Breathing assistance apparatus

• US 8,479,741 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Gleeson, Oliver, Erstich, Evan Stuart, Freeman, Simon Eric, Schoenberg, Stephen John, Law, Kamman, Prentice, Craig Robert, Davies, Neil Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US12/353,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090241961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.18, 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 128/206.27, 128/207.11, 128/207.13
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth

Abstract

Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear includes a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user'"'"'s nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user'"'"'s nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask.

Claims

1. A patient interface comprising:

a mask body comprising a substantially flexible plastics material, the mask body comprising a first nasal pillow and a second nasal pillow, the first nasal pillow and the second nasal pillow being angled toward one another, the first nasal pillow comprising a first generally conical portion and a first generally cylindrical portion, the second nasal pillow comprising a second generally conical portion and a second generally cylindrical portion, the first nasal pillow comprising a first outlet opening and the second nasal pillow comprising a second outlet opening;

the mask body also comprising a mask body inlet opening, the mask body inlet opening being spaced apart form the first outlet opening and the second outlet opening, the mask body inlet opening defined within a generally tubular portion of the mask body;

a mask base comprising a plastics material that is less flexible than the substantially flexible plastics material of the mask body, the mask base comprising a housing that defines a through passage, a proximal portion of the through passage being surrounded by a recess, the recess of the mask base receiving the generally tubular portion of the mask body that defines the mask body inlet opening;

a first side arm removably connected to the mask base and a second side arm removably connected to the mask base, the first side arm being three dimensionally molded and having a varying cross-sectional thickness and the second side arm being three dimensionally molded and having a varying cross-sectional thickness; and

headgear comprising a first side strap and a second side strap, the first side strap and the second side strap comprising a composite foam material, the first side arm overlapping with and secured to the first side strap, the second side arm overlapping with and secured to the second side strap, the first side strap extending only partially along the first side arm, the second side strap extending only partially along the second side arm.

21. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an elbow releasably and rotatably engaged with the through passage of the mask base and a tube or conduit extending from the elbow.

22. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elbow is capable of swiveling in the mask base such that the tubing can be positioned adjacent to any of the side straps.

23. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side arm is sewn to the first side strap and the second side arm is sewn to the second side strap.

24. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side arm is three dimensionally molded to a shape to substantially match contours of a cheek.

25. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pillow comprises an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile defining an outlet of the nasal pillow, and the inner profile being offset inward relative to the outer profile.

26. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pillow comprises an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile defining an outlet of the nasal pillow, and the inner profile being offset downward relative to the outer profile, to, in use, be offset toward the user'"'"'s lip.

27. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a top strap connected to the first side strap and to the second side strap, wherein the top strap includes a first top strap portion and a second top strap portion, wherein the first top strap portion is adjustably connected to the second top strap portion via a buckle.

28. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a back strap extending from at least one of the first side strap, the second side strap, and the top strap, and wherein the back strap includes a first back strap portion and a second back strap portion, wherein the first back strap portion is adjustably connected to the second back strap portion via a buckle.

29. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side arm and the second side arm are connected to the mask base outside of a volume defined by the mask body.

30. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the molded side arms includes a bifurcated portion.

31. A patient interface as claimed in claim 30, wherein the overlap between the side straps and the molded side arms begins at the bifurcated portion of the molded side arms and continues toward at least one of the back strap and the top strap.

32. A patient interface as claimed in claim 30, wherein a first molded arm portion extends from the back base, and wherein a second molded arm portion and a third molded arm portion extend from the first arm portion toward at least one of the back strap and the top strap.

33. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each side strap is glued onto a molded side arm.

34. A patient interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular portion of the mask body further comprises at least one projection configured to mate with the recess of the mask base.

2. A patient interface comprising:

a mask body comprising a molded elastomeric material, the mask body comprising two extending nasal pillows and a lip, the nasal pillows, in use, resting in a substantially sealed manner against corresponding nares of a user;

a ring engaged with the lip of the mask body;

a plane substantially bisecting the ring, each of the two nasal pillows positioned on opposite sides of the plane;

an elbow rotatably engaged with the ring, the elbow comprising a wall, a vent being formed in the wall of the elbow, the vent comprising a plurality of holes;

a tube or conduit extending from the elbow; and

a headgear comprising side straps that pass down the cheeks of the user, a top strap connected to the side straps, a back strap extending from at least one of the side straps and the top strap, the headgear further comprising molded side arms extending away from the ring to connect with the side straps, wherein the molded side arms overlap the side straps and the side straps are made from a soft foam material, and wherein the side straps overlap the molded side arms on a portion of the molded side arms that is spaced from the ring, the side straps extending away from the ring along the molded side arms;

the elbow being capable of swiveling in the ring such that the tubing can be attached to the top strap or can fall freely;

in use, gases flow from the tube or conduit, through the elbow, through the ring, through the mask body and through the pillows;

wherein the ring is configured to connect to only two molded side arms and wherein each of the two molded side arms is configured to connect with a single side strap.

3. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring comprises a channel receiving the lip of the mask body.

4. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elbow is capable of swiveling in the ring such that the tubing can be positioned adjacent to any of the side straps.

5. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring comprises a hard plastic material.

6. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the soft foam material is a composite foam material.

7. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side arm is sewn to the side strap.

8. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side arm is three dimensionally molded to a shape to substantially match contours of a cheek.

9. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pillows are angled toward one another.

10. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillow comprises an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile defining an outlet of the nasal pillow, and the inner profile being offset inward relative to the outer profile.

11. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillow comprises an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile defining an outlet of the nasal pillow, and the inner profile being offset downward relative to the outer profile, to, in use, be offset toward the user'"'"'s lip.

12. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top strap includes a first top strap portion and a second top strap portion, wherein the first top strap portion is adjustably connected to the second top strap portion via a buckle.

13. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the back strap includes a first back strap portion and a second back strap portion, wherein the first back strap portion is adjustably connected to the second back strap portion via a buckle.

14. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the molded side arms have varying cross-sectional thickness along the lengths of the molded side arms.

15. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the molded side arms are connected to the ring portion outside of a volume defined by the mask body.

16. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the molded side arms includes a bifurcated portion.

17. A patient interface as claimed in claim 16, wherein the overlap between the side straps and the molded side arms begins at the bifurcated portion of the molded side arms and continues toward at least one of the back strap and the top strap.

18. A patient interface as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first molded arm portion extends from the ring, and wherein a second molded arm portion and a third molded arm portion extend from the first arm portion toward at least one of the back strap and the top strap.

19. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of each side strap is glued onto a molded side arm.

20. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mask body further comprises at least one projection configured to mate with a recess of the ring when the ring is engaged with the lip of the mask body.

35. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring is configured to releasably connect to the two molded side arms.

36. A patient interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring is integrally formed with at least one of the two molded side arms.