Patient interface with venting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016008558-A1
Application number	US-201414769674-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 21, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Interfaces for positive pressure therapy having various vent designs are disclosed herein. The interfaces include a bias flow vent with design geometries that help reduce and/or minimize draft and noise levels of the fluids exiting the vents. Some of the vent designs include particular vent hole geometries, plenum spaces, diffusers and fibrous media.

First claim

1 . A patient interface comprising:
a body portion sized and shaped to surround the nose and/or mouth of a user and adapted to create at least a substantial seal with the user's face; a frame portion to be held in place by a headgear assembly that wraps around a user's head, the body portion adapted to be secured to the frame portion; a coupling that permits the patient interface to be coupled to a gas delivery system; a vent that allows the passage of gas from an interior of the body portion to an exterior of the body portion, the vent comprising a plurality of exit holes arranged in an array; and the frame portion positioned in front of the body portion such that the passage of gas vents through the vent holes and into a plenum chamber created between the body portion and the frame portion.

2 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of exit holes is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm.

3 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a length to diameter ratio of each of the plurality of exit holes is at least about 2.

4 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a pitch distance between each of the plurality of exit holes to the diameter is at least about 4.

5 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein an exit radius of each of the plurality of exit holes is at least about 0.5 mm and/or an entry radius of each of the plurality of exit holes is at least about 0.5 mm.

6 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a ball-jointed elbow or a swiveling joint.

12 . The patient interface claim 1 , wherein the gas that exits the vent enters a diffuser, wherein the diffuser is frustoconical in shape and/or has an expansion angle of at least about 4 degrees and/or less than or equal to about 8 degrees.

13 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to return the exit gas flow back on itself.

18 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber has a cone angle of between about 4 degrees and about 8 degrees.

19 . The patient interface of any one of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber has a length to root diameter ratio of at least about 1.5 to 1.

20 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the frame portion defines a textured surface facing the vent.

23 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber re-directs the gas flow through an angle of between 45 degrees and about 135 degrees.

28 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is in the shape of an annulus.

32 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum space also contains a fibrous media, and wherein all of the vented gas exiting the plenum space into the ambient space passes through the fibrous media.

33 - 36 . (canceled)

37 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to reduce the draft and noise from the vents by enabling the energy present in the exiting fluid flow to dissipate

38 . A patient interface comprising:
a body portion sized and shaped to surround the nose and/or mouth of a user and adapted to create at least a substantial seal with the user's face, a coupling that permits the patient interface to be coupled to a gas delivery system, wherein the coupling comprises a rotational joint, and a vent that allows the passage of gas from an interior of the body portion to an exterior of the body portion, wherein the vent comprises a plurality of passages incorporated in the rotational joint of the coupling.

39 . The patient interface of claim 38 , wherein the rotational joint comprises a male portion and a female portion and the plurality of passages are formed in the female portion of the coupling.

40 . The patient interface of claim 38 , wherein the rotational joint comprises a male portion and a female portion and the plurality of passages are formed in the male portion of the coupling.

41 . The patient interface of claim 38 , wherein the rotational joint is a ball joint.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Huddart Brett John
• Gane Ronald
• Gordon Callum Ross
• Thompson Mark Andrew
• Richardson Thomas Mark

Classifications

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title

• A61M16/208

  Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves · CPC title

• A61M16/0616

  with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure · CPC title

• A61M2205/42

  Reducing noise · CPC title