INJECTION CONTROL FOR NON-INVENTED MASK

• US 20070113854A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mcauliffe, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/582,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20070113854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.290
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial

Abstract

A mask assembly (30) is provided with a filter assembly (48) to filter gas exhaled by a patient during the administration of ventilatory therapy, e.g. CPAP or bi-level treatment, to reduce or eliminate the possibility of cross-infection to other patients or the physician in a clinical setting.

Claims

1. A mask assembly comprising:

a patient interface configured for connection to a patient in use, the patient interface being in communication with a source of gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure; and

a filter assembly configured to receive gas exhaled by the patient in use, whereby the exhaled gas is vented to atmosphere following passage through said filter assembly.

2. The mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connection joint defining a passage between the patient interface and the vent assembly.

3. The mask assembly of claim 2, wherein the connection joint comprises a T-shaped joint in which case the T-shaped joint is provided in use between the filter assembly and the source of pressurized gas.

4. The mask assembly of claim 2, wherein the connection joint is an L-shaped joint in which the filter assembly is positioned in use between the source of pressurized gas and the L-shaped joint.

5. The mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes an inlet to receive the gas exhausted by the patient, a central chamber, a filter provided in the central chamber, and an outlet configured to release the exhausted gas following filtering.

6. The mask assembly of claim 5, wherein the filter is made of a hydrophobic material.

7. The mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the central chamber is provided with a calibration cap including one or more openings.

8. The mask assembly of claim 7, wherein the calibration cap includes a vent port in communication with the central chamber and a plug for said outlet.

9. The mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes an in-line vent positioned in use between the source of pressurized gas and the patient interface.

10. The mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes a filter.

11. The mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the filter has a viral efficiency of greater than 99.999%.

12. The mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the filter has an impedance of not greater than about 2.0 cm water at about 60 liters per minute.

13. The mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly is positioned in use between the source of pressurized gas and the patient interface.

14. The mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-asphyxia valve.

15. The mask assembly of claim 14, further comprising a filter cap provided to the filter assembly, wherein the anti-asphyxia valve is provided to the filter cap.

16. The mask assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a vent, wherein the anti-asphyxia valve is provided to the vent.