Therapy system for respiratory-related disorders, and patient interface and headgear for use in same
A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air to an entrance of a patient's airways includes a mask with a seal-forming structure and one or more positioning and stabilising structures to provide a force to hold the mask in a therapeutically effective position on the patient's head. The patient interface may also include more than one connection port arranged to receive an end of an air circuit for delivering the flow of pressurised air to the seal-forming structure. The patient may connect the air circuit to a connection port of choice, depending on whether it is desired to have the end of the air circuit positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior or inferior to the patient's otobasion superior.
1 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air from an air circuit to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber;
a seal-forming structure provided to the plenum chamber;
a plurality of connection ports configured to receive the flow of air from the air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, the plurality of connection ports comprising a first connection port and a second connection port; and
one or more positioning and stabilising structures configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use,
wherein the patient interface is structured and arranged to be worn by the patient in a first use configuration and a second use configuration,
wherein in the first use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the first connection port which is configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior and which is connected to ports on sides of the plenum chamber via first and second gas delivery tubes being constructed and arranged to, in use, contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior to position and stabilise the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position,
wherein in the second use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the second connection port which is configured to, in use, be positioned on an anterior side of the plenum chamber inferior to the patient's otobasion superior, and
wherein, when the air circuit is connected to the first connection port in the first use configuration, the second connection port receives a vent structure or a stop.
2 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more positioning and stabilising structures comprises first and second positioning and stabilising structures configured to be interchangeably provided as part of the patient interface.
3 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure is configured for use with the patient interface in the first use configuration.
4 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure comprises the first and second gas delivery tubes being constructed and arranged to, in use, contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the first and second gas delivery tubes configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior is provided to the first connection port.
5 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first connection port is provided to the first positioning and stabilising structure, wherein the portion of the first and second gas delivery tubes configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior is provided with the first connection port.
6 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second positioning and stabilising structure comprises one or more straps, constructed and arranged to, in use, contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein the second positioning and stabilising structure is configured for use with the patient interface in the second use configuration.
7 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connection port is provided to a portion of the first and second gas delivery tubes configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior.
8 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first and second connection ports are configured to be provided, respectively, with first and second closures.
9 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first and second closures are configured to be moveable from a closed condition to an open condition.
10 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second closures comprises an opening and at least one closure lid covering at least a portion of the opening when in the closed condition.
11 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second closures comprises a ring structure circumscribing the corresponding opening.
12 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one closure lid of the first closure and/or the at least one closure lid of the second closure are respectively pivotally hinged by an outer edge to a corresponding one of the ring structures.
13 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one closure lid of the first closure and/or the at least one closure lid of the second closure are slideably mounted to a corresponding one of the ring structures, wherein each ring structure is provided with a track along which the at least one closure lid is configured to slide.
14 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first closure and/or the second closure includes a vent.
15 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the vent is in the form of one or more apertures provided to the at least one closure lid of the first closure and/or the at least one closure lid of the second closure.
16 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one closure lid of the first closure and/or the at least one closure lid of the second closure comprises two or more closure flaps, and wherein the vent is in the form of a slit formed by a distance between adjacent closure flaps.
17 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one closure lid of the first closure and/or the at least one closure lid of the second closure comprises four closure flaps attached to an inside surface of a corresponding one of the first closure or second closure, and wherein the vent is in the form of two intersecting slits formed by a distance between adjacent closure flaps.
18 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first closure and/or the second closure comprises an opening and at least one closure flap covering at least a portion of the opening when in the closed condition and arranged to be biased from the closed condition to the open condition by an end portion of the air circuit.
19 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the first closure and/or the second closure comprises a ring structure circumscribing the opening.
20 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least one closure flap of the first closure and/or the at least one closure flap of the second closure is pivotally hinged by an outer edge to the ring structure.
21 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least one closure flap of the first closure and/or the at least one closure flap of the second closure is pivotally hinged to a strut spanning the opening of the ring.
22 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least one closure flap of the first closure and/or the at least one closure flap of the second closure spans the corresponding opening or ring structure and is provided with a central aperture which increases in size as the first closure and/or second closure is biased from the closed condition to the open condition by the end portion of the air circuit.
23 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the end portion of the air circuit includes an activation mechanism arranged to act against the first and second closures.
24 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 8 , wherein, when in an open condition the first closure and the second closure are configured to allow delivery of the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways,
wherein, when in the first use configuration, the first closure of the first connection port is in the open condition and the second closure of the second connection port is in a closed condition, and wherein, when in the second use configuration, the first closure of the first connection port is in a closed condition and the second closure of the second connection port is in an open condition.
25 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patient interface further comprises one or more vent structures or stops.
26 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 25 , wherein each vent structure or stop is configured to connect to the first and/or second connection port.
27 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 26 , wherein, in the first use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the first connection port and one of the one or more vent structures or stops is connected to the second connection port, and, in the second use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the second connection port and one of the one or more vent structures or stops is connected to the first connection port.
28 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one plenum chamber, wherein each plenum chamber is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface.
29 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one seal-forming structure, wherein each seal-forming structure is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface.
30 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one plenum chamber, wherein each plenum chamber is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface, and
wherein the plenum chambers and/or seal-forming structures are configured as one or more of: a nasal mask, nasal cushion, nasal pillows or a full-face mask.
31 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more positioning and stabilising structures comprises first and second positioning and stabilising structures configured to be provided as part of the patient interface.
32 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure is configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure includes the first and second gas delivery tubes being constructed and arranged to, in use, contact, in a first use configuration, at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the first and second gas delivery tubes configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior in the first use configuration is provided with the first connection port to receive the flow of air from the air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and wherein the first and second gas delivery tubes have respective inferior ends configured to be connected to a respective side of the plenum chamber.
33 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein the inferior ends of the first and second gas delivery tubes are connected to the sides of the plenum chamber in a manner such that the first positioning and stabilising structure is moveable between the first use configuration and the second use configuration.
34 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein, in the first use configuration, the first positioning and stabilising structure is configured to, in use, contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior and the first connection port receives the flow of air from the air circuit.
35 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 32 , wherein, in the second use configuration, the second positioning and stabilising structure is configured to, in use, contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, and the second connection port is configured to receive the flow of air from the air circuit.
36 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the second positioning and stabilising structure is configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, the second positioning and stabilising structure including at least one strap being constructed and arranged to contact, in a second use configuration, at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior.
37 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air from an air circuit to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber;
a seal-forming structure provided to the plenum chamber;
a first positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure comprises at least one gas delivery tube constructed and arranged to contact, in a first use configuration, at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the at least one gas delivery tube configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior is provided with a first connection port to receive the flow of air from the air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure in the first use configuration, wherein the at least one gas delivery tube is connected, in the first use configuration, to a port on a side of the plenum chamber and is constructed and arranged to position and stabilise the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position; and
a second positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position on the patient's head in use, wherein, in a second use configuration, the second positioning and stabilising structure is constructed and arranged to contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior;
a second connection port to receive the flow of air from the air circuit, wherein the second connection port is provided to an anterior side of the plenum chamber, wherein, in the second use configuration, the second connection port is configured to receive the flow of air from the air circuit to deliver the flow of air to the seal-forming structure in use; and
a vent structure or stop configured to connect to the second connection port in the first use configuration.
38 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one plenum chamber, wherein each plenum chamber is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface.
39 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one seal-forming structure, wherein each seal-forming structure is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface.
40 . The patient interface as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the patient interface comprises more than one plenum chamber, wherein each plenum chamber is configured to be interchangeably comprised as part of the patient interface, and
wherein the plenum chambers and/or seal-forming structures are configured as one or more of: a nasal mask, nasal cushion, nasal pillows or a full-face mask.
41 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber;
a seal-forming structure provided to the plenum chamber; and
a positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure includes at least one gas delivery tube constructed and arranged to contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the at least one gas delivery tube configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior is provided with a first connection port to, in a first use configuration, receive the flow of air from an air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and wherein the at least one gas delivery tube is connected, in the first use configuration, to a port on a side of the plenum chamber and is constructed and arranged to position and stabilise the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position,
wherein an anterior side of the plenum chamber is provided with a second connection port to, in a second use configuration, receive the flow of air from the air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and
wherein the patient interface further comprises one or more vent structures or stops, each vent structure or stop configured to connect to the first and/or second connection port, and wherein, in the first use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the first connection port and one of the one or more vent structures or stops is connected to the second connection port, and, in the second use configuration, the air circuit is connected to the second connection port and one of the one or more vent structures or stops is connected to the first connection port.
42 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air from an air circuit to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber;
a seal-forming structure provided to the plenum chamber; and
a first positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, wherein the first positioning and stabilising structure includes at least one gas delivery tube constructed and arranged to contact, in a first use configuration, at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the gas delivery tube configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior in the first use configuration is provided with a connection port to receive the flow of air from the air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and wherein the at least one gas delivery tube has an inferior end configured to be connected to a side of the plenum chamber and constructed and arranged to position and stabilise the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position in the first use configuration; and
a second positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, the second positioning and stabilising structure including at least one strap constructed and arranged to be connected to headgear attachment points of the plenum chamber and to contact, in a second use configuration, at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior in use,
wherein the second positioning and stabilising structure is selectively provided as part of the patient interface such that, in the first use configuration, the at least one strap is not connected to the headgear attachment points and is not configured to contact the patient's head in use,
wherein the inferior end of the at least one gas delivery tube is configured to connect to the side of the plenum chamber in a manner such that the first positioning and stabilising structure is moveable between a first orientation in the first use configuration and a second orientation in the second use configuration, and
wherein in the second use configuration, the connection port is configured to be positioned inferior to the patient's otobasion superior in use.
43 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of pressurised air to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:
a plenum chamber;
a seal-forming structure provided to the plenum chamber; and
a positioning and stabilising structure configured to provide a force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on a patient's head in use, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure includes at least one gas delivery tube constructed and arranged to contact at least a region of the patient's head superior to the patient's otobasion superior, wherein a portion of the at least one gas delivery tube configured to, in use, be positioned superior to the patient's otobasion superior is provided with a first connection port to, in a first use configuration, receive the flow of air from an air circuit and to deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and wherein the at least one gas delivery tube is connected, in the first use configuration, to a port on a side of the plenum chamber and is constructed and arranged to position and stabilise the seal-forming structure in the therapeutically effective position,
wherein an anterior side of the plenum chamber is provided with a second connection port to, in a second use configuration, receive the flow of air from the air circuit and deliver the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways via the seal-forming structure, and
wherein the first and second connection ports are each configured with a respective closure, wherein each closure is arranged to be moveable from a closed condition to an open condition, wherein, when in the open condition each closure allows delivery of the flow of air to the entrance of the patient's airways, and wherein, when in the first use configuration, the closure of the first connection port is in an open condition and the closure of the second connection port is in a closed condition, and wherein, when in the second use configuration, the closure of the first connection port is in a closed condition and the closure of the second connection port is in an open condition.