IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,390,611
Granted Patent B2
US 12,390,611 · App. 17/330,490 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Patient interface systems

Inventors: Adam Francis Barlow (Sydney, AU); Rupert Christian Scheiner (Sydney, AU); Justin John Formica (Sydney, AU); Aaron Samuel Davidson (Sydney, AU); Kai Stuebiger (Sydney, AU)
Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
A61M16/0666A61M16/0057A61M16/06A61M16/0611A61M16/0616A61M16/0622A61M16/0683A61M16/0694A61M16/0816A61M16/0825A61M16/0875A61M16/20A61M16/208A61M2202/0225A61M2205/0216A61M2210/0618A61M2210/0625
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,390,611
App. No.
17/330,490
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A patient interface structure for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a cushion assembly having a mouth seal configured to seal around the patient's mouth and a nasal seal configured to seal against at least an underside of the patient's nose. A cushion clip is attached to the cushion assembly and adds rigidity to the cushion assembly, while a frame with a plurality of headgear attachment points is configured to snap onto the cushion clip. In addition, an air inlet passage along a posterior surface of the frame includes a first end that is configured to attach to an air delivery tube and a second end that is configured to sealingly attach to an opening in the chamber that is at least partially formed by the cushion assembly and the cushion clip. The patient interface structure also includes headgear attachable to the headgear attachment points on the frame.

Claims (55)

1. A patient interface structure for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient, the patient interface structure comprising:

a cushion assembly comprising a mouth seal configured to seal around the patient's mouth, a nasal seal configured to seal against at least an underside of the patient's nose, and a pair of nares support portions supporting respective lateral sides of the nasal seal;

a frame attachment structure that is attached to the cushion assembly and adds rigidity to the cushion assembly, the cushion assembly and the frame attachment structure combining to form at least part of a chamber; and

a frame with a plurality of headgear attachment and a posterior side configured to snap onto the frame attachment structure, the frame comprising:

a first opening on lower side of the frame that is oriented to receive an air delivery tube from a substantially downward direction and direct air in a substantially upward direction;

a second opening on a posterior side of the frame that is oriented to face a second direction to direct air in the second direction; and

an air inlet passage connecting the first opening to the second opening and comprising a first end at the first opening and a second end at the second opening and is configured to sealingly attach to an opening in the chamber,

wherein the air inlet passage is configured to change the direction of air flowing through the air inlet passage from the substantially upward direction at the first end to the second direction at the second end.

2. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame is malleable to conform to the shape of the patient's face.

3. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein an anterior surface of the frame is substantially planar.

4. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein an anterior surface of the frame is generally convex.

5. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame is more rigid than the cushion assembly.

6. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet passage is integrally formed with a main body of the frame.

7. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet passage is in the form of an elbow.

8. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet passage is configured to receive the pressurized respiratory gas from below the frame.

9. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet passage is fixed relative to a main body of the frame.

10. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the air inlet passage projects from a posterior side of a main body of the frame.

11. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , further comprising headgear attachable to the headgear attachment points on the frame,

wherein the headgear is configured to support the cushion assembly on the patient's face, and

wherein the headgear comprises a crown strap configured to cup the crown of the patient's head in use.

12. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the headgear attachment points on the frame include a pair of upper connector slots positioned on opposite lateral sides of the frame.

13. The patient interface structure of claim 12 , further comprising headgear attachable to the headgear attachment points on the frame,

wherein the headgear is configured to support the cushion assembly on the patient's face,

wherein the frame comprises a pair of laterally extending arms, and

wherein the upper connector slots are located at respective ends of the laterally extending arms.

14. The patient interface structure of claim 13 , wherein the headgear comprises a pair of upper side straps configured to extend over the patient's ears in use, and wherein the upper connector slots are configured to secure the upper side straps to the frame.

15. The patient interface structure of claim 14 , wherein the headgear comprises a pair of lower side straps configured to extend below the patient's ears in use, wherein the headgear attachment points on the frame include a pair of lower connector slots positioned on opposite lateral sides of the frame, and wherein the lower connector slots are configured to secure the lower side straps to the frame.

16. The patient interface structure of claim 15 , wherein the headgear comprises a rear panel configured to be positioned at a rear of the patient's head in use, and wherein the upper and lower side straps are connected to the rear panel.

17. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a guide for aligning the frame with the cushion assembly.

18. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet passage comprises an anti-asphyxia valve.

19. The patient interface structure of claim 18 , wherein the anti-asphyxia valve comprises a flap configured to cover an aperture in the air inlet passage in use when the pressurized respiratory gas is delivered to the patient interface structure.

20. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the nasal seal comprises raised portions configured to position the nasal seal in use against the flares of the patient's nostrils.

21. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , further comprising headgear attachable to the headgear attachment points on the frame,

wherein the headgear is configured to support the cushion assembly on the patient's face,

wherein the frame is malleable to conform to the shape of the patient's face,

wherein an anterior surface of the frame is substantially planar,

wherein the anterior surface of the frame is generally convex,

wherein the frame is more rigid than the cushion assembly,

wherein the air inlet passage is integrally formed with a main body of the frame,

wherein the air inlet passage is in the form of an elbow,

wherein the air inlet passage is configured to receive the pressurized respiratory gas from below the frame,

wherein the air inlet passage is fixed relative to a main body of the frame,

wherein the air inlet passage projects in the posterior direction from a main body of the frame,

wherein the headgear comprises a crown strap configured to cup the crown of the patient's head in use,

wherein the headgear attachment points on the frame include a pair of upper connector slots positioned on opposite lateral sides of the frame and a pair of lower connector slots positioned on opposite lateral sides of the frame,

wherein the frame comprises a pair of laterally extending arms, and wherein the upper connector slots are locate at respective ends of the laterally extending arms,

wherein the headgear comprises a pair of upper side straps configured to extend over the patient's ears in use, and wherein the upper connector slots are configured to secure the upper side straps to the frame,

wherein the headgear comprises a pair of lower side straps configured to extend below the patient's ears in use, and wherein the lower connector slots are configured to secure the lower side straps to the frame,

wherein the headgear comprises a rear panel configured to be positioned at a rear of the patient's head in use, and wherein the upper and lower side straps are connected to the rear panel,

wherein the frame comprises a guide for aligning the frame with the cushion assembly,

wherein the air inlet passage comprises an anti-asphyxia valve,

wherein the anti-asphyxia valve comprises a flap configured to cover an aperture in the air inlet passage in use when the pressurized respiratory gas is delivered to the patient interface structure, and

wherein the nasal seal comprises raised portions configured to position the nasal seal in use against the flares of the patient's nostrils.

22. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the pair of nares support portions are configured to support the nasal seal against the sides of the patient's nares.

23. The patient interface structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame, the cushion assembly, and the frame attachment structure are all configured to be positioned below the patient's eyes, in use.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2021
From: BARLOW, ADAM FRANCIS; STUEBIGER, KAI; DAVIDSON, AARON SAMUEL; FORMICA, JUSTIN JOHN; SCHEINER, RUPERT CHRISTIAN
To: RESMED LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056352/0346 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2021
From: RESMED LIMITED
To: RESMED PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 056393/0438 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16032722 · Jul 11, 2018
Continuation 14645457 · Mar 12, 2015
Continuation 13876624
Provisional Application 61528524 · Aug 29, 2011
Provisional Application 61457981 · Jul 27, 2011
Provisional Application 61443623 · Feb 16, 2011
Provisional Application 61388357 · Sep 30, 2010
Related Publication 20210275768A1 · Sep 9, 2021
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