Patient interface and non-invasive positive pressure ventilating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782553-B2
Application number	US-13480108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2008
Priority date	Jul 13, 2007
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient includes a first seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a first positive pressure; and a second seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a second positive pressure. The first seal also seals the first space from the second space. A leak reducing element may be provided on a seal to reduce and/or diffuse leakage of gas. A vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure may be provided in the second space to remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space. A seal may be connected to a conduit for delivering the flow of gas that is incorporated into a frame of the patient interface. The seal may be inflatable by the flow of breathable gas to pressurize the seal against the patient's face and include a vent that directs the flow of breathable gas to a space between the patient interface and the patient's face. A cuff may be provided over the seal in the nasal bridge region to direct any leakage of the gas flow from the seal in the nasal bridge region in a direction away from the patient's eyes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
a means for reducing and diffusing leakage of gas from the space.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion is formed of a material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

3. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion is formed of a material non-permeable to the breathable gas and a porous layer in parallel.

4. A patient interface according to claim 3 , wherein the porous layer is adapted to contact the patient's face.

5. A CPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 1 .

6. A BiPAP apparatus comprising a patient interface according to claim 1 .

7. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion is formed of silicone.

8. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the means for reducing and diffusing leakage of gas from the space is configured to be inflated by the leakage of gas from the space.

9. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the means for reducing and diffusing leakage of gas from the space is adhesively attached to the cushion.

10. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein when the patient interface is engaged with the patient's face, a distance between the cushion and the patient's face is less than a depth of the cushion.

11. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
a leak reducing layer provided on the cushion and configured to reduce and diffuse leakage of gas from the space.

12. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the cushion is formed of a material non-permeable to the breathable gas.

13. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer comprises a porous layer on the cushion and adapted to contact the patient's face.

14. A patient interface according to claim 13 , wherein the porous layer is provided outside of the space.

15. A patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein a maximum sealing pressure of the cushion decreases as the patient interface is displaced from the patient's face and a maximum sealing pressure of the porous layer increases as the patient interface is displaced from the patient's face.

16. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer has a uniform cross sectional shape.

17. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer forms a skin that envelopes the cushion.

18. A patient interface according to claim 17 , wherein the leak reducing layer is removably attached to the cushion.

19. A patient interface according to claim 17 , wherein the leak reducing layer is adapted to attach to a mask frame.

20. A patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the cushion is adapted to attach to the mask frame and the leak reducing layer is adapted to attach to the mask frame at the same location as the cushion.

21. A patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the cushion is adapted to attach to the mask frame and the leak reducing layer and the cushion are adapted to attach to the mask frame at different locations.

22. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the cushion and the leak reducing layer are formed from the same material.

23. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer is formed of foam.

24. A patient interface according to claim 23 , wherein the leak reducing layer is formed of silicone foam.

25. A patient interface according to claim 16 , wherein the leak reducing layer is formed of different materials.

26. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer has a non-uniform cross sectional shape.

27. A patient interface according to claim 26 , wherein the leak reducing layer is formed of one material.

28. A patient interface according to claim 26 , wherein the leak reducing layer is formed of different materials.

29. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein the leak reducing layer envelopes the cushion.

30. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
means for diffusing gas from the space and increasing the resistance of the seal formed by the cushion.

31. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
a resistance layer provided on the cushion configured to diffuse gas from the space and increase the resistance of the seal to leakage of gas flow from the space.

32. A patient interface according to claim 31 , wherein the resistance layer is formed of foam.

33. A patient interface according to claim 32 , wherein the resistance layer is formed of silicone foam.

34. A patient interface according to claim 31 , wherein the resistance layer is formed of different materials.

35. A patient interface according to claim 31 , wherein the resistance layer is adhesively attached to the cushion.

36. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
means for diffusing leakage of gas from the space.

37. A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a positive pressure; and
a diffusing layer provided on the cushion that diffuses leakage of gas from the space.

38. A patient interface according to claim 37 , wherein the diffusing layer is formed of foam.

39. A patient interface according to claim 38 , wherein the diffusing layer is formed of silicone foam.

40. A patient interface according to claim 37 , wherein the diffusing layer is formed of different materials.

41. A patient interface according to claim 37 , wherein the diffusing layer is adhesively attached to the cushion.

42. A patient interface according to claim 37 , wherein the cushion is formed of silicone and the diffusing layer is formed of silicone foam.

Assignees

• Brambilla Enrico
• Doherty Renee Frances
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Brambilla Enrico
• Doherty Renee Frances
• Kwok Philip Rodney

Classifications

• 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

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title