Nasal interface and system including ventilation insert

• US 6,997,187 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salter Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innomed Technologies Incorporated (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Thomas J., Sher, Bruce M., Hernanadez, Shara
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US10/658,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/202.18, 128/203.22, 128/203.29, 128/204.12, 128/205.25, 128/206.11, 128/206.12, 128/206.18, 128/206.21, 128/206.27, 128/206.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.14, 128/207.18, 600/529, 600/532, 600/538
• US Class Current: 128/206.11
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A ventilation or CPAP interface system adapted to be inserted into a nares of a user to secure the interface. A cannula adapted to be connected to a source of ventilation gas forms a first portion of an input gas flow passage to supply the ventilation gas to the user. A nasal insert adapted to be inserted the nares of the user forms a second portion of the input gas flow passage from the cannula to a distal end of the nasal insert. A seal portion adapted to engage a portion of the first naris is provided adjacent the distal end of the nasal insert. Ventilation interface system may optionally include feed tubes, y-connector, tube holder, and headgear.

Claims

1. A ventilation interface, comprising:

a cannula with at least one nasal insert and at least one exhaust port;

the cannula forming a first portion of an input gas flow passage to supply the ventilation gas to the user, the first portion of the input gas flow passage defined by a first passage disposed at a first distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to a first source of ventilation gas and a second passage disposed at a second distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to a second source of ventilation gas;

the at least one nasal insert forming second and third portions of the input gas flow passage from the cannula to a distal end of the nasal insert that are substantially axially aligned with the first passage disposed at the first distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to a first source of ventilation gas and the second passage disposed at the second distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to the second source of ventilation gas; and

a seal portion adapted to engage at least a portion of the nares, the seal portion being provided on the distal end of the at least one nasal insert.

2. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the input gas flow passage defined by a first passage disposed at a first distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to a first source of ventilation gas and a second passage disposed at a second distal end of the cannula where the cannula is connected to a second source of ventilation gas, and the second and third portions of the input gas flow passage are disposed at an obtuse angle to one another.

3. The ventilation interface according to claim 2, wherein the obtuse angle is about 135°

.

4. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the nasal insert forms a second portion of the input gas flow passage having a substantially oval cross section.

5. The ventilation interface according to claim 4, wherein a distal end of the nasal insert forms a third portion of the input gas flow passage having a substantially oval cross section.

6. The ventilation interface according to claim 5, wherein the third portion of the input gas flow passage has a circumference that is less than a circumference of the second portion of the input gas flow passage.

7. The ventilation interface according to claim 6, wherein the seal portion forms a third portion of the input gas flow passage having a substantially oval cross section.

8. The ventilation interface according to claim 7, wherein the distal end of the nasal insert includes a first exterior portion having a substantially oval cross section.

9. The ventilation interface according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the nasal insert proximal the cannula includes a second exterior portion having a substantially oval cross section.

10. The ventilation interface according to claim 9, wherein the first exterior portion has a circumference that is less than a circumference of the second exterior portion.

11. The ventilation interface according to claim 10, wherein the seal portion includes a third exterior portion having at least one of a substantially oval cross section or a round cross section.

12. The ventilation interface according to claim 11, wherein the third exterior portion has a circumference that is larger than the circumference of the second exterior portion.

13. The ventilation interface according to claim 11, wherein the third exterior portion has a circumference that is substantially equal to the circumference of the second exterior portion.

14. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gas output forming a portion of an output gas flow passage from the nasal insert to an exterior of the ventilation interface to channel a gas expired by the user.

15. The ventilation interface according to claim 14, wherein the second portion of the input gas flow passage formed by the nasal insert is about parallel with the portion of the output gas flow passage.

16. The ventilation interface according to claim 15, wherein the second portion of the input gas flow passage and the portion of the output gas flow passage are configured to provide laminar flow therebetween.

17. The ventilation interface according to claim 16, wherein a distal end of the gas output forms a first portion of the output gas flow passage having a substantially circular cross section.

18. The ventilation interface according to claim 17, wherein a portion of the gas output proximal the cannula forms a second portion of the output gas flow passage having a substantially circular cross section.

19. The ventilation interface according to claim 18, wherein the first portion of the output gas flow passage has a circumference that is less than a circumference of the second portion of the output gas flow passage.

20. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nasal insert and the seal portion is sufficiently flexible to be expanded by a positive pressure provided by the ventilation gas.

21. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nasal insert and the seal portion fomis a seal with the nares of the user by at least one of deformation of at least one of the nasal insert, the nares of the user, the seal portion or a headgear.

22. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nasal insert and the seal portion forms a seal with the nares of the user by friction between the nares of the user and at least one of the nasal insert, the seal portion or a headgear.

23. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nasal inserts and the seal portion form a seal with at least one naris of the user by a resiliency of at least one of said seal portion and said nares of the user and a headgear.

24. The ventilation interface according to claim 1 wherein the seal portion is configured to receive a skirt to prevent leakage.

25. The ventilation interface as in claim 1, wherein the first portion of an input gas flow passage being oriented in a downward fashion is connected to a feed tube.

26. The ventilation interface as claim 25, wherein the feed tube has a y-connector.

27. A ventilation interface, comprising:

means for forming a first input gas flow portion having input gas flow passages disposed at a first and a second distal end of the first input gas flow portion where the first input gas flow portion connects to a source of ventilation gas, the input gas flow passages being substantially axially aligned with a second portion of the input gas flow passage;

means for forming a second portion of the input gas flow passage from the means for forming the first portion to a first naris of the nares of the user; and

means for engaging a portion of the nares provided on the means for forming a second portion of the input gas flow passage.

28. A ventilation or CPAP interface system, comprising:

a cannula, nasal inserts, seal portions and exhaust ports;

a first feed tube, a second feed tube and a Y-connector;

a tubing connector;

head gear;

the cannula is adapted to be connected to the first feed tube, second feed tube and Y-connector, the cannula forming a first portion of an input gas flow passage, the first portion of the input gas flow passage defined by a first passage that connects to the first feed tube and a second passage that connects to a second feed tube;

the first passage and the second passage of the input gas flow passage being substantially axially aligned with the nasal inserts;

the nasal inserts form a second portion of the input gas flow passage from the cannula to a distal end of the nasal inserts; and

a seal portion adapted to engage at least a portion of the nares, the seal portion provided adjacent a distal end of the nasal insert.