Conduit with magnetic connector
A therapy device that includes an air conduit that is configured both to secure the patient interface to the patient as well as provide pressurised air to the patient. The positioning and stabilising structure of the patient interface may include magnets that assist in positioning the positioning and stabilising structure and also assist in positioning the air conduit of the positioning and stabilising structure to interact with the mask assembly.
1. A system comprising:
an RPT device, a patient interface, and an air circuit configured to connect the RPT device to the patient interface;
the RPT device configured to supply air at positive pressure for respiratory therapy;
the air circuit configured to connect to the patient interface at a connection port;
the patient interface including a positioning and stabilising structure and a mask assembly including a plenum chamber and a seal forming structure, the positioning and stabilising structure including a headgear conduit configured to receive a therapeutic pressure of at least 6 cmH 2 O above ambient air pressure from the air circuit, the headgear conduit configured to extend along a crown of a patient's head from a first parietal bone to a second parietal bone;
the plenum chamber including a first plenum chamber receptor assembly,
wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly includes a plenum chamber opening configured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by a patient;
the seal forming structure configured to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding an entrance to a patient's airways, said seal forming structure having a hole configured to allow the flow of air at said therapeutic pressure to be delivered to at least an entrance to a patient's nares, the seal forming structure configured to maintain said therapeutic pressure in the mask assembly throughout a patient's respiratory cycle in use;
the headgear conduit including a first end with a first conduit connector assembly,
wherein the first conduit connector assembly is configured to engage with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly,
wherein the first conduit connector assembly includes a connector opening, and
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the connector opening is configured to align with the plenum chamber opening and form a channel through which air is delivered from the headgear conduit, through the first conduit connector assembly, and through the first plenum chamber receptor assembly to the mask assembly;
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is configured to be rotatable relative to the first plenum chamber receptor assembly about an axis of the plenum chamber opening of the first plenum chamber receptor assembly;
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is restricted from translating in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of the plenum chamber opening; and
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is permitted to translate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the plenum chamber opening and opposite to the first direction.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first conduit connector assembly includes a retention member, wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly includes a tapered outer wall, wherein the retention member is angled and configured to engage with the tapered outer wall of the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, and wherein an inner surface of the retention member is substantially linear and an outer surface of the tapered outer wall is substantially linear.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly comprises a shell magnet carrier including an upper surface, the tapered outer wall, and an upper flange surface, wherein the upper surface and the upper flange surface are spaced from each other by the tapered outer wall, and wherein the tapered outer wall tapers inward toward a center of the shell magnet carrier from the upper surface to the upper flange surface.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the retention member of the first conduit connector assembly comprises a front lip that does not extend all around a perimeter of the first conduit connector assembly, and the front lip includes an angled interior surface configured to lie flush against the tapered outer wall.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is restricted to translate in various directions of a single plane including the first direction.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the various directions include directions outward from the sagittal plane.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly and the first conduit connector assembly are attracted to each other through a magnetic force, and, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, a seal is formed between the first plenum chamber receptor assembly and the first conduit connector assembly.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the magnetic force is configured to self-align the connector opening with the plenum chamber opening.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the patient interface is worn by the patient, the first conduit connector assembly is a tie configured to provide a posterior force to the mask assembly.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first conduit connector assembly is configured to be rotatable relative to the first plenum chamber receptor assembly about the axis of the plenum chamber opening while maintaining a seal between the first conduit connector assembly and the first plenum chamber receptor assembly.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the headgear conduit further comprises a second end with a second conduit connector assembly, wherein the plenum chamber of the mask assembly further comprises a second plenum chamber receptor assembly, wherein the second conduit connector assembly is configured to engage with the second plenum chamber receptor assembly, and wherein, when the second conduit connector assembly is engaged with the second plenum chamber receptor assembly, air is configured to pass from the headgear conduit, through the second conduit connector assembly and through the second plenum chamber receptor assembly to the mask assembly.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction is laterally inward toward the sagittal plane.
13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second direction is a direction opposite of a direction of force applied upon the first conduit connector assembly by the positioning and stabilising structure.
14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises a pair of nasal puffs or pillows.
15. A patient interface for delivering a flow of air at a positive pressure to a patient for respiratory therapy, the patient interface comprising:
a positioning and stabilising structure and a mask assembly including a plenum chamber and a seal forming structure, the positioning and stabilising structure including a headgear conduit configured to receive a therapeutic pressure of at least 6 cmH 2 O above ambient air pressure from an air circuit, the headgear conduit configured to extend along a crown of a patient's head from a first parietal bone to a second parietal bone;
the plenum chamber including a first plenum chamber receptor assembly,
wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly includes a plenum chamber opening configured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by a patient;
the seal forming structure configured to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding an entrance to a patient's airways, said seal forming structure having a hole configured to allow the flow of air at said therapeutic pressure to be delivered to at least an entrance to a patient's nares, the seal forming structure configured to maintain said therapeutic pressure in the mask assembly throughout a patient's respiratory cycle in use;
the headgear conduit including a first end with a first conduit connector assembly,
wherein the first conduit connector assembly is configured to engage with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly,
wherein the first conduit connector assembly includes a connector opening, and
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the connector opening is configured to align with the plenum chamber opening and form a channel through which air is delivered from the headgear conduit, through the first conduit connector assembly, and through the first plenum chamber receptor assembly to the mask assembly;
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is configured to be rotatable relative to the first plenum chamber receptor assembly about an axis of the plenum chamber opening of the first plenum chamber receptor assembly;
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is restricted from translating in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of the plenum chamber opening; and
wherein, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, the first conduit connector assembly is permitted to translate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the plenum chamber opening and opposite to the first direction.
16. The patient interface according to claim 15 , wherein the first plenum chamber receptor assembly and the first conduit connector assembly are attracted to each other through a magnetic force, and, when the first conduit connector assembly is engaged with the first plenum chamber receptor assembly, a seal is formed between the first plenum chamber receptor assembly and the first conduit connector assembly.
17. The patient interface according to claim 16 , wherein the magnetic force is configured to self-align the connector opening with the plenum chamber opening.
18. The patient interface according to claim 15 , wherein, when the patient interface is worn by the patient, the first conduit connector assembly is a tie configured to provide a posterior force to the mask assembly.
19. The patient interface according to claim 15 , wherein the first conduit connector assembly is configured to be rotatable relative to the first plenum chamber receptor assembly about the axis of the plenum chamber opening while maintaining a seal between the first conduit connector assembly and the first plenum chamber receptor assembly.
20. The patient interface according to claim 15 , wherein the headgear conduit further comprises a second end with a second conduit connector assembly, wherein the plenum chamber of the mask assembly further comprises a second plenum chamber receptor assembly, wherein the second conduit connector assembly is configured to engage with the second plenum chamber receptor assembly, and wherein, when the second conduit connector assembly is engaged with the second plenum chamber receptor assembly, air is configured to pass from the headgear conduit, through the second conduit connector assembly and through the second plenum chamber receptor assembly to the mask assembly.