NZ780446B2 - Patient Interface With A Seal-Forming Structure Having Varying Thickness - Google Patents

Abstract

sealing structure for a patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 3 cmH2 0 to about 40 cmH2 0 above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the sealing structure comprising: an elastomeric support portion; an elastomeric seal-forming structure that is more flexible than the elastomeric support portion and has a central opening on a posterior side; and a plenum chamber configured to receive the positive pressure air, the plenum chamber being bounded by the elastomeric support portion and the elastomeric seal-forming structure, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure is shaped to be bisected by a sagittal plane that includes a line tangent to the elastomeric seal-forming structure at a superior tangent point and at an inferior tangent point, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure comprises a first compliant region that includes the superior tangent point and a second compliant region separated from the first compliant region by a support region that is more rigid than the first and second compliant regions, wherein the support region extends to and is anchored to the elastomeric support portion, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure terminates at the rim of the central opening except for at a plurality of blowout prevention regions in which the elastomeric seal-forming structure curves back toward and is anchored to an interior surface of the elastomeric support portion, wherein the plurality of blowout prevention regions of the elastomeric seal-forming structure are configured to resist deformation of the elastomeric seal-forming structure to prevent a sealing surface of the elastomeric seal-forming structure from being displaced in an outward direction by pressurized gas in the plenum chamber, and wherein the support region is positioned at a location that is superior to the plurality of blowout prevention regions of the elastomeric seal-forming structure.

Claims (14)

1. A sealing ure for a patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a uously positive pressure with t to ambient air pressure to an entrance to a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is ured to maintain a therapy re in a range of about 3 cmH2 0 to about 40 cmH2 0 above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the sealing structure comprising: an elastomeric support portion; an elastomeric seal-forming structure that is more flexible than the elastomeric t portion and has a central opening on a posterior side; and a plenum chamber configured to receive the positive pressure air, the plenum r being bounded by the elastomeric support portion and the elastomeric sealforming wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure is shaped to be bisected by a sagittal plane that includes a line tangent to the elastomeric seal-forming structure at a superior tangent point and at an inferior tangent point, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure comprises a first compliant region that includes the or tangent point and a second compliant region separated from the first compliant region by a support region that is more rigid than the first and second compliant s, n the support region extends to and is anchored to the elastomeric support portion, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure terminates at the rim of the l opening except for at a plurality of blowout prevention regions in which the elastomeric seal-forming structure curves back toward and is anchored to an interior surface of the elastomeric support portion, wherein the plurality t prevention regions of the elastomeric seal-forming structure are configured to resist deformation of the elastomeric seal-forming structure to prevent a sealing surface of the elastomeric seal-forming structure from being displaced in an outward direction by pressurized gas in the plenum chamber, and wherein the support region is positioned at a location that is superior to the plurality of blowout prevention regions of the elastomeric seal-forming structure.

2. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the elastomeric seal-forming structure in the first compliant region is the same as the wall thickness of the elastomeric seal-forming structure in the second compliant region.

3. The sealing structure of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the first compliant region of the elastomeric seal-forming structure extends to the elastomeric support portion, and the second compliant region of the meric seal-forming structure does not extend to the elastomeric support portion.

4. The sealing ure of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of blowout tion regions of the meric seal-forming structure are in the form of r structures.

5. The sealing structure of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastomeric sealforming structure further ses an inferior region that includes the inferior tangent point, and wherein the wall thickness of the meric seal-forming structure in the inferior region is the same as the wall thickness in the first compliant .

6. The sealing structure of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure further ses a first intermediate region that extends from the second compliant region to the inferior region, and wherein the wall thickness of the elastomeric rming structure is thicker in the first intermediate region than in the second compliant region.

7. The sealing structure of claim 6, wherein the elastomeric seal-forming structure further comprises a second intermediate region adjacent the first ediate region, and wherein the wall thickness of the elastomeric seal-forming structure is thicker in the second intermediate region than in the first intermediate region.

8. The sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the first intermediate region intervenes between the inferior region and the second intermediate region.

9. The sealing structure of any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the second intermediate region is positioned between the meric support portion and the first ediate region.

10. The sealing structure of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a plurality of s that extend ly d from the elastomeric supporting structure, wherein the elastomeric orming structure is attached to outer edges of the flanges so that a compressive force acting on the elastomeric seal-forming structure causes the flanges to pivot in a hinge-like manner.

11. The sealing structure of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flanges are located on an inferior side of the elastomeric sealing structure.

12. The sealing structure of any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the plurality of flanges comprises a pair of flanges on te sides of the sagittal plane in use.

13. A patient interface comprising: the sealing structure of any one of claims 1 to 12; a rigid shell removably connected to the sealing structure; and headgear removably attached to the rigid shell.

14. A CPAP system comprising: the patient interface according to claim 13; a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of gas; and an air delivery tube configured to deliver the pressurized gas to the patient interface. /l/l/I/I/I/‘l///I/I/IlI/I/lllllIlIIIIllllIIII/I/I/I/III/I/I/l/?/IWI/l/W/I/ Nasai cavity Crai cavity . Vocal folds .ij“** ar sacs Oesophagus .< Trachea armsVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV “i"mililili Heart Diaphragm Copyright 2012 ResMed Limited Nasai cavity Nasai bone Laterai nagai cartiiage Greater aiar— cartiiage Hard paiate Soft paiate ' "-x‘ Lip superior ~ i //W] . j; 1 Lip or iii / 2 Oropharynx / Z a i?ézfg?///%::fi駧§/K/' xii ibngue ,‘233 ’21: Epigiottis Vocal folds wEsophagus, Trachea Copyright 2012 ResMed Limited Sagittal plane Supe?or Inferior Right Left Endocanthion Naeai aia Lip Superior Nasciabiai suicus Upper Vermiiiien Lewer Vermiliien Cheiiion Lip interim IC’D. Moath width radially Inward radially outward ght 2012 ResMed Limited 5:33 ‘5:th commmmoHQ @8305 EEQEG :9 / 5:33; “mm $5 mummgnmw 5:33 SEES g3 8:5: Q3 cowcmEqum m 5:85 mammcci DN 8.28m .0."— Nam 523,3 39:38 : .43 _: :?w 3‘ “:86 s ”2°C'- .§ (U ‘0 E - 3 o- ._ § I: é a 55 A C g :9 5 S I.” a E '5 LJ‘: N I Q. N— N 3 C I m __ (5 O 3" LI. L .3 9 Q) 3— E 3 Saggital plane Pronasale columeila ~~ Subnasale .e.aaiiiiunssa?uaa « ¢ F?kui 3.. am.... Wh?aa.,:5qu.21A.1... ~ I}... ‘ t»: Major axIS of naris Upper vermillion Lip inferior Naso—Iabial sulcus Hg. 2? ght 2012 ResMed Limited 1