Patient interface

• US 20090044808A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rummery, Gerard Michael, Chen, Michael, Gregory, Bruce David, Cameron, Andrew David, Guney, Memduh, Lubke, Steven John, Pidcock, David Anthony, Kwok, Philip Rodney, Scheiner, Rupert Christian, Skipper, Christopher Scott, Dantanarayana, Muditha Pradeep, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Edwards, Craig David, Eves, Matthew, Cariola, Melanie Lucia, Gibson, Joel Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,480,809 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 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• 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 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• 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 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production

Abstract

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Claims

1. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use; and

headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps,

each rigidizer including a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector, the cheek support adapted to follow the contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface further comprises a base region and each nasal prong includes a head portion adapted to seal with a respective patient nasal passage and a stalk that interconnects the head portion with the base region.

3. A patient interface according to claim 2, wherein the head portion includes a dual or double-wall arrangement including an inner wall and an outer wall that surrounds the inner wall.

4. A patient interface according to any one of claims 2-3, wherein each prong includes an upper trampoline-like suspension system between the head portion and the stalk, and a lower trampoline-like suspension system between the stalk and the base region.

5. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the nasal prong assembly includes structure to reduce and/or eliminate the air jetting effect.

6. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the cheek support is arranged such that headgear tension is applied to the cheek support rather than to the prongs to prevent the prongs from being compressed.

7. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein each rigidizer includes rib-strengthened brackets to support the connector on the rigidizer.

8. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the headgear includes a rear strap that passes around a rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head.

9. A patient interface according to claim 8, wherein each rigidizer includes a second end portion having a slot that defines a cross-bar adapted to engage a respective end of the rear strap.

10. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein each rigidizer is attachable to a respective side strap via stitching, welding, and/or gluing.

11. A patient interface according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein a width of the side strap on at least one side of the rigidizer is about 5-9 mm.

102. A patient interface according to any one of claims 2-11, wherein the base region includes a frame and a gusset provided to the frame and adapted to support the nasal prongs, the gusset structured to allow a range of axial and lateral movement while maintaining a sufficient seal.

12. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal seal to sealingly communicate with the patient'"'"'s nose in use; and

headgear to maintain the nasal seal in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including side straps,

each side strap including a curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support adapted to follow the contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

13. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal seal to sealingly communicate with the patient'"'"'s nose in use; and

headgear to maintain the nasal seal in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including side straps each having a rigidizer with a slotted connector portion and a rear strap having ends that connect to a respective slotted connector portion.

14-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame;

a nasal prong assembly provided to the frame and adapted to provide an effective seal or interface with the patient'"'"'s nose;

an elbow provided to the frame and adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient; and

headgear adapted to support the patient interface in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps,

wherein the frame is relatively harder than the nasal prong assembly and relatively softer and more flexible than the elbow, and the frame is relatively softer and more flexible than the rigidizers.

39-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame;

a nasal prong assembly provided to the frame and adapted to provide an effective seal or interface with the patient'"'"'s nose;

an elbow provided to the frame and adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient; and

headgear adapted to support the patient interface in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps,

wherein each rigidizer includes a frame interface structured to retain the rigidizer to the frame, provide rotation relative to the frame, and provide a friction element to provide sufficient rotational torque.

57-62. -62. (canceled)

63. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a pair of nasal prongs adapted to provide an effective seal or interface with the patient'"'"'s nose; and

a support arrangement to support the nasal prongs in an operative position on the patient'"'"'s face,

wherein the support arrangement is structured to provide a range of rotational, axial, and lateral movement to the nasal prongs while maintaining a sufficient seal and resisting the application of tube drag and headgear tension to the nasal prongs.

64-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A headgear link member for connecting two or more straps of a headgear assembly for securing a respiratory mask to a patient, said link member being flexible and having connector portions for adjustable connection to said two or more straps.

72-84. -84. (canceled)

85. A headgear assembly for securing a respiratory mask to a patient, comprising a pair of rear headgear straps located in use at a rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head and a headgear link member connecting said rear headgear straps, said straps and link member being configured such that each strap passes through the link member in a single U-shape and is secured back to itself.

86-87. -87. (canceled)

88. Headgear for a patient interface, comprising:

a pair of side straps,

each of the side straps including an upper strap portion adapted to pass over the top of the patient'"'"'s head, a front strap portion adapted to pass along the side of the patient'"'"'s head, and a rear strap portion adapted to pass around a rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head,

wherein the free end of each rear strap portion includes a tab of hook material, and one side of each rear strap portion is coated with un-broken loop material which allows the tab of hook material to fasten anywhere along its length.

89-91. -91. (canceled)

92. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame; and

a nasal prong assembly provided to the frame, the nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs adapted to provide an effective seal or interface with the patient'"'"'s nose,

wherein the nasal prong assembly includes a frame contacting portion that is adapted to be inserted and retained within a frame channel provided to the frame, and the frame contacting portion includes an external protrusion that is adapted to protrude through a corresponding opening provided in the frame channel.

93-95. -95. (canceled)

96. A tube retainer for retaining an air delivery tube to a headgear strap of headgear, comprising:

a first strap portion adapted to loop around a headgear strap of headgear; and

a second strap portion provided to the first strap portion and adapted to loop around an air delivery tube,

wherein the first and second strap portions are integrally formed in one-piece from a soft and flexible material with the second strap portion extending transverse to the first strap portion, and each strap portion includes a hook and loop arrangement adapted to secure the respective strap portion in position.

97. A tube retaining assembly for retaining air delivery tubing, comprising:

a headgear buckle including opposing locking portions adapted to be removably and adjustably coupled with respective headgear straps of headgear; and

a tube retainer provided to the headgear buckle, the tube retainer including a pair of arcuate arms adapted to retain air delivery tubing.

98-101. -101. (canceled)

103-109. -109. (canceled)