Connector for a respiratory mask and a respiratory mask

• US 7,066,178 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gunaratnam, Michael K., Lynch, Susan R., Crumblin, Geoffrey, Drew, Joanne E., Jenkinson, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Teena
• Application Number:
  US10/636,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 128/202.27, 128/205.25, 128/205.28, 128/205.24, 128/206.12, 128/206.14, 128/206.18, 128/206.21, 128/206.28, 128/207.12, 128/207.13, 128/206.15
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• 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 16/08 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0085 product washed out
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A connector includes a mask end for connecting with the interior of a respiratory mask, a supply conduit end, and a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere. The vent outlet of the vent passage is disposed on the side of the connector remote from the mask end. A respiratory mask includes a mask shell, a mask inlet for connecting with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit, and a gas washout vent passage. A vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a mask end having a longitudinal axis for connecting in fluid communication with an interior of a respiratory mask;

a supply conduit end having a longitudinal axis and being disposed at an angle to the mask end for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the connector, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the connector remote from the mask end, is generally semi-circular when viewed in cross-section and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the supply conduit end towards the supply conduit;

a body portion including the interior surface and an exterior surface; and

a cap portion including an interior surface spaced apart from the interior surface of the body portion, the interior surface of the body portion and the interior surface of the cap portion defining the vent passage therebetween.

2. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap portion is detachable from the body portion.

3. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap portion and body portion are rigid and fixed relative to each other when attached.

6. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent passage inlet is formed in the body portion adjacent to, and downstream of, the mask end relative to washout gas flow and is in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask via the body portion.

4. A connector comprising:

a mask end for connecting in fluid communication with an interior of a respiratory mask;

a supply conduit end disposed at an angle to the mask end for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the connector, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the connector remote from the mask end, has a generally part-annular cross-section and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply conduit end towards the supply conduit, wherein;

the connector includes a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion including said interior surface, and an exterior surface of the body portion includes at least one of grooves and ridges adapted to engage one of ridges and grooves, respectively, on the interior surface of the cap portion to attach the cap portion to the body portion.

5. A connector comprising:

a mask end for connecting in fluid communication with an interior of a respiratory mask;

a supply conduit end disposed at an angle to the mask end for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the connector, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the connector remote from the mask end, has a generally part-annular cross-section and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mask end and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply conduit end towards the supply conduit, wherein;

the connector includes a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion including said interior surface, and one of the body portion and the cap portion includes a spacer extending between the interior surface of said cap portion and the exterior surface of said body portion.

7. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask shell defining an interior of the respiratory mask;

a mask inlet for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet forming part of the mask shell and in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, the passage being defined by the interior surface of the outlet and the adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

8. The mask as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mask shell includes a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion including said interior surface.

9. The mask as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cap portion includes an interior surface spaced apart from the body portion interior surface, said body portion interior surface and said cap portion interior surface defining said vent passage therebetween.

10. The mask as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cap portion is detachable from the body portion.

11. The mask as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap portion and body portion are rigid and fixed relative to each other when attached.

12. The mask as claimed in claim 8, wherein an exterior surface of the body portion includes at least one of grooves and ridges adapted to engage one of ridges and grooves, respectively, on the interior surface of the cap portion to attach the cap portion to the body portion.

13. The mask as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the body portion and the cap portion includes a spacer extending between the interior surface of the cap portion and an exterior surface of the body portion.

14. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask shell defining an interior of the respiratory mask;

a mask inlet for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet forming part of the mask shell and in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet, wherein the vent passage comprises an inlet portion defining a first cross-sectional area adjacent the vent passage inlet and an outlet portion defining a second cross-sectional area adjacent the outlet that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

15. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask shell defining an interior of the respiratory mask;

a mask inlet for connecting in fluid communication with an outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit; and

a gas washout vent passage having an inlet forming part of the mask shell and in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere, the outlet including an interior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, wherein the outlet is disposed on a side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet, wherein the vent passage comprises an inlet portion of constant cross-section, an outlet portion of constant cross-section and a transition portion of smoothly reducing cross-section extending from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.

16. A vent passage for a facial mask adapted to allow continuous passage of air or breathable gases throughout a patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle from a vent inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the facial mask to a vent outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere wherein:

(i) the vent inlet has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the vent outlet; and

(ii) the vent passage has a part annular cross section and defines a flow region adjacent the vent outlet that allows gas to approach a generally laminar state.

17. A vent passage as claimed in claim 16, wherein a side-wall of the vent passage is defined by a detachable cap portion.

18. A vent for a facial mask comprising:

(i) a vent passage including an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a transition portion between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, said vent passage being shaped and configured to allow passage of air or breathable gases from the inlet portion, which is in fluid communication with an interior of the facial mask, to the outlet portion, which is in fluid communication with atmosphere, the vent passage being defined between an interior surface of a first member and an exterior surface of a second member that is generally parallel to the first member when viewed in cross section; and

(ii) at least a portion of said vent passage being shaped and configured to substantially minimize introduction of any discontinuities into the gas flow.

19. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein said at least one portion is in the transition portion.

20. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transition portion is smoothly tapered.

21. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein the inlet portion has a cross-sectional area relatively larger than the cross-sectional area of the outlet portion.

22. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein the outlet portion has a length to allow gas to approach a laminar state.

23. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein a pressure gradient is gradual along the transition portion.

24. The vent as claimed in claim 18, wherein a surface downstream of the outlet portion is formed as a smooth prolongation.

25. A method for venting exhaled gas from a vent for a facial mask, said method comprising:

(i) providing a vent passage including an inlet portion having a first cross-sectional area, an outlet portion having a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area and a transition portion of smoothly reducing cross-section extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;

(ii) shaping and configuring said vent passage to allow passage of air or breathable gases from the inlet portion, which is in fluid communication with an interior of the facial mask, to the outlet portion, which is in fluid communication with atmosphere;

(iii) designing at least one portion of said vent passage to substantially minimize introduction of any discontinuities into the gas flow; and

venting the exhaled gas along the at least one portion.