Patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9421339-B2
Application number	US-201414163945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jul 26, 1996
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

A patient interface for use with the administration of CPAP therapy to a patient, comprising: a body for connection with a supply of pressurized breathable gas pressurized above ambient; and a compliant patient contacting element to communicate the pressurized gas to at least the patient's nasal passages, the element including a multilayered cushioning interface, the interface comprising an interior layer and an exterior layer being provided in spaced relation to the interior layer, the exterior layer being elastically and resiliently movable towards and away the interior layer in use. Along at least a portion of the perimeter of the exterior layer, a surface of the exterior layer is deformable from the spaced relation to abut against and contact against a surface of the interior layer in dependence at least in part on a deformation force applied to the exterior layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient interface for treatment of sleep apnea, comprising:
a body for connection with a supply of pressurized breathable gas under continuous positive airway pressure; and
a compliant cushion of silicone elastomer defining at least a portion of a breathing chamber configured to communicate the pressurized gas to a patient's nasal passages, said cushion including:
a frame, said frame being of resilient material and having a first membrane, the first membrane extending along at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the frame, said frame having a front portion with an edge structured to be coupled to the body; and
a second membrane of resilient material, said second membrane spaced an open distance from said first membrane along substantially an entire length of the second membrane when the patient interface is not in use, a portion of said second membrane forming a face contacting seal, wherein a substantially full perimeter of the second membrane is provided in covering yet spaced relation to the first membrane,
wherein along at least a portion of the perimeter of the second membrane, a surface of the second membrane is deformable from said spaced distance to abut against and contact a surface of the first membrane in dependence at least in part on a deformation force applied to the second membrane, and
wherein the first and second membranes are formed as a one-piece unit and
wherein said first and second membranes are turned inwards relative to the frame along substantially the full perimeter of the frame.

2. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein said distance is greater than a thickness of the first membrane, said distance measured when the patient interface is not in use.

3. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the second membrane is conformable, in use, to various facial structures that contribute to the deformation force applied to the second membrane.

4. The patient interface of claim 3 , wherein a first deformation position of the second membrane is defined by the first membrane.

5. The patient interface of claim 4 , wherein the first deformation position is not reached depending on the deformation force.

6. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the first membrane is thicker than the second membrane.

7. The patient interface of claim 6 , wherein the first membrane is about four times as thick as the second membrane.

8. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the first and second membranes have substantially the same shape.

9. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the patient interface further comprises at least one headgear strap, and the deformation force depends at least in part on strap tension applied to the strap.

10. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the first and second membranes are spaced from one another and do not contact one another when the patient interface is not in use.

11. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the second membrane is of substantially the same shape as the first membrane,
wherein the second membrane and face contacting seal portion are shaped to generally match facial contours of the facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose and between the base of the nose and the top lip; and
further wherein the shaping of the outer surface of the second membrane and the first membrane are preformed to receive the bridge of the wearer's nose in use of the patient interface.

12. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein only the second membrane forms a face contacting seal with the patient in use.

13. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the first membrane does not include a face contacting seal.

14. A patient interface for treatment of sleep apnea, comprising:
a body for connection with a supply of pressurized breathable gas under continuous positive airway pressure; and
a compliant cushion defining at least a portion of a breathing chamber configured to communicate the pressurized gas to a patient's nasal passages, said cushion having a front portion with an edge structured to be coupled to the body, said cushion including:
a first membrane made of molded resilient material, and
a second membrane of molded resilient material, said second membrane spaced an open distance from said first membrane along substantially an entire length of the second membrane when the patient interface is not in use, a portion of said second membrane forming a face contacting seal, wherein a substantially full perimeter of the second membrane is turned inwardly and provided in covering yet spaced relation to the first membrane,
wherein along at least a portion of the perimeter of the second membrane, a surface of the second membrane is deformable from said spaced distance to abut against and contact a surface of the first membrane in dependence at least in part on a deformation force applied to the second membrane, and
wherein the first and second membranes are formed as a one-piece unit.

15. The patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein said distance is greater than a thickness of the first membrane, said distance measured when the patient interface is not in use.

16. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the second membrane is conformable, in use, to various facial structures that contribute to the deformation forces applied to the second membrane.

17. The patient interface of claim 16 , wherein a first deformation position of the second membrane is defined by the first membrane.

18. The patient interface of claim 17 , wherein the first deformation position is not reached depending on the deformation force.

19. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the first membrane is thicker than the second membrane.

20. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the first and second membranes have substantially the same shape.

21. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the body includes at least one vent opening.

22. The patient interface of claim 14 , further comprising headgear and the body includes one or more structures to fasten a headgear strap.

23. The patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein the patient interface further comprises at least one headgear strap, and the deformation force depends at least in part on strap tension applied to the strap.

24. The patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second membranes are spaced from one another and do not contact one another when the patient interface is not in use.

25. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the second membrane is of substantially the same shape as the first membrane,
wherein the second membrane and face contacting seal portion are shaped to generally match facial contours of the facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose and between the base of the nose and the top lip; and
further wherein the shaping of an outer surface of the second membrane and the first membrane are pre-shaped and receive the bridge of the wearer's nose in use of the patient interface.

26. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein only the second membrane forms a face contacting seal with the patient in use.

27. The patient interface of claim 14 , wherein the first membrane does not include a face contacting seal.

28. A patient interface for use with the administration

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Styles Robert Edward

Classifications

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61B5/097 Primary

  Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices · 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

• A61M16/0622

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title

• A61B5/6819

  Nose · CPC title