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US-12623045-B2 - Pressure controlled exhaust vent

US12623045B2US 12623045 B2US12623045 B2US 12623045B2US-12623045-B2

Abstract

A patient interface includes a mask body, an elbow, a connector and a conduit. Any one or more of the mask body, the elbow, the connector and the conduit includes a bias flow vent. The bias flow vent is configured to deform with the application of pressure but not fully collapse such that an orifice size defined by the bias flow vent can vary with the application of pressure.

Inventors

  • Brett John Huddart
  • Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon
  • Matthew James PEDERSEN
  • Hamish Joshua ROSE
  • Fadi Karim Moh'd Mashal
  • Thomas Mark Richardson
  • Simon MITTERMEIER
  • Max Leon BETTERIDGE

Assignees

  • FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240513

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A patient interface assembly for use with positive pressure respiratory therapy, the patient interface assembly comprising: an intake conduit to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of a patient interface of the patient interface assembly; and an exhaust conduit to allow a passage of gas from the interior of the patient interface to an exterior of the patient interface, wherein the exhaust conduit comprises at least one valve, the at least one valve comprising a base and a membrane, the membrane having a first end defining an inlet opening, the base having a second end defining an outlet opening, the first end of the membrane having at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion and the first end of the membrane being configured to collapse inwardly to vary a flow path size in response to changes in pressure acting on the membrane.
  2. 2 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit extends alongside the intake conduit.
  3. 3 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit extends coaxially within the intake conduit.
  4. 4 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit surrounds at least a portion of the intake conduit.
  5. 5 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a circular base.
  6. 6 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a triangular base.
  7. 7 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a splint that extends into a mouth defined by the first end of the membrane.
  8. 8 . The patient interface assembly of claim 7 , wherein the splint is a plurality of posts.
  9. 9 . The patient interface assembly of claim 7 , wherein the splint is mounted to a support structure that supports the splint in position without significantly impacting flow through the at least one valve.
  10. 10 . The patient interface assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support structure is a support frame.
  11. 11 . The patient interface assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support structure comprises one or more cross members.
  12. 12 . The patient interface assembly of claim 7 , wherein the splint is supported at any location along a length of the splint.
  13. 13 . The patient interface assembly of claim 7 , wherein one or more adjacent regions of the at least one valve are configured to close off against an outer surface of the splint.
  14. 14 . The patient interface assembly of claim 7 , wherein the splint is formed of a same material as the at least one valve.
  15. 15 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one concave portion and the at least one convex portion are defined by an inflection on an outer surface of the membrane.
  16. 16 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve enables a flow of gas to be constantly exhausted from the interior of the patient interface to the exterior of the patient interface.
  17. 17 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit and the intake conduit are separate, spaced apart from, and located external of one another, wherein the at least one valve is provided at or near an end of the exhaust conduit.
  18. 18 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a plurality of valves.
  19. 19 . The patient interface assembly of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of valves is arranged in an array.
  20. 20 . The patient interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises a housing and a seal.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to bias flow vents for use in CPAP systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to such vents that are arranged and configured to regulate bias flow such that it is relatively constant over a wide range of operating pressures. Description of the Related Art The treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) flow generator systems involves the continuous delivery of pressurized air to the airways of a human via a conduit and an interface (for example, a mask). Typically, the interface creates at least a substantial “seal” on or around the nose and/or the mouth. As the patient exhales, carbon dioxide gas can progressively collect in the delivery system. If left unchecked over a period of time, the accumulation of carbon dioxide can have adverse consequences. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One solution to the accumulation of carbon dioxide is to provide a washout vent. The washout vent can be provided within the mask system. The washout vent enables a flow of gas to be constantly exhausted to the atmosphere. The constant exhaust flow provides a mechanism to continually remove carbon dioxide, which counters the increase in carbon dioxide level. The washout vents, while providing a mechanism for removing carbon dioxide, also have a number of trade-offs. State of art practice currently uses a hole/hole array of fixed dimensions. The fixed dimensions have the effect of enabling a bias flow of gas that increases as the CPAP pressure level increases. This increasing flow has implications for a number of parameters that affect the user. The bias flow exiting through the washout vents typically creates disturbances for the patient and/or the patient's bed partner. The disturbances typically manifest in two forms: noise and draft. Changes in the bias flow rate, which are caused by changes in the CPAP pressure level, directly affect the magnitude of these disturbances. Thus, if a pressure oscillation exists within the system, then it is possible to produce an oscillating disturbance. The flow and humidity source (for example, blower and humidifier) also can be impacted. Increasing the bias flow results in an increase in the physical dimension and power consumption to cater to the peak flow demand (that is, the sum of patient requirements and the maximum bias flow at peak pressure). The creation of practical and not so practical solutions to this has been the subject of considerable development efforts. Yet, there is room for continued improvement in resolving the problems associated with reducing or eliminating the accumulation of carbon dioxide within a CPAP system. Certain aspects relate to a patient interface. The patient interface has a body portion sized and shaped to surround a nose and/or a mouth of a user and adapted to create at least a substantial seal with a face of the user. The patient interface also has a coupling that permits the patient interface to be coupled to a gas delivery system. The patient interface further has a vent that allows passage of gas from an interior of the body portion of a mask to an exterior of the body portion of the mask wherein a portion of the vent comprises means to regulate a flow of gas based on the applied pressure. In some configurations, the means to regulate flow comprises an orifice constructed with varying wall section thickness. In some configurations, the wall section thickness varies in the range of 50 to 400 microns. In some configurations, the means to regulate flow operates in a pressure range of 1 cmH2O to 40 cmH2O. In some configurations, the means to regulate flow occurs without a deformable orifice entirely collapsing. In some configurations, the means to regulate flow comprises one or more lobes formed by one or more surfaces and the means to regulate occurs without the one or more surfaces coming into contact with itself or themselves. Certain aspects relate to a valve for use with system for delivering CPAP therapy. The valve comprises a base and a membrane. The membrane has a first end defining an inlet opening. The base has a second end defining an outlet opening. The first end of the membrane has at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion and the first end of the membrane is configured to collapse inwardly to vary a flow path size in response to changes in pressure acting on the membrane. In some configurations, the at least one concave portion and the at least one convex portion are defined by an inflection on an outer surface of the membrane. In some configurations, the at least one concave portion and the at least one convex portion a