MOUTHPIECE

• US 20160287831A1
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Tebbutt, Adam Alexander, Neal, Blair Albert, Gradon, Lewis George, McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Haycock, Mark Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,500,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/049 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• 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 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

Mouthpiece (1) having vestibular shield (21) overlapping a user'"'"'s teeth and gums, gases passageway means extending through said vestibular shield allowing for the passage of said gases through mouthpiece and extra oral sealing (25) means associated with gases passageway, said passageway in use causes gases to be diffused (outlets 23, 24) when exiting from gases passageway. Mouth piece may have a noseflap to seal the user'"'"'s nose or provide a passageway for user'"'"'s nasal passages. Mouthpiece may have adjustment means to alter distance between said vestibular shield and said extra-oral sealing means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivery of pressurized gas to a user for treatment of sleep disorders, comprising:

an interface configured to contact and form a seal with the user'"'"'s face such that the interface can deliver a flow of the pressurized gas to the user'"'"'s airways;

a connecting tube configured to deliver the flow of the pressurized gas to the interface; and

a vent arrangement defined by an annular portion of the interface and configured to expel expired gases from the interface, the annular portion of the interface comprising;

a first diameter and a second diameter defined by a tapered surface and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the annular portion with the first diameter being upstream from the second diameter relative to the flow of the pressurized gas, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter;

a length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

a plurality of elongate vent paths defined by the tapered surface and positioned along the length extending between the first and second diameters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is tapered along the length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is narrowest at a location nearest the second diameter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent arrangement is a diffuser configured to provide low noise diffusion of the expired gases.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent arrangement is coupled to a swivel that permits the connecting tube to rotate relative to the interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths comprises a first width relatively closer to the first diameter and a second width relatively closer to the second diameter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the interface.

10. An apparatus for delivery of pressurized gas to a user for treatment of sleep disorders, comprising:

an interface configured to create a seal with a face of the user and deliver a flow of the pressurized gas to the user'"'"'s airways, the interface having a passage that permits the flow of pressurized gas to enter the interface by moving in a first direction through the passage;

a connecting tube coupled to the interface and configured to deliver the flow of the pressurized gas to the passage; and

a vent arrangement defined by an annular portion of the interface that surrounds the passage, wherein the vent arrangement is configured to expel expired gases from the interface in a second direction, the annular portion of the interface having a tapered surface in the second direction from a first diameter to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the tapered surface defines a plurality of elongate vent paths extending in the second direction between the first and second diameters.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths tapers in the second direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is narrowest at a location nearest the second diameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of elongate vent paths is configured to direct the expired gases in a direction along the connecting tube away from the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vent arrangement is a diffuser configured to provide low noise diffusion of the expired gases.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vent arrangement is coupled to a swivel that permits the connecting tube to rotate relative to the interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths comprises a first width relatively closer to the first diameter and a second width relatively closer to the second diameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

18. An elbow for coupling a breathing tube to an apparatus for delivery of pressurized gas to a user for treatment of sleep disorders, the elbow comprising:

an annular vent arrangement configured to expel expired gases from the interface, the annular vent arrangement comprising;

a first diameter and a second diameter defined by a tapered surface and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the annular portion with the first diameter being upstream from the second diameter relative to the flow of the pressurized gas, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter;

a length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

a plurality of elongate vent paths defined by the tapered surface and positioned along the length extending between the first and second diameters.

19. The elbow of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is tapered along the length extending between the first diameter and the second diameter.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of elongate vent paths is narrowest at a location nearest the second diameter.