Compact oronasal patient interface

• US 7,942,148 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Aaron, Robinson, Gary, Lynch, Susan, Gunaratnam, Michael, Lubke, Steven, Raje, Milind, Smart, Gregory, Scheiner, Rupert, Kwok, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US10/584,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 128/206.28, 128/206.29, 128/207.11
• US Class Current: 128/206.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 16/0666 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 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets

Abstract

A breathing arrangement includes a patient interface, at least one inlet conduit, and a headgear assembly. The patient interface includes a mouth covering assembly including a cushion structured to sealingly engage around exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, a nozzle assembly including a pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage within nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use, and a flexible element connecting the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly. The at least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into at least one of the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. The headgear assembly is removably connected to at least one of the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly so as to maintain the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A breathing arrangement for use between a patient and a structure to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the breathing arrangement comprising:

a patient interface including

a mouth covering assembly including a cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use,

a nozzle assembly including a pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage within nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use, and

a flexible element connecting the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly;

at least one inlet conduit structured to deliver breathable gas into at least one of the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient; and

a headgear assembly directly and removably connected to the mouth covering assembly that, in use, follows two vectors, so as to maintain the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly in a sealed position on the patient'"'"'s face.

2. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mouth covering assembly provides a first chamber and the nozzle assembly provides a second chamber.

3. The breathing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the flexible element includes a conduit that allows gas to pass between the first and second chambers.

4. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to connect to an inlet conduit to deliver breathable gas to the patient'"'"'s nose.

5. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mouth covering assembly is adapted to connect to an inlet conduit to deliver breathable gas to the patient'"'"'s mouth.

6. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly form a single chamber.

7. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cushion, nozzles, and flexible element are integrally formed as a one-piece structure.

8. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a non-face-contacting portion and a face-contacting portion, the non-face-contacting portion being structured to be removably attached to a substantially rigid frame and the face-contacting portion having a resilient membrane structured to provide a seal.

9. The breathing arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the cushion includes a gusset portion between the non-face-contacting portion and the face-contacting portion.

10. The breathing arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the cushion has a side wall, a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane that substantially surrounds the rim.

11. The breathing arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the nozzles are mounted upon the side wall.

12. The breathing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the nozzles are angled with respect to the side wall.

13. The breathing arrangement according to claim 8, wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a general oval shape.

14. The breathing arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the aperture includes an arcuate protruding portion along an upper and/or lower edge thereof.

15. The breathing arrangement according to claim 10, wherein a rim is provided on lateral sides of the side wall.

16. The breathing arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the membrane has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the rim.

17. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly includes a strap routed around the top of the patient'"'"'s ears.

18. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly may be rotated with respect to the patient interface so as to adjust a position of the headgear assembly with respect to the patient interface in use, without detaching the headgear assembly and the patient interface.

19. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the headgear assembly is connected to the patient interface with a snap-fit.

20. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface includes a frame, the frame including an inlet conduit coupled to one side thereof and an anti-asphyxia valve module coupled to an opposite side thereof.

21. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are blocked from fluid communication with the cushion.

22. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cushion and nozzles are formed from one of a gel-like material or foam-like material.

23. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are formed separately from the cushion and selectively mounted thereto.

24. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface includes a frame, the frame having corrugations that add flexibility to the frame.

25. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each nozzle includes a conduit having a concertina configuration that adds flexibility to the nozzle.

26. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are mounted within rounded recesses to add flexibility to the nozzles.

27. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each nozzles includes a conduit having a varying cross-sectional configuration.

28. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each nozzle includes a gusset portion that changes the sealing force in accordance with the treatment pressure.

29. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each nozzle includes a thin membrane that surrounds each nozzle.

30. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a nozzle support member that engages the nozzles to support the nozzles in a rigid configuration for alignment.

31. The breathing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cushion has a boomerang shape.

32. A patient interface for a breathing arrangement that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, the cushion including

a flexible side wall structured to be removably attached to a frame,

a rim extending away from the side wall, and

a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim; and

a pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage within nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use, each of nozzles including a conduit that extends from the side wall of the cushion and supports each nozzle,

wherein each conduit allows gas to pass between each of the nozzles and the cushion.

33. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the membrane has a substantially flat profile.

34. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture having a generally oval shape.

35. The patient interface according to claim 34, wherein the upper and/or lower edge of the aperture includes an arcuate protruding portion.

36. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the side wall supporting the nozzles includes an arcuate configuration.

37. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the rim is provided on lateral sides of the side wall only.

38. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the nozzles are angled with respect to the side wall.

39. The patient interface according to claim 32, wherein the side wall includes a gusset portion.

40. A breathing arrangement that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the breathing arrangement comprising:

a substantially rigid frame; and

a patient interface including

a cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, the cushion including

a flexible side wall structured to be removably attached to the frame,

a rim extending away from the side wall, and

a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim; and

a pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage within nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use, each of nozzles including a conduit that extends from the side wall of the cushion and supports each nozzle;

wherein each conduit allows gas to pass between each of the nozzles and the cushion.

41. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the membrane has a substantially flat profile.

42. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture having a generally oval shape.

43. The breathing arrangement according to claim 42, wherein the upper and/or lower edge of the aperture includes an arcuate protruding portion.

44. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the side wall supporting the nozzles includes an arcuate configuration.

45. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the rim is provided on lateral sides of the side wall only.

46. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the nozzles are angled with respect to the side wall.

47. The patient interface according to claim 40, wherein the side wall includes a gusset portion.

48. The breathing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the frame is adapted to connect to an inlet conduit for delivering breathable gas.