Nasal prongs for mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9943660-B2
Application number	US-30991707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2007
Priority date	Aug 4, 2006
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A nasal prong for sealing with a nasal passage of a patient includes a head portion structured to seal and/or sealingly communicate with the patient's nasal passage and a column or stalk structured to interconnect the head portion with a base. The nasal prong is structured to redirect air flow direction, diffuse air flow or create turbulence, and/or orient a prong orifice in order to reduce and/or eliminate air jetting effects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nasal prong for sealing with a nasal passage of a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing with positively pressurized gas, comprising:
a head portion structured to seal and/or sealingly communicate with the patient's nasal passage, the head portion including a flexible wall having an exterior surface along an outer side of the head portion and an interior surface along an inner side of the head portion opposite to the outer side, and at least an upper portion of the exterior surface is adapted to contact with the patient's nasal passage; and
a column or stalk structured to interconnect the head portion with a base, the base defining a plenum for receiving pressurized gas that is delivered to the patient via the column or stalk and the head portion;
wherein:
the nasal prong is configured to maintain a seal while the positively pressurized gas is provided to the patient continuously during all stages of respiration including inhalation and exhalation;
the head portion includes a plurality of discrete protruding elements extending from a prong orifice to a base of the head portion, the prong orifice being configured to be proximal to the patient during treatment, the protruding elements being made from a resiliently deformable material that extends along and protrudes at least partially inwardly from the interior surface of the head portion, the protruding elements being configured and structured to diffuse or create turbulence within an air flow generated by a delivery of the pressurized gas to the patient such that the diffusion or turbulence reduces air jetting effects, the protruding elements being integrated with the interior surface of the flexible wall of the head portion along an entire longitudinal length of the protruding element; and
at least the upper portion of the exterior surface of the head portion comprises a smooth surface which forms an elliptical or round shape opposite the interior surface, the interior surface opposite the upper portion of the exterior surface including the at least one protruding element protruding internally therefrom.

2. A nasal prong assembly, comprising:
a base; and
a pair of nasal prongs according to claim 1 provided to the base.

3. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a side wall providing the exterior and interior surfaces, the side wall extending from a prong orifice to a rib or base of the head portion, and the at least one protruding portion protrudes at least partially inwardly from the interior surface of the side wall.

4. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding element is adapted to diffuse air flow or create turbulence as pressurized air passes through the head portion in use in order to reduce and/or eliminate air jetting effects.

5. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the nasal prong comprises molded silicone.

6. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface includes a concave configuration structured to seal against the patient's nare.

7. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding portion protrudes only along the interior surface of the head portion.

8. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises an exit orifice structured to have a specific shape which increases the dispersion and turbulence of the airflow as it exits the orifice.

9. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the opening of the head portion closest to the nares of the patient is adapted to cause at least some of the airflow associated with delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient to be directed in a direction other than parallel to the column.

10. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion is constructed with a non-corrugated outer surface.

11. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion substantially maintains its shape during use.

12. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding element is superficial to the interior surface of the head portion.

13. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are positioned only on the inner surface.

14. The nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a conical section with the protruding elements disposed on a curved inner surface of the conical section.

15. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a hood structured to redirect air flow from a direction generally parallel to an axis of the orifice to a second direction angled relative to the axis such that the hood is configured to direct gas in use away from the septum.

16. A nasal prong according to claim 15 , wherein the hood includes surface treatment.

17. A nasal prong according to claim 15 , wherein the hood is structured to direct gas in use posteriorly relative to the nasal passage.

18. A nasal prong according to claim 15 , wherein the hood is provided to an anterior portion of the head portion.

19. A nasal prong according to claim 15 , wherein the hood is provided to a medial portion of the head portion.

20. A nasal prong according to claim 15 , wherein the hood is integrally formed with the head portion.

21. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a grate structured to diffuse air flow and/or create turbulence.

22. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate includes surface treatment.

23. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate is provided at a base of the stalk.

24. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate is provided at a rim of the head portion.

25. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate includes grates that extend generally parallel to a minor axis of an exit orifice.

26. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate includes grates that extend generally parallel to a major axis of an exit orifice.

27. A nasal prong according to claim 21 , wherein the grate includes grates that are curved or arcuate and define one or more circular or oval openings through the grate.

28. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes an exit orifice that is offset from an axis of the head portion.

29. A nasal prong according to claim 28 , wherein the exit orifice is shifted posteriorly to direct gas in use posteriorly relative to the nasal passage.

30. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding elements include one or more ribs along the interior surface of the head portion to disperse air flow or create turbulence.

31. A nasal prong according to claim 30 , wherein the rib has a helical shape.

32. A nasal prong according to claim 30 , wherein the rib has a generally circular, oval, and/or arcuate shape that extends around at least a portion of the interior perimeter of the head portion.

33. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding element adds support and/or rigidity to the head portion.

34. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding element is in direct contact with the interior surface along the entire longitudinal length.

35. A nasal prong according to claim 1 , wherein the head p

Assignees

• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Gale David Rae
• Hitchcock Robin Garth
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Gale David Rae
• Hitchcock Robin Garth
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep

Classifications

• 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

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title