Delivery of respiratory therapy with foam interface
View Patent ↗An air delivery system for providing a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure to an interfacing structure located at the entrance to the airways of a patient includes a manifold adapted to connect with the supply of positive air pressure and at least one tube connected to the manifold and adapted to deliver the supply of air to the interfacing structure. Each tube is structured to allow movement between an open phase in which the tube allows the passage of air and a collapsed phase in which the tube is collapsed. Each tube is structured such that weight of a typical patient's head against bedding apparel is sufficient to collapse the tube from the open phase to the collapsed phase.
1. A patient interface to provide a supply of pressurized air to an airway of a patient for positive airway pressure treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
an interface including a foam portion configured to form a seal with the patient's face to deliver the pressurized air to the patient for positive airway pressure treatment of sleep disordered breathing and a connection portion sealingly attached to the foam portion;
a support structure to support the interface, the support structure being adapted to be coupled to an air delivery system that provides a supply of air from a source of air at positive pressure so as to be in fluid communication therewith;
an attachment mechanism configured to sealingly engage the connection portion to detachably couple the interface with the support structure; and
a strap configured to facilitate support of the interface on the patient's face, the strap being configured to aid in maintenance of the seal between the interface and the patient's face in the presence of pressurized air sufficient to effect positive airway pressure treatment of sleep disordered breathing,
wherein the connection portion has an attachment surface engaging the foam portion, an aperture being formed through the attachment surface to convey the air therethrough, the entire attachment surface extending in a continuous manner around the aperture,
wherein the foam portion includes an orifice in fluid communication with the supply of air, the orifice being formed through the foam portion and arranged such that when the interfacing structure is worn the entire foam portion is positioned externally of the patient's nasal passageways,
wherein the foam portion includes an attachment section having a foam surface attached to the attachment surface of the connection portion, the foam surface of the attachment section extending in a continuous manner around the orifice,
wherein the connection portion consists of a generally planar base attached to the underside of the foam portion,
wherein the foam portion is configured to sealingly engage with an underside of the patient's nose to cradle the patient's nose, and
wherein the connection portion is formed of a different material than the foam portion, the connection portion being more rigid than the foam portion.
2. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism has an engagement portion configured to sealingly engage the connection portion, and wherein the support structure includes a frame.
3. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein the foam portion includes at least one portion having a cut, unskinned surface to contact the patient's skin.
4. The patient interface according to claim 3 , wherein the entire foam portion includes the unskinned surface.
5. The patient interface according to claim 3 , wherein the foam portion includes a portion having the unskinned surface and a portion having a skinned surface.
6. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a mechanical interference type.
7. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of the attachment mechanism forms a layer of the interface.
8. The patient interface according to claim 3 , wherein the base is configured to be resiliently squeezed and/or manipulated into a slot provided in the support structure.
9. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a hook and loop material.
10. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a snap-over fit.
11. The patient interface according to claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.
12. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion includes a visco-elastic foam.
13. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion has a thickness of at least about 5 mm or more.
14. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion has a thickness of about 5-50 mm.
15. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion comprises a breathable or permeable foam that allows a deliberate and controlled amount of airflow between the interface and the patient's skin.
16. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the interface is a nasal cushion.
17. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion has a heterogeneous cell structure with a high content of fine cells.
18. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion has an outer perimeter arranged to lie outside of an inferior outline of the patient's nose such that the foam portion is configured to interface with the patient's external nares to thereby cradle the patient's nose.
19. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the connection portion is configured to be removably attachable to the attachment mechanism.
20. The patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the foam portion has an outer perimeter arranged to lie outside of an inferior outline of the patient's nose such that the foam portion interface is configured to interface with the patient's external nares to thereby cradle the patient's nose.
21. The patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a retaining device configured to engage the connection portion of the interface to retain the interface.
22. The patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein engagement between the attachment mechanism and the connection portion forms a seal between the interface and the support structure.
23. The patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lip arranged to press against the interface to provide a seal.
24. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion and the connection portion form a unitary member.
25. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture of the connection portion corresponds to the orifice of the foam portion.
26. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment section of the foam portion is on an underside of the foam portion such that the attachment surface of the connection portion abuts against the underside of the foam portion.
27. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the interface is curved in at least one direction to aid engagement with the patient's face.
28. The patient interface according to claim 27 , wherein the top surface is curved in two directions.
29. The patient interface according to claim 27 , wherein the attachment mechanism or the support structure imparts the curvature to the interface.
30. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam portion is adhered to the connection portion.
31. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment surface of the connection portion is disposed on a first side of the connection portion, the connection portion having an opposing surface on a second side of the connection portion opposite the first side, the aperture being formed through the opposing surface, and
wherein the attachment section of the foam portion is formed on an underside of the foam portion, the foam surface of the attachment section being attached only to the continuous attachment surface of the connection portion.
32. The patient interface according to claim 31 , wherein the foam surface of the attachment section is a cut cellular structure.
33. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the entire foam surface of the attachment section of the foam portion extends uninterruptedly.
34. The patient interface according to claim 33 , wherein the foam surface of the attachment section is a cut cellular structure.
35. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam surface of the attachment section of the foam portion is a cut unskinned surface.
36. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the foam surface of the attachment section of the foam portion is an irregular surface.
37. The patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the connection portion is part of a non-face contacting portion of the interface.