Mask and vent assembly therefor
First Claim
1. A method for attaching a removable, washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a shell having an inlet tube, the CPAP mask comprising polycarbonate material, the shell having only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being bounded by a rim of said polycarbonate material, the vent insert being made of a material more flexible than the polycarbonate material of the rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the CPAP mask during the entire breathing cycle of a patient while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner and outer flanges defining a recess therebetween at a periphery of the vent insert, the method comprising:
- squeezing the vent insert;
aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the single opening in the CPAP mask;
inserting the inner flange of the vent insert into the single opening; and
releasing the vent insert once the inner flange is within the single opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to receive the rim in the recess, engage the inner flange with an inner surface of the rim, and engage the outer flange with an outer surface of the rim,wherein an outer end of each orifice at an outer exit side of the insert is positioned outward of the outer surface of the rim,wherein the recess of the vent insert and the single opening have non-circular, complementary shapes,wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner entry side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the outer exit side of the vent insert, andwherein the vent insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer exit side of the vent insert.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for attaching a removable, washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a rigid plastics shell having an inlet tube, the rigid plastics shell having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert being made of a material more flexible than the rigid plastic shell, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having a recess located at its periphery, includes: squeezing the vent insert along its longitudinal axis; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening; inserting the vent insert into the opening; and releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to engage the rim of the opening.
256 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for attaching a removable, washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a shell having an inlet tube, the CPAP mask comprising polycarbonate material, the shell having only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being bounded by a rim of said polycarbonate material, the vent insert being made of a material more flexible than the polycarbonate material of the rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the CPAP mask during the entire breathing cycle of a patient while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner and outer flanges defining a recess therebetween at a periphery of the vent insert, the method comprising:
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squeezing the vent insert; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the single opening in the CPAP mask; inserting the inner flange of the vent insert into the single opening; and releasing the vent insert once the inner flange is within the single opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to receive the rim in the recess, engage the inner flange with an inner surface of the rim, and engage the outer flange with an outer surface of the rim, wherein an outer end of each orifice at an outer exit side of the insert is positioned outward of the outer surface of the rim, wherein the recess of the vent insert and the single opening have non-circular, complementary shapes, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner entry side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the outer exit side of the vent insert, and wherein the vent insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer exit side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a shell having an inlet tube, the CPAP mask having only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being bounded by a rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the CPAP mask during the entire breathing cycle of a patient, the vent insert structured and configured to reduce noise during gas washout, the vent insert having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner and outer flanges defining a recess therebetween at a periphery of the vent insert, the method comprising:
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squeezing the vent insert; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the single opening in the CPAP mask; inserting the inner flange of the vent insert into the single opening; and releasing the vent insert once the inner flange is within the single opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to receive the rim in the recess, engage the inner flange with an inner surface of the rim, and engage the outer flange with an outer surface of the rim, wherein the insert includes a main body and the inner and outer flanges are provided at the perimeter of the main body, the plurality of orifices are provided in the main body and the inner and outer flanges are radially outward of the plurality of orifices, and wherein a cross sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer exit side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer exit side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a shell having an inlet tube, the CPAP mask comprising polycarbonate material, the shell having only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being bounded by a rim of said polycarbonate material, the vent insert constructed and arranged to be more flexible than the polycarbonate material of the rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the CPAP mask during the entire breathing cycle of a patient while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner and outer flanges defining a recess therebetween at a periphery of the vent insert, the method comprising:
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squeezing the vent insert; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the single opening in the CPAP mask; inserting the inner flange of the vent insert into the single opening; and releasing the vent insert once the inner flange is within the single opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to receive the rim in the recess, engage the inner flange with an inner surface of the rim, and engage the outer flange with an outer surface of the rim, wherein an outer end of each orifice at an outer side of the insert is positioned outward of the outer surface of the rim, wherein the insert includes a main body and the inner and outer flanges are provided at the perimeter of the main body, the plurality of orifices are provided in the main body and the inner and outer flanges are radially outward of the plurality of orifices, wherein the recess of the vent insert and the single opening have non-circular, complementary shapes, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner entry side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer exit side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer exit side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a main body having a shell having an inlet tube, the main body having only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being bounded by a rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the CPAP mask during the entire breathing cycle of a patient, the vent insert having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner and outer flanges defining a recess therebetween at a periphery of the vent insert, the method comprising:
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temporarily flexing or deforming the vent insert to allow the inner flange to enter into the single opening; and releasing the vent insert once the inner flange is within the single opening to allow the vent insert to return to an unflexed or undeformed position to receive the rim in the recess, engage the inner flange with an inner surface of the rim, and engage the outer flange with an outer surface of the rim, thereby securing the vent insert relative to the rim, wherein the recess of the vent insert and the single opening have non-circular, complementary shapes, wherein the vent insert is structured and configured to reduce noise during gas washout, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner entry side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer exit side of the vent insert, and wherein the vent insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer exit side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification