# US 11,992,617 B2 · Patient interface device

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- Number: US 11,992,617 B2
- Document ID: US11992617B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/991,686
- Filed: 2020-08-12
- Published: 2020-11-26
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-23
- Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd
- Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Liam Holley; Emma Anne Connell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992617B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0605: {Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/22: Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices {; Other means for removing carbon dioxide}(cartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00)
- A61M 16/0063: {Compressors}
- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/0075: {Bellows-type}
- A61M 16/0633: {with forehead support}
- A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor}
- A61M 16/0866: {Passive resistors therefor}
- A61M 16/1045: {Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas}
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent}
- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2205/02: characterised by a particular materials
- A61M 2205/3365: Rotational speed
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence)
- A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise
- A61M 2206/11: Laminar flow
- Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing may include: a seal-forming structure to form a pneumatic seal with the entrance to the patient's airways; a positioning and stabilising structure to maintain the seal-forming structure in sealing contact with an area surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways; a plenum chamber pressurised at a pressure above ambient pressure in use; a connection port for the delivery of the flow of breathable gas into the patient interface; and a device positioned within a breathing chamber defined, at least in part, by the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber, wherein the device divides the breathing chamber into a posterior chamber and an anterior chamber, and wherein the device comprises a plurality of apertures such that turbulence of the air in the posterior chamber is less than turbulence in the air in the anterior chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4 cmH2O to about 30 cmH2O above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, said patient interface comprising:
a seal-forming structure configured to contact and seal against the patient's face at an area surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways;
a plenum chamber configured to be pressurised at a pressure above ambient pressure in use, the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber forming, at least in part, a breathing chamber when the seal-forming structure is in sealing contact with the area surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways, and a connection port positioned on the plenum chamber, the flow of air passing through connection port and into the breathing chamber during use;
a positioning and stabilising structure comprising at least one strap configured to maintain the seal-forming structure in sealing contact with the area surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways;
a vent configured to wash out gas from the breathing chamber, the vent comprising a plurality of holes; and
a device positioned inside of the breathing chamber such that, in use, the vent and the connection port are positioned opposite the entrance to the patient's airways relative to the device, the device having a plurality of apertures that allow the flow of air entering the breathing chamber from the connection port and exhaled gas from the patient to pass through the device,
wherein the device is shaped and dimensioned such that at least a portion of an outer peripheral edge region of the device substantially conforms to an internal surface of at least one of the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber, and
wherein at least one gap is formed between the outer peripheral edge region of the device and the internal surface of at least one of the seal-forming structure and the plenum chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, comprising an elbow connected to the connection port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the vent is positioned on the elbow.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the vent is positioned on the plenum chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, comprising an anti-asphyxia valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The patient interface of claim 6, wherein the HME material is paper.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein at least some of the flow of air passes through the apertures.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The patient interface of claim 8, wherein all of the flow of air passes through the apertures.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed from a flexible membrane sheet, a textile formed of woven fibres, or a mesh structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device is shaped and dimensioned such that at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge region of the device substantially conforms to the internal surface of the plenum chamber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The patient interface of claim 11, wherein the device is secured to the plenum chamber with a friction fit, a press fit, a snap fit, adhesive, molding, and/or clips.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device is formed in one piece with the plenum chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device and the plenum chamber are constructed from a single piece of homogenous and continuous material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a material that is resistant to absorption of moisture and/or heat.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The patient interface of claim 15, wherein the material is any one of the group consisting of nylon, polycarbonate, silicone, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer, and hydrophobic polymer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the apertures are uniform in size and shape over the entirety of the device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the size of the apertures is varied in different regions of the device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) system comprising:
the patient interface of claim 1;
an RPT device including a controllable blower configured to generate the flow of air at the continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure; and
an air circuit pneumatically connected to the patient interface and the RPT device to deliver the flow of air at the continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure from the RPT device to the patient interface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The RPT system of claim 19, wherein the RPT system does not include a humidifier.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures comprises a first aperture having a first axis and a second aperture having a second axis parallel to the first axis.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device has a uniform thickness.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the apertures are uniform in size or shape over the entirety of the device.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the density of the apertures is uniform over the entirety of the device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the shape of the apertures is varied in different regions of the device.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the density of the apertures is varied in different regions of the device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, further comprising a frame connected to the at least one strap.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a first side that is proximal to the patient in use and a second side that is opposite the first side.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The patient interface of claim 28, wherein the plurality of apertures extend continuously from the first side to the second side.

### Claim 30

The patient interface of 28, wherein the at least one gap extends continuously from the first side to the second side.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one gap is at least partly formed by a recess into the outer peripheral edge region of the device.