Patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10786643-B2
Application number	US-201515308163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2014
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A patient interface comprises a frame, a headgear, a manifold and two nasal prongs. The frame may be recessed from the face of the patient, and preferably from the manifold so that the manifold may deform or move with respect to the face of the patient. The manifold may be further configured to be compliant in the direction of engagement with the patient's face, such as in the anterior direction. These features may allow the manifold to engage with the face of the patient, such as the upper lip, without exerting a significant pressure which may lead to patient discomfort. The manifold may also be configured to be rotatable with respect to the frame, for example by a grip feature which may be configured to be held in one hand for rotation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient interface for delivery of a flow of air into one or more nares of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber having an interior surface configured to receive a flow of air, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the exterior surface being exposed to ambient;
a prong for delivering the flow of air from the plenum chamber into a naris of the patient; and
a frame coupled to the plenum chamber, the frame adapted to engage a head of the patient in use for locating the plenum chamber with respect to the naris of the patient,
wherein the patient interface includes a recess exposed to the ambient, the recess being positioned between an anterior, flexible portion of the exterior surface of the plenum chamber and a posterior surface of the frame configured to face the patient in use, the posterior surface being exposed to the ambient and spaced apart from the anterior, flexible portion of the plenum chamber across the recess,
and further wherein the patient interface is constructed and/or arranged to allow the plenum chamber to in-use be adjustably moved into the recess depending on a size and/or movement of a patient's lip superior.

2. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the recess is defined by a central portion of the plenum chamber and a central portion of the frame.

3. The patient interface of claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the frame is rigidly configured.

4. The patient interface of claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the plenum chamber is configured to engage the patient's lip superior in use.

5. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is substantially tubular.

6. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is oriented in a direction substantially normal to the sagittal plane in use.

7. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the frame engages a first end and a second end of the plenum chamber.

8. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises an opening configured to connect to an air circuit for receiving the flow of air.

9. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises an elastic, flexible material.

10. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the prong extends outwardly from the plenum chamber toward the naris of the patient.

11. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the prong is configured to be inserted into the naris of the patient.

12. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the prong is integrally formed with the plenum chamber.

13. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the prong extends in a superior and posterior direction towards the patient.

14. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the prong are curved.

15. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is a complete cylinder with material extending entirely around a circumference of the complete cylinder.

16. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to receive the flow of air along an axis, wherein a wall of the plenum chamber extends completely around the axis.

17. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the plenum chamber is configured to block the flow of air from contacting the posterior surface of the frame.

18. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed in a direction anterior to the plenum chamber.

19. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to move into the recess, when deformed or displaced in an anterior direction.

20. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a central portion of the plenum chamber is configured to move as a whole relative to the frame.

21. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a side portion and a central portion, the side portion of the frame is connected to the plenum chamber proximate to an end of the plenum chamber and limits translation of the end of the plenum chamber in the anterior direction, and the central portion of the frame diverges from the side portion of the frame in order to be disengaged from a central portion of the plenum chamber across the recess, wherein the central portion of the plenum chamber configured to move in the anterior direction.

22. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a rigid portion adapted to engage a face of the patient in use.

23. The patient interface of claim 22 , wherein the rigid portion is adapted to engage a maxilla of the patient in use.

24. The patient interface of claim 1 further comprising a headgear coupled to the frame.

25. The patient interface of claim 24 , wherein the headgear is elastic.

26. The patient interface of claim 24 , wherein the headgear comprises a top strap and a rear strap.

27. The patient interface of claim 24 , wherein the headgear is bifurcated.

28. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a flexible material, and the posterior surface comprises a rigid material configured to act as a stop for the plenum chamber when the plenum chamber moves into the recess.

29. The patient interface of claim 28 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises silicone.

30. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a width of the recess as measured between the posterior surface of the frame and the exterior surface of the plenum chamber is between approximately 1 mm and 4 mm.

31. The patient interface of claim 30 , wherein the width is approximately 2.5 mm.

32. A patient interface for delivering a flow of air to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber configured to receive a flow of air;
one or more prongs configured to deliver the flow of air from the plenum chamber to the entrance of a patient's airways;
a rigid frame coupled to the plenum chamber and configured to engage a cheek of the patient in use; and
a headgear coupled to the rigid frame and configured to engage with the patient's head to locate the one or more prongs in use,
wherein the rigid frame comprises a central portion that is disengaged from and extends past the plenum chamber in an anterior-posterior direction, the central portion includes a posterior surface that is exposed to ambient and configured to face the patient in use, and
wherein external to the plenum chamber, a recess is formed between the posterior surface of the central portion and a flexible wall of the plenum chamber in the anterior-posterior direction, so that the posterior surface is spaced apart from the plenum chamber across the recess.

33. The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein the central portion is more rigid than the plenum chamber, and the central portion has a greater effect on rigidity of the patient interface as compared to the plenum chamber.

34. The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , comprising two prongs.

35. The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein the plenum chamber is a complete cylinder with material extending entirely around a circumference of the complete cylinder.

36. The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein the plenum chamber is a substantially straight cylinder.

37

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Biener Achim
• Bayer Christian
• Komorowski Fred
• Lang Bernd Christoph

Classifications

• A61M16/0066 Primary

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0672

  Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy · CPC title

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/107

  in the inspiratory path · CPC title