Ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy

• US 7,059,328 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innomed Technologies Incorporated (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innomed Technologies Incorporated (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US11/013,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/202.18, 128/203.22, 128/203.24, 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, 128/207.13, 128/207.18
• 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 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears

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. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.

Claims

1. A ventilation interface, comprising:

(a) a nasal cannula, the cannula being a hollow, arcuate body and a semi-cylindrical bottom wall defining an air chamber, the body having cylindrical tubes at opposing ends of the body adapted for connection to ventilator supply tubes;

(b) a pair of hollow, flexible, resilient nasal inserts, each nasal insert having a base end connected to the top wall of said nasal cannula and an open distal tip end, each nasal insert being oval in cross-section and defining a conduit forming an air passage in communication with said air chamber, each said nasal insert having a flange formed as a bead disposed about the distal tip end; and

(c) a pair of bleeder norts defined through the bottom wall of said nasal cannula, each said bleeder art being axially aligned with a separate one of said nasal inserts, further including an upper nipple projecting into said air chamber and a lower nipple depending from the bottom wall of said nasal cannula, the bleeder port being defined through said upper and lower nipples, and the bleeder port further having a substantially oval distal end;

(d) wherein each said nasal insert is capable of being compressed and inserted into a 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.

2. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein said nasal cannula and each of said nasal inserts is made from silicone, said nasal inserts being formed integral with said nasal cannula.

3. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein each said nasal insert has an internal diameter of 0.75 inches on a major axis and0.5 inches on a minor axis.

4. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein each said nasal insert has a wall thickness between about 1/32 and 1/20 inches.

5. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein each said nasal insert has a softness measuring between about 15 and 40 on a type A Shore durometer.

6. The ventilation Interface according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a pair of barb connectors; and

(b) a pair of supply tubes, said supply tubes being connected to the cylindrical tubes at opposite ends of said nasal cannula by said barb connectors.

7. The ventilation interface according to claim 6, further comprising a Y-connector having a first end adapted for connection to a ventilator supply hose, and a second end having a pair of ports connected to said supply tubes.

8. The ventilation interface according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of said nasal cannula has a notch defined therein parallel to and disposed between said nasal inserts for increasing flexibility of said nasal cannula in order to bend said nasal cannula to conform to a patient'"'"'s nostril configuration.