Combined patient interface and exhaust assembly

• US 6,584,977 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Serowski, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US09/824,291
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.21, 128/206.23, 128/206.24, 128/206.26, 128/206.27, 128/206.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.12, 128/207.13, 128/205.27, 128/206.12, 128/206.15, 128/206.18, 128/205.24, 128/912
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices

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.

Claims

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.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate and the seal are separate structures that are combined to define the patient interface assembly.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the patient circuit is rotateably coupled to the faceplate.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust assembly includes multiple exhaust paths defined around a circumference of the patient circuit, and wherein the flow regulating member substantially surrounds the patient circuit so as be associated with each exhaust path in the plurality of exhaust paths to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through each exhaust path.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flow regulating member is a flexible membrane coupled to at least one of the faceplate and the patient circuit so as to alter a cross-sectional area of the exhaust path responsive to being deformed.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the exhaust path includes a first space defined between the flexible membrane and an inner surface of the faceplate and a second space defined between the patient circuit and the face plate.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a swivel connector disposed at an end of the faceplate, wherein the exhaust path is further defined by an opening defined in the swivel connector.

8. 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,

(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.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the faceplate and the seal are separate structures that are combined to define the patient interface assembly.

10. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the exhaust assembly includes multiple exhaust paths defined in the faceplate, and wherein the flow regulating member is fixed to the faceplate and associated with each exhaust path to control a rate of flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere through each exhaust path.

11. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the flow regulating member is a flexible membrane coupled to the faceplate so as to alter a cross-sectional area of the exhaust path responsive to being deformed.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the exhaust path includes a first space defined between the flexible membrane and an inner surface of the faceplate and a second space defined between generally opposing surfaces of the faceplate.

13. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the flow regulating member includes:

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.

14. 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,

(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.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the faceplate and the seal are separate structures that are combined to define the patient interface assembly.

16. A system for providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:

(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.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the faceplate and the seal are separate structures that are combined to define the patient interface assembly.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the exhausting means includes:

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.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the exhausting means includes:

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.

20. Method of providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:

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.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein passing a substantially continuous flow of gas from the interior of the patient interface assembly to ambient atmosphere includes:

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.

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:

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.

23. Method of providing a supply of breathing gas to an airway of a patient, comprising:

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.