NZ775125B2 - Nasal Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

patient interface for delivering a supply of pressurized breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising: a cushion configured to form a seal around an opening to a patient’s airways; and a support structure connected to the cushion, the support structure and the cushion together defining a breathing chamber, the support structure including a vent including a plurality of vent holes configured to provide gas-washout of exhaled gas in the breathing chamber, the support structure having increased rigidity as compared to the cushion; an inlet elbow configured to provide fluid communication between an air delivery tube and the breathing chamber; and a removable component attached to the support structure, the removable component including a window that is aligned with the plurality of vent holes, the window surrounds the plurality of vent holes and is configured to receive there-through the gas-washout from the plurality of vent holes in use after exiting from the plurality of vent holes. ining a breathing chamber, the support structure including a vent including a plurality of vent holes configured to provide gas-washout of exhaled gas in the breathing chamber, the support structure having increased rigidity as compared to the cushion; an inlet elbow configured to provide fluid communication between an air delivery tube and the breathing chamber; and a removable component attached to the support structure, the removable component including a window that is aligned with the plurality of vent holes, the window surrounds the plurality of vent holes and is configured to receive there-through the gas-washout from the plurality of vent holes in use after exiting from the plurality of vent holes.

Description

JAWS Ref.: 504429DIVI

Claims (31)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A patient interface for delivering a supply of pressurized breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising: a cushion ured to form a seal around an opening to a patient’s airways; and a support structure connected to the cushion, the support structure and the cushion together defining a breathing chamber, the support structure ing a vent including a plurality of vent holes configured to provide gas-washout of exhaled gas in the breathing chamber, the t structure having increased rigidity as compared to the cushion; an inlet elbow configured to provide fluid communication between an air delivery tube and the breathing chamber; and a removable component ed to the support structure, the removable component including a window that is aligned with the plurality of vent holes, the window surrounds the plurality of vent holes and is ured to receive there-through the gas-washout from the plurality of vent holes in use after exiting from the plurality of vent holes.

2. The patient interface as claimed in claim 1, the support structure ing a vent channel defined by a pair of side walls extending from an inside surface of the support structure and a connecting wall which connects the side walls to each other, wherein the side walls extend away from the breathing r and converge towards one r in the direction of the connecting wall, and the connecting wall includes the plurality of vent holes.

3. The patient interface as d in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the removable component is constructed to clip to the support structure.

4. The patient ace as d in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the removable component is a clip. JAWS Ref.: 504429DIVI

5. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the plurality of vent holes includes an outlet exposed to ambient.

6. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, n the removable component includes wings on d sides of the removable component.

7. The patient interface as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wings have a compound curved shape.

8. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the plurality of vent holes includes an outlet exposed to ambient and ured to exit the gas washout to atmosphere, each hole including an inlet to receive the gas washout from the patient, and wherein between the inlet and the outlet, each hole has a part conic shape.

9. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the ity of vent holes are arranged into a plurality of columns which are ated to align with, or be parallel to, a longitudinal axis of the support structure.

10. The patient interface as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of columns includes two central columns that are offset from, and on either side of, the udinal axis of the support structure.

11. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein each column includes 6 vent holes.

12. The t interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the support structure comprises a connector portion configured to communicate the supply of pressurized breathable gas to the breathing chamber. JAWS Ref.: 504429DIVI

13. The patient interface as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connector portion comprises an inlet aperture.

14. The patient interface as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inlet elbow is connected to the inlet aperture.

15. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the inlet elbow is configured to communicate the rized breathable gas, the elbow being connected to the support structure at the connector portion.

16. The patient interface as d in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the connector n is nt a/ the vent l.

17. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the plurality of vent holes are positioned above the connector portion.

18. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the plurality of vent holes ses 35 to 45 holes.

19. The t interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the cushion and support structure form a sembly.

20. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the plurality of vent holes are arranged in two or more rows.

21. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the patient interface is an oro-nasal or full-face mask.

22. The patient interface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising lower headgear clip receptacles adapted to be engaged with clips provided to straps of a headgear assembly. JAWS Ref.: 504429DIVI

23. The patient interface as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a headgear assembly with clips attached to the clip receptacles.

24. The patient interface as d in any one of claims 2 to 23, wherein the connecting wall is .

25. The t interface according to any one of claims 1 to 24, further comprising a forehead support member, wherein the vent holes are positioned below the forehead support member.

26. The patient interface according to any one of claims 2 to 25, n a/the vent channel is structured to reduce vent noise generated by the vent holes.

27. The patient interface according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the vent holes are ordered in a plurality of columns, the vent holes in at least one column are arranged to be aligned with the vent holes of a first adjacent column and to be offset from a plurality of vent holes of a second adjacent column.

28. The patient ace according to claim 27, n each column includes at least 4 vent holes.

29. The patient interface according to claim 28, wherein each said column includes 5 or more vent holes.

30. The patient ace according to claim 27, wherein there are a total of more than 35 said vent holes.

31. The patient interface according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the plurality of vent holes are directly on the support structure.