# US 2013/0152369 A1 · Mask and vent assembly therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152369 A1 - Document ID: US20130152369A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/764,401 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 1997-02-10 - Assignees: ResMed Limited - Inventors: Philip Rodney Kwok; Perry David Lithgow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152369A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61D 7/00: Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals (for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00) - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A62B 18/02: Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06) - A62B 18/10: Valves - B23P 11/02: by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise - Y10T 29/49872: Confining elastic part in socket - 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)} - A61D: VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for attaching a removable, washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a rigid plastics shell having an inlet tube, the rigid plastics shell having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert being made of a material more flexible than the rigid plastic shell, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having a recess located at its periphery, includes: squeezing the vent insert along its longitudinal axis; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening; inserting the vent insert into the opening; and releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to engage the rim of the opening. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-18. (canceled) ### Claim 19 A method for attaching a removable, washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a rigid plastics shell having an inlet tube, the rigid plastics shell having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert being made of a material more flexible than the rigid plastic shell, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having a recess located at its periphery, the method comprising: squeezing the vent insert along its longitudinal axis; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening; inserting the vent insert into the opening; releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to engage the rim of the opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein each orifice in the vent insert is larger on an inside of the mask than on an outside of the mask. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert. ### Claim 22 A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a rigid plastics shell having an inlet tube, the CPAP mask having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert comprising a material more flexible than the rigid plastic shell, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert having a recess located at its periphery, the method comprising: squeezing the vent insert; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening; inserting at least a portion of the vent insert into the opening; releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to engage the rim of the opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein each orifice in the vent insert is larger on an inside of the mask than on an outside of the mask. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein squeezing the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert about an axis that is substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the vent insert resilient expands from a squeezed position to engage the rim of the opening. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein a lower edge of the vent insert is squeezed into the opening, with an upper edge of the vent insert on top of the opening, and part of the rim is received in the recess between the upper and lower edges. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the vent insert includes an elongated, non-round shape. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, wherein squeezing the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert about an axis that is substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis, wherein the vent insert resilient expands from a squeezed position to engage the rim of the opening, wherein a lower edge of the vent insert is squeezed into the opening, with an upper edge of the vent insert on top of the opening, and part of the rim is received in the recess between the upper and lower edges, and wherein the vent insert includes an elongated, non-round shape. ### Claim 30 A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask comprised of a shell having an inlet tube, the shell having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert constructed and arranged to be flexible, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert, in a cross-sectional view, having a recess located at its periphery, the method comprising: squeezing the vent insert; aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening; inserting at least a portion of the vent insert into the opening; releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening, the vent insert resiliently expanding to engage the rim of the opening. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the shell is formed from a relatively more rigid material and a region surrounding or adjacent the plurality of orifices is formed from a relatively more flexible material compared to the relatively more rigid material. ### Claim 32 A method for attaching a washout vent insert to a CPAP mask, the CPAP mask is comprised of a main body having a rigid plastics shell having an inlet tube, the main body having an opening bounded by a rim, the vent insert having a plurality of orifices, the vent insert having a recess located at its periphery, the method comprising: temporarily flexing or deforming the vent insert to allow an edge of the rim to enter the recess; and releasing the vent insert to allow the vent insert to return to an unflexed or undeformed position thereby securing the vent insert relative to the rim. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein temporarily flexing or deforming the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein squeezing the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert about an axis that is substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein releasing the vent insert includes releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening to allow the vent insert to return to its unflexed or undeformed position, thereby securing the vent insert to the main body due to engagement between the rim and the recess. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein each orifice in the vent insert is larger on an inside of the mask than on an outside of the mask. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein a lower edge of the vent insert is squeezed into the opening, with an upper edge of the vent insert on top of the opening, and part of the rim is received in the recess between the upper and lower edges. ### Claim 40 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the vent insert includes an elongated, non-round shape. ### Claim 41 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein temporarily flexing or deforming the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert, wherein squeezing the vent insert includes squeezing the vent insert about an axis that is substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis, further comprising aligning the vent insert so it is oriented to match the shape of the opening, wherein releasing the vent insert includes releasing the vent insert once it is within the opening to allow the vent insert to return to its unflexed or undeformed position, thereby securing the vent insert to the main body due to engagement between the rim and the recess, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, wherein a lower edge of the vent insert is squeezed into the opening, with an upper edge of the vent insert on top of the opening, and part of the rim is received in the recess between the upper and lower edges, and wherein the vent insert includes an elongated, non-round shape.