Nasal pillows for a patient interface

• US 9,907,925 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Prentice, Craig Robert, Monro, Rory Alexander, Mason, Isaac Tristram Tane, Geslain, Nadjean Maurice Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, MICHAEL JASPER
• Application Number:
  US15/610,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20170326324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: D24110, D241101, D241102, D241103, D241104, D241105, D241106
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes

Abstract

A nasal pillow section for use as part of an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, the pillow section in use located in front of the upper lip and below the nostrils of a user, the pillow section comprising a pillow gasket having a gases aperture which receives a stream of gases in use, and nasal pillows fluidically connected to the pillow gasket which are adapted to substantially seal against the nostrils of a user in use, so that substantially the whole of the stream of gases entering the gasket through the aperture passes into the nasal pillows from the pillow gasket and is delivered to the user, the lower inner surface of the pillow gasket shaped so that in use contact between the upper lip of a user and the pillow gasket is minimized.

Claims

1. A nasal pillow member for use with an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, said nasal pillow member located in front of an upper lip and sealed to nares of a user in use, said nasal pillow member comprising:

first and second nasal pillows each comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the proximal end having an outlet aperture and a flared portion surrounding the outlet aperture, the flared portions being configured to substantially seal against nares of a user in use, the stem portion being narrower than the flared portion; and

a pillow gasket portion formed with the first and second nasal pillows as a single piece of supple material, the pillow gasket portion comprising a manifold having a distal end with a gases aperture and a proximal end, the gases aperture receiving a stream of gases in use, the proximal end of the manifold comprising a bridging portion defining first and second planar side areas, the first and second planar side areas oriented at an angle relative to each other, forming a v-angle when viewed from a front side of the pillow gasket portion, the distal ends of the first and second nasal pillows being connected to the first and second planar side areas such that the stem portions of the first and second nasal pillows extend from the first and second planar side areas in directions angled toward each other;

the manifold comprising a lower inner surface oriented to face towards an upper lip of a user in use, the lower inner surface comprising a lower distal end portion disposed at the distal end of the manifold, a lower proximal end portion disposed at the proximal end of the manifold and a lower middle portion connecting the lower distal end portion and the lower proximal end portion, the lower inner surface having a first length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold;

the lower inner surface comprising a first rounded convex shoulder at the lower distal end portion and a second rounded convex shoulder at the lower proximal end portion, and wherein the lower middle portion comprises only a single, inwardly curved lower concavity extending from the first rounded convex shoulder to the second rounded convex shoulder;

wherein the manifold further comprises an upper surface on a side of the manifold opposite to the lower inner surface and oriented to face away from an upper lip of a user in use, the upper surface comprising an upper distal end portion disposed at the distal end of the manifold, an upper proximal end portion disposed at the proximal end of the manifold and an upper middle portion connecting the upper distal end portion and the upper proximal end portion, the upper surface having a second length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold, wherein the second length is shorter than the first length;

wherein the upper surface comprises a third rounded convex shoulder at the upper distal end portion and a fourth rounded convex shoulder at the upper proximal end portion, and wherein the upper middle portion comprises only a single, inwardly curved upper concavity extending from the third rounded convex shoulder to the fourth rounded convex shoulder.

2. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of said lower inner surface between the distal end and the proximal end of the manifold is at least 20 mm.

3. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inwardly curved lower concavity extends inwardly relative to a plane extending across the lower inner surface from the lower distal end portion to the lower proximal end portion.

4. A nasal pillow member for use with an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, said nasal pillow member comprising:

first and second nasal pillows each comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the proximal end having an outlet aperture and a flared portion surrounding the outlet aperture, the flared portions being configured to substantially seal against nares of a user in use; and

a pillow gasket portion comprising a manifold having a distal end with a gases aperture and a proximal end, the gases aperture receiving a stream of gases in use, the distal ends of the first and second nasal pillows being connected to the proximal end of the manifold;

the manifold comprising a lower inner surface oriented to face towards an upper lip of a user in use, the lower inner surface comprising a lower distal end portion disposed at the distal end of the manifold, a lower proximal end portion disposed at the proximal end of the manifold and a lower middle portion connecting the lower distal end portion and the lower proximal end portion, the lower inner surface having a first length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold;

the lower inner surface comprising a first rounded convex shoulder at the lower distal end portion and a second rounded convex shoulder at the lower proximal end portion, and wherein the lower middle portion comprises only a single, inwardly curved lower concavity extending from the first rounded convex shoulder to the second rounded convex shoulder;

wherein the manifold further comprises an upper surface on a side of the manifold opposite to the lower inner surface and oriented to face away from an upper lip of a user in use, the upper surface comprising an upper distal end portion disposed at the distal end of the manifold, an upper proximal end portion disposed at the proximal end of the manifold and an upper middle portion connecting the upper distal end portion and the upper proximal end portion, the upper surface having a second length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold, wherein the second length is shorter than the first length;

wherein the upper surface comprises a third rounded convex shoulder at the upper distal end portion and a fourth rounded convex shoulder at the upper proximal end portion, and wherein the upper middle portion comprises only a single, inwardly curved upper concavity extending from the third rounded convex shoulder to the fourth rounded convex shoulder.

5. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 4, wherein a height of said lower inner surface between the distal end and the proximal end of the manifold is at least 20 mm.

6. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inwardly curved lower concavity extends inwardly relative to a plane extending across the lower inner surface from the lower distal end portion to the lower proximal end portion.

7. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pillow gasket portion is formed with the first and second nasal pillows as a single piece of supple material and the first and second nasal pillows extend from the pillow gasket portion at an angle slanted toward the upper surface.

8. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the proximal end of the manifold comprises a bridging portion defining first and second planar side areas, the first and second planar side areas oriented at an angle relative to each other, forming a v-angle when viewed from a front side of the pillow gasket portion.

9. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distal ends of the first and second nasal pillows are connected to the first and second planar side areas such that the stem portions of the first and second nasal pillows extend from the first and second planar side areas in directions angled toward each other.

10. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the manifold comprises a wall disposed radially inwardly from the first rounded convex shoulder and extending around the gases aperture.

11. A nasal pillow member for use with an apparatus for providing a stream of gases to a user, said nasal pillow member comprising:

first and second nasal pillows each comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the proximal end having an outlet aperture and a flared portion surrounding the outlet aperture, the flared portions being configured to substantially seal against nares of a user in use; and

a pillow gasket portion comprising a manifold having a distal end with a gases aperture and a proximal end, the distal ends of the first and second nasal pillows being connected to the proximal end of the manifold;

the manifold comprising a lower inner surface comprising a lower distal end disposed at the distal end of the manifold and a lower proximal end disposed at the proximal end of the manifold, the lower inner surface comprising only a single, inwardly curved lower concavity disposed between the lower distal end and the lower proximal end, the lower inner surface having a first length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold;

wherein the manifold further comprises an upper surface, the upper surface comprising an upper distal end disposed at the distal end of the manifold and an upper proximal end disposed at the proximal end of the manifold, wherein the upper surface comprises only a single, inwardly curved upper concavity disposed between the upper distal end and the upper proximal end, the upper surface having a second length extending from the distal end of the manifold to the proximal end of the manifold, wherein the second length is shorter than the first length.

12. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein a height of said lower inner surface between the distal end and the proximal end of the manifold is at least 20 mm.

13. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inwardly curved lower concavity extends inwardly relative to a plane extending across the lower inner surface from the lower distal end to the lower proximal end.

14. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pillow gasket portion is formed with the first and second nasal pillows as a single piece of supple material.

15. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the proximal end of the manifold comprises a bridging portion defining first and second planar side areas, the first and second planar side areas oriented at an angle relative to each other, forming a v-angle.

16. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 15, wherein the distal ends of the first and second nasal pillows being connected to the first and second planar side areas such that the stem portions of the first and second nasal pillows extend from the first and second planar side areas in directions angled toward each other.

17. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the manifold comprises a wall disposed radially inwardly from the lower distal end of the manifold and extending around the gases aperture.

18. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lower inner surface comprises a lower middle portion connecting the lower distal end and the lower proximal end, the single, inwardly curved lower concavity being disposed in the lower middle portion.

19. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 18, wherein the lower inner surface comprises a first rounded convex shoulder at the lower distal end and a second rounded convex shoulder at the lower proximal end, and wherein the single, inwardly curved lower concavity extends from the first rounded convex shoulder to the second rounded convex shoulder.

20. A nasal pillow member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the upper surface comprises an upper middle portion connecting the upper distal end and the upper proximal end, a third rounded convex shoulder at the upper distal end and a fourth rounded convex shoulder at the upper proximal end.