Treatment of respiratory conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11433213-B2
Application number	US-202117156021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jun 5, 2008
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A device (102) provides respiratory treatment for SDB (including mild OSA) and other respiratory conditions. A flow generator warms and humidifies gas at controlled flow levels. For example, the device (102) delivers breathable gas to the upper airway at flow rates of about 10-35 Liters/minute. Levels of flow rate, temperature and/or humidification of the device may be automatically adjusted in response to the detection of SDB events. The device may also automatically deliver adjustments of any of the levels in accordance with detected phases of respiratory cycles. In some embodiments, the device automatically delivers distinct levels to either of the nares based on independent control of flow to each nare. A warm-up procedure controls temperature and humidity at a desired target during a ramp-up of flow in the set therapy level. A cool-down procedure controls temperature above the dewpoint to avoid condensation internal to the device and patient interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nasal mask assembly for providing high flow respiratory therapy to a patient, the nasal mask assembly comprising:
a nasal interface configured to deliver a flow of pressurized breathable gas to the patient, the nasal interface comprising:
a pair of nasal inserts to be inserted into the nares of the patient without sealing against the nares;
an inlet through which the pressurized breathable gas is received;
a nasal interface body with one or more surfaces defining one or more fluid passageways from the inlet to the pair of nasal inserts;
a left lateral headgear connector extending from a left lateral side of the nasal interface, the left lateral headgear connector including a left protrusion at an end of the left lateral headgear connector; and
a right lateral headgear connector extending from a right lateral side of the nasal interface, the right lateral headgear connector including a right protrusion at an end of the right lateral headgear connector,
wherein:
the nasal interface body includes a first barrel portion and a second barrel portion,
the first barrel portion is provided on a frame that includes the left lateral headgear connector, the right lateral headgear connector, and the pair of nasal inserts, and
the second barrel portion includes the inlet and an upper aperture configured to sealingly connect to the first barrel portion,
the first barrel portion includes an upper surface and a mounting boss extending downward from a medial portion of the upper surface and connecting to the frame at a position below the upper surface,
the mounting boss, the upper surface, and the frame of the first barrel portion define a loop having a first loop opening and a second loop opening, and
the second barrel portion is configured to be inserted into the first barrel portion and to completely fill the first loop opening and the second loop opening to sealingly connect the upper aperture to the first barrel portion;

a conduit to provide the flow of pressurized breathable gas to the nasal interface, the conduit including a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a supply of pressurized breathable gas and the second end being connected to the inlet of the nasal interface;
a headgear assembly to position the nasal interface below the patient's nares, the headgear assembly comprising a plurality of headgear straps that include at least:
a left headgear strap with a left connecting end that is configured to connect to the left lateral headgear connector, wherein the left connecting end defines a left aperture that is configured to receive and retain the left protrusion when the left protrusion is inserted into the left aperture; and
a right headgear strap with a right connecting end that is configured to connect to the right lateral headgear connector, wherein the right connecting end defines a right aperture that is configured to receive and retain the right protrusion when the right protrusion is inserted into the right aperture.

2. The nasal mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the left lateral headgear connector includes (i) a first left segment that extends laterally from the nasal interface generally along a lateral plane and (ii) a second left segment that extends from the first left segment generally along an upward left plane to the end of the left lateral headgear connector, the upward left plane being at a upward left angle relative to the lateral plane,
the right lateral headgear connector includes (i) a first right segment that extends laterally from the nasal interface generally along the lateral plane and (ii) a second right segment that extends from the first right segment generally along an upward right plane to the end of the right lateral headgear connector, the upward right plane being at a upward right angle relative to the lateral plane.

3. The nasal mask assembly of claim 2 , wherein the upward left angle and the upward right angle are obtuse angles.

4. The nasal mask assembly of claim 3 , wherein the upward left angle is a mirror angle of the upward right angle reflected over a medial plane of the nasal interface.

5. The nasal mask assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the first left segment and the first right segment are configured to extend along and contact an upper lip of the patient,
the second left segment is configured to extend along and contact a left cheek of the patient, and
the second right segment is configured to extend along and contact a right cheek of the patient.

6. The nasal mask assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the left lateral headgear connector is configured so that, when the nasal assembly is positioned on the patient to provide respiratory therapy, (i) the upward left plane of the second left segment extends above the patient's left ear and (ii) the end of the left lateral headgear connector is positioned on the patient's left cheek, and
the right lateral headgear connector is configured so that, when the nasal assembly is positioned on the patient to provide respiratory therapy, (i) the upward right plane of the second right segment extends above the patient's right ear and (ii) the end of the right lateral headgear connector is positioned on the patient's right cheek.

7. The nasal mask assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the left headgear strap is configured to extend along the patient's left cheek, above the patient's left ear, and to a back of the patient's head, and
wherein the right headgear strap is configured to extend along the patient's right cheek, above the patient's right ear, and to the back of the patient's head.

8. The nasal mask assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of headgear straps further include:
a rear upper strap connected to the left headgear strap and the right headgear strap, the rear upper strap being configured to extend along the back of the patient's head between the left headgear strap and the right headgear strap, and
a rear lower strap connected to the left headgear strap and the right headgear strap, the rear lower strap being configured to extend along the back of the patient's head below the rear upper strap and between the left headgear strap and the right headgear strap.

9. The nasal mask assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the rear upper strap and the rear lower strap are connected to the left headgear strap at a common left junction point, and
the rear upper strap and the rear lower strap are connected to the right headgear strap at a common right junction point.

10. The nasal mask assembly of claim 9 , wherein, when the nasal assembly is positioned on the patient to provide respiratory therapy, the common left junction point and the common right junction point are positioned above an axial plane at a top of the patient's ears.

11. The nasal mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein, when the nasal assembly is positioned on the patient to provide respiratory therapy, the common left junction point and the common right junction point are positioned along a coronal plane that intersects the patient's ears.

12. The nasal mask assembly of claim 9 , wherein the left headgear strap, the right headgear strap, the rear upper strap, and the rear lower strap are integrally formed of a material.

13. The nasal mask assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the left lateral headgear connector and the right lateral headgear connector are made of a silicon material, and
the material in which the left headgear strap, the right headgear strap, the rear upper strap, and the rear lower strap are integrally formed comprises a fabric material.

14. The nasal mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is positioned o

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Sweeney Peter John
• Benjafield Adam Vivian
• Farrugia Steven Paul
• Heidmann Dieter
• Richards Glenn
• Klasek Paul Jan

Classifications

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61M2016/0021

  with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor · 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

• A61M2016/0027

  pressure meter · CPC title