Ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy
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Abstract
The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient'"'"'s airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A ventilation interface, comprising:
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a nasal cannula, the cannula being a hollow, arcuate body having a top wall and a semi-cylindrical bottom wall defining an air chamber, said top wall having a notch defined transversely across thereof, the body having cylindrical tubes at opposing ends of the body adapted for connection to ventilator supply tubes; and
a pair of hollow, flexible, resilient nasal inserts, each nasal insert having a base end connected to said top wall of said nasal cannula and an open distal tip end, the nasal inserts are substantially oval in cross-section with the major axis substantially parallel with said notch and the minor axis normal to said notch, the nasal inserts defining a conduit forming an air passage in communication with said air chamber, each said nasal insert having a seal incorporated as part of the construction of the insert. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The ventilation interface according to claim 20, wherein said at least one bleeder port is defined through the bottom wall of said nasal cannula.
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21. The ventilation interface according to claim 21, wherein said at least one bleeder port further includes an upper nipple projecting into said air chamber and a lower nipple projecting from the bottom wall of said nasal cannula, said at least one bleeder port being defined through said upper and lower nipples.
Specification