Condensation reduction and management systems in a gas flow delivery system

• US 20060144399A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidowski, Doug L., Matula, Jerome Jr., Ho, Peter Chi Fai, Busch, Lance, Lordo, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,757,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0655 in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer

Abstract

Condensation management techniques for a gas flow delivery system. The techniques include providing a radiant barrier associated with patient circuit and/or a patient interface, providing a water trap and/or an absorbent insert in the patient interface device, or a combination of these techniques. The radiant barrier prevents condensation from forming in the patient circuit and/or the patient interface. The water trap and absorbent insert in the patient interface control condensation that reaches or forms in the interior of the patient interface to prevent it from interfering the user of the gas delivery system.

Claims

1. A patient circuit adapted to deliver a flow of breathing gas to an airway of user comprising:

a conduit having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lumen defined therein from the first end portion to the second end portion; and

a radiant barrier associated with the conduit such that the radiant barrier is disposed between an ambient environment and the lumen, and wherein the radiant barrier is a low emissivity material.

2. The patient circuit of claim 1, wherein the radiant barrier is disposed on an external surface of the conduit.

3. The patient circuit of claim 2, further comprising a thermal insulation layer disposed between the radiant barrier and the external surface of the conduit or disposed on the radiant barrier.

4. The patient circuit of claim 1, wherein the conduit is a flexible tube and the radiant barriers form a flexible sheath adapted to be disposed over the flexible tube.

5. The patient circuit of claim 1, wherein the radiant barrier comprises a foil coupled to the conduit or a coating disposed on a surface of the conduit.

6. A patient interface comprising:

a shell having a first shell surface, a second shell surface opposite the first shell surface, a first shell opening, and a second shell opening; and

an insert member having a first insert surface facing the first shell surface and a second insert surface adapted to face a user responsive to the patient interface being worn by such a user, wherein a gap is defined between the first insert surface and first shell surface.

7. The patient interface of claim 6, wherein the insert member includes a first insert opening defined therein, and wherein the first insert opening and the first shell opening are substantially aligned.

8. The patient interface of claim 6, further comprising a cushion coupled to the second shell surface.

9. The patient interface of claim 6, further comprising a port defined in the shell communicating the gap with an area external to the shell.

10. The patient interface of claim 6, further comprising:

a) an absorbent material disposed in the gap;

b) a radiant barrier operatively coupled to the shell;

or

c) a combination of a) and b).

11. The patient interface of claim 6, wherein the insert is removably attached to the shell.

12. A system for delivering a breathing gas to a user comprising:

a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;

a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;

a patient interface coupled to the second end portion of the conduit; and

an absorbent material disclosed in the patient interface.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the absorbent material is removably attachable to an inner surface of the patient interface.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a) an outer absorbent cover surrounding the inner absorbent material.

b) a radiant barrier operatively coupled to the patient interface;

or

c) a combination of a) and b)

15. A system for delivering a breathing gas to a user comprising:

(a) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;

(b) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;

(c) a patient interface coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, wherein the patient interface comprises;

(1) a shell having a first shell surface, a second shell surface opposite the first shell surface, a first shell opening, and a second shell opening; and

(2) an insert member having a first insert surface facing the first shell surface and a second insert surface adapted to face a user responsive to the patient interface being worn by such a user, wherein that a gap is defined between the first insert surface and first shell surface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the insert member includes a first insert opening defined therein, and wherein the first insert opening and the first shell opening are substantially aligned.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a port defined in the shell communicating the gap with an area external to the shell.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising an absorbent material disposed in the gap.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the insert is removably attached to the shell.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a radiant barrier associated with the conduit such that the radiant barrier is disposed between an ambient environment and a lumen defined in the conduit, and wherein the radiant barrier is a low emissivity material.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a thermal insulation layer disposed between the radiant barrier and the external surface of the conduit.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the conduit is a flexible tube and the radiant barriers form a flexible sheath adapted to be disposed over the flexible tube.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a) an absorbent material disclosed in the patient interface;

b) a radiant barrier operatively coupled to the patient interface;

or

c) a combination of a) and b).