Patient interface systems
View Patent ↗A headgear for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes at least a strap ( 741 ) adapted to position the patient interface in sealing engagement with the patient's airways. The strap is constructed from an elastomer and a first side of the strap includes a first region ( 215 ) on a portion of its surface that is textured to reduce friction with objects contacting the strap. A textured surface coating for a portion of an elastomer strap included in a headgear system is adapted to contact the skin of a patient, when in use, and the coating has a Ra value greater than zero. A vent ( 500 ) for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a plurality of rises ( 580 ) and runs ( 570 ) in a stepped arrangement; and a plurality of holes ( 510 ) in the stepped arrangement for the venting of gas.
1. A vent for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a plurality of adjacent rows of holes arranged in a progressively displaced stepped configuration comprising a plurality of steps with each step comprising a run and a rise for venting of gas.
2. The vent of claim 1 , wherein the vent is angled.
3. The vent of claim 2 , wherein the vent is configured to be angled at 35° away from a direction normal to the patient's face.
4. The vent of claim 1 , comprising at least one row of holes positioned on a rise.
5. The vent of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of adjacent rows of holes is positioned on a rise.
6. The vent of claim 1 , wherein each rise is between about 0.1 to 5 mm in length.
7. The vent of claim 1 , wherein each run is between 0.1 to 5 mm in length.
8. The vent of claim 7 , wherein the length of the run and the rise produces an angle about 35°.
9. The vent of claim 1 , wherein the run is angled in a downward direction from a plane perpendicular to a plane of the rise.
10. The vent of claim 1 , wherein each of the holes of said plurality of rows of holes includes a rounded edge at an entrance to the respective vent hole.
11. The vent of claim 10 , wherein the rounded edge at the entrance has a radius of curvature of about 0.1 to 0.6 mm.
12. The vent of claim 10 , wherein the holes have an entrance diameter greater than an exit diameter.
13. The vent of claim 12 , wherein the exit diameter of the holes is between about 0.1 to 1.0 mm.
14. The vent of claim 13 , wherein the holes having varying exit diameters.
15. The vent of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a length of each vent hole to the exit diameter is about 3:1 to 5:1.
16. The vent of claim 15 , wherein the holes have varying lengths.
17. The vent of claim 1 , wherein a transition between the rise and the run is curved.
18. The vent of claim 17 , wherein a radius of curvature of the transition is between about 0.1 to 2 mm.
19. The vent of claim 1 , wherein said vent produces between 10-30 dBa during use as part of a positive pressure treatment.
20. The vent of claim 1 , wherein said vent is mounted on an elbow which is attached to a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient.
21. A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable air to a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a main body having a cushion portion;
an elbow mounted on the main body;
headgear configured to bias the main body against the patient's face; and
a vent assembly according to claim 1 .
22. The patient interface of claim 21 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted on the elbow.
23. The patient interface of claim 22 , wherein the elbow has a distal end configured to be connected to a gas delivery conduit.
24. The patient interface of claim 23 , wherein the cushion portion includes a pair of nasal pillows configured to engage the patient's nostrils.
25. A vent assembly for use with a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the vent comprising:
a plurality of alternating first and second surfaces, each first surface connecting consecutive second surfaces, each consecutive first surface extending along a plane that is progressively offset from another plane along which a preceding first surface extends; and
a plurality of holes arranged on at least one of the first and second surfaces.
26. The vent assembly of claim 24 , wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially planar and are substantially perpendicular to each other.
27. The vent assembly of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged only on the first surfaces or only on the second surfaces.
28. The vent assembly of claim 25 , further comprising a third surface.
29. The vent assembly of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of holes extend from the third surface to the first surfaces or the second surfaces to define a plurality of passages.
30. The vent assembly of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of passages have varying lengths.
31. The vent assembly of claim 30 , wherein an intersection between each passage and the third surface includes a radius edge.
32. The vent assembly of claim 31 , wherein each passage of the plurality of passages is shaped to have a larger diameter at the third surface than at the first or second surfaces.
33. The vent assembly of claim 32 , wherein the diameters of the passages at the first or second surfaces vary.
34. The vent assembly of claim 25 , wherein a transition between the first surfaces and the second surfaces is filleted.
35. The vent assembly of claim 25 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted on an elbow which is attached to a patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient.
36. A patient interface configured to deliver a flow of breathable air to a patient, the patient interface comprising:
a main body having a cushion portion;
an elbow mounted on the main body;
headgear configured to bias the main body against the patient's face; and
a vent assembly according to claim 25 .
37. The patient interface of claim 36 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted on the elbow.
38. The patient interface of claim 37 , wherein the elbow has a distal end configured to be connected to a gas delivery conduit.
39. The patient interface of claim 38 , wherein the cushion portion includes a pair of nasal pillows configured to engage the patient's nostrils.