Filter assembly and airway pressure support system employing same

A filter member, comprising:

• a frame portion including an inner frame portion and an outer frame portion disposed outside of the inner frame portion on a common base of the frame portion, the inner frame portion including a plurality of inner walls vertically disposed above the common base and positioned around an opening in the common base, and the outer frame portion including a plurality of outer walls vertically disposed above the common base, wherein a first one of the inner walls and a first one of the outer walls forms a first groove above the common base between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion and wherein a second one of the inner walls and a second one of the outer walls forms a second groove above the common base between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion, wherein the first groove is structured to receive a first vertically disposed edge portion of a bottom perimeter portion of a housing portion of a second filter member and the second groove is structured to receive a second vertically disposed edge portion of the bottom perimeter portion of the housing portion of the second filter member, and wherein the inner frame portion is structured to be received within the bottom perimeter portion of the housing portion of the second filter member to releasably secure the filter member to the second filter member;
• and
• a filter media portion attached to the inner frame portion and covering the opening.

An airway pressure support system, comprising:

• a housing having a port structure with an air inlet opening, the air inlet opening being disposed on a horizontal surface of the port structure, the port structure further including a first slot member and a second slot member within a respective first vertical side and second vertical side of the port structure;
• and
• a filter assembly coupled to the housing via the port structure, the filter assembly being in fluid communication with the air inlet opening, wherein the filter assembly includes a housing portion having a first vertically disposed side wall, a second vertically disposed side wall opposite the first side wall, a front vertically disposed wall provided between the first side wall and the second side wall, a top wall connected to the front wall, the first side wall and the second side wall, and a bottom horizontally disposed portion opposite the top wall and having a first opening formed therein, the filter assembly further including a first filter media portion attached to the bottom portion, wherein the first filter media portion comprises a course particle filter member that covers the first opening, the course particle filter member having a filtration capacity and pressure drop that are each lower than a filtration capacity and pressure drop of a fine particle filter member, and wherein the first filter media portion, the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the top wall and the bottom portion form an inner chamber having a second opening opposite the front wall and in fluid communication with the first opening, via the first filter media portion, the filter assembly still further including a first spring member provided on an exterior of the first side wall, and a second spring member provided on an exterior of the second side wall, wherein the first and second spring members each have a vertically disposed floating portion configured to engage a respective top wall of the first slot member and the second slot member and provide a downward sealing force to be exerted against the filter assembly to create a seal between the bottom portion of the filter assembly and air inlet opening of the port structure of the housing, in response to the filter assembly being inserted into the port structure.