ADJUSTABLE POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE OR VENTILATION SYSTEM

• US 20160015921A1
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Design Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Human Design Medical, LLC (Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Harrison, Donald, Gosline, Andrew Havens, Arabagi, Veaceslav Gheorghe, Kapelus, Aaron Jonah
• Granted Patent: US 10,485,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• 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 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• 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 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a comfortable and adjustable nasal pillow configured to be part of a nasal pillow system that is part of a mask system used with a ventilation or PAP device. The nasal pillows are configured to have multiple degrees of freedom of rotation.

Claims

1. A positive airway pressure assembly, the assembly comprising:

a plurality of nasal pillows;

a mask frame configured to support each of the nasal pillows, the mask frame receiving a supply of pressurized gas and delivering a portion of the pressurized gas to each of the nasal pillows;

wherein each nasal pillow further comprises;

a connection interface configured to connect to the mask frame and receive the portion of pressurized gas therethrough;

an aperture configured to deliver the portion of pressurized gas to a user'"'"'s nostril;

wherein each nasal pillow tapers from a narrow upper portion about the aperture to a wider base section forming a cone, and

wherein the connection interface extends from the base portion.

2. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the nasal pillows has an elliptical cross section about the narrow upper portion.

3. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the nasal pillows has an annular side wall.

4. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 3, wherein the annular side wall of the cone has a tapering thickness being thinner at the upper portion and thicker at the base portion.

5. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 3, wherein the annular side wall of the cone has a constant thickness with a varying durometer between the upper portion and the base portion.

6. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 3, wherein the annular side wall has a plurality of strips having a varying thickness, each strip extending from the aperture at the upper portion to the base portion.

7. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection interface further comprises an attachment sleeve for interfacing between the mask frame and each of the nasal pillows.

8. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 7, wherein each nasal pillow is provided with a plurality of annular ribs axially spaced about an attachment portion of each nasal pillow, the annular ribs engaging with a corresponding recess located about the attachment sleeve.

9. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the nasal pillows is configured to rotate axially with respect to the attachment sleeve and wherein each of the nasal pillows is also configured to translate axially with respect to the attachment sleeve.

10. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 9, wherein the attachment sleeve can rotate axially with respect to the mask frame.

11. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 7, wherein the attachment sleeve can rotate axially with respect to the mask frame.

12. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 7, wherein the attachment portion of each nasal pillow is an annular tube, the annular tube having a smaller inner diameter than the wider base section of each nasal pillow.

13. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 12, wherein the annular tube interfaces with the base portion of each nasal pillow with an elastic trampoline portion.

14. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 13, wherein the elastic trampoline portion has a durometer that is lower than the durometer of the annular tube and the cone.

15. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 13, wherein the elastic trampoline portion has a wall thickness lower than the wall thickness of the annular tube and the cone.

16. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein the cone has a wall thickness of less than 20 mils.

17. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein the cone has a curved front surface.

18. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein the cone is formed of a plurality of coaxial rings, each coaxial ring having a varying durometer.

19. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 7, further comprising an air conforming bladder extending from the attachment sleeve and configured to engage a user'"'"'s maxilla.

20. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection interface of each nasal pillow is provided with a plurality of annular ribs axially spaced about an attachment portion of each nasal pillow, the annular ribs engaging with a corresponding recess located about the mask frame.

21. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 20, wherein each of the nasal pillows is configured to rotate about and translate axially with respect to recess located about the mask frame.

22. The positive airway pressure assembly of claim 1, further comprising an air conforming bladder extending from the attachment sleeve and configured to engage a user'"'"'s maxilla.

23. A method of providing a pressurized stream of gas to the airways of a user, the method comprising:

obtaining a mask frame configured to support a plurality of nasal pillows, the mask frame receiving a supply of pressurized gas at an inlet, and delivering a portion of the pressurized gas to each of a set of apertures;

selecting, from a plurality of different sized nasal pillows, a selected pair of nasal pillow best suited to fit with the nares of an intended user;

affixing the selected pair of nasal pillows to the mask frame over the apertures;

adjusting a relative rotation of each pillow of the selected pair of nasal pillows; and

affixing the mask frame, and the nasal pillows to the face of the user, in a manner that the nasal pillows engage with the user'"'"'s nares and provide the supply of pressurized gas to the user'"'"'s airways.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of adjusting an individual pillow height of each pillow of the selected pair of nasal pillows with respect to the frame.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of adjusting an angle of engagement of each pillow of the selected pair of nasal pillows with respect to the frame and the user'"'"'s nares.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the nasal pillows has an elliptical cross section.

27. A positive airway pressure assembly, the assembly comprising:

a plurality of nasal pillows;

a mask frame configured to support the plurality of nasal pillows, the mask frame receiving a supply of pressurized gas at an inlet, and delivering a portion of the pressurized gas to each of a set of frame apertures;

wherein each nasal pillow further comprises;

a connection interface configured to removably and rotatably connect to the mask frame and receive the portion of pressurized gas therethrough from the set of frame apertures;

a non-circular aperture configured to deliver the portion of pressurized gas to a user'"'"'s nostril;

a flexible base portion that is wider than and engages the connection interface; and

a cone portion extending from the base portion and tapering to a narrow upper portion about where the non-circular aperture is formed.