Vent and/or Diverter Assembly for Use in Breathing Apparatus

• US 20080156330A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Ian Malcolm, Dantanarayana, Muditha Pradeep, Janiak, Michael Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0085 product washed out
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A vent assembly for use with a respiratory mask of the type used in CPAP treatment includes a porous disk portion that is attached to a biasing member such that the disk portion is maintained in a substantially sealed position against a main vent to minimize airflow through at least one side vent of the vent assembly. Debris build-up on the disk portion can cause the biasing member to deflect to provide an additional path for airflow through the at least one side vent. In another embodiment, the vent assembly can also include an anti-asphyxia feature to provide an airflow path from the environment to the user. An oxygen diverter valve may be disposed between the breathing apparatus flow generator and an oxygen injection port.

Claims

1. A vent assembly for a respiratory mask, comprising:

a main vent portion configured to permit gas to flow via a primary flow path through a mask shell to the environment when the respiratory mask is in use during a first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;

a porous disk portion configured to substantially seal against the main vent portion to provide the primary flow path through the main vent portion and the disk portion during the first predetermined condition of the vent assembly; and

a secondary vent portion configured to provide a secondary flow path when a predetermined second condition of the vent assembly and flow pressure causes a predetermined deflection of the disk portion.

2. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the vent assembly is configured such that a total combined flow via the primary flow path and the secondary flow path remains substantially constant throughout a range of conditions between the first predetermined condition and the second predetermined condition, inclusively

3. The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member configured to position the disk portion relative to the mask shell by providing a biasing force between the disk portion and the mask shell.

4. The vent assembly of claim 3, wherein the biasing member is a bellows portion arranged to provide the biasing force.

5. The vent assembly of claim 3, wherein the biasing member is a spring arranged to provide the biasing force.

6. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the disk portion has a plurality of holes in the surface thereof to permit airflow through the disk.

7. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the disk portion is a mesh material containing a plurality of holes therein to permit airflow through the mesh material.

8. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the vent assembly is configured to function as a flow control mechanism to regulate the flow of air through the mask at variable pressures.

9. The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising an anti-asphyxia mechanism configured to provide an airflow path from the environment to the respiratory mask during stoppage of airflow from a flow generator to the respiratory mask when a user inhales.

10. The vent assembly of claim 9, wherein the anti-asphyxia mechanism comprises an additional flow path provided in the mask shell such that user inhalation during flow stoppage causes the disk portion to be displaced towards the user, exposing the additional flow path which is normally covered by the disk portion.

11. The vent assembly of claim 9, wherein the porous disk portion is flexible and a central fastener is arranged to provide the anti-asphyxia mechanism by centrally fastening the disk portion such that user inhalation during flow stoppage causes the disk portion to flex about the central fastener to allow airflow into the respiratory mask.

12. The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary orifice formed in the mask shell and an auxiliary flap arranged on an interior of the mask shell such that user inhalation during stoppage of airflow from a flow generator to the respiratory mask causes the auxiliary flap to flex inwards to allow airflow into an interior of the mask shell.

13. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary vent portion is shaped in the form of a wedge whose width increases in the direction of deflection of the disk portion.

14. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary vent portion is shaped in the form of a tapering groove whose depth increases in the direction of deflection of the disk portion.

15. The vent assembly of claim 14, wherein a wall of the tapering groove is shaped to form a draft angle with the direction of deflection of the disk portion.

16. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary vent portion is formed by a plurality of vents, an increasing number of which become exposed to the secondary flow path throughout the deflection of the disk portion.

17. The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a status of the disk portion.

18. The vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the indicator includes an optical sensing mechanism configured to optically detect the status of the disk portion.

19. The vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator configured for attachment to the disk portion to visually indicate a status of the disk portion based upon displacement of the disk portion relative to the mask shell.

20. The vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the indicator includes an electro-mechanical contact mechanism configured to physically detect the status of the disk portion based upon displacement of the disk portion relative to the mask shell.

21. The vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the secondary vent portion is configured such that airflow via the secondary vent portion creates an audible indication indicative of the status of the disk portion.

22. The vent assembly of claim 21, further including a microphone configured to generate a signal indicative of the status of the disk portion based on the audible indication.

23. The vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the indicator is configured to generate an electronic signal indicative of the status of the disk portion.

24. The vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the electronic signal is configured to trigger an alarm of sufficient volume to awaken the user.

25. The vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the electronic signal is configured to trigger a verbal message to alert the user.

26. The vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the electronic signal is configured to trigger a visual indicator to alert the user.

27. The vent assembly of claim 26, wherein the visual indicator is a readout on an informative display.

28. The vent assembly of claim 26, wherein the visual indicator is configured as a light of sufficient intensity to awaken the user.

29. The vent assembly of claim 23, further comprising a storage device configured to log the electronic signal.

30. The vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the electronic signal is configured to be transmitted to a remote location.

31. The vent assembly of claim 30, wherein the electronic signal is configured to be transmitted via a public communication network.

32. The vent assembly of claim 30, wherein the electronic signal is configured to indicate a need to service the vent assembly and is configured to be transmitted to a service provider.

33. The vent assembly of claim 30, wherein the electronic signal is configured to indicate a need to order a replacement part and is configured to be transmitted to a supplier.

34. A vent assembly for a respiratory mask, comprising:

a main vent portion formed in a mask shell and configured to permit gas to flow via a primary flow path through the mask shell to the environment when the respiratory mask is in use during a first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;

a flap portion including a porous section and a flap insert wherein the flap portion is configured to substantially seal against the main vent portion to provide the primary flow path through the main vent portion and the porous section of the flap portion during the first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;

wherein

the flap portion is further configured to develop a gap between the mask shell and the flap portion when a predetermined second condition of the vent assembly and flow pressure causes a predetermined deflection of the flap to provide a secondary flow path from the mask shell around the flap portion to the environment.

35. The vent assembly of claim 34, wherein a total combined flow via the primary flow path and the secondary flow path remains substantially constant throughout a range of conditions between the first predetermined condition and the second predetermined condition, inclusively.

36. The vent assembly of claim 34, wherein the flap portion is configured for releasable attachment to a frame of the respiratory mask via the flap insert and a retainer mechanism formed in the mask shell.

37. The vent assembly of claim 34, wherein the flap insert is configured to provide a biasing force and to fit in the retainer mechanism.

38. The vent assembly of claim 34, wherein the retainer mechanism provides a biasing force.

39. The vent assembly of claim 34, wherein the flap portion is composed of a silicone material.

40. The vent assembly of claim 39, wherein the mask frame is composed of a polycarbonate material such that a static attraction between the flap portion and the mask frame provides a biasing force.

41. The vent assembly of claim 34 wherein the flap is configured to be disposable and replaceable.

42. The vent assembly of claim 34, further comprising an anti-asphyxia mechanism configured to provide an airflow path from the environment to the respiratory mask during stoppage of airflow from a flow generator to the respiratory mask when a user inhales.

43. The vent assembly of claim 42, wherein the flap portion is further configured to fit within the main vent portion to provide the anti-asphyxia mechanism by flexing inward when the user inhales during flow stoppage to allow airflow into the respiratory mask.

44. A vent assembly for a respiratory mask comprising:

a main vent portion configured to permit gas to flow via a primary flow path through a mask shell to the environment when the respiratory mask is in use during a first predetermined condition of the vent assembly; and

a secondary vent portion configured to provide a secondary flow path during a predetermined second condition of the vent assembly and flow pressure,

wherein the predetermined second condition occurs when the main vent portion is blocked by a predetermined amount of debris.

45. The vent assembly of claim 44, wherein a total combined flow via the primary flow path and the secondary flow path remains substantially constant throughout a range of conditions between the first predetermined condition and the second predetermined condition, inclusively.

46. The vent assembly of claim 44, further comprising a porous disk portion configured to substantially seal against the main vent portion to provide the primary flow path through the main vent portion and the disk portion during the first predetermined condition of the vent assembly.

47. The vent assembly of claim 46 further comprising a biasing member configured to position the disk portion relative to the mask shell by providing a biasing force between the disk portion and the mask shell.

48. The vent assembly of claim 47, wherein the biasing member is a bellows portion arranged to provide the biasing force.

49. The vent assembly of claim 47, wherein the biasing member is a spring arranged to provide the biasing force.

50. A method for manufacturing a vent assembly provided on a respiratory mask, said method comprising:

providing the vent assembly with a main vent portion and a secondary vent portion;

structuring the main vent portion so as to enable gas to be vented through a porous member of the main vent portion during normal operation of the vent assembly; and

structuring the secondary vent portion so as to enable gas to be vented through the secondary vent portion in dependence on whether a predetermined amount of debris has accumulated on the porous member of the main vent portion.