Patient interface and method for making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12343477-B2
Application number	US-202016879946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	Jan 18, 2013
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A nasal patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to an entrance of a patient's airways includes a cushion member that includes a retaining structure and a seal-forming structure permanently connected to the retaining structure, a frame member attachable to the retaining structure, and a positioning and stabilising structure releasably attachable to the frame member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A headgear clip for a positioning and stabilising structure of a patient interface, comprising:
a mechanical structure configured to mechanically engage the headgear clip to a headgear connection point of a frame assembly,
wherein the mechanical structure is configured to allow the headgear clip to rotate relative to the headgear connection point when the mechanical structure is magnetically engaged with the headgear connection point and headgear tension is applied;
a magnet configured to magnetically engage the headgear clip with the headgear connection point; and
a slot configured to receive a headgear strap passing therethrough,
wherein the mechanical structure is configured to prevent linear displacement of the headgear clip in a direction substantially parallel to the Frankfort horizontal direction when headgear tension is applied,
wherein the mechanical structure includes a raised wall that forms a space configured to receive the headgear connection point,
wherein the mechanical structure includes outer engagement surfaces configured to engage the headgear connection point, wherein the outer engagement surfaces are substantially smooth so as to minimize relative friction and physical obstruction thereby permitting 360° rotation of the headgear clip relative to the headgear connection point,
wherein at least a portion of the outer engagement surfaces of the raised wall is sloped and configured to engage an undercut provided to the headgear connection point to facilitate retention of the headgear clip on the headgear connection point,
wherein the space formed by the raised wall is configured to receive a raised surface provided by the headgear connection point, wherein the raised surface is sloped to provide said undercut, and
wherein the sloped portion of the raised wall is configured to abut the sloped, raised surface of the undercut when headgear tension is applied to facilitate retention of the headgear clip on the headgear connection point.

2. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein the raised wall is in a shape of a semi-circle configured to engage the raised surface provided by a cylindrical portion of the headgear connection point.

3. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein the magnet is held within the headgear clip by a top layer of plastic material and a bottom layer of plastic material.

4. The headgear clip according to claim 3 , wherein the raised wall projects away from the bottom layer of plastic material.

5. The headgear clip according to claim 4 , wherein the raised wall projects from a circumferential portion around the magnet.

6. The headgear clip according to claim 5 , wherein the raised wall has a semicircular cross-section.

7. The headgear clip according to claim 3 , wherein the magnet is fully encased in plastic material.

8. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein the slot is elongate having its longitudinal axis oriented parallel with a nominal vertical axis in use.

9. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein when the headgear clip is engaged with the headgear connection point and headgear tension is applied, the slot is unobstructed by the frame assembly.

10. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage a magnet provided by the headgear connection point.

11. The headgear clip according to claim 10 , wherein the magnet of the headgear connection point is fully encased in plastic material.

12. The headgear clip according to claim 11 , wherein the magnet of the headgear connection point is fully encased within a lower arm of the frame assembly.

13. The headgear clip according to claim 10 , wherein the magnet of the headgear clip and/or the headgear connection point is a ferromagnetic material, permanent magnet or electromagnet.

14. The headgear clip according to claim 1 , wherein, when headgear tension is applied by adjusting a length of the headgear strap, the headgear clip is configured to maintain mechanical and magnetic engagement with a lower arm of the frame assembly and rotate relative to the lower arm of the frame assembly.

15. A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways including at least entrance of a patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4 cmH2O to about 30 cmH2O above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing;
said patient interface comprising:
a cushion assembly including a seal-forming structure configured to form a seal against the patient's airways and a plenum chamber pressurised at a pressure above ambient pressure in use;
a positioning and stabilising structure including headgear straps to maintain the cushion assembly in sealing contact with an area surrounding an entrance to the patient's airways while maintaining a therapeutic pressure at the entrance to the patient's airways;
a gas washout vent configured to allow a flow of patient exhaled CO2 to an exterior of the patient interface to minimise rebreathing of exhaled CO2 by the patient;
a frame assembly to releasably engage the cushion assembly and provide a connection to the headgear straps of the positioning and stabilising structure; and
the headgear clip according to claim 1 .

16. The patient interface according to claim 15 , wherein the cushion assembly includes a retaining structure for repeatable engagement with and disengagement from the frame assembly, and the frame assembly and the retaining structure are comprised of a semirigid material to provide a releasable hard-to-hard connection.

17. The patient interface according to claim 16 , wherein the cushion assembly comprises a sealing lip that seals against the frame assembly when the retaining structure and frame assembly are attached to one another, and when air pressure increases within the cushion assembly, the sealing force is increased.

18. The patient interface according to claim 15 , further comprising a tube for the delivery of the flow of breathable gas, the tube being connected to the frame assembly without a swivel elbow.

19. An apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder comprising:
the patient interface according to claim 15 ;
an air circuit; and
a source of air at positive pressure.

20. A frame for a patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to an entrance of a patient's airways, the frame structured to engage the headgear clip according to claim 1 , the frame comprising:
a main body;
a pair of upper arms extending from an upper portion of the main body; and
a pair of lower arms extending from a lower portion of the main body,
each of the pair of lower arms including a lower headgear connection point at a distal end thereof,
wherein each lower headgear connection point includes a magnet structured to magnetically interface with the magnet of the headgear clip, and
wherein each lower headgear connection point includes a mechanical structure to mechanically engage the headgear clip to the lower headgear connection point and allow the headgear clip to rotate relative to the lower headgear connection point when headgear tension is applied.

21. The frame according to claim 20 , wherein the pair of upper arms provide an opposing pair of upper

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Cullen Christopher Samuel
• Guney Memduh
• Eves Matthew
• La Guzza Michael Charles
• Von Moger Lochlan
• Scheiner Rupert Christian
• Wagner Stewart Joseph
• May Frederick Arlet
• Goldspink Lachlan Richard
• Forrester Martin
• Jourdan Ralph
• Amarasinghe Amal Shirley
• Skipper Christopher Scott
• Formica Justin John
• Dunn Jessica Lea
• Edwards Craig David

Classifications

• A61M16/0875

  Connecting tubes · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• A61M2210/0618

  Nose · CPC title

• A61M16/1055

  bacterial · CPC title

• A61M16/107

  in the inspiratory path · CPC title