NASAL CANNULA, CONDUIT AND SECUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140000626A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Gulliver, Laurence, Irving, Charles William Douglas, White, Craig Karl, Ronayne, Michael Paul, O'Connor, Mark Thomas, Eaton-Evans, Jimmy Edward, Duthie, Neil Gray, Laing, Brent Ian, Korner, Steven Charles, Zhang, Puqing, Niccol, Andrew Grant, Hopkins, Caroline Geraldine, Spence, Callum James Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

This invention relates to medical breathing tubes comprising a tubular body, the body defining a lumen extending between open terminal ends of the body and an internal form enclosed within the lumen and supportive of the tubular body. The internal form may be of a coated encapsulated internal form, the coating securing the internal form to the tubular body. The internal form may also or separately provide for a series of alternative crests and troughs (e.g. corrugations) of the tubular body. Patient interfaces (such as masks or nasal cannula) can be connected to such tubing. A system for securing patient interfaces in an operational position may also be utilised.

Claims

1-109. -109. (canceled)

110. An interface assembly comprising:

a securement system for at least one of a user interface and a component associated with the user interface, and

a tube connected to the user interface providing at least a part of a breathing circuit for a user of the user interface,

wherein the tube comprises;

a tubular body defining a lumen extending between open terminal ends of the tubular body,

an internal form enclosed within the lumen and supportive of the tubular body, and

a coating encapsulating the internal form, the coating securing the internal form to the tubular body.

111. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the interface is a nasal cannula.

112. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the interface includes one or a pair of nasal prongs.

114. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the tube is a medical breathing tube.

116. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 129, wherein the interface is a nasal cannula arrangement comprising:

at least one nasal prong, the prong having a gas outlet adapted to be inserted into a user'"'"'s nare and a gas inlet fluidly connected to the gas outlet,

a rear surface configured for receiving or retaining the user interface patch,

such that in use, the user interface patch may be releasably attachable or connectable to, or with, the dermal patch affixed to a user'"'"'s face, and

a lip configured to extend about at least a part of a perimeter of the rear surface.

117. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip is a barrier.

118. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip is deformable.

119. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip extends from and is attached to the nasal cannula.

120. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip is a continuous lip extending about the perimeter of the rear surface.

121. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip is a series of one or more separate lips.

122. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip extends from and is attached to the dermal pad.

123. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein, in use, the lip substantially forms a fluid (e.g. liquid) seal, or barrier to fluid, between the rear surface of the nasal cannula and a cannula facing surface of the user interface patch.

124. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the rear surface is contoured and configured to conform to a user'"'"'s face.

127. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip is hydrophobic.

128. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 116, wherein the lip comprises at least one outer perimeter lip portion and at least one inner perimeter lip portion, each of said lips provided for contacting with a user'"'"'s face.

129. The interface as claimed in claim 110, wherein the securement system comprises a two-part releasable attachment arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

a dermal patch and a user interface patch,

the dermal patch comprising a patient side and an interface side,

the patient side of the dermal patch configured to attach to the skin of a user,

the interface side of the dermal patch comprising a first part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement, and

the user interface patch comprising an interface side and patient side,

the patient side of the user interface patch comprising a second part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement, the second part being complementary to the first part,

the interface side of the user interface patch being attachable to at least one of the user interface and the component associated with the user interface.

130. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 129, wherein the first part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement has one of a hook and a loop, and the second part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement has the other of the hook and the loop, such that the first and second parts are releasably attachable to each other.

131. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein the first part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement occupies less than about 90% of the interface side of the dermal patch.

132. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 129, wherein the first part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement is adhered or adherable to the interface side of the dermal patch with a suitable adhesive.

133. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 129, wherein the patient side of the dermal patch has a dermatologically sensitive adhesive capable of adhering the dermal patch to a user'"'"'s skin.

134. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the securement system is configured to receive and/or secure a nasal cannula and associated tubing, the tubing extending from one or both sides of a user'"'"'s face.

135. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the securement system is configured for use with an infant or neonatal infant.

136. The interface assembly as claimed in claims 129, wherein the first part of the two-part releasable attachment arrangement includes a substrate secured to, or for securing to, the dermal patch.

137. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 136, wherein the substrate portion includes at least one slit or at least one slot with areas of the substrate portion separated by the slit or slot.

138. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 137, wherein the slits and/or slots are arranged in the substrate such that a first set of at least one set of slits or slots extends into the substrate from one edge of the substrate and a second set of slits or slots extends into the substrate from the other edge of the substrate, the slits or slots of a set being interleaved with the slits or slots of the other set such that a path along the substrate portion from one end to another end without crossing the slits or slots must follow a zigzag or serpentine path much longer than a direct line between the ends.

139. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 137, wherein the slits or slots are arranged in a herring bone pattern extending in from the edges of the substrate portion.

143. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 136, wherein the substrate is divided into separated portions by a serpentine slit or slot.

144. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 136, wherein the substrate portion is divided into portions by a spiral slit or slot.

145. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 136, wherein the substrate portion is divided into sub-portions by slits or slots arranged on substantially concentric circles.

146. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 137, wherein the slit or slots divide the substrate portion into a plurality of islands, each joined to an adjacent island or islands by a narrow bridge.

147. The interface assembly as claimed in any one of claims 136, wherein the substrate portion covers at least 70% of the area of the dermal patch.

148. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the coating and the tubular body of the tube are plastically welded to each other along the tube.

149. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein an outer-most perimeter of the internal form defines a plurality of alternating crests and troughs along a length of the tubular body.

150. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the internal form is one of, or a combination of, a helical spring or a helically wound element, a helically wound skeleton or a helically wound rib, annular disks, rings, or a plurality of discrete supports interconnected or inter-connectable by one or more connecting links.

151. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the tubular body is a breathable tube, or is formed of or from a breathable material.

152. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the internal form is a helically wound element having a pitch between adjacent turns of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.

153. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the internal form is a helically wound element, the element having a diameter of about 0.1 mm to about 0.4 mm.

154. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the internal form is a conductive wire suitable for heating or sensing a property of gases within the tube.

155. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 110, wherein the internal form is a helically wound element having a pitch and wherein the ratio of pitch of the internal form to an outer diameter of internal form is about 0.10 to about 0.50.

156. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 155, wherein the ratio is about 0.28.

113. (canceled)

115. (canceled)

125. (canceled)

126. (canceled)

140. The interface assembly as claimed in 137, wherein the substrate portion includes a plurality of slits or slots or both which together divide the substrate portion into a serpentine body.

141. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 140, wherein at least one of the slits or slots of the plurality of slits or slots is curved.

142. The interface assembly as claimed in claim 140, wherein a plurality of the slits or slots is curved and the curved slits or slots are arranged substantially parallel.