Ventilation interface

• US 7,559,327 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salter Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Respcare, Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Hernandez, Shara
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US11/139,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20060266361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.18, 128/200.26, 128/207.13, 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/205.11, 128/205.24, 128/DIG.26
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A ventilation interface device is disclosed that may include a hollow cannula, at least one nasal insert and at least one exhaust port or may include a mask designed to cover a user'"'"'s nose, mouth or both nose and mouth. The at least one nasal insert may be formed so as to fit in any size nares of any user and may be detachable. Additionally, the at least one exhaust port may be in any of a variety of orientations and, in some embodiments, contain sealable ports.

Claims

1. An interface, comprising:

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

at least one nasal insert having a base end connected to a top wall of the cannula and having an open distal tip end; and

at least one exhaust port having an adjustable aperture with a cross-sectional area, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture is adjustable and wherein the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port is adjusted by moving a tab in a slide that moves a seal a proportional distance over the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port, wherein the slide includes a linear opening defined in the cannula where the tab is adjusted and wherein the linear opening is adjacent to the adjustable aperture;

the at least one nasal insert being formed in a shape such that it is adapted to be retained in nares of a user through friction and lateral pressure of gas flow.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the shape of the cannula is adapted to substantially adhere to contours of a face of a user.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal insert has a base area that is larger than an area of the distal tip end and a center area that is smaller than a diameter of the distal tip.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal insert has a base area that is larger than an area of a distal tip end.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal insert has a distal tip end adapted to substantially contour to an interior of the nares of a user.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal insert has a distal tip end that is substantially oval.

7. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal insert has a distal tip end that is substantially circular.

8. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one exhaust port further comprises a series of exhaust ports linearly disposed on the cannula substantially opposite the at least one nasal insert.

9. The interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one exhaust port can be at least partially sealed by a covering connected to the cannula.

10. The interface of claim 1, wherein the cannula has at least one opening disposed proximal to each distal end of the cannula.

11. The interface of claim 10, wherein a plug is inserted into the opening disposed proximal to each distal end of the cannula to seal the opening.

12. The interface of claim 1, wherein the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port is adjustably covered by a movable strip of flexible material with several openings disposed theron.

13. The interface of claim 1, wherin a variety of different gaskets are inserted into the at least one exhaust port to alter a size of the aperture.

14. A ventilation interface, comprising:

an inlet for connection to an input device;

a central portion adapted to fit over at least a nose of a user for providing gas to the user; and

at least one exhaust port having an adjustable aperture with a cross-sectional area, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture is adjustable, wherein the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port is adjusted by moving a tab in a slide that moves a seal a proportional distance over the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port, wherein the slide includes a linear opening defined in the cannula where the tab is adjusted and wherein the linear opening is adjacent to the adjustable aperture.

15. The ventilation interface of claim 14, wherein the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port is adjusted by inserting a gasket having a smaller aperture into the at least one exhaust port.

16. The ventilation interface of claim 14, wherein the at least one exhaust port comprises a series of exhaust ports.

17. A detachable nasal insert, comprising:

a first portion;

a second portion having a diameter greater than the first portion;

a center portion between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the center portion has a diameter less than the first portion; and

a third portion having a first and second flange; and

having at least one exhaust port having an adjustable aperture with a cross-sectional area, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture is adjustable and wherein the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port is adjusted by moving a tab in a slide that moves a seal a proportional distance over the adjustable aperture of the at least one exhaust port;

wherein the slide includes a linear opening defined in the cannula where the tab is adjusted and wherein the linear opening is adjacent to the adjustable aperture.

18. The detachable nasal interface as in claim 17, wherein the first flange is disposed prior to a bottom portion of the detachable nasal insert and the second flange disposed below the first flange.

19. The detachable nasal insert of claim 17, wherein the first and second flange of the third portion are adapted to be inserted into a nasal cannula.

20. The detachable nasal insert of claim 17, wherein the first and second flange of the third portion are adapted to form an airtight seal between the detachable nasal insert and a nasal cannula.