Patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11452834-B2
Application number	US-202217689102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2022
Priority date	Jul 30, 2007
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a substantially rigid frame, the rigid frame comprising,
a main body including an opening configured to receive a flow of pressurized gas,
a projection extending from the main body and forming a closed perimeter, the projection having an inner surface configured to direct the flow of pressurized gas and an external surface including a lip, and
a chamfer;

a nasal seal assembly comprising,
a first end having a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of the patient's nose in use,
a second end opposite the first end, the second end having an opening with a closed perimeter corresponding to the closed perimeter of the projection, wherein an interior surface of the second end includes a complementary lip configured to removably engage the lip of the projection; and

a positioning and stabilising structure connected to the frame at two discrete points, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising,
a pair of rigidizers each having a first end connected to the frame and configured to have an inner surface extend at least partially along the patient's cheeks and a second end including a slot, wherein the inner surface of each rigidizer includes a first curvature proximate to the first end and a second curvature transitioning from the first curvature toward the second end, and wherein the first curvature and the second curvature are in opposite directions, and
a headgear strap receivable through the slots and configured to contact the patient's head and maintain the pair of nasal prongs in a sealing position on the patient's head.

2. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a textile material is attached to at least a portion of an inner surface of each rigidizer of the pair of rigidizers, and wherein the textile material is configured to contact the patient.

3. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the nasal seal assembly is stretchable relative to the frame when connecting or disconnecting the nasal seal assembly from the frame, and wherein the nasal seal assembly is connectable to the frame in only one orientation.

4. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the chamfer is disposed at a free end of the projection, and wherein the second end of the nasal seal assembly is configured to slide over the chamfer when the nasal seal assembly connects to the frame.

5. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the first curvature is configured to form a convex shape with respect to the patient in use and the second curvature is configured to form a concave shape with respect to the patient in use.

6. The patient interface of claim 1 , further comprising an elbow connected to the frame, wherein the elbow includes a plurality of vent holes configured to allow for gas washout.

7. The patient interface of claim 1 , further comprising a short tube that includes a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the patient interface and the second end adapted to connect to an air delivery tube.

8. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein,
the nasal seal assembly is stretchable relative to the frame when connecting or disconnecting the nasal seal assembly from the frame;
a majority of each rigidizer arm is formed with the second curvature, the second curvature configured to conform to a contour of the patient's cheek;
the first curvature is configured to form a convex shape with respect to the patient in use and the second curvature is configured to form a concave shape with respect to the patient in use;
the main body of the frame includes an outer perimeter and wherein an outer perimeter of the lip is less than the outer perimeter of the main body; and
the pair of rigidizers are each connected to the main body at the outer perimeter of the main body.

9. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a substantially rigid frame, the rigid frame comprising,
a main body including an opening configured to receive a flow of pressurized gas, and
a projection extending from the main body and forming a closed shape, the projection having an inner surface configured to direct the flow of pressurized gas, and an external surface including a lip and a groove, wherein the lip is disposed at a free end of the projection, and wherein the groove is disposed between the lip and the main body;

a nasal seal assembly comprising,
a first end having a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of the patient's nose in use,
a second end opposite the first end, the second end having an opening with a closed shape corresponding to the closed shape of the projection, wherein an interior surface of the second end includes a frame contacting portion configured to be removably receivable within the groove and removably engage the frame, wherein the frame contacting portion includes an inner surface configured to engage the lip in use; and

a positioning and stabilising structure connected to the frame at two discrete points, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising,
a pair of rigidizers each having a first end connected to the frame and configured to extend at least partially along the patient's cheeks and a second end including a slot, and
a headgear strap receivable through the slots and configured to contact the patient's head and maintain the pair of nasal prongs in a sealing position on the patient's head.

10. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein,
the second end of the nasal seal assembly is thicker than the first end of the nasal seal assembly;
the closed shape is a non-circular shape;
the nasal seal assembly is connectable to the frame in only one orientation; and
the nasal seal assembly includes a curved shape, and wherein each nasal prong extends toward the other nasal prong of the pair of nasal prongs.

11. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein each rigidizer of the pair of rigidizers includes a compound curvature having a first curvature and a second curvature in an opposite direction from the first curvature, and wherein each rigidizer includes the first curvature proximate to the first end and the second curvature transitioning from the first curvature toward the second end.

12. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein the external surface of the projection further includes a chamfer, and wherein the second end of the nasal seal assembly is configured to slide over the chamfer when the nasal seal assembly connects to the frame.

13. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein the closed shape is a non-circular shape with a top side, a bottom side, and two connecting sides connecting the top side and the bottom side, wherein the top side is larger than the bottom side, and wherein the nasal seal assembly is connectable to the frame in only one orientation.

14. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein the main body of the frame includes an outer perimeter and wherein an outer perimeter of the lip is less than the outer perimeter of the main body.

15. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the pair of rigidizers are each connected to the main body at the outer perimeter of the main body.

16. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein the main body includes a slot, and wherein each rigidizer of the pair of rigidizer is received within the slot.

17. The patient interface of claim 9 , wherein the nasal seal assembly is stretchable relative to the frame when connecting or disconnecting the nas

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Guney Memduh
• Scheiner Rupert Christian
• Pidcock David Anthony
• Rummery Gerard Michael
• Eves Matthew
• Edwards Craig David
• Cariola Melanie Lucia
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• Chen Michael Fu Pin
• Skipper Christopher Scott
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Lubke Steven John
• Gregory Bruce David
• Gibson Joel Edward
• Cameron Andrew David
• Kwok Philip Rodney

Classifications

• A61M16/0622

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title

• A61M16/0666 Primary

  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

• A61M2205/42

  Reducing noise · CPC title

• A61M16/0611

  with a gusset portion · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title