Deformable insert for low pressure patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10232135-B2
Application number	US-201314418873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2013
Priority date	Aug 3, 2012
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A patient interface includes a frame, an inflatable seal, and a deformable insert. The frame includes an outer portion, an inner portion, and an opening extending therebetween. The inflatable seal is secured to the inner portion of the frame. The inflatable seal defines an internal volume and has at least one aperture. The deformable insert includes an outer surface, an inner surface and a passageway extending therebetween. The deformable insert is positioned within the internal volume of the seal and aligned with at least a portion of the frame inner portion. The passageway is aligned with the frame opening to define a gas flow path from the frame outer portion to the at least one aperture of the seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient interface comprising:
a frame, comprising an outer portion, an inner portion, and an opening extending therebetween;
an inflatable seal secured to the inner portion of the frame, the inflatable seal defining an internal volume and having a patient-facing side and an outward-facing side opposite the patient-facing side, the inflatable seal further comprising at least one aperture on the outward-facing side that is configured to allow gas from a gases supply conduit to flow into the inflatable seal; and
a deformable insert comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a passageway extending therebetween, the entire insert being deformable;
wherein the deformable insert is positioned entirely within the internal volume of the seal and aligned with at least a portion of the frame inner portion,
wherein the passageway is aligned with the frame opening to define a gas flow path from the frame outer portion to the at least one aperture of the seal,
wherein the deformable insert is configured to contact the frame and an inner surface of the inflatable seal to provide a cushion between a user's nose and the frame during use when the inflatable seal is inflated to a pressure below about 6 cm H 2 O,
wherein the passageway of the deformable insert is larger than the at least one aperture of the seal, and
wherein the inflatable seal comprises a pair of protruding nostril locators protruding from the seal, each nasal locator including an outlet aperture.

2. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert is made from a material selected from the group comprising: foam, gel, an inflatable cell, rubber, foamed rubber, plastic elastomer, silicone, and three-dimensional spacer fabric.

3. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert is formed from a die cut, injection moulding, or casting process.

4. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert has a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal shape.

5. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert is sized to substantially extend from one lateral portion of the inflatable seal to an opposite lateral portion of the inflatable seal.

6. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the passageway of the deformable insert has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

7. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the passageway of the deformable insert has a substantially rectangular shape.

8. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert has a thickness of about 0.25″.

9. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the seal inflates under internal pressure from a pressurised gases supply and when pressed against the face of the user, creating a seal with the nose or face of the user.

10. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a protruding lip on the inner portion configured to engage with the seal.

11. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the seal, in use, forms a substantially continuous seal against the user's nose and face.

12. The patient interface of claim 1 , further comprising a strap secured to the frame, wherein the strap extends from one side portion of the frame to another side portion of the frame.

13. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable seal comprises a posterior face configured to contact the face of the patient and an anterior face opposite the posterior face, wherein the outer surface of the deformable insert is posterior to the anterior face of the seal.

14. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert is removably positioned within the internal volume of the seal.

15. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the cushion provided by the deformable insert is soft and comfortable.

16. A patient interface comprising:
a frame, comprising an outer portion, an inner portion, and an opening extending therebetween;
an inflatable seal secured to the inner portion of the frame, the inflatable seal defining an internal volume and having a patient-facing side and an outward-facing side opposite the patient-facing side, the inflatable seal further comprising at least one aperture on the outward-facing side that is configured to allow gas from a gases supply conduit to flow into the inflatable seal; and
a deformable insert comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a passageway extending therebetween,
wherein the deformable insert is positioned entirely within the internal volume of the seal and aligned with at least a portion of the frame inner portion,
wherein the passageway is aligned with the frame opening to define a gas flow path from the frame outer portion to the at least one aperture of the seal,
wherein the deformable insert is configured to contact the frame and an inner surface of the inflatable seal to provide a cushion between a user's nose and the frame during use when the inflatable seal is inflated to a pressure below about 6 cm H 2 O,
wherein the passageway of the deformable insert is larger than the at least one aperture of the seal, and
wherein the inflatable seal comprises a pair of protruding nostril locators protruding from the seal, each nasal locator including an outlet aperture.

17. The patient interface of claim 16 , wherein the deformable insert is made from a material selected from the group comprising: foam, gel, an inflatable cell, rubber, foamed rubber, plastic elastomer, silicone, and three-dimensional spacer fabric.

18. The patient interface of claim 16 , wherein the deformable insert is sized to substantially extend from one lateral portion of the inflatable seal to an opposite lateral portion of the inflatable seal.

19. The patient interface of claim 16 , wherein the deformable insert is removably positioned within the internal volume of the seal.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Siew Silas Sao Jin
• Salmon Andrew Paul Maxwell
• Huang Wen Dong

Classifications

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0666

  Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02) · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title

• A61M16/0622 Primary

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title

• A61M16/0875

  Connecting tubes · CPC title