Mask system having mask vent with recess and ribs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005189-B2
Application number	US-202217859268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2022
Priority date	Oct 3, 2013
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A mask system to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways includes a frame and a cushion forming a plenum chamber. The mask system includes a mask vent including an exterior recess positioned outside the plenum chamber and including a bottom surface, a plurality of vent holes each including a vent inlet and a vent outlet, and a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom surface. The plurality of ribs includes at least a first rib and a second rib, the first rib having a free end spaced apart from a free end of the second rib, and the first rib or the second rib is positioned between the first vent outlet and the second vent outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mask system to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways including at least the entrance of a patient's nares to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:
a frame with an frame opening structured to receive the flow of air at the positive pressure for breathing by a patient;
a cushion provided to the frame, the cushion constructed and arranged to seal with a region of the patient's face surrounding at least the entrance to the patient's nares,
the frame and the cushion configured to form a plenum chamber pressurizable to the positive pressure above ambient air pressure; a shroud attached to the frame and including a shroud opening, the shroud including a pair of upper headgear attachment points and a pair of lower headgear attachment points; headgear including a pair of upper straps to connect to the upper headgear attachment points and a pair of lower straps to connect to the lower headgear attachment points; and a mask
vent constructed and arranged to allow exhaust of gases exhaled by the patient from an interior of the plenum chamber to ambient, the mask vent including:
an elbow assembly in fluid communication with the interior of the plenum chamber, the elbow assembly including a wall at least partially forming an exterior recess having a bottom surface, the wall separating the exterior recess from an interior of the elbow assembly, the elbow assembly including an elbow having an end that is accommodated by the shroud opening and received within the frame opening;
a plurality of vent holes extending through the wall of the elbow assembly, each said vent hole including a vent inlet positioned at the interior of the elbow assembly and a vent outlet configured to direct the gases exhaled by the patient to the exterior recess, the plurality of vent holes including a first vent hole with a first vent outlet, and
a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom surface and arranged at least partly within the exterior recess, the plurality of ribs including at least a first rib and a second rib, the first rib having a free end spaced apart from a free end of the second rib, the first vent outlet being positioned between the free end of the first rib and the free end of the second rib,
wherein the elbow assembly further comprises a side wall that at least partially surrounds the bottom surface and at least partially forms the exterior recess, wherein the side wall and the plurality of ribs run substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and wherein each of the ribs has a height that does not protrude outside of the exterior recess.

2. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent holes includes a second vent hole with a second vent outlet and a third vent with a third vent outlet, the first rib is positioned between the first vent outlet and the second vent outlet, and the second rib is positioned between the second vent outlet and the third vent outlet.

3. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent holes are arranged to provide a venting area having an oblong, ovoid, or oval shape.

4. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the vent holes are arranged in columns, the vent holes in each column being offset from vent holes in at least one adjacent column.

5. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the mask vent is integrally formed in one piece with the elbow assembly.

6. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the elbow assembly includes a first end configured to be in fluid communication with the frame opening and a second end configured to engage an air delivery tube, and each of the plurality of vent holes has a longitudinal axis that is aligned or parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first end of the elbow assembly.

7. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent holes are arranged to provide a venting area and each of the first rib and the second rib extends at least partially through the venting area.

8. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vent holes includes a part conic shape.

9. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vent holes includes a cylindrical shape.

10. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent holes is in a range of 2 holes to 40 holes.

11. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first rib and the second rib projects outwards from the bottom surface in an anterior direction.

12. The mask system according to claim 1 , further comprising a shroud provided to the frame and configured to connect the frame to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient.

13. The mask system according to claim 12 , wherein the shroud includes an edge that forms an opening configured to connect to the elbow assembly.

14. The mask system according to claim 12 , further comprising a pair of arms, each arm of the pair of arms extends from a respective side of the shroud and is configured to connect to a headgear.

15. The mask system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of vent holes are arranged to provide a venting area having an oblong, ovoid, or oval shape;
the vent holes are arranged in columns, the vent holes in each column being offset from vent holes in at least one adjacent column;
the plurality of vent holes are arranged to provide a venting area and each of the first rib and the second rib extends at least partially through the venting area; and
the plurality of vent holes is in a range of 20 holes to 40 holes.

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Frater Robert Henry
• Yang Quangang

Classifications

• A61M16/0057

  Pumps therefor · CPC title

• F24F2007/0025

  using vent ports in a wall · CPC title

• A61M16/107

  in the inspiratory path · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M16/065

  in the form of a pivot · CPC title