Patient interface and aspects thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12576230-B2
Application number	US-202418405343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2024
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A ballooning patient interface has a frame that supports a scaling member. The frame and/or the scaling member is scoured to the head of a user with headgear, such as a strap. Various features of the sealing member improve comfort for the user in the nares of the users as well as on facial surfaces in contact with the seating member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A nasal seal configured to be removably coupled to a frame of a patient interface, the nasal seal comprising:
a seal body formed of a soft flexible material and defining an inner cavity and one or more delivery openings for supply of breathing gases from the inner cavity to a patient; wherein the seal body comprises a central portion and a side portion extending from each end of the central portion, the seal body further comprising an interior side and an exterior side, wherein a central interior portion of the interior side within the central portion is configured to extend across a base of a user's nose and a side interior portion of the interior side within each of the side portions is configured to extend across a side of the user's nose, wherein the interior side of the seal body is supple and configured to conform under internal pressure to surfaces of the user's nose, including, at the side interior portions of the seal body, to outside surfaces of sides of the user's nose, wherein each of the side portions defines a transition portion between the exterior side and the interior side, wherein the exterior side of each of the side portions comprises stiffened regions that are stiffer or much stiffer than the supple interior side, the stiffened regions extending to or substantially to the transition portions, wherein rearmost and lowermost sections of the side portions flare outwardly relative to adjacent portions of the seal body, and wherein the stiffened regions extend at least partially into the outwardly flared rearmost and lowermost sections of the side portions.

2 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the stiffened regions extend at least substantially completely through the outwardly flared rearmost and lowermost sections of the side portions.

3 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the stiffened regions are formed by relatively thickened portions of the seal body.

4 . The nasal seal of claim 3 , wherein the relatively thickened portions taper in thickness before the transition portions.

5 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the transition portions include a portion that is thicker than the supple interior side.

6 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the stiffened regions extend substantially along an entire length of the exterior side of the seal body.

7 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the transition portions comprise rounded wall sections.

8 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , further comprising a support formed of a relatively rigid material that supports the seal body.

9 . The nasal seal of claim 8 , wherein the support defines at least one grip surface portion extending along the exterior side of the seal body.

10 . The nasal seal of claim 9 , wherein the at least one grip surface portion comprises at least one pair of grip surface portions substantially opposite one another.

11 . The nasal seal of claim 8 , wherein the support defines a mount for mounting the nasal seal to the frame.

12 . The nasal seal of claim 11 , wherein the mount comprises a first member that is connectable to a second member, wherein the first member and the second member capture a portion of the seal body between them.

13 . The nasal seal of claim 12 , wherein the first member is positioned within the inner cavity of the seal body and comprises a sleeve portion that extends outwardly from the inner cavity.

14 . The nasal seal of claim 13 , wherein the second member surrounds the sleeve portion of the first member.

15 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the seal body defines a thinned region that permits forward movement of an upper portion of the interior side of the central portion as a result of rolling movement of the seal body.

16 . The nasal seal of claim 1 , wherein the one or more delivery openings comprises a first delivery opening and a second delivery opening, further comprising a nostril locator associated with and forming a portion of each delivery opening, wherein a deflection region is defined within an annular transition portion between each of the nostril locators and a surrounding portion of the interior side, wherein the deflection region has a lower stiffness relative to another region of the annular transition portion not within the deflection region.

17 . The nasal seal of claim 16 , wherein the lower stiffness is achieved by the deflection regions having a smaller thickness than the other regions of the annular transition portion.

18 . The nasal seal of claim 16 , wherein the deflection regions are located on outer sides of the nostril locators.

19 . The nasal seal of claim 18 , wherein the deflection regions provide less resistance to outward tilting of the nostril locators relative to tilting in one or more other directions.

20 . The nasal seal of claim 16 , wherein the deflection regions are limited to less than or equal to one-half of the annular transition portion.

21 . The nasal seal of claim 16 , wherein the deflection regions are greater than or equal to one-third of the annular transition portion.

22 . The nasal seal of claim 16 , wherein the outwardly flared rearmost and lowermost sections of the side portions form outwardly protruding corners of the seal body.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Slight Matthew Robert Geoff
• Nicolson Charles
• Hammer Jeroen
• Huang Wen Dong
• Gardiola Arvin San Jose

Classifications

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · 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

• A61M2016/0661

  with customised shape · CPC title

• A61M16/0622 Primary

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title