IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,678,581
Granted Patent B2
US 12,678,581 · App. 18/811,498 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Patient interface

Inventors: Achim Biener (Aufkirchen, DE); Christian Bayer (Penzberg, DE); Fred Komorowski (Munich, DE); Bernd Christoph Lang (Graefelfing, DE)
Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
A61M16/0666A61M16/0066A61M16/0672A61M16/0683A61M16/16A61M2016/0027A61M16/06A61M16/0816A61M16/107A61M2205/42A61M2205/50
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,678,581
App. No.
18/811,498
Filed
Aug 21, 2024
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3784
USPC
128/207.18
Abstract

A patient interface for delivering a flow of air to an entrance of a patient's airways includes a plenum chamber configured to receive a flow of air, one or more prongs configured to deliver the flow of air from the plenum chamber to the entrance of a patient's airways, a rigid frame configured to engage a cheek of the patient in use, and a headgear coupled to the rigid frame and configured to engage with the patient's head to locate the one or more prongs in use. The rigid frame includes a central portion that overlaps and extends past the plenum chamber in an anterior direction and in a posterior direction. In addition, the rigid frame is disengaged from the plenum chamber in the anterior direction.

Claims (30)

1 . A patient interface for delivering a flow of air to an entrance of a patient's airways, the patient interface comprising:

a plenum chamber configured to receive a flow of air;

one or more prongs configured to deliver the flow of air from the plenum chamber to the entrance of a patient's airways;

a rigid frame configured to engage a cheek of the patient in use; and

a headgear coupled to the rigid frame and configured to engage with the patient's head to locate the one or more prongs in use;

wherein the rigid frame comprises a central portion that overlaps and extends past the plenum chamber in an anterior direction and in a posterior direction; and

wherein, in use, the rigid frame is disengaged from the plenum chamber in the anterior direction.

2 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a plurality of strut members that form a triangulated structure.

3 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the frame is stiffer reaction to a bending moment caused by a force in a superior direction than to a bending moment caused by a force in the anterior direction.

4 . The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the plenum chamber includes a reduced stiffness section as compared to an adjacent section of the plenum chamber.

5 . The patient interface of claim 4 , wherein the reduced stiffness section is formed as at least one indent.

6 . The patient interface of claim 5 , wherein a cross-sectional width at the at least one indent is between 40-60% a cross-sectional width at the adjacent section.

7 . A patient interface for delivery of a flow of air to a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a plenum chamber configured to receive the flow of air;

a prong for delivering the flow of air from the plenum chamber into a naris of the patient; and

a frame coupled to the plenum chamber, the frame adapted to engage a head of the patient in use for locating the plenum chamber with respect to the naris of the patient;

wherein the patient interface includes a recess between the frame and the plenum chamber;

wherein, in use, the patient interface is constructed and/or arranged to allow a central portion of the plenum chamber to be moved into the recess, in use; and

wherein, in use, the patient interface is constructed and/or arranged to allow an end of the plenum chamber to be translationally fixed relative to the recess, in use.

8 . The patient interface of claim 7 , wherein the end of the plenum chamber is a first end, and the plenum chamber further including a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end and the second end are constructed and/or arranged to in use be translationally fixed relative to the recess.

9 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein the frame engages the first end and the second end of the plenum chamber.

10 . The patient interface of claim 7 , wherein the central portion of the plenum chamber is configured to engage the patient's lip superior in use.

11 . The patient interface of claim 7 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises an elastic, flexible material.

12 . The patient interface of claim 7 , further comprising a barrel coupled to the plenum chamber, wherein the barrel is removably engaged with the frame in use, and wherein the barrel is rotatably engaged with the frame in use to allow plenum chamber to rotatable relative to the frame.

13 . The patient interface of claim 12 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to rotate as a whole.

14 . The patient interface of claim 7 , wherein

in a first position, a first width of the recess as measured between a posterior surface of the frame and the central portion of the plenum chamber is between approximately 1 mm and 4 mm;

in the first position, a second width of the recess as measured between the posterior surface of the frame and the end of the plenum chamber is between approximately 1 mm and 4 mm;

in a second position, a third width of the recess as measured between the posterior surface of the frame and the central portion of the plenum chamber is less than the first width; and

in the second position, a fourth width of the recess as measured between a posterior surface of the frame and the end of the plenum chamber is approximately equal to the second width.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: RESMED R&D GERMANY GMBH
To: RESMED LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068360/0211 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: RESMED LIMITED
To: RESMED PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 068741/0738 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: BIENER, ACHIM; BAYER, CHRISTIAN; KOMOROWSKI, FRED; LANG, BERND CHRISTOPH
To: RESMED R&D GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 068743/0215 →
Priority Claims (1)
AU 2014901585 · May 1, 2014 · national
Continuity (3)
Division 17003000 · Aug 26, 2020
Continuation 15308163 · Apr 28, 2015
Related Publication 20240408340A1 · Dec 12, 2024
References Cited (86)
US 4782832A · Trimble et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4944310A · Sullivan · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 6532959B1 · Berthon-Jones · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6581594B1 · Drew et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 7866944B2 · Kenyon et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8636479B2 · Kenyon et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8638014B2 · Sears et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8733349B2 · Bath et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9072855B2 · McAuley · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9604025B2 · Pastoor et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10376666B2 · McAuley · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10786643B2 · Biener et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10828449B2 · Higgins · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20040226566A1 · Gunaratnam · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050028822A1 · Sleeper et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050241644A1 · Gunaratnam et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060124131A1 · Chandran et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060231103A1 · Matula et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20080245369A1 · Matula et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090044808A1 · Guney et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090050156A1 · Ng et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090145429A1 · Ging et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090151729A1 · Judson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090173349A1 · Hernandez · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100000534A1 · Kooij et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100108073A1 · Zollinger et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100229868A1 · Rummery · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110023874A1 · Bath · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110067704A1 · Kooij · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110146685A1 · Allan et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110265796A1 · Amarasinghe et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120090622A1 · Chang · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120204870A1 · McAuley · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130008447A1 · Gunaratnam · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160256653A1 · McAuley · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170049984A1 · Biener et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20190298957A1 · McAuley · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200384242A1 · Biener et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 1988930A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 3121078A · 1991 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006518231A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007532155A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009517185A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013503720A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013521845 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013538658A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017514599A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO9804310A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO9834665A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO0078381A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004073778A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005063328A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005097247A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006074513A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006130903A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2008014543A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2009052560A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010135785A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011029073A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011062510A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012171072A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013020167A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013042004A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013072797A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014015382A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Jun. 24, 2024 issued in Japanese Application No. 2023-067944 with English translation (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Jan. 15, 2024 issued in Japanese Application No. 203-067944 with English translation (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Aug. 29, 2022 issued in Japanese Application No. 2021-161283 with English translation (21 pages). [cited by applicant]
Notification of Grant dated Jun. 6, 2022 issued in Chinese Application No. 201910972806.X (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 8, 2021 issued in Japanese Application No. 2019-193541 (3 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Nov. 12, 2021 issued in Chinese Application No 201910972806.X with English Translation (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated May 31, 2021 issued in Japanese Application No. 2019-193541 with English translation (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Oct. 12, 2020 issued in European Application No. 20180567.8 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Dec. 14, 2020 issued in Japanese Application No. 2019-193541 with English translation (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Rejection mailed Jan. 21, 2019 in Japanese Application No. 2016-565426, with English translation, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
First Amended Notice of Opposition to Grant of Patent filed Jun. 22, 2016 in New Zealand Application No. 630742 (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
Deadline for Counterstatement mailed by IPONZ in New Zealand Appln. No. 630742 (2 pages) with Baldwins Law Limited Cover Letter dated Aug. 13, 2018 (1 page), including Second Amended Statement of Case dated Aug. 13, 201… [cited by applicant]
Baldwins Law Limited cover letter filed Sep. 19, 2018 in New Zealand Appln. No. 630742 with Third Amended Statement of Case (Clean and Tracked Versions) dated Sep. 13, 2018 (25 pages). [cited by applicant]
First Office Action mailed Jul. 30, 2018 in Chinese Application No. 201580036450.9, with English translation (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report mailed Dec. 8, 2017 in European Application No. 15785668.3 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
West, John B., “Respiratory Physiology”, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 9th edition published 2012, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/AU2015/050199 dated Jul. 27, 2015, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the ISA for PCT/AU2015/050199 dated Jul. 27, 2015, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/AU2015/050199 dated Jun. 17, 2016, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Sep. 30, 2025 issued in Japanese Application No. 2024-187692 with English translation (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
Pre-Appeal Examination Report mailed Mar. 18, 2025 issued in Japanese Application No. 2023-67944 with English translation (2 pages). [cited by applicant]