Deformable insert for low pressure patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10953179-B2
Application number	US-201916267286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2019
Priority date	Aug 3, 2012
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

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 a frame opening extending therebetween;
an inflatable seal secured to the inner portion of the frame, the inflatable seal defining an internal volume and having an aperture; and
a deformable insert comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and an insert opening providing a passageway through the deformable insert,
wherein the deformable insert is configured to be positioned within the internal volume of the inflatable seal such that the inner surface faces the frame, and the insert opening is aligned with the frame opening to provide a first gas flow path through the frame opening, the aperture and the insert opening, and
wherein a peripheral edge of the deformable insert is configured to fit within the internal volume of the seal to provide a second gas flow path from the frame opening and around the peripheral edge of the deformable insert.

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

3. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert is positioned entirely within the internal volume of the inflatable seal.

4. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the entire deformable insert is deformable.

5. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the insert opening of the deformable insert is larger than the aperture of the inflatable seal.

6. 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.

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

8. The patient interface of claim 1 , 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.

9. The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein the cushion provided by the deformable insert is soft.

10. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the deformable insert comprises: foam, gel, an inflatable cell, rubber, foamed rubber, plastic elastomer, silicone, or three-dimensional spacer fabric.

11. 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 inflatable seal.

12. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable seal has a patient-facing side and an outward-facing side opposite the patient-facing side, and wherein the aperture is positioned on the outward-facing side, and is configured to allow gas from a gases supply conduit to flow into the inflatable seal.

13. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable seal comprises a pair of protruding nostril locators protruding from the inflatable seal, each nasal locator including an outlet aperture.

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

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

16. 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.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title

• A61M2209/088

  on the body · 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

• A61M16/0875

  Connecting tubes · CPC title