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US 12,766,285 B2Granted
Air conduit for a respiratory device
AssigneeResMed Pty Ltd
InventorDimitri Marco Maurer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air conduit for a respiratory therapy device comprises a first end, a second end, and a tube portion, wherein the tube portion comprises a tube wall and an auxiliary structure, such as a rib. The air conduit may deliver a flow of air from a respiratory therapy device or a humidifier to a patient interface. The air conduit may comprise a plurality of auxiliary structures, some of which may consist of a polymeric material, and some of which may comprise a polymeric material and an electrical conductor. An auxiliary structure may be a helical rib extending across a length of the tube portion.
Claims20
An air conduit for delivering a flow of air therethrough for respiratory therapy, the air conduit comprising:
- a first end configured to form a pneumatic connection with a first respiratory apparatus to receive the flow of air;
- a second end configured to form a pneumatic connection with a second respiratory apparatus to deliver the flow of air from the first end;
- and
- a tube portion configured to form a path for the flow of air between the first end and the second end, the tube portion comprising:
- at least one electrical conductor extending along a length of the tube portion;
- a first auxiliary structure helically wound along the length of the tube portion;
- and
- a second auxiliary structure helically wound along the length of the tube portion,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure is alternately arranged with respect to the second auxiliary structure along the length of the tube portion,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure comprises the at least one electrical conductor, and the second auxiliary structure does not comprise an electrical conductor,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure comprises a solid cross-section, and the second auxiliary structure comprises a hollow cross-section,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure comprises a different cross-sectional shape than the second auxiliary structure,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure comprises a non-circular cross-section,
- wherein the first auxiliary structure includes opposing flat sides that converge towards one another such that the solid cross-section of the first auxiliary structure tapers from a larger width to a smaller width,
- wherein the at least one electrical conductor is encapsulated within the solid cross-section of the first auxiliary structure so that the first auxiliary structure provides sheathing for the at least one electrical conductor along the length of the tube portion, and
- wherein the at least one electrical conductor comprises two or more wires, and the two or more wires are arranged within the solid cross-section of the first auxiliary structure between the opposing flat sides of the first auxiliary structure.
13 more elements
An air conduit for a respiratory apparatus, the air conduit comprising:
- a first end comprising an electrical connector and a pneumatic connector;
- a second end comprising a pneumatic connector;
- and
- a tube portion configured to form a path for a flow of air between the first end and the second end, the tube portion comprising:
- a first rib extending along a length of the tube portion, the first rib comprising a first polymeric material and at least one electrical wire, wherein the at least one electrical wire extends along the length of the tube portion and is electrically connected to the electrical connector;
- and
- a second rib extending along the length of the tube portion, the second rib comprising a second polymeric material, wherein the second rib does not comprise an electrical wire,
- wherein the at least one electrical wire is configured to heat the flow of air,
- wherein the first rib is alternately arranged with respect to the second rib along the length of the tube portion,
- wherein the first rib comprises a solid cross-section, and the second rib comprises a hollow cross-section,
- wherein the first rib comprises a different cross-sectional shape than the second rib,
- wherein the first rib comprises a non-circular cross-section,
- wherein the first rib includes opposing flat sides that converge towards one another such that the solid cross-section of the first rib tapers from a larger width to a smaller width,
- wherein the at least one electrical wire is encapsulated within the solid cross-section of the first rib so that the first rib provides sheathing for the at least one electrical wire along the length of the tube portion, and
- wherein the at least one electrical wire comprises two or more of the electrical wire, and the two or more of the electrical wire are arranged within the solid cross-section of the first rib between the opposing flat sides of the first rib.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.