Patent Application
20190091435
The present invention pertains to conduits for conveying a flow of a gas therethrough, and more particularly, to conduits for conveying a flow of a gas therethrough which are selectively readily collapsible. The present invention also pertains to headgear for use in securing a patient interface device to a head of a patient and to systems for delivering a flow of treatment gas to the airway of a patient.
Many individuals suffer from disordered breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is a common example of such sleep disordered breathing suffered by millions of people throughout the world. One type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a condition in which sleep is repeatedly interrupted by an inability to breathe due to an obstruction of the airway; typically the upper airway or pharyngeal area. Obstruction of the airway is generally believed to be due, at least in part, to a general relaxation of the muscles which stabilize the upper airway segment, thereby allowing the tissues to collapse the airway. Another type of sleep apnea syndrome is a central apnea, which is a cessation of respiration due to the absence of respiratory signals from the brain's respiratory center. An apnea condition, whether obstructive, central, or mixed, which is a combination of obstructive and central, is defined as the complete or near cessation of breathing, for example a 90% or greater reduction in peak respiratory air-flow.
Those afflicted with sleep apnea experience sleep fragmentation and complete or nearly complete cessation of ventilation intermittently during sleep with potentially severe degrees of oxyhemoglobin desaturation. These symptoms may be translated clinically into extreme daytime sleepiness, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary-artery hypertension, congestive heart failure and/or cognitive dysfunction. Other consequences of sleep apnea include right ventricular dysfunction, carbon dioxide retention during wakefulness, as well as during sleep, and continuous reduced arterial oxygen tension. Sleep apnea sufferers may be at risk for excessive mortality from these factors as well as by an elevated risk for accidents while driving and/or operating potentially dangerous equipment.
Even if a patient does not suffer from a complete or nearly complete obstruction of the airway, it is also known that adverse effects, such as arousals from sleep, can occur where there is only a partial obstruction of the airway. Partial obstruction of the airway typically results in shallow breathing referred to as a hypopnea. A hypopnea is typically defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the peak respiratory air-flow. Other types of sleep disordered breathing include, without limitation, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and vibration of the airway, such as vibration of the pharyngeal wall, commonly referred to as snoring.
It is well known to treat sleep disordered breathing by applying a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) to the patient's airway. This positive pressure effectively “splints” the airway, thereby maintaining an open passage to the lungs. It is also known to provide a positive pressure therapy in which the pressure of gas delivered to the patient varies with the patient's breathing cycle, or varies with the patient's breathing effort, to increase the comfort to the patient. This pressure support technique is referred to as bi-level pressure support, in which the inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) delivered to the patient is higher than the expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). It is further known to provide a positive pressure therapy in which the pressure is automatically adjusted based on the detected conditions of the patient, such as whether the patient is experiencing an apnea and/or hypopnea. This pressure support technique is referred to as an auto-titration type of pressure support, because the pressure support device seeks to provide a pressure to the patient that is only as high as necessary to treat the disordered breathing.
Pressure support therapies as just described involve the placement of a patient interface device including a mask component having a soft, flexible sealing cushion on the face of the patient. The mask component may be, without limitation, a nasal mask that covers the patient's nose, a nasal/oral mask that covers the patient's nose and mouth, or a full face mask that covers the patient's face. Such patient interface devices may also employ other patient contacting components, such as forehead supports, cheek pads and chin pads. The patient interface device is typically secured to the patient's head by a headgear component. The patient interface device is connected to a gas delivery tube or conduit and interfaces the pressure support device with the airway of the patient, so that a flow of breathing gas can be delivered from the pressure/flow generating device to the airway of the patient.
In order to increase the comfort of devices, the CPAP market is asking for headgear formed from fabric instead of plastic and rubber. Fabric adds to the tactile and emotional appeal as well as has technical advantages, such as reduced red marks on the skin and sweat absorption. As the CPAP market moves toward apparel commodity, fabrics are becoming more important. Furthermore, the desire for a lightweight, collapsible solution exists for headgear and conduit to make such items more readily transportable and less cumbersome.
As one aspect of the present invention, a conduit for conveying a flow of a gas therethrough is provided. The conduit comprises an inner wall having a first end and an opposite second end. The inner wall is disposed around, and defines a central passage extending between the first end and the second end. The central passage is structured to convey the flow of the gas therethrough between the first end and the second end. The conduit further comprises an outer wall disposed about the inner wall and a sealed compartment defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, the sealed compartment being structured to house a fixed quantity of a gas therein.
The inner wall and the outer wall may be formed from one or more materials which are impermeable to gas.
At least one of the inner wall and the outer wall may be formed from a laminate material comprising a layer of fabric material and a layer of silicone or TPE mechanically bonded to the fabric material.
The sealed compartment may extend completely around the inner wall.
The conduit may further comprise a valve member structured to regulate passage of the gas in or out of the sealed compartment.
The valve member may be disposed between the central passage and the sealed compartment.
The valve member may comprise a valve which permits flow from the central passage to the sealed compartment but prevents flow from the sealed compartment to the central passage. The conduit may further comprise a second valve member disposed between the sealed compartment and an exterior of the outer wall.
The valve member may be disposed between the sealed compartment and an exterior of the outer wall.
As another aspect of the present invention, a headgear for use in securing a patient interface device to the head of a patient is provided. The headgear comprises a conduit as recited herein.
As yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for delivering a flow of treatment gas to the airway of a patient is provided. The system comprises: a patient interface device structured to sealingly engage about an airway of the patient; and a conduit having a first end coupled to the patient interface device and an opposite second end structured to be couple to a pressure generating device. The conduit comprises an inner wall having a first end and an opposite second end. The inner wall is disposed around, and defines a central passage extending between the first end and the second end. The central passage is structured to convey the flow of the gas therethrough between the first end and the second end. The conduit also comprises an outer wall disposed about the inner wall and a sealed compartment defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, the sealed compartment being structured to house a fixed quantity of a gas therein.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “coupled” shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or components, so long as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other.
As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components “engage” one another shall mean that the parts exert a force against one another either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or components. As used herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).
Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and without limitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a collapsible conduit and/or frame which can be readily inflated and create structure through which CPAP therapy air may flow. Even during the event of a power loss, the conduit and/or frame will remain inflated, maintain its shape, and allow airflow therethrough.
An example airway pressure support system 2 according to one particular, non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is operated within an ambient environment 1, such as, without limitation, a bedroom or home of the user of airway pressure support system 2 is shown in
A BiPAP® device is a bi-level device in which the pressure provided to the patient varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, so that a higher pressure is delivered during inspiration than during expiration. An auto-titration pressure support system is a system in which the pressure varies with the condition of the patient, such as whether the patient is snoring or experiencing an apnea or hypopnea. For present purposes, pressure/flow generating device 4 is also referred to as a gas flow generating device, because flow results when a pressure gradient is generated. The present invention contemplates that pressure/flow generating device 4 is any conventional system for delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a patient or for elevating a pressure of gas at an airway of the patient, including the pressure support systems summarized above and non-invasive ventilation systems. Although described herein in example embodiments wherein a pressurized flow of gas is utilized, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the invention as described herein could also be readily employed in other generally non-pressurized applications (e.g., without limitation, in high flow therapy applications).
In the exemplary embodiment, patient interface device 8 includes a patient sealing assembly 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is a full face mask. It is to be appreciated, however, that other types of patient sealing assemblies, such as, without limitation, a nasal/oral mask, a nasal cushion, or any other arrangements wherein rainout is a potential concern, which facilitate the delivery of the flow of breathing gas to the airway of a patient may be substituted for patient sealing assembly 12 while remaining within the scope of the present invention. It is also to be appreciated that headgear 10 is provided solely for exemplary purposes and that any suitable headgear arrangement may be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention.
An example of a conventional conduit 20 which is commonly used in system 2 is shown in
Referring now to
An example embodiment of a conduit 40 for conveying a flow of gas therethrough in accordance with the present invention will now be described in conjunction with
In order to contain gas within central passage 44 and sealed compartment 52, each of inner wall 42 and outer wall 50 are formed from one or more materials which are impermeable to gas. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to: Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), Silicone, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)—although PVC would likely not be used for inner wall 42 as it is unlikely to pass biocompatibility testing for airway breathing. Combinations of materials may also be employed (e.g., each layer could be a different material). In example embodiments of the present invention, one or both of inner wall 42 and outer wall 50 haven been formed from laminate materials having a layer of fabric material and a layer of silicone or similar material (e.g., without limitation, TPE) mechanically bonded to the fabric material. The fabric layer of such materials provides for desirable appearances and textures while also providing a framework for the generally thin layer of silicone which provides impermeability to the material.
Referring now to
As another example, conduit 40 may include only valve member 62 disposed in outer wall 50 which regulates airflow between sealed compartment 52 and the ambient environment 1, providing for the selective inflation or deflation of sealed compartment 52. In such embodiment, inflation of sealed compartment may be accomplished via manual inflation by a user blowing air (e.g., via a valve similar to that of a beach ball or other suitable mechanism) or via a pressure generating device (e.g., via an adaptor coupleable between a pressure generating device such as device 4 of
Having thus described several embodiments of conduits according to example of the present invention, an example headgear 100 which can be formed one or more of such conduits is shown in
Referring now to the sectional view of
In order to contain gas within central passage 144 and sealed compartment 152, each of inner wall 142 and outer wall 150 are formed from one or more materials which are impermeable to gas, such as those previously discussed herein. In example embodiments of the present invention, one or both of inner wall 142 and outer wall 150 haven been formed from laminate materials having a layer of fabric material and a layer of silicone or similar material (e.g., without limitation, TPE) mechanically bonded to the fabric material. As previously discussed, the fabric layer of such materials provides for desirable appearances and textures while also providing a framework for the generally thin layer of silicone which provides impermeability to the material. Second arm 106 is of similar arrangement as first 104 and thus the arrangement of such is not further described in detail herein. From the foregoing it is thus to be appreciated that head gear 100 is formed essentially as two conduits similar to those previously described herein with each positioned and structured to provide a flow of a gas from inlet 108 of top portion 102 to a distant end of each side arm 104 and 106. It is to be appreciated that sealed compartments 152 of each sidearm 104 and 106 may be segregated at or bout top portion 102 or may be connected so as to form one continuous sealed compartment 152 which extends generally between the distant ends of side arms 104 and 106, with top portion 102 disposed adjacent a mid-portion thereof.
In order to allow for selective inflation or deflation of each, or a single sealed compartment 152, headgear 100 may further include one or more valve members, disposed between sealed compartment 152 and central passage 144 and/or the outer surface of outer wall 150 (i.e., between sealed compartment 152 and the ambient environment. For example, inner wall 142 may include a valve member 160 (shown schematically in dashed line, e.g., a flapper valve or other suitable arrangement) which allows air flow from central passage 144 into sealed compartment 152 but prevents flow from sealed compartment 152 to central passage 144 may be utilized. Such arrangement utilizes the flow of gas through central passage 144 to inflate sealed compartment 152. In such embodiment it is desirable for outer wall 150 to also include a valve 162 (shown schematically, e.g., without limitation, a manually activated valve, an opening having a removable cap, etc.) disposed between sealed compartment 152 and ambient environment 1 to allow for deflation of sealed compartment 152. Alternatively, valve 160 may be structured to allow for selective passage of air (e.g., via selective activation from a user) from sealed compartment 152 to central passage 144, in order to allow for deflation of sealed compartment 152.
As another example, headgear 100 may include only valve member 162 disposed in outer wall 150 which regulates airflow between sealed compartment 152 and the ambient environment 1, providing for the selective inflation or deflation of sealed compartment 152. In such embodiment, inflation of sealed compartment 152 may be accomplished via manual inflation by a user blowing air (e.g., via a valve similar to that of a beach ball or other suitable mechanism) or via a pressure generating device (e.g., via an adaptor coupleable between a pressure generating device such as device 4 of
From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention provide for structures for use in conveying a flow of gas therethrough which have selectively rigid sidewalls. When the sealed compartments defined in such sidewalls are inflated, the sidewalls are generally rigid and resistance to collapse. When the sealed compartments defined therein are deflated, the sidewalls and overall structure are readily collapsible and compacted for travel and/or storage purposes.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. It is also to be appreciated that the overall and/or cross sectional shapes of structures described herein are provided for exemplary purposes only and that such shapes may be varied without varying from the scope of the present invention. [52] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannot be used in combination.
This patent application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/564,303, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62564303 | Sep 2017 | US |
