Oro-nasal patient interface

Abstract

A patient interface to provide breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a plenum chamber assembly, comprising: a nasal plenum chamber at least partly defining an upper gas chamber; an oral plenum chamber at least partly defining a lower gas chamber; and a decoupling structure at least partly connecting the nasal plenum chamber and the oral plenum chamber and at least party defining a flow path; a top plate including at least one connection feature configured to releasably retain a first portion of a positioning and stabilising structure; and a faceplate configured to releasably retain a second portion of a positioning and stabilising structure.

Description

1 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 823,353, filed May 14, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 954,201, filed Mar. 18, 2014, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.2 BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY[0002]2.1 Field of the Technology[0003]The present technology relates to one or more of the diagnosis, treatment and amelioration of respiratory disorders, and to procedures to prevent respiratory disorders. In particular, the present technology relates to medical devices, and their use for treating respiratory disorders and for preventing respiratory disorders.[0004]2.2 Description of the Related Art[0005]The respiratory system of the body facilitates gas exchange. The nose and mouth form the entrance to the airways of a patient.[0006]The airways consist of a series of branching tubes, which become narrower, shorter and more numerous as they penetrate deeper into the lun...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present technology is focused on providing better medical devices for diagnosing, treating and preventing respiratory disorders that are more comfortable, cost-effective, efficient, and easy to use and manufacture. One aspect of the technology is a patient interface that matches the shape of the intended wearer and is made using a new process that reduces the number of parts needed. The patient interface is designed to cover both the nasal and mouth passages, providing a seal and preventing leakage while being comfortable for the patient. Another aspect of the technology is that the patient interface has a reduced skin contact area and is less likely to cause claustrophobic feelings. Additionally, the patient interface is designed to be easy to fit by patients, home medical equipment dealers, and clinicians, with minimal headgear tension and a simplified size selection process. Overall, this technology aims to improve patient comfort and provide a more efficient and effective respiratory therapy for patients with respiratory disorders.

Problems solved by technology

It often causes excessive daytime somnolence, and it may cause cardiovascular disease and brain damage.

It is possible that CSR is harmful because of the repetitive hypoxia.

In some patients CSR is associated with repetitive arousal from sleep, which causes severe sleep disruption, increased sympathetic activity, and increased afterload.

Symptoms include dyspnea, morning headache and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Some NMD patients are characterised by progressive muscular impairment leading to loss of ambulation, being wheelchair-bound, swallowing difficulties, respiratory muscle weakness and, eventually, death from respiratory failure.

Symptoms of respiratory failure in NMD include: increasing generalised weakness, dysphagia, dyspnea on exertion and at rest, fatigue, sleepiness, morning headache, and difficulties with concentration and mood changes.

Chest wall disorders are a group of thoracic deformities that result in inefficient coupling between the respiratory muscles and the thoracic cage.

Scoliosis and / or kyphoscoliosis may cause severe respiratory failure.

Symptoms of respiratory failure include: dyspnea on exertion, peripheral oedema, orthopnoea, repeated chest infections, morning headaches, fatigue, poor sleep quality and loss of appetite.

A range of patient interface devices are known, however a number of them suffer from being one or more of obtrusive, aesthetically undesirable, poorly fitting, difficult to use and uncomfortable especially when worn for long periods of time or when a patient is unfamiliar with a system.

Masks designed solely for aviators, as part of personal protection equipment or for the administration of anaesthetics may be tolerable for their original application, but nevertheless be undesirably uncomfortable to be worn for extended periods, for example, while sleeping.

Due to their size and bulk, they may less comfortable and more intrusive than other masks due to physiological reasons including claustrophobia or clithrophobia.

Oro-nasal masks are typically bulky and heavy and can interfere with patient comfort and prevent wearing of eyeglasses.

Like the previous style of seal forming portion, if the match between the face and the mask is not good, additional force may be required to effect a seal, or the mask may leak.

Furthermore, if the shape of the seal-forming portion does not match that of the patient, it may crease or buckle in use, giving rise to leaks.

Some patients may find it inconvenient to constantly apply and remove an adhesive to their face.

Many such harnesses suffer from being one or more of ill-fitting, bulky, uncomfortable and awkward to use.

Many such vents are noisy.

Others may block in use and provide insufficient washout.

Images