Combined patient interface and exhaust assembly
First Claim
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1. A patient interface and exhaust assembly comprising:
- (1) a patient interface assembly comprising;
(a) a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end thereof, and (b) a seal associated with the second opening for contacting a surface of a patient, wherein at least one of the faceplate and the seal define an interior of the patient interface assembly;
(2) a patient circuit operatively coupled to the first opening to communicate a supply of breathing gas with the interior of the patient interface assembly; and
(3) an exhaust assembly defined at an interconnection of the faceplate and patient circuit, wherein the exhaust assembly includes;
(a) an exhaust path defined generally between the faceplate and the patient circuit so as to communicate the interior of the patient interface assembly with ambient atmosphere, and (b) a flow regulating member associated with the exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by deforming the flow regulating member into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path increases as a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly increases relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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Abstract
A combined patient interface and integrated exhaust assembly that passes a controlled flow of gas from an interior of a patient interface to ambient atmosphere at a predetermined flow rate irrespective of variations of pressure in the interior of the patient interface device relative to ambient atmosphere. Control of the flow of exhaust gas is achieved by varying the effective cross sectional area of the exhaust path communicating the interior of the patient interface with ambient atmosphere based on the pressure in the interior of the patient interface relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A patient interface and exhaust assembly comprising:
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(1) a patient interface assembly comprising;
(a) a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end thereof, and (b) a seal associated with the second opening for contacting a surface of a patient, wherein at least one of the faceplate and the seal define an interior of the patient interface assembly;
(2) a patient circuit operatively coupled to the first opening to communicate a supply of breathing gas with the interior of the patient interface assembly; and
(3) an exhaust assembly defined at an interconnection of the faceplate and patient circuit, wherein the exhaust assembly includes;
(a) an exhaust path defined generally between the faceplate and the patient circuit so as to communicate the interior of the patient interface assembly with ambient atmosphere, and (b) a flow regulating member associated with the exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by deforming the flow regulating member into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path increases as a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly increases relative to ambient atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A patient interface and exhaust assembly comprising:
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(1) a patient interface assembly comprising;
(a) a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end thereof, (b) a seal associated with the second opening for contacting a surface of a patient, wherein at least one of the faceplate and the seal define an interior of the patient interface assembly;
(2) a patient circuit operatively coupled to the first opening to communicate a supply of breathing gas with the interior of the patient interface assembly; and
(3) an exhaust assembly defined in the faceplate, wherein the exhaust assembly includes;
(a) an exhaust path defined in the faceplate so as to communicate the interior of the patient interface assembly with ambient atmosphere, and (b) a flow regulating member associated with the exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by deforming the flow regulating member into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path increases as a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly increases relative to ambient atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a rigid member; and
a deformable member coupled to the rigid member such that the rigid member is moveable to alter a cross-sectional area of the exhaust path responsive to the deformable member being deformed, and wherein at least one of the rigid member and the deformable member is coupled to the faceplate.
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14. A patient interface and exhaust assembly comprising:
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(1) a patient interface assembly comprising;
(a) a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end thereof, (b) a seal associated with the second opening for contacting a surface of a patient, wherein at least one of the faceplate and the seal define an interior of the patient interface assembly;
(2) a patient circuit operatively coupled to the first opening to communicate a supply of breathing gas with the interior of the patient interface assembly; and
(3) exhausting means for passing a substantially continuous flow of gas from the interior of the patient interface assembly to ambient atmosphere at a substantially constant flow rate irrespective of variations of pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly relative to ambient atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:
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(1) a pressure generator adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas;
(2) a patient circuit having a first end operatively coupled to the pressure generator and a second end;
(3) a patient interface assembly comprising;
(a) a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end thereof, wherein the patient circuit is operatively coupled to the first opening, (b) a seal associated with the second opening for contacting a surface of a patient, wherein at least one of the faceplate and the seal define an interior of the patient interface assembly, and (4) exhausting means for passing a substantially continuous flow of gas from the interior of the patient interface assembly to ambient atmosphere at a substantially constant flow rate irrespective of variations of pressure in the interior of the patient interface relative to ambient atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
an exhaust path defined generally between the faceplate and the patient circuit so as to communicate the interior of the patient interface assembly with ambient atmosphere; and
a flow regulating member associated with the exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by deforming the flow regulating member into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path is based on a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the exhausting means includes:
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an exhaust path defined in the faceplate so as to communicate the interior of the patient interface assembly with ambient atmosphere; and
a flow regulating member associated with the exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by deforming the flow regulating member into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path is based on a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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20. Method of providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:
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generating a flow of breathing gas;
communicating, via a patient circuit, the flow of breathing gas to a patient interface assembly adapted to be donned by the patient, wherein the patient interface assembly includes a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end, and wherein the patient circuit is operatively coupled to the first opening, the patient interface assembly further comprising a seal associated with the second opening adapted to contact a surface of a patient for communicating the flow of breathing gas with an airway of a patient; and
passing a substantially continuous flow of gas from the interior of the patient interface assembly to ambient atmosphere at a substantially constant flow rate irrespective of variations of pressure in the interior of the patient interface device relative to ambient atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
exhausting gas to ambient atmosphere through an exhaust path defined generally between the faceplate and the patient circuit; and
controlling a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by causing a flow regulating member to deform into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path is based on a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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22. A method according to claim 20, wherein passing a substantially continuous flow of gas from the interior of the patient interface device to ambient atmosphere includes:
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exhausting gas to atmosphere through an exhaust path defined in the faceplate; and
controlling a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by causing a flow regulating member to deform into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path is based on a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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23. Method of providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:
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generating a flow of breathing gas;
communicating, via a patient circuit, the flow of breathing gas to a patient interface assembly adapted to be donned by the patient, wherein the patient interface assembly includes a faceplate having a first opening defined in a first end and a second opening defined in a second end, and wherein the patient circuit is operatively coupled to the first opening, the patient interface assembly further comprising a seal associated with the second opening adapted to contact a surface of a patient for communicating the flow of breathing gas with an airway of a patient;
exhausting gas to ambient atmosphere through an exhaust path defined generally between the faceplate and the patient circuit; and
controlling a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through the exhaust path by causing a flow regulating member to deform into the exhaust path, wherein a degree of deformation of the flow regulating member into the exhaust path is increases as a pressure in the interior of the patient interface assembly increases relative to ambient atmospheric pressure.
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Specification