Breathing assistance apparatus
Breathing assistance apparatus for treating sleep apnoea are described. More specifically, nasal interface for the supply of respiratory gases, but most particularly positive pressure gases are described. The nasal interfaces may include various forms of nasal pillows or nasal plugs. Associated elements such as manifolds or housings to hold or secure the pillows or plugs, or headgear are also disclosed.
1. A nasal interface for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user comprising:
headgear adapted to be fitted to a head of the user,
a manifold having a manifold inlet, the manifold being adapted to be attached to the headgear so that the manifold locates adjacent a nose of the user, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of gases from a gases supply,
a pair of nasal pillows, each of said pair of nasal pillows comprising a nasal puff and a tubular base, the nasal puff being connected to and in fluid communication with the tubular base,
each said tubular base being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with the manifold, the tubular base and the nasal puff adapted to allow gases to enter the nasal pillow through the tubular base and exit the nasal pillow through the nasal puff, the pair of nasal puffs being adapted to sealingly engaging with nostrils of the user,
each said tubular base having a ribbed section that extends at least part way around a circumferential perimeter of the tubular base,
the ribbed section formed by a plurality of thick walled portions that are spaced apart, each thick walled portion being separated from adjacent thick walled portions by intervening thin walled portions,
wherein the tubular bases are arranged substantially parallel to each other,
wherein each nasal puff is attached to its corresponding tubular base at an angle with each nasal puff adapted to be angled in towards a nose of the user.
2. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the thick walled portions and the thin walled portions are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular base.
3. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the thick walled portions and the thin walled portions are spiraled around the tubular base.
4. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the angle is between about 10 degrees and about 30 degrees.
5. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the ribbed section extends from an upper end of the tubular base to part way down the tubular base.
6. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the ribbed section extends a full length of the tubular base.
7. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the ribbed section is formed with a ribbed profile on an outer surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base, an inner surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base being substantially smooth.
8. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the ribbed section is formed with a ribbed profile on an outer surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base and a ribbed profile on an inner surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base.
9. A nasal interface according to claim 8 wherein each thick walled portion or each thin walled portion, or both the thick walled portions and the thin walled portions, have a substantially rectangular cross section, the ribbed profile being substantially square-wave in form.
10. A nasal interface according to claim 8 wherein each thick walled portion or each thin walled portion, or both the thick walled portions and the thin walled portions, have a substantially rounded form, the ribbed profile being a substantially wave-type ribbed profile.
11. A nasal interface according to claim 8 wherein a ribbed profile of the ribbed section is formed by adjoining cylindrical sections.
12. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein each said nasal pillow individually attaches to the manifold.
13. A nasal interface according to claim 1 wherein the pair of nasal pillows share a common base, the common base and pair of nasal puffs are integrally formed as one piece, and the common base attaches to and is in fluid communication with the manifold.
14. A nasal interface for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user comprising:
headgear adapted to be fitted to a head of the user;
a manifold having a manifold inlet, the manifold being adapted to be attached to the headgear so that the manifold locates adjacent a nose of the user, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of gases from a gases supply;
a pair of nasal pillows, each of said pair of nasal pillows comprising a nasal puff and a tubular base, the nasal puff being connected to and in fluid communication with the tubular base;
each said tubular base being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with the manifold, the tubular base and the nasal puff adapted to allow gases to enter the nasal pillow through the tubular base and exit the nasal pillow through the nasal puff, the pair of nasal puffs being adapted to sealingly engaging in with nostrils of the user;
each said tubular base having a ribbed section that extends at least part way around a circumferential perimeter of the tubular base;
the ribbed section formed by a plurality of thick walled portions that are spaced apart, each thick walled portion being separated from adjacent thick walled portions by intervening thin walled portions;
wherein the ribbed section is formed with a ribbed profile on an inner surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base, an outer surface of the ribbed section of the tubular base being substantially smooth.
15. A nasal interface for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user comprising:
headgear adapted to be fitted to a head of the user;
a manifold having a manifold inlet, the manifold being adapted to be attached to the headgear so that the manifold locates adjacent a nose of the user, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of gases from a gases supply;
a pair of nasal pillows, each of said pair of nasal pillows comprising a nasal puff and a tubular base, the nasal puff being connected to and in fluid communication with the tubular base;
each said tubular base being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with the manifold, the tubular base and the nasal puff adapted to allow gases to enter the nasal pillow through the tubular base and exit the nasal pillow through the nasal puff, the pair of nasal puffs being adapted to sealingly engaging with nostrils of the user;
each said tubular base having a ribbed section that extends at least part way around a circumferential perimeter of the tubular base;
the ribbed section formed by a plurality of thick walled portions that are spaced apart, each thick walled portion being separated from adjacent thick walled portions by intervening thin walled portions;
wherein each of the pair of nasal pillows attaches to and is in fluid communication with the manifold;
wherein each said nasal pillow is keyed to the manifold.
16. A nasal interface for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user comprising:
headgear adapted to be fitted to a head of the user;
a manifold having a manifold inlet, the manifold being adapted to be attached to the headgear so that the manifold locates adjacent a nose of the user, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of gases from a gases supply;
a pair of nasal pillows, each of said pair of nasal pillows comprising a nasal puff and a tubular base, the nasal puff being connected to and in fluid communication with the tubular base;
each said tubular base being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with the manifold, the tubular base and the nasal puff adapted to allow gases to enter the nasal pillow through the tubular base and exit the nasal pillow through the nasal puff, the pair of nasal puffs being adapted to sealingly engaging with nostrils of the user;
each said tubular base having a ribbed section that extends at least part way around a circumferential perimeter of the tubular base;
the ribbed section formed by a plurality of thick walled portions that are spaced apart, each thick walled portion being separated from adjacent thick walled portions by intervening thin walled portions;
wherein the pair of nasal pillows share a common base, the common base and pair of nasal puffs are integrally formed as one piece, and the common base attaches to and is in fluid communication with the manifold;
wherein the common base is keyed to the manifold.
17. A nasal interface for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user comprising:
headgear adapted to be fitted to a head of the user;
a manifold having a manifold inlet, the manifold being adapted to be attached to the headgear so that the manifold locates adjacent a nose of the user, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of gases from a gases supply;
a pair of nasal pillows, each of said pair of nasal pillows comprising a nasal puff and a tubular base, the nasal puff being connected to and in fluid communication with the tubular base;
each said tubular base being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with the manifold, the tubular base and the nasal puff adapted to allow gases to enter the nasal pillow through the tubular base and exit the nasal pillow through the nasal puff, the pair of nasal puffs being adapted to sealingly engaging with nostrils of the user;
each said tubular base having a ribbed section that extends at least part way around a circumferential perimeter of the tubular base;
the ribbed section formed by a plurality of thick walled portions that are spaced apart, each thick walled portion being separated from adjacent thick walled portions by intervening thin walled portions;
wherein the thick walled portion has a thickness of around 1.5 mm, and the thin walled portion has a thickness of around 0.5 mm.