Connector for a respiratory mask and a respiratory mask

• US 20060144405A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gunaratnam, Michael K., Lynch, Susan R., Crumblin, Geoffrey, Drew, Joanne E., Jenkinson, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• 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 16/0666 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0085 product washed out
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A connector includes a mask end for connecting with the interior of a respiratory mask, a supply conduit end, and a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere. The vent outlet of the vent passage is disposed on the side of the connector remote from the mask end. A respiratory mask includes a mask shell, a mask inlet for connecting with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit, and a gas washout vent passage. A vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a mask end for connecting in fluid communication with the interior of a respiratory mask;

a supply conduit end disposed at an angle to the mask end for connecting in fluid communication with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the connector, the vent outlet is disposed on the side of the connector remote the mask end, has a generally part-annular cross-section and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the supply conduit end towards the supply conduit end.

2. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply conduit end is substantially perpendicular to the mask end.

3. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply conduit end is angled at approximately 135 degrees to the mask end.

4. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector includes a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion including said interior surface.

5. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cap portion includes an interior surface spaced apart from the body portion interior surface, said body portion interior surface and said cap portion interior surface defining said vent passage therebetween.

6. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cap portion is detachable from the body portion.

7. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cap portion and body portion are rigid and fixed relative to each other when attached.

8. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the exterior of the body portion includes grooves or ridges adapted to engage ridges or grooves respectively on the interior of the cap portion to attach the cap portion to the body portion.

9. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the body portion and the cap portion includes a spacer extending between said cap portion interior surface and said body portion exterior surface.

10. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vent passage inlet is formed in the body portion adjacent to, and downstream of, the mask end relative to the washout gas flow and is in fluid communication with the mask interior via the body portion.

11-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask shell defining an interior of the respiratory mask;

a mask inlet for connecting in fluid communication with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet forming part of the mask shell and in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, the vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

25. The mask as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mask shell includes a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion including said interior surface.

26. The mask as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cap portion includes an interior surface spaced apart from the body portion interior surface, said body portion interior surface and said cap portion interior surface defining said vent passage therebetween.

27. The mask as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cap portion is detachable from the body portion.

28. The mask as claimed in claim 27, wherein the cap portion and body portion are rigid and fixed relative to each other when attached.

29. The mask as claimed in claim 25, wherein the exterior of the body portion includes grooves or ridges adapted to engage ridges or grooves respectively on the interior of the cap portion to attach the cap portion to the body portion.

30. The mask as claimed in claim 25, wherein one of the body portion or cap portion includes a spacer extending between the interior surface of the cap portion and the exterior surface of the body portion.

31. The mask as claimed in claim 25, wherein the vent passage comprises an inlet portion of relatively large cross-sectional area adjacent the vent passage inlet and an outlet portion of relatively small cross-sectional area adjacent the vent passage outlet.

32. The mask as claimed in claim 25, wherein the vent passage comprises a relatively long inlet portion of constant cross-section, a relatively long outlet portion of constant cross-section and a transition portion of smoothly reducing cross-section extending from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.

33. The mask as claimed in claim 25, when the vent passage substantially follows the shape of the exterior of the body portion.