Mask vent
AssigneeResMed Pty Ltd
InventorsEva Ng, Robert Henry Frater, Lee James Veliss, Barton John Kenyon, Daniel Robert Judson, Robert Edward Henry, Alison Oldenburg, Renee Frances Flower, Michael John Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent arrangement is provided to a mask or associated conduit to discharge exhaled gas from the mask to atmosphere. The vent arrangement is structured to diffuse the exhaust vent flow to produce less air jetting, thereby increasing the comfort of the patient and their bed partner. For example, the vent arrangement may include one or more grill components and/or media constructed and arranged to diffuse vent flow.
Claims18
A mask system configured to deliver air pressurized by a flow generator system by at least 4 cm H2O above atmospheric pressure to the airways of a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the mask system comprising:
- an elbow;
- and
- a vent component provided to the elbow, the vent component configured to discharge gas from a pressurized interior of the elbow to atmosphere during said CPAP therapy,
- the vent component including an annular side wall and a plurality of vent holes for gas washout arranged on the annular side wall, the plurality of vent holes configured to remain open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the patient's breathing cycle for the discharge of gas during CPAP therapy,
- wherein the annular side wall comprises a plurality of spaced support walls, and adjacent ones of the plurality of spaced support walls form a respective one of the plurality of vent holes,
- wherein the vent holes are arranged radially on the annular side wall to radially divide exhaust flow over one or more portions totaling at least 90° of a circumference of the annular side wall so as to diffuse the exhaust flow and reduce noise, and
- wherein the elbow includes a baffle configured to divide the elbow into an air delivery passage and an exhaust passage, the exhaust passage arranged to guide washout gas along a flow path to the plurality of vent holes.
A mask system configured to deliver air pressurized by a flow generator system by at least 4 cm H2O above atmospheric pressure to the airways of a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the mask system comprising:
- a mask component;
- and
- a vent component provided to the mask component, the vent component configured to discharge gas from a pressurized interior of the mask component to atmosphere during said CPAP therapy,
- the vent component including an annular side wall and a plurality of vent holes for gas washout arranged on the annular side wall, the plurality of vent holes configured to remain open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the patient's breathing cycle for the discharge of gas during CPAP therapy,
- wherein the annular side wall comprises a plurality of spaced support walls, and adjacent ones of the plurality of spaced support walls form a respective one of the plurality of vent holes,
- wherein the vent holes are arranged radially on the annular side wall to radially divide exhaust flow over one or more portions totaling at least 90° of a circumference of the annular side wall so as to diffuse the exhaust flow and reduce noise, and
- wherein the vent component comprises an integral one piece construction with the mask component.
A mask system configured to deliver air pressurized by a flow generator system by at least 4 cm H2O above atmospheric pressure to the airways of a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the mask system comprising:
- a mask component;
- and
- a vent component provided to the mask component, the vent component configured to discharge gas from a pressurized interior of the mask component to atmosphere during said CPAP therapy,
- the vent component including an annular side wall and a plurality of vent holes for gas washout arranged on the annular side wall, the plurality of vent holes configured to remain open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the patient's breathing cycle for the discharge of gas during CPAP therapy,
- wherein the annular side wall comprises a plurality of spaced support walls, and adjacent ones of the plurality of spaced support walls form a respective one of the plurality of vent holes,
- wherein the vent holes are arranged radially on the annular side wall to radially divide exhaust flow over one or more portions totaling at least 90° of a circumference of the annular side wall so as to diffuse the exhaust flow and reduce noise, and
- wherein the vent component comprises a cap portion arranged to alter the exhaust flow from a first incoming direction to a second outgoing direction that is sloped or angled to the first incoming direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.