Patient interface systems

• US 8,573,201 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rummery, Gerard Michael, Henry, Robert Edward, Hill, Phoebe Katherine, Hurst, Andrew, Nurse, Philip Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US13/389,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20120132209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/202.27, 128/205.24, 128/205.25, 128/205.27, 128/205.29, 128/206.21, 128/207.12, 128/203.25, 128/205.11
• US Class Current: 128/202.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 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 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames

Abstract

A headgear for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes at least a strap (741) adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient'"'"'s airways. The strap is constructed from an elastomer and a first side of the strap includes a first region (215) on a portion of its surface that is textured to reduce friction with objects contacting the strap. A textured surface coating for a portion of an elastomer strap included in a headgear system is adapted to contact the skin of a patient, when in use, and the coating has a Ra value greater than zero. A vent (500) for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a plurality of rises (580) and runs (570) in a stepped arrangement; and a plurality of holes (510) in the stepped arrangement for the venting of gas.

Claims

1. A vent for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent rows of holes arranged in a progressively displaced stepped configuration comprising a plurality of steps with each step comprising a run and a rise for venting of gas.

2. The vent of claim 1, wherein the vent is angled.

3. The vent of claim 2, wherein the vent is configured to be angled at 35°

away from a direction normal to the patient'"'"'s face.

4. The vent of claim 1, comprising at least one row of holes positioned on a rise.

5. The vent of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of adjacent rows of holes is positioned on a rise.

6. The vent of claim 1, wherein each rise is between about 0.1 to 5 mm in length.

7. The vent of claim 1, wherein each run is between 0.1 to 5 mm in length.

8. The vent of claim 7, wherein the length of the run and the rise produces an angle about 35°

.

9. The vent of claim 1, wherein the run is angled in a downward direction from a plane perpendicular to a plane of the rise.

10. The vent of claim 1, wherein each of the holes of said plurality of rows of holes includes a rounded edge at an entrance to the respective vent hole.

11. The vent of claim 10, wherein the rounded edge at the entrance has a radius of curvature of about 0.1 to 0.6 mm.

12. The vent of claim 10, wherein the holes have an entrance diameter greater than an exit diameter.

13. The vent of claim 12, wherein the exit diameter of the holes is between about 0.1 to 1.0 mm.

14. The vent of claim 13, wherein the holes having varying exit diameters.

15. The vent of claim 12, wherein a ratio of a length of each vent hole to the exit diameter is about 3:

1 to 5;

1.

16. The vent of claim 15, wherein the holes have varying lengths.

17. The vent of claim 1, wherein a transition between the rise and the run is curved.

18. The vent of claim 17, wherein a radius of curvature of the transition is between about 0.1 to 2 mm.

19. The vent of claim 1, wherein said vent produces between 10-30 dBa during use as part of a positive pressure treatment.

20. The vent of claim 1, wherein said vent is mounted on an elbow which is attached to a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient.

21. A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable air to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a main body having a cushion portion;

an elbow mounted on the main body;

headgear configured to bias the main body against the patient'"'"'s face; and

a vent assembly according to claim 1.

22. The patient interface of claim 21, wherein the vent assembly is mounted on the elbow.

23. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the elbow has a distal end configured to be connected to a gas delivery conduit.

24. The patient interface of claim 23, wherein the cushion portion includes a pair of nasal pillows configured to engage the patient'"'"'s nostrils.

26. The vent assembly of claim 24, wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially planar and are substantially perpendicular to each other.

27. The vent assembly of claim 26, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged only on the first surfaces or only on the second surfaces.

25. A vent assembly for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the vent comprising:

a plurality of alternating first and second surfaces, each first surface connecting consecutive second surfaces, each consecutive first surface extending along a plane that is progressively offset from another plane along which a preceding first surface extends; and

a plurality of holes arranged on at least one of the first and second surfaces.

28. The vent assembly of claim 25, further comprising a third surface.

29. The vent assembly of claim 28, wherein the plurality of holes extend from the third surface to the first surfaces or the second surfaces to define a plurality of passages.

30. The vent assembly of claim 29, wherein the plurality of passages have varying lengths.

31. The vent assembly of claim 30, wherein an intersection between each passage and the third surface includes a radius edge.

32. The vent assembly of claim 31, wherein each passage of the plurality of passages is shaped to have a larger diameter at the third surface than at the first or second surfaces.

33. The vent assembly of claim 32, wherein the diameters of the passages at the first or second surfaces vary.

34. The vent assembly of claim 25, wherein a transition between the first surfaces and the second surfaces is filleted.

35. The vent assembly of claim 25, wherein the vent assembly is mounted on an elbow which is attached to a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient.

36. A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable air to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a main body having a cushion portion;

an elbow mounted on the main body;

headgear configured to bias the main body against the patient'"'"'s face; and

a vent assembly according to claim 25.

37. The patient interface of claim 36, wherein the vent assembly is mounted on the elbow.

38. The patient interface of claim 37, wherein the elbow has a distal end configured to be connected to a gas delivery conduit.

39. The patient interface of claim 38, wherein the cushion portion includes a pair of nasal pillows configured to engage the patient'"'"'s nostrils.