NASAL ASSEMBLY

• US 20080099027A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guney, Memduh, Sokolov, Richard, Darkin, Donald, Lynch, Susan, Gunaratnam, Michael, Lithgow, Perry, Kwok, Philip, Veliss, Lee, Hitchcock, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 8,312,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape

Abstract

A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient'"'"'s face.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A cushion having:

a common base defining a side wall and a central wall, and

a pair of nozzles provided to the central wall, the nozzles and the common base being formed of a one part silicone piece;

each nozzle having a first portion in the form of a stalk and a second portion in the form of a head supported by the stalk, the stalk being provided to the central wall and in communication with a respective outlet opening of the central wall, the head being substantially in the form of a truncated hollow cone having a relatively narrow tip portion to enter into the nasal passage of the patient'"'"'s nose and a relatively wider portion to sealingly engage with an area about the rim of the nostril opening in use;

each said stalk having a reduced width with respect to the relatively wider portion of the head.

54. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the central wall has a wall portion that smoothly transitions into a wall portion forming the stalk.

55. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, further comprising an exhalation port including a plurality of orifices for CO₂ washout.

56. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein each said stalk has an hour glass shape extending between the central wall and the head.

57. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the base sidewall includes a lower surface to contact the upper lip of the user in use.

58. The cushion as claimed in claim 57, wherein the lower surface includes a slightly concave shape.

59. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the cushion is asymmetric about an axis that passes transversely to openings of the nozzles.

60. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the central wall includes angled halves shaped such that an alar angle between the nozzles ranges from 70-155°

.

61. The cushion as claimed in claim 60, wherein the alar angle ranges from about 135-155°

.

62. The cushion as claimed in claim 60, wherein the alar angle ranges from about 70-90°

.

63. The cushion as claimed in claim 60, wherein an opening of each nozzle is in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis.

64. The cushion as claimed in claim 63, wherein the ellipse ratio is about 0.7.

65. The cushion as claimed in claim 63, wherein each head has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes from the pair of heads converge to define an included angle of about 35°

.

66. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein each head defines a sealing zone bounded by a border that extends from an inner side of the base of the head towards an outer side of the head, the border extending to about half the height of the head on the outer side.

67. The cushion as claimed in claim 66, wherein a height of the head of each nozzle is about 9 mm.

68. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the stalk is configured to act as a spring structure against the patient'"'"'s nostril.

69. The cushion as claimed in claim 68, wherein, in use, the spring structure is pre-loaded before introducing pressurized gas to provide a sealing force with the user.

70. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein the nozzles are positioned to be near or only in slight contact with the user'"'"'s nose in use.

71. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein side walls of the stalks and heads are concave.

72. The cushion as claimed in claim 53, wherein a front wall of the base is configured to contact the immediate underside of the user'"'"'s nose, whereby a resultant force is directed along a line extending from the immediate underside to a rear portion of the user'"'"'s head, between the eye and the ear of the user in use.

73. The cushion according to claim 53, wherein the central wall is contoured to accommodate a patient'"'"'s septum.

74. The cushion according to claim 53, wherein the base includes a visual indicator which can be selectively matched with a reference indicator provided adjacent the visual indicator.

75. A cushion having:

a common base defining a side wall and a central wall, and

a pair of nozzles provided to the central wall;

each nozzle having a first portion in the form of a hollow stalk having a first end extending from the central wall and a second end supporting a second portion in the form of a head portion having hollow structure approximating the shape of a truncated cone, whereby pressurized gas may travel from inside the central wall through the stalks and to openings in the head portions for delivery to the patient'"'"'s nostril openings in use;

each stalk having only a single concave wall which in cross section extends from the central wall to the head portion.

76. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the wall is continuously concave from the first end to the second end.

77. A cushion according to claim 75, further comprising an exhalation port including a plurality of orifices for CO₂ washout.

78. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the base and the pair of nozzles comprise a one piece silicone elastomer.

79. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the base includes a lower surface to contact the upper lip of the user in use.

80. The cushion according to claim 79, wherein the lower surface includes a slightly concave shape.

81. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the cushion is asymmetric about an axis that passes transversely to openings of the nozzles.

82. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the central wall has angled halves shaped such that the alar angle between the nozzles ranges from 70-155°

.

83. The cushion according to claim 82, wherein the alar angle ranges from about 135-155°

.

84. The cushion according to claim 82, wherein the alar angle ranges from about 70-90°

.

85. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the opening of each head portion is in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis.

86. The cushion according to claim 85, wherein the ellipse ratio is about 0.7.

87. The cushion according to claim 85, wherein each nozzle has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes from the pair of nozzles converge to define an included angle of about 35°

.

88. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the stalk is of reduced cross sectional area compared to the head portion.

89. The cushion according to claim 78, wherein the head portion has one portion to seal on the underside of the nostrils and another portion to enter into the nasal passage of the user in use.

90. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the stalk is configured to act as a spring structure.

91. The cushion according to claim 90, wherein, in use, the spring structure is pre-loaded before introducing pressurized gas to provide a sealing force with the user.

92. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein a front wall of the base is configured to contact the immediate underside of the user'"'"'s nose, whereby a resultant force is directed along a line extending from the immediate underside to the rear portion of the user'"'"'s head, between the eye and the ear of the user in use.

93. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the nozzles are positioned to be near or only in slight contact with the user'"'"'s nose.

94. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein each head includes a sealing zone defined by a border that extends diagonally across the head.

95. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the side walls of the head portions are slightly concave.

96. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the base is contoured to accommodate a patient'"'"'s septum.

97. The cushion according to claim 75, wherein the base includes a visual indicator.

98. A cushion having:

a common base; and

a pair of nozzles provided to the base, each nozzle including a head portion in the form of a truncated hollow cone having a relatively narrow tip portion to enter into the nasal passage of the patient'"'"'s nose and a relatively wider portion to sealingly engage with an area about the rim of the nostril opening in use;

each of the nozzles including a hollow stalk extending between the base and the head portion to define a fluid path for delivery of pressurized gas from the common base to the head portions,

each said nozzle being resiliently structured to apply a component of force for sealing with the patient.

99. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein the base includes an upper wall from which the stalks extend and one or more side walls, the base being resiliently structured to apply a component of force for sealing with the patient.

100. The cushion according to claim 99, wherein the upper wall is structured to apply a component of force for sealing with the patient.

101. The cushion according to claim 99, wherein the side wall is structured to apply a component of force for sealing with the patient.

102. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein the stalks are resiliently structured to apply a component of force for sealing with the patient.

103. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein the component of force for sealing with the patient from the base and nozzles is individually adjustable.

104. The cushion according to claim 103, wherein the base and the nozzles are structured to provide different components of force for sealing with the patient.

105. The cushion according to claim 103, wherein the base and the nozzles are structured to provide substantially similar components of force for sealing with the patient.

106. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein the base is more rigid than the nozzles.

107. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein each said relatively narrow tip portion has an aperture.

108. The cushion according to claim 98, wherein the stalk of each nozzle has an hour glass shape which at its widest diameter is less than the base portion of said truncated hollow cone.

109. A one piece silicone nozzle structure including:

a common base portion and

a pair of nozzles extending from and integrally formed with the common base portion, the pair of nozzles being structured to sealingly engage with nasal passages of a user'"'"'s nose in use;

wherein each of the pair of nozzles has a first portion integrally formed with the base portion in communication with a respective outlet opening provided in the base portion, and a second portion integrally formed with the first portion to sealingly engage with nasal passages user'"'"'s nose in use, and wherein

the second portion is in the form of a hollow, truncated cone,

the second portion has one portion to seal on the underside of the nostrils and another portion to enter into the nasal passage of the user in use,

the first portion has a reduced width compared to the second portion, and

the first portion is configured to act as a spring structure.

110. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein the base portion shaped such that the alar angle between the nozzles ranges from 70-155°

.

111. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein an opening of each nozzle is in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis.

112. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein side walls of the first and second portions of the nozzles are concave.

113. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein the base includes a visual indicator.

114. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein each first portion has a first end provided to the base portion, a second end to support the hollow truncated cone, and a generally concave central wall defining a gas passage of reduced cross sectional area compared to the cross sectional area of the gas passage at the first and second ends.

115. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein a length of each second portion is about 9 mm.

116. The nozzle structure according to claim 109, wherein each truncated cone defines a sealing zone that extends at an angle across the truncated cone.

117. The nozzle structure according to claim 116, wherein the sealing zone is defined by a border extending from the base of the truncated cone towards a point of the opposite side wall of the truncated cone which is about half of a height of the truncated cone.