Patient interface and headgear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065010-B2
Application number	US-201013518713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2010
Priority date	Dec 23, 2009
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

Patient interface components and/or associated head gear and adjustment systems improve sealing and/or patient comfort and/or ease of use. The interface includes an inflating or ballooning seal. The headgear assembly can be connected to the interface with an elastic component and an inelastic component. The elastic component enabling a course fitting of the interface to the patient and the inelastic component enabling a final fitting of the interface to the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiratory interface comprising a compliant seal member having a nose covering portion adapted to cover a nose of a user and a mouth covering portion adapted to cover a mouth of the user, the seal member comprising a sealing portion that is adapted to contact a face of the user, the sealing portion comprising a rolled perimetric edge and a sealing flange that extends inwardly from the perimetric edge, the sealing flange comprising an extended surface that has one end connected to the rolled perimetric edge, a support member secured to the seal member, the support member being more rigid than the seal member, the support member comprising a support member perimetric edge, the rolled perimetric edge of the sealing portion extending outward beyond the support member perimetric edge and
wherein the support member further comprises a notch that extends radially inward from a perimetric edge of the support member and extends through a surface of the support member,
wherein the nose covering portion is received within and extends through the notch, and
wherein the notch has a shape that corresponds to the nose covering portion.

2. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the rolled perimetric edge of the sealing portion extends beyond the support member perimetric edge around an entire length of the support member perimetric edge.

3. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the sealing flange extends radially inwardly from substantially all of the rolled perimetric edge of the seal member.

4. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the seal member further comprises an enclosing portion that connects to the sealing portion proximate the rolled perimetric edge of the sealing member, the enclosing portion being secured to the support member.

5. The interface of claim 4 , wherein the sealing portion of the seal member is substantially more flexible than the enclosing portion of the seal member.

6. The interface of claim 4 , wherein the enclosing portion of the seal member defines a chamber, an airflow inlet extending into the chamber and a flow diverter positioned within the chamber proximate the airflow inlet, the flow diverter causing at least a portion of an airflow from the airflow inlet to be diffused radially within the seal member.

7. The interface of claim 6 , wherein the support member overlies the enclosing portion to reinforce the chamber defined by the enclosing portion.

8. The interface of claim 4 , wherein the sealing portion curves inwardly and the sealing portion forms an acute angle relative to the enclosing portion.

9. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the rolled perimetric edge of the seal member in plan view is defined by a plurality of radii of curvature R 1 and the rolled perimetric edge in section comprises a thickness t and an inside radius of curvature R 2 , a generally horizontal plane extends through a first upper connection for headgear and a second upper connection for headgear and an upper portion of the rolled perimetric edge of the seal member is defined above the generally horizontal plane, and wherein the entire upper portion of the perimetric edge satisfies (1)4≤(R 2 /t)≤7 and (2) (R 1 /R 2 ) <10.

10. The interface of claim 1 , wherein a point of first contact is positioned along at least a portion of the sealing flange such that the sealing flange is adapted to contact the face of the user before the rolled perimetric edge.

11. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of individually displaceable members that are positioned between an attachment for a headgear assembly and the seal member such that the displaceable members can transfer forces from the headgear assembly to the seal member.

12. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the interface defines a chamber, an airflow inlet extending into the chamber and a flow diverter positioned within the chamber proximate the airflow inlet, the flow diverter causing at least a portion of an airflow from the airflow inlet to be diffused radially within the interface.

13. The interface of claim 12 , wherein the diffused airflow is directed radially over at least a portion of the sealing flange.

14. The interface of claim 12 , wherein the airflow inlet extends into the interface at an angle between about 0° and about 70° from vertical.

15. The interface of claim 12 , wherein the flow diverter comprises a partition wall or a swirling structure.

16. The interface of claim 1 , further comprises a headgear assembly comprising a first inelastic connecting strap and a second inelastic connecting strap.

17. The interface of claim 16 , further comprises a headgear assembly comprising a first elastic connecting strap and a second elastic connecting strap.

18. The interface of claim 17 , wherein the elastic connecting straps are configured to provide sufficient retention force to retain the interface and the headgear assembly on the head of the user during fitting thereof facilitating tensioning of the inelastic connecting straps to a desired level.

19. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the support member is more flexible about the generally vertical medial plane of the interface than about any generally horizontal plane that extends through the support member.

20. The interface of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the support member overlaps the seal member.

21. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the seal member defines a chamber, an airflow inlet extending into the chamber and a flow diverter positioned within the chamber proximate the airflow inlet, the flow diverter causing at least a portion of an airflow from the airflow inlet to be diffused radially within the seal member.

22. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to deform about the vertical medial plane of the interface.

23. The interface of claim 1 , wherein a length of the interface along the vertical medial plane is greater than a width of the interface along any generally horizontal plane that extends through the interface.

24. The interface of claim 1 , wherein upper and lower perimeter regions of the support member are recessed relative to cheek portions of the support member in a direction away from the face of the user.

25. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the rolled perimetric edge of the sealing portion extends radially outward beyond the support member perimetric edge.

26. The interface of claim 1 , the notch further comprising an extended notch portion configured to accommodate a septum of the user.

27. The interface of claim 1 , the support member further comprising a ridge positioned below the notch, wherein the ridge is configured to accommodate a central portion of an upper lip of the user.

28. The interface of claim 1 , the support member further comprising upward extension portions that are separated by the notch, the upward extension portions configured to overlap maxilla bones of a skull.

29. The interface of claim 28 , the seal member further comprising wings that extend radially outward toward zygomatic bones of the user, wherein the wings are supported by the upward extension portions.

30. The interface of claim 1 , wherein lateral side edges of the notch extend alongside lateral margins of the nose covering portion such that the support member supports the seal member in a cheekbone region of the user.

Assignees

• Smith Daniel John
• Huddart Brett John
• Adams Matthew James
• Hobson Nicholas Alexander
• Sharp Timothy James Beresford
• Patel Roheet
• Olsen Gregory James
• Stephenson Matthew Roger
• Barsten Troy
• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Smith Daniel John
• Huddart Brett John
• Adams Matthew James
• Hobson Nicholas Alexander
• Sharp Timothy James Beresford
• Patel Roheet
• Olsen Gregory James
• Stephenson Matthew Roger
• Barsten Troy

Classifications

• A61M16/0858

  Pressure sampling ports · CPC title

• A61M16/0683 Primary

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0616

  with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/00

  Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes · CPC title