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US 2013/0340757 A1Published application
Compliant coupler or adaptor
AssigneeResMed Limited
InventorsIan Malcolm SMITH, John Michael Snow, Perry David Lithgow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A CPAP device includes a flow generator including an outlet, a humidifier including an inlet, and an adaptor connector between the outlet of the flow generator and the inlet of the humidifier. The connector includes a flexible and conformable sealing portion that is movable to accommodate misalignment.
Claims28
A connector for a CPAP system, the CPAP system including a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas to be delivered to a patient and a tub configured to contain a supply of liquid, the connector comprising:
- a main body having a first end and a second end;
- a channel extending axially through the main body from the first end to the second end and configured to deliver the flow of breathable gas to the tub;
- an attaching portion provided at the first end of the main body;
- and
- a flexible sealing portion provided at the second end of the main body, the flexible sealing portion comprising at least one bellows convolution, said bellows convolution shaped and arranged such that, in use, said bellows convolution will fill with breathable gas and expand due to the breathable gas to establish a face seal wherein a flat facing surface of said at least one bellows convolution is pressurized against a surface surrounding an inlet opening provided in the tub.
2 more elements
A CPAP system comprising:
- first and second CPAP components, and a connector extending between the first and second CPAP components, the connector configured to provide a sealed flow path for breathable pressurized gas passing between said first and second CPAP components, the connector having an attaching portion at one end and a flexible bellows sealing portion at an opposite end, the flexible bellows sealing portion comprising at least one bellows convolution adapted to sealingly engage a facing portion surrounding a port in one of said first and second CPAP components, and wherein said at least one bellows convolution is formed with an aperture having a diameter that, prior to engaging with said facing portion is larger than a diameter of said port, such that said at least one bellows convolution will, in use, fill with breathable gas and expand due to the breathable gas to thereby pressurize said at least one bellows convolution against said facing portion surrounding said port and form a seal therewith.
A CPAP system, comprising:
- a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas to be delivered to a patient;
- a tub configured to contain a supply of liquid, the supply of liquid used to humidify the breathable gas generated in the flow generator;
- and
- a connector adjacent to an inlet opening in a facing surface of the tub, the connector comprising:
- a main body having a first end and a second end;
- a channel extending axially through the main body from the first end to the second end and configured to deliver the flow of breathable gas to the tub;
- an attaching portion provided at the first end of the main body;
- and
- a flexible bellows sealing portion provided at the second end of the main body, the flexible bellows sealing portion comprising at least one bellows convolution formed with a sealing face surrounding a bellows aperture that, prior to engagement with said facing surface, is larger than said inlet opening, such that said sealing face will, in use, fill with breathable gas and expand due to the breathable gas so as to establish a pressurized face seal with said facing surface, about said inlet opening.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.