Breathing Assistance Apparatus

• US 20070267017A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Milivojevic, Ivan, Edwin McAuley, Alastair, Shotbolt, Aidan
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.180
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature

Abstract

A breathing assistance apparatus (200) is disclosed, for use with delivery of respiratory gases to a patient. The breathing assistance apparatus includes a patient interface, having a body section adapted to cover the nose, or nose and mouth of a patient and a sealing interface. The sealing interface includes at least an outer sealing member. The outer sealing member (201) is adapted to attach to the body section in a sealing manner and has a substantially thin section (203) in at least its nasal bridge region. The thin section is substantially thinner than the rest of the outer sealing member.

Claims

1. A breathing assistance apparatus, for use with delivery of respiratory gases to a patient comprising:

a patient interface, having a body section adapted to cover the nose, or nose and mouth of said patient, a sealing interface, including at least an outer sealing member, said outer sealing member adapted to attach to said body section in a sealing manner, said outer sealing member having a substantially thin section in at least its nasal bridge region, said thin section being substantially thinner than the rest of said outer sealing member, wherein said outer sealing member is adapted to seal around the facial contours of said patient thereby providing a sealed fluid communication to the respiratory tract of said patient.

2. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rest of said outer sealing member is at least twice the thickness of said thin section.

3. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said rest of said outer sealing member gradually increases from said thin section to the periphery of said outer sealing member.

4. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said patient interface is a full face mask.

5. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outer sealing member includes a second thin section in the region of said outer sealing member that rests against the chin of said patient in use, said second thin section being substantially thinner than the rest of said outer sealing member.

6. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said patient interface is a nasal mask.

7. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sealing interface includes an inner sealing member fittable into said outer sealing member and said inner sealing member has a cut out region in the nasal bridge region.

8. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said inner sealing member has a cut out region in the cheek region.

9. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 wherein said inner sealing member has a cut out region in the upper lip region.

10. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said inner sealing member and said outer sealing member are continuously in contact both in use and when not in use around the facial contour contacting region.

11. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said inner sealing member includes a cheek region of said facial contour contacting region wherein said cheek region is concave so as to accommodate the cartilage extending away from the middle of the nose of a patient.

12. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said facial contour contacting portion comprises a nasal bridge region whereby said nasal bridge region is tapered away from said patient with respect to the remainder of said facial contour contacting portion.

13. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said nasal bridge region comprises an inner region, a middle region and an outer region whereby in use said inner region is most proximate said patient.

14. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said inner region, said middle region and said outer region comprise dead space.

15. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said inner region comprises a flexible resilient member and said middle region and said outer region comprise dead space.

16. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said inner region and said outer region comprise a resilient deformable material and said middle region comprises dead space.

17. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 11 wherein inner sealing member is adapted to follow said concave portion in said cheek region.

18. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said inner sealing member is adapted to contact said cheek region only when in use.

19. (canceled)