Ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy
First Claim
1. A method of forming ventilation interface, comprising:
- forming at least one nasal insert from a flexible, resilient, soft, biocompatible material, wherein each nasal insert comprises a hollow body, a base end configured to connect to a ventilator air flow and an open distal tip end, each nasal insert being substantially oval in cross-section at the base end and the distal end and continuously oval in cross-section between the base end and the distal end; and
forming a flange as a bead disposed about the distal tip end of each said nasal insert, the flange being configured to seal against a naris of a patient'"'"'s nose, wherein each said nasal insert is configured to be compressed and inserted into the patient'"'"'s naris to a patient'"'"'s mucosal membrane and being retained therein solely by said flange, by the resilience of said nasal insert, and by lateral pressure against the naris from ventilator air flow through each said nasal insert.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient'"'"'s airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. In one embodiment, a valve is disposed between the nasal inserts and a source of positive airway pressure, the valve having a rim with a one-way diaphragm pivotally attached to the valve body with an inflatable bladder depending from the rim which seals against an exit port during inspiration and deflates to uncover the exit port on expiration. Another embodiment has nasal inserts without positive airway pressure but with a removable filter in the inserts for filtering inspired air.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of forming ventilation interface, comprising:
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forming at least one nasal insert from a flexible, resilient, soft, biocompatible material, wherein each nasal insert comprises a hollow body, a base end configured to connect to a ventilator air flow and an open distal tip end, each nasal insert being substantially oval in cross-section at the base end and the distal end and continuously oval in cross-section between the base end and the distal end; and
forming a flange as a bead disposed about the distal tip end of each said nasal insert, the flange being configured to seal against a naris of a patient'"'"'s nose, wherein each said nasal insert is configured to be compressed and inserted into the patient'"'"'s naris to a patient'"'"'s mucosal membrane and being retained therein solely by said flange, by the resilience of said nasal insert, and by lateral pressure against the naris from ventilator air flow through each said nasal insert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A ventilation method comprising:
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compressing at least one nasal insert, wherein said nasal insert comprises a hollow body, a base end configured to connect to a ventilator air flow and an open distal tip end, each nasal insert being substantially oval in cross-section at the base end and the distal end and continuously oval in cross-section between the base end and the distal end;
inserting said nasal insert into a patient'"'"'s nose;
sealing said nasal insert via a flange that is dispose about the distal end tip of said nasal insert, wherein said flange is formed as a bead disposed about the distal tip end of each said nasal insert; and
connecting the base end of the nasal insert to a ventilator air flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of forming ventilation interface, comprising:
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forming a nasal insert, as a hollow body made from a flexible, resilient, soft, biocompatible material, having a base end and a tip end, the nasal insert being substantially oval in cross-section at the base end and the tip end and continuously oval in cross-section between the base end and the tip end;
forming a bead disposed about the tip end of said nasal insert as a flange that is adapted to form a seal;
providing a one-way expiratory diaphragm disposed across the base end of said nasal insert, the expiratory diaphragm permitting passage of exhaled air from the tip end through the base end, but preventing passage of inhaled air through the base end towards the tip end;
providing a one-way inspiratory diaphragm disposed in said nasal insert adjacent the base end, the inspiratory diaphragm permitting passage of inhaled air from outside said nasal insert, through the inspiratory diaphragm, and into said nasal insert, but preventing passage of exhaled air through the inspiratory diaphragm and out of said nasal insert; and
placing a removable filter over said inspiratory diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification