Retractable tube for CPAP

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10034995-B2
Application number	US-21189608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2008
Priority date	Sep 20, 2007
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A retractable tube for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient has an internal diameter of about 30 mm or less, a weight of about 500 g/m or less, and an unextended length of about 2 m or less. The retractable tube includes a portion that is extensible in a range of about 40%-400% in response to force applied to the tube, and the extensible portion is configured to return the tube to its unextended length in the absence of force applied to the tube. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas includes a flow generator to generate the flow and a patient interface to deliver the flow to the patient's airways. The flow generator and the patient interface are connected by a retractable tube. A method of delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas includes connecting the flow generator and the patient interface using a retractable tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable tube for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient, wherein the tube has an internal diameter of about 30 mm or less, a weight per unit length of about 500 g/m or less, and an unextended length of about 2 m or less, wherein the retractable tube comprises an inextensible portion and a portion that is extensible in a range of about 40%-400% of its unextended length in response to force applied to the tube, the extensible portion being configured to return the tube to its unextended length in the absence of force, or reduced force, applied to the tube.

2. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a helical spring provided at the extensible portion.

3. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring is provided on an inner surface of the tube at the extensible portion.

4. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring is provided on an outer surface of the tube at the extensible portion.

5. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the extensible portion comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and the spring is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface.

6. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring is formed of plastic.

7. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring is formed of metal.

8. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the extensible portion is bowed outwardly between coils of the spring.

9. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the extensible portion is bowed inwardly between coils of the spring.

10. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring has a spring constant of about 25 N/m or less.

11. A retractable tube according to claim 2 , wherein the spring has a spring constant of about 7 N/m.

12. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises a plurality of bellows.

13. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube comprises a biocompatible material.

14. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is comprised entirely of biocompatible materials.

15. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the inextensible portion and the extensible portion are integrally formed.

16. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the inextensible portion and the extensible portion are formed separately and connected by a connector.

17. A retractable tube according to claim 16 , wherein the connector comprises a C-shaped clip.

18. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises a looped portion.

19. A retractable tube according to claim 18 , further comprising a retractable cord connected to the looped portion, the retractable cord being configured to extend and retract as the loop portion is extended and retracted.

20. A retractable tube according to claim 18 , further comprising a winding mechanism configured to bias the retractable cord into a retracted position.

21. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises a plurality of connecting rings and an elastic member that connects the connecting rings.

22. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises an internal diameter of about 12 mm.

23. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises an internal diameter of about 13.3 mm.

24. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion comprises an internal diameter of about 8 mm.

25. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible portion is extensible in a ratio of about 2:3.

26. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is extensible by at least 40% of its unextended length.

27. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is extensible by at least 60% of is unextended length.

28. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is extensible by at least 100% of its unextended length.

29. A retractable tube according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is extensible to about 400% of is unextended length.

30. A method of delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas from a flow generator configured to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient interface configured to engage a patient's face and deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the patient's airways, the method comprising:
connecting the flow generator and the patient interface using a retractable hose with an extensible portion;
anchoring the extensible portion at a fixed location only at one end of the extensible portion or only at both ends of the extensible portion; and
dynamically adjusting the extensible portion in response to movement of the patient's head to maintain a compact arrangement of the hose close to the patient's body,
wherein maintaining the compact arrangement comprises guiding movement of the hose across the patient's torso and/or adjusting a length of the extensible portion when the ends of the hose are as far apart as, or farther apart than, an unextended length of the extensible portion.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising applying a biasing force to the hose to dynamically adjust the hose in response to movement of the patient's head.

32. A mask system for a patient, comprising:
a patient interface;
a tube provided to the patient interface; and
a tube arrangement adjustment device built into or formed separately from the tube and adapted to dynamically guide movement of the tube across the patient's body to maintain a compact arrangement of the tube close to the patient regardless of positioning of the patient's head.

33. A mask system according to claim 32 , wherein the tube arrangement adjustment device comprises a retracting mechanism provided to the tube.

34. A mask system according to claim 33 , wherein the retracting mechanism is integrally formed with the tube.

35. A mask system according to claim 33 , wherein the retracting mechanism is separately connected to the tube.

36. A mask system according to claim 33 , wherein the retracting mechanism comprises a retractable cord configured to extend and retract.

37. A mask system according to claim 36 , wherein when retracted, the cord positions a portion of the tube to form a loop shape.

38. A mask system according to claim 17 , wherein the tube arrangement adjustment device further comprises a winding mechanism configured to bias the retractable cord into a retracted position.

39. A mask system according to claim 38 , wherein the winding mechanism is attached to the patient's body.

40. A mask system according to claim 32 , wherein the tube is length-adjustable.

41. A retractable tube for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient, the retractable tube comprising:
at least one helical spring formed of a coiled strand with a plurality of coils, the strand having a diameter that varies

Assignees

• Kooij Michiel
• Rummery Gerard Michael
• Henry Robert Edward
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Kooij Michiel
• Rummery Gerard Michael
• Henry Robert Edward

Classifications

• F16L3/13

  and engaging it by snap action {(F16L3/1203 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M16/0875 Primary

  Connecting tubes · CPC title

• A62B9/00

  Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus (A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2209/088

  on the body · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title