Patient interface

• US 9,480,809 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guney, Memduh, Scheiner, Rupert Christian, Pidcock, David Anthony, Rummery, Gerard Michael, Eves, Matthew, Edwards, Craig David, Cariola, Melanie Lucia, Dantanarayana, Muditha Pradeep, Chen, Michael, Skipper, Christopher Scott, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Lubke, Steven John, Gregory, Bruce David, Gibson, Joel Edward, Cameron, Andrew David, Kwok, Philip Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRYANT, ERIC C
• Application Number:
  US12/219,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20090044808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,017 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.28, 128/202.27, 128/204.11, 128/206.11, 128/206.13, 128/207.11, 128/207.17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• 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 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• 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 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production

Abstract

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

Claims

1. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use; and

headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including first and second side straps and respective rigidizers provided to respective side straps such that each of the respective rigidizers is coextensive with a respective side strap at least along a portion of the headgear configured to extend along a side of the patient'"'"'s bead, each of the respective rigidizers providing rigidity to a respective one of the first and second side straps,

each rigidizer including a first end portion that provides

     1) a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong, assembly and

     2) a protrusion that curves inwardly of the connector and forms a cheek support, the cheek support adapted to follow a contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the patient interface further comprises a base region and each nasal prong includes a head portion adapted to seal with a respective patient nasal passage and as stalk that interconnects the head portion with the base region.

3. A patient interface according to claim 2, wherein the bead portion includes a. dual or double-wall arrangement including an inner wall and an outer wall that surrounds the inner wall.

4. A patient interface according to claim 2, wherein each prong includes an upper trampoline-like suspension system between the head portion and the stalk, and a lower trampoline-like suspension system between the stalk and the base region.

5. A patient interface according, to claim 1, wherein the nasal prong assembly includes structure to reduce and/or eliminate an air jetting effect.

6. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the cheek support is arranged such that headgear tension is applied to the cheek support rather than to the pair of nasal prongs to prevent the pair of nasal prongs from being compressed.

7. A patient interlace according to claim 1, wherein each of the respective rigidizers includes rib-strengthened brackets to support the connector on the rigidizer.

8. A patient interlace according to claim 1, wherein the headgear includes a rear strap that passes around a rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head.

9. A patient interface according to claim 8, wherein each of the respective rigidizers includes a slot that defines a cross-bar adapted to engage a respective end of the rear strap.

10. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein each of the respective rigidizers is attachable to a respective side strap via stitching, welding, and/or gluing.

11. A patient interface according, to claim 1, wherein a width of the side strap on at least one side of the rigidizer is about 5-9 mm.

22. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein each rigidizer includes a second end portion connected to a main portion of the rigidizer.

23. A patient interface according to claim 22, wherein both the first and second end portions are located at opposing ends of the respective rigidzer.

24. A patient interface according to claim 23, wherein the second end portion is configured to be connected to a strap.

28. A patient interface according to claim 1, further comprising a pad provided to each of the respective rigidizers and adapted to contact a side of the patient'"'"'s face, wherein the pad includes foam.

12. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal seal to sealingly communicate with the patient'"'"'s nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal seal in position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including side portions,

each of said side portions including a side strap and a rigidizer provided to the side strap, each rigidizer including a main portion and a curved protrusion branching off from the main portion and terminating in a free end, the curved protrusion thereby forming a cheek support configured to Mow a contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide an end portion of each respective side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek to provide a stable cheek support,

wherein the cheek support is configured to flex relative to the main portion in order to conform to the contours of the patient'"'"'s cheek.

25. A patient interface according to claim 12, wherein the protrusion curves inwardly from the side strap toward a front of the patient'"'"'s face.

26. A patient interface according to claim 25, wherein a connector branches off from the main portion of each rigidizer and is configured to connect the riuidizer to a frame which supports the nasal.

29. A patient interface according to claim 12, further comprising a pad provided to the rigidizer and adapted to contact a side of the patient'"'"'s face, wherein the pad includes foam.

30. A patient interface according to claim 12, wherein each rinidizer is coextensive with the respective side strap at least along a portion of the headgear configured to extend along a side of the patient'"'"'s head, the rigidizers providing rigidity to the first and second side straps.

33. A patient interface according to claim 12, wherein the free end of the curved protrusion is configured to be positioned on the patient'"'"'s cheek when the patient interlace is worn.

13. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use;

a frame configured to support the pair of nasal prongs; and

headgear connectable to the frame to maintain the frame and the nasal prong assembly in position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear including left and right side straps formed of soft, flexible material and respective rigidizers formed of semi-rigid material attached to the respective left and right side straps to provide rigidity to the left and right side straps,

wherein each of said respective rigidizers includes a main portion and an end portion, the end portion branching off from the main portion in two directions to form. respectively,

     1) a connector configured to connect the rigidizer to a respective end of the frame and

     2) a flexible cheek support terminating in a free end and being configured to disperse headgear tension across the patient'"'"'s cheek such that headgear tension is applied to the flexible cheek support instead of the nasal prongs.

14. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein each flexible cheek support is configured to follow the contour of the patient'"'"'s cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient'"'"'s cheek.

15. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein each flexible cheek support is configured to disperse headgear tension below the patient'"'"'s cheek bone.

16. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein each flexible cheek support extends from the respective rigidizer as a cantilever.

17. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein the left and right side straps are elastic.

18. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein the frame comprises an aperture between the respective ends of the frame that is configured to receive a flow of breathable gas.

19. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein each connector is supported on the respective rigidizer by brackets.

20. A patient interface according to claim 19, wherein the brackets comprise ribs that increase rigidity of the connector.

21. A patient interface according to claim 19, wherein the flexible cheek support is provided between the brackets.

27. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein the flexible cheek support terminates at a location away from the main portion of the rigidizer.

31. A patient interface according to claim 13, further comprising a pad provided to each of the respective rigidizers and adapted to contact a. side of the patient'"'"'s face, wherein the pad includes foam.

32. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein each rigidizer is coextensive with a respective side strap at least along a portion of the headgear configured to extend along a side of the patient'"'"'s head.

34. A patient interface according to claim 13, wherein the free end of the flexible cheek support is configured to he positioned on the patient'"'"'s cheek when the patient interface is worn.