50. The nasal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame and nozzle assembly are rotatable with respect to the second connector portions so as to adjust the nozzle relative to the patient in use.

51. The nasal assembly according to claim 50, wherein the nozzle assembly includes a plurality of visual indicators which can be selectively matched with a reference indicator provided adjacent the visual indicators.

52. The nasal assembly according to claim 51, wherein the reference indicator is provided on a yoke of the headgear.