Delivery of respiratory therapy

• US 9,827,391 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kwok, Philip Rodney, Veliss, Lee James, Gunning, Philip John, Henry, Robert Edward, Peake, Gregory Robert, Gregory, Bruce David, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Solari, Clive, Brackenreg, Scott Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPS, BRADLEY H
• Application Number:
  US12/309,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,777 Days
• Field of Search: 12820624, 12820625, 12820628, 12820713
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• 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 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/02 characterised by a particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/588 : by olfactory feedback, i.e. smell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 : Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 : Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 : Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 : Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 : Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 : Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 : Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 : Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 : Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A patient interface includes a sealing arrangement adapted to provide an effective seal with the patient'"'"'s nose, an inlet conduit arrangement adapted to deliver breathable gas to the sealing arrangement, and a cover that substantially encloses the sealing arrangement and/or the inlet conduit arrangement.

Claims

1. A patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurized air or breathing gas to the nares of a person, the patient interface comprising:

a frame;

a unitary porous sealing portion provided to the frame and arranged to form a seal with an underside of the patient'"'"'s nose, the porous sealing portion being configured to seal with lateral external surfaces of the person'"'"'s nares such that the porous sealing portion is configured to cradle the lateral external surfaces of the person'"'"'s nares, the porous sealing portion being air permeable; and

an inlet conduit including a first end provided to the frame and a second end adapted to receive the supply of pressurized air or breathing gas from a source and deliver the supply to the first end.

2. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the porous sealing portion is constructed from a foam.

3. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the foam includes an unskinned arrangement.

4. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the foam includes a soft viscoelastic foam.

5. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the porous sealing portion is constructed from a textile.

6. The patient interface of claim 5, wherein the textile includes one or more layers of textile material.

7. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the porous sealing portion provides an intentional/controlled leak between the person'"'"'s skin and the frame.

8. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the porous sealing portion provides a necessary volume of CO₂ washout without additional CO₂ vent holes.

9. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit is moulded and covered in a textile.

10. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit is constructed from a woven textile.

11. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit includes a first inlet conduit and a second inlet conduit provided to respective sides of the frame.

12. The patient interface of claim 1, further comprising a connector provided to the second end of the inlet conduit, said connector constructed and arranged to interconnect the inlet conduit with an air delivery tube connected to a flow generator.

13. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit includes a non-cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

14. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed of a silicone material.

15. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed of a rigid material.

16. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the foam has an open cell arrangement.

17. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the foam is breathable so as to prevent condensation buildup.

18. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the porous sealing portion includes an aperture formed therein, the frame including an opening formed therein in alignment with the aperture so as to deliver the pressurized air or breathing gas from the inlet conduit to the person'"'"'s nares.

19. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the frame is cylindrically shaped, the unitary porous sealing portion is provided over a portion of the frame to substantially match a curvature of the cylindrically shaped frame and thereby arranged to form the seal with the underside of the patient'"'"'s nose.

20. The patient interface of claim 19, wherein the porous sealing portion includes a foam layer provided over an external surface of the cylindrically shaped frame.

21. The patient interface of claim 19, wherein the opening in the frame extends over an arc-shaped portion of the cylindrically shaped frame.

22. A patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurized air or breathing gas to the nose of a person, the patient interface comprising:

a frame;

a porous sealing portion provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal with external surface of an underside of the person'"'"'s nose below and adjacent a tip of the person'"'"'s nose , wherein the porous sealing portion is air permeable; and

an inlet conduit including a first end provided to the frame and a second end adapted to receive the supply of pressurized air or breathing gas from a source and deliver the supply to the first end,

wherein the porous sealing portion includes an aperture to deliver the supply to the person'"'"'s nasal passageways, and the aperture is arranged to be positioned externally of the person'"'"'s nasal passageways when the patient interface is worn.

23. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the porous sealing portion is constructed from a foam.

24. The patient interface of claim 23, wherein the foam includes an unskinned arrangement.

25. The patient interface of claim 23, wherein the foam includes a soft viscoelastic foam.

26. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the porous sealing portion provides an intentional/controlled leak between the person'"'"'s skin and the frame.

27. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the porous sealing portion is adapted to cradle the person'"'"'s external nares.

28. The patient interface of claim 23, wherein the foam has an open cell arrangement.

29. The patient interface of claim 23, wherein the foam is breathable so as to prevent condensation buildup.

30. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the frame has a cylindrical shape and the porous sealing portion includes a foam layer provided over an external surface of the cylindrically shaped frame.

31. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the frame has a cylindrical shape and includes an opening formed therein in alignment with the aperture so as to deliver the pressurized air or breathing gas from the inlet conduit to the person'"'"'s nasal passageways.

32. The patient interface of claim 22, wherein the aperture separates the porous sealing portion into a proximal portion and a distal portion with respect to an upper lip of the person when the patient interface is worn,

wherein the aperture is arranged such that an underside of the person'"'"'s nose spans the aperture and causes the underside of the person'"'"'s nose to rest on the distal portion of the porous sealing portion when the patient interface is worn.