PATIENT INTERFACE AND NON-INVASIVE POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATING METHOD

• US 20090014007A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brambilla, Enrico, Doherty, Renee Frances, Kwok, Philip Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.240
• 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 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient includes a first seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure; and a second seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a second positive pressure. The first seal also seals the first space from the second space. A leak reducing element may be provided on a seal to reduce and/or diffuse leakage of gas. A vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure may be provided in the second space to remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space. A seal may be connected to a conduit for delivering the flow of gas that is incorporated into a frame of the patient interface. The seal may be inflatable by the flow of breathable gas to pressurize the seal against the patient'"'"'s face and include a vent that directs the flow of breathable gas to a space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face. A cuff may be provided over the seal in the nasal bridge region to direct any leakage of the gas flow from the seal in the nasal bridge region in a direction away from the patient'"'"'s eyes.

Claims

1. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a first seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure; and

a second seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a second positive pressure, the second space surrounding the first space, wherein the first seal is configured to seal the first space from the second space and prevent or reduce leakage of gas to the second space and the second seal is configured to seal the second space from ambient and prevent or reduce leakage of gas to the ambient.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein a maximum sealing pressure of the first seal is greater than or equal to a maximum sealing pressure of the second seal.

3. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein a maximum sealing pressure of the first seal is less than or equal to a maximum sealing pressure of the second seal.

4. A patient interface according to claim 1, further comprising a vent in the first space.

5. A patient interface according to claim 1, further comprising a vent in the second space.

6. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the first seal is formed of a flexible material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

7. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the second seal is formed of a flexible material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

8. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the first seal is formed of porous material.

9. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the first seal is made of more than one material.

10. A patient interface according to claim 9, wherein at least one of materials comprises at least one porous section.

11. A patient interface according to claim 1, further comprising a nozzle that circulates a leak flow of the breathable gas from the first space to the second space back to the first space.

12. A CPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 1.

13. A BiPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 1.

14. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a positive pressure; and

a leak reducing means provided on the seal for reducing leakage of gas from the space.

15. A patient interface according to claim 14, wherein the seal is formed of a flexible material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

16. A patient interface according to claim 14, wherein the leak reducing means comprises a porous layer on the seal and adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face.

17. A patient interface according to claim 16, wherein the porous layer is provided outside of the space.

18. A patient interface according to claim 14, wherein the seal is formed of a flexible material non-permeable to the breathable gas and a porous layer in parallel.

19. A patient interface according to claim 18, wherein the porous layer is adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face.

20. A patient interface according to claim 14, wherein the leak reducing means diffuses the leakage of the gas from the space.

21. A CPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 14.

22. A BiPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 14.

23. A patient interface according to claim 17, wherein a maximum sealing pressure of the seal decreases as the patient interface is displaced from the patient'"'"'s face and a maximum sealing pressure of the porous layer increases as the patient interface is displaced from the patient'"'"'s face.

24. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a first seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure;

a second seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face; and

a vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure in the second space and remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space, wherein the negative pressure is sufficient to deform the first and second seals and a portion of the patient'"'"'s face covered by the second space.

25. A patient interface according to claim 24, wherein the first and second seals are gel seals.

26. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame;

a conduit for delivering the flow of breathable gas, the conduit being incorporated with the frame; and

a seal connected to the conduit, the seal being inflatable by the flow of breathable gas to pressurize the seal against the patient'"'"'s face and including a vent to direct the flow of breathable gas to a space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face.

27. A patient interface according to claim 26, wherein the seal is a hollow gel seal.

28. A patient interface according to claim 26, wherein the vent directs the flow in a direction that deflects the seal against the patient'"'"'s face.

29. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face, including a nasal bridge region of the patient'"'"'s face; and

a cuff provided over the seal in the nasal bridge region to direct any leakage of the gas flow from the seal in the nasal bridge region in a direction away from the patient'"'"'s eyes.

30. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising a conduit for delivering the flow of breathable gas, wherein the conduit has a localized area that is more axially deformable than a remainder of the conduit.

31. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a seal adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a positive pressure; and

a leak reducing element provided on the seal to reduce leakage of gas from the space.

32. A patient interface according to claim 31, wherein the seal is formed of a flexible material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

33. A patient interface according to claim 31, wherein the leak reducing element comprises a porous layer on the seal and adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s face.

34. A patient interface according to claim 33, wherein the porous layer is provided outside of the space.

35. A patient interface according to claim 31, wherein the leak reducing element diffuses the leakage of the gas from the space.

36. A non-invasive positive pressure ventilating method, comprising:

delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient interface;

sealing a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure; and

sealing a second space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a second positive pressure, wherein the first space is sealed from the second space.

37. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

venting any leakage between the first space and the second space from the second space.

38. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

circulating any leakage between the first space and the second space back to the first space.

39. A non-invasive positive pressure ventilating method, comprising:

delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient interface;

sealing a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure; and

diffusing any leakage from the sealed first space.

40. A non-invasive positive pressure ventilating method, comprising:

delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient interface;

sealing a first space between the patient interface and the patient'"'"'s face at a first positive pressure; and

deflecting any leakage of air from the first space in a nasal bridge region away from the patient'"'"'s eyes.