Respiratory mask having gas washout vent and gas washout vent assembly for a respiratory mask
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A respiratory mask comprising:
- a patient interface structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use;
a gas inlet to supply pressurized breathable gas in the range of 3-20 cm H2O to the patient interface; and
a gas washout vent portion having a plurality of holes therein, said holes having a diameter selected to allow adequate CO2 washout from the patient interface at a lowest end of the pressure range,wherein said plurality of holes is arranged in a plurality of rows, each said row having at least 3 of said holes, andwherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a vent assembly suitable for use with a respiratory mask of the type used in CPAP treatment. In one embodiment the vent is made of a thin air permeable membrane. Generally, the membrane is thinner than 0.5 mm. The membrane can be made of a hydrophobic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The membrane can also be fabricated from expanded PTFE. The expanded PTFE membrane is mounted on a polypropylene scrim. The pores of the membrane have a reference pore size of 10 to 15 microns. In an alternative embodiment, the vent assembly includes a vent constructed from stainless steel. In another embodiment the membrane has a superficial cross-sectional area of approximately 500 mm2. In another embodiment the vent assembly comprises a membrane attached to a vent frame, the vent assembly forming an insert which can be removably attached to a mask frame.
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Citations
92 Claims
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1. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use; a gas inlet to supply pressurized breathable gas in the range of 3-20 cm H2O to the patient interface; and a gas washout vent portion having a plurality of holes therein, said holes having a diameter selected to allow adequate CO2 washout from the patient interface at a lowest end of the pressure range, wherein said plurality of holes is arranged in a plurality of rows, each said row having at least 3 of said holes, and wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to the patient interface when the mask is in use; and a gas washout vent including an air permeable portion to allow gas to exit from the patient interface, wherein the portion has at least ten through holes each having a length, a diameter, and a total open area due to the presence of the holes that are selected to help eliminate or reduce noise while maintaining sufficient CO2 washout during patient breathing, and wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a cushion; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to the patient via the cushion when the mask is in use; and at least one gas washout vent to allow gas to exit from the mask, wherein the washout vent has at least twenty through holes each having a length and a diameter that are selected to help eliminate or reduce noise while maintaining sufficient CO2 washout during patient breathing, and wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface having a frame portion and a nose contacting portion in the form of nasal prongs or pillows, said frame portion and said nose contacting portion together defining a breathing cavity; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to the patient interface when the mask is in use; and a gas washout vent portion having at least twenty through holes to allow gas to quietly exit from the breathing cavity, wherein said holes are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a different diameter than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30)
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26. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface having a cushion; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to a breathing cavity formed at least in part by the patient interface when the mask is in use; and
a gas washout vent having a plurality of holes, said holes being structured and arranged to allow gas to be exhausted from the breathing cavity substantially without gas jetting, wherein;the vent has a thickness of less than 3 mm, and the vent includes at least 20 of said holes, said holes being arranged in a plurality of rows; wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a different diameter than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 91)
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35. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a shell structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use, the shell including a separately formed rotatable gas inlet to deliver pressurized breathable gas to the shell in the range of 3-20 cm H2O; a nasal-only cushion provided to the shell, the cushion and the shell defining a pressurized breathing cavity; and a gas washout vent having a plurality of through holes, said through holes being configured and arranged to allow adequate CO2 washout from the patient interface at a lowest end of the pressure range, said gas washout vent including an air permeable material interposed between an inner element having at least one opening and an outer element having at least one opening, such that CO2 gas washout is directed from the breathing cavity and through the at least one opening of the inner element, the air permeable material and the at least one opening of the outer element. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use; a gas inlet in the form of a rotatable elbow to supply pressurized breathable gas in the range of 3-20 cm H2O to the patient interface; and a gas washout vent having a plurality of holes, said holes being structured to allow adequate CO2 washout from the patient interface at a lowest end of the pressure range, wherein said plurality of holes is arranged in a plurality of rows, each said row having at least 3 of said holes, and wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to the patient interface when the mask is in use; and a gas washout vent to allow gas to exit from the patient interface, wherein the vent has at least ten through holes to maintain sufficient CO2 washout during patient breathing while avoiding or reducing exhaust gas jetting and/or noise as perceived by the patient; and wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a cushion; a breathable gas inlet to provide pressurized gas at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure to the patient via the cushion when the mask is in use; and at least one gas washout vent to allow gas to exit from the mask, wherein the washout vent has an array of at least 20 through holes grouped to avoid or reduce air jetting; wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on an inside surface of the mask and a second end positioned on an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a different diameter than a diameter of the second end. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 92)
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56. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a patient interface structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use, the patient interface including a swivel elbow; said patient interface including a cushion, the cushion at least partly defining a pressurized breathing cavity pressurized to a pressure in the range of 3-20 cm H2O in use; said patient interface including a gas washout vent having an array of through holes extending from an inside of the elbow to an outside of the elbow, said array of through holes, in use, allowing CO2 washout from the breathing cavity to atmosphere at a lowest end of the pressure range while reducing or avoiding air jetting and/or noise perceived by the patient, each of said holes having a generally tapered shape such that an inside diameter of each hole that is positioned on the inside of the elbow is smaller than an outside diameter of the corresponding hole that is positioned on the outside of the elbow. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a shell structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use, the shell defining a nasal bridge region formed at or near an apex of the shell; a swivel elbow mounted to the shell; a cushion provided to the shell, the cushion and the shell defining a breathing cavity to receive gas pressurized in the range of 3-20 cm H2O; and a gas washout vent provided to the shell, said gas washout vent being positioned above the elbow and between the elbow and the nasal bridge region of the shell, said washout vent having a plurality of through holes extending from an inside of the shell to an outside of the shell, said through holes, in use, allowing CO2 washout from the breathing cavity to atmosphere at a lowest end of the pressure range, wherein each of the holes has a first end positioned on the inside of the shell and a second end positioned on the outside of the shell, and wherein the first end has a different diameter than a diameter of the second end, wherein each of said holes has a generally tapered shape such that an inside diameter of each hole that is positioned on the inside of the shell is smaller than an outside diameter of the corresponding hole that is positioned on the outside of the shell. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A nasal respiratory mask, comprising:
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a shell structured for communication with a patient'"'"'s airways in use, the shell including a separately formed rotatable gas inlet to deliver pressurized breathable gas to the shell in the range of 3-20 cm H2O; a nasal-only cushion provided to the shell, the cushion and the shell defining a pressurized breathing cavity; a fixed forehead support including an arm extending from the shell and a fitting provided to a distal end of the arm, the fitting having a center portion supporting a forehead pad and a lateral upper slot provided on each side of the center portion adapted to be coupled with an upper mask retaining strap; the shell including a pair of lateral lower slots on respective sides of the shell, each of the lower slots adapted to be coupled with a lower mask retaining strap; an insert having a plurality of gas washout through holes provided in an opening on the shell, wherein each of the holes has a first end oriented towards an inside surface of the mask and a second end oriented towards an outer surface of the mask, and wherein the first end has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second end, wherein the plurality of through holes are arranged in a plurality of rows, each said row having at least 3 of said holes. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification