PATIENT INTERFACE SYSTEMS

• US 20190091432A1
• Filed: 11/29/2018
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barlow, Adam Francis, Scheiner, Rupert Christian, Formica, Justin John, Davidson, Aaron Samuel, Stuebiger, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/0622 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0085 product washed out
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth

Abstract

A patient interface structure for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a front plate configured to conform to the shape of the patient'"'"'s face; a mouth cushion defining a breathing chamber and provided to the front plate and configured to seal around the patient'"'"'s mouth; and a nasal cushion configured to seal the patient'"'"'s nasal airways. The nasal cushion is supported by the mouth cushion, does not contact a bridge of the patient'"'"'s nose in use, and extends at least partially into the breathing chamber. A patient interface system includes a patient interface structure and a patient interface structure positioning system configured to position, stabilize and secure the patient interface structure in sealing engagement with the patient'"'"'s face.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A mask system for respiratory therapy that involves delivering pressurized air to airways of a patient, the mask system comprising:

a patient interface adapted to contemporaneously deliver the pressurized air to a mouth of the patient and a nose of the patient while the patient interface is positioned entirely below a nasal bridge of the patient, the patient interface forming a breathing chamber and including;

a mouth cushion to seal around the mouth of the patient and deliver the pressurized air from the breathing chamber formed by the patient interface to the mouth of the patient, when the mask system is worn by the patient;

a nasal cushion to seal around the nares of the patient and deliver the pressurized air from the breathing chamber formed by the patient interface to the nose of the patient, when the mask system is worn by the patient, the nasal cushion having a dual wall construction comprising (i) a sealing wall arranged to contact a face of the patient, and (ii) a supporting wall; and

a frame that connects to a non-face-contacting portion of the mouth cushion.

22. The mask system of claim 21, wherein the nasal cushion is adapted to deliver the pressurized air to the nose through a nose aperture, the nose aperture being defined by an inner edge of the sealing wall.

23. The mask system of claim 22, wherein the supporting wall extends into the breathing chamber to an inner edge of the supporting wall, the inner edge of the supporting wall being separated from the inner edge of the sealing wall.

24. The mask system of claim 23, wherein the supporting wall is thicker than the sealing wall.

25. The mask system of claim 23, wherein the sealing wall extends inward toward the inner edge of the sealing wall from an outer periphery of the nasal cushion a greater distance than the supporting wall extends inward toward the inner edge of the supporting wall from the outer periphery of the nasal cushion.

26. The mask system of claim 25, wherein:

the sealing wall curves inward toward the inner edge of the sealing wall; and

the supporting wall curves inward toward the inner edge of the supporting wall.

26-1. The mask system of claim 25, wherein the supporting wall is absent at a bottom portion of the nasal cushion at which the nasal cushion is adapted to seal with a portion of a face of the patient that is between the upper lip of the patient and the nose of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient.

27. The mask system of claim 25, wherein the nasal cushion includes a cradle wall shaped to seal with a portion of a face of the patient that is between the upper lip of the patient and the nose of the patient.

28. The mask system of claim 27, wherein opposing sides of the nose aperture proximate ears of the patient sweep closer towards a face of the patient than a center portion of the nose aperture when the patient interface is worn by the patient.

29. The mask system of claim 27, wherein the nasal cushion is shaped to seal around nares of the patient under the nose of the patient.

30. The mask system of claim 29, wherein the nasal cushion is formed from a single material.

31. The mask system of claim 30, wherein the single material is silicone.

32. The mask system of claim 29, wherein the mouth cushion has a dual wall construction comprising (i) a mouth cushion sealing wall arranged to contact the face of the patient, and (ii) a mouth cushion supporting wall arranged between the mouth cushion sealing wall and a center region of the breathing chamber.

33. The mask system of claim 32, wherein the mouth cushion supporting wall is not present at portion of the mouth cushion adapted to contact the upper lip of the patient when the patient interface is worn by the patient.

34. The mask system of claim 32, wherein the mouth cushion and the nasal cushion are integrally formed using silicone.

35. The mask system of claim 34, wherein the frame has more rigidity than the silicone from which the mouth cushion and the nasal cushion are integrally formed.

36. The mask system of claim 32, wherein the mouth cushion and the nasal cushion are shaped to form a continuous sealing surface that seals both around the mouth and around the nares of the patient, when the mask system is worn by the patient.

37. The mask system of claim 32, wherein the mouth cushion delivers the pressurized air to the mouth through a mouth aperture, the mouth aperture being defined by an inner edge of the mouth cushion sealing wall, the mouth aperture being separated from the nose aperture.

38. The mask system of claim 37, wherein the mouth aperture is separated from the nose aperture by the cradle wall.

39. The mask system of claim 23, wherein the frame is adapted to removably connect to the non-face-contacting portion of the mouth cushion.

40. The mask system of claim 23, wherein the frame is permanently connected to the non-face-contacting portion of the mouth cushion.

41. The mask system of claim 23, wherein the frame is co-moulded to the non-face contacting portion of the mouth cushion.

42. The mask system of claim 41, wherein the frame includes magnetic headgear connection mechanisms at respective sides of the frame.

43. The mask system of claim 21, wherein:

the nasal cushion includes means for sealing around the nares of the patient; and

the mouth cushion includes means for sealing around the mouth of the patient.

44. The mask system of claim 43, wherein the mouth cushion includes means for supporting the nasal cushion.

45. The mask system of claim 44, further comprising means for securing the patient interface to a head of the patient, wherein the patient interface includes means for connecting with the means for securing the patient interface to the head of the patient.

46. The mask system of claim 45, further comprising means for delivering the pressurized air to the patient interface, wherein the patient interface includes means for connecting with the means for delivering the pressurized air to the patient interface.