Strapless nasal interface device

• US 8,430,098 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acanthus Medical Creations LLC
• Original Assignee: Venkata Buddharaju
• Inventors: Buddharaju, Venkata
• Primary Examiner(s): Bouchelle, Laura A
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOHR, LEAH C
• Application Number:
  US12/641,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.25, 128/206.21, 128/207.13, 128/207.18, 128/200.26, 128/203.22, 128/206.11, 12820418-20525
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/0666 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 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer

Abstract

A strapless nasal interface device is disclosed. The device is used in conjunction with CPAP, BIPAP, ventilators, or any other suitable device. The device includes a body with a passageway to a ventilating tube, exhalation holes, and a passageway to nostril interface tubes. The nostril interface tubes include a nasal interface element which is an expandable, compressible material such that the user can compress the element, insert it into the end of the nostril and allow it to expand to hold the tube in place. Alternatively, the nasal interface elements are held against the outer edge of the nostrils. Optionally, a skirt is included at the outer side of the nostril to aid in sealing against air leaks. Optionally, flaps are included to assist in holding the device in place, such as side flaps, a front flap, or both. The front flap may be adherable to the exterior of the nose and optionally includes resilient strips to open the nasal passageway. Alternatively, a nose cover is adhered to the nose and side attachment flaps secure the device to the nose cover. Thus, the device requires no additional straps or headgear in order to maintain the device in operable position during sleep.

Claims

1. A strapless nasal interface device comprising:

an interface body having a cavity therein, said cavity having a passageway to an air tube extending from said interface body,

at least one nostril interface tube having an internal passage extending from said interface body,

a facial patch which is adherable to a portion of a person'"'"'s face above the level of such a person'"'"'s nostrils, and

at least one attachment flap connected to said interface body and removably attachable to a surface of said facial patch above the level of such a person'"'"'s nostrils adapted to hold said nostril interface tube in a secure position in which it communicates with a person'"'"'s nostril when said facial patch is worn by such a person on the person'"'"'s face and said attachment flap is attached to the surface of said facial patch in an operable mode, and wherein in said operable mode a seal sufficient for CPAP operation is formed between said nostril interface tube and a person'"'"'s nostril.

2. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 1, wherein said air tube is rotatably attached to said interface body via a first point of attachment which is substantially leak-proof regardless of a degree of rotation of said air tube.

3. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 2, wherein said air tube is free to rotate 360 degrees at said first point of attachment.

4. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 3, wherein said air tube is further removably and rotatably attachable to an air supply tube at a second point of attachment, and wherein said second point of attachment is substantially leak-proof regardless of a degree of rotation of said air tube with respect to said supply tube, wherein said air tube is bent along its length, and wherein rotation at said first point of attachment can occur in a plane which is different from a plane of rotation at said second point of attachment.

5. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one nostril interface tube comprises two nostril interface elements, and wherein said nostril interface elements each comprise an upper cushion comprising a radial protrusion and having an upper surface adapted to interface with the outside edge of a person'"'"'s nostril.

6. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 5, wherein said upper cushion comprises a compressible material.

7. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 6, wherein said nostril interface elements further comprise a lower radial element comprising a radial protrusion adapted to be urged toward said upper cushion and to compress said upper cushion to aid in forming a seal between said upper cushion and a person'"'"'s nostril when said device is worn by a person.

8. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 7, wherein said lower radial element comprises an internal substantially rigid rim adapted to aid in compressing said upper cushion when said device is worn by a person.

9. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 6, wherein said nostril interface elements are removably attachable to said interface body, and wherein said nostril interface elements comprise substantially non-porous surfaces.

10. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 9, wherein at least said substantially non-porous surfaces comprise a silicone material.

11. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 1, wherein said facial patch is a nose cover having an adhesive on a bottom surface adapted to removably adhere to the outer surface of a person'"'"'s nose.

12. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 11, wherein said at least one attachment flap comprises two attachment flaps each connected at one end to said interface body and removably attachable to said nose cover.

13. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 12, wherein said attachment flaps are each removably attachable to said nose cover via hook and loop fasteners having opposing elements disposed on a surface of said attachment flaps and on a surface of said nose cover.

14. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 12, wherein said attachment flaps extend on opposing sides of said interface body.

15. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 11, wherein said nose cover comprises a bendable element adapted to be bent to match contours of a person'"'"'s nose and hold its shape.

16. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 1, wherein said interface body further comprises at least one exhalation hole adapted to allow exhaled air to pass therethrough without substantially depressurizing the cavity.

17. A strapless nasal interface device comprising:

an interface body having a cavity therein, said cavity having a passageway to an air tube extending from said interface body,

at least one nostril interface tube having an internal passage extending from said interface body, and

at least one attachment flap connected to said interface body and removably attachable to a surface of the nose of a user and adapted to hold said nostril interface tube in a position in which it communicates with a person'"'"'s nostril when said attachment flap is attached to the surface of the nose of a user in an operable mode, and wherein in said operable mode a seal sufficient for CPAP operation is formed between said nostril interface tube and a person'"'"'s nostril.

18. A strapless nasal interface device comprising:

an interface body having a cavity therein, said cavity having a passageway to an air tube extending from said body,

at least one nostril interface tube having an internal passage extending from said interface body,

a compressible expandable nasal interface element disposed on an exterior of said nostril interface tube, wherein said nasal interface element is compressible to fit within a nostril of a user and expandable to make contact with the skin at the inner edge of the nostril to hold said interface tube in place within the nostril.

19. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 18, wherein said nasal interface element is removable from said nostril interface tube and disposable, and wherein said nasal interface element comprises mounting means on an inner surface to removably mount said element to said nostril interface tube.

20. The strapless nasal interface device according to claim 18, further comprising a pair of side flaps each extending from a side of said interface body, the distal ends of which have an adhesive thereon to mount to the exterior of the nose of a user to assist in securing said device.