NZ790377B2 - Respiratory pressure therapy system - Google Patents

Abstract

vent assembly for discharging gas from a plenum chamber to atmosphere, the vent assembly comprising: a base having a first side and a second side and a passage through the base from the first side to the second side, the passage configured to allow a pressurised flow of gas through the base from the first side to the second side; a first vent hole extension extending from the base and at least partially defining the passage; at least one first vent hole passing through the first vent hole extension, the at least one first vent hole configured to allow a vent flow of gas to pass from the passage to atmosphere; a first flexible membrane constructed of an elastically deformable material and attached to the first vent hole extension and extending into the passage, the first flexible membrane being configured to cover the at least one first vent hole in a closed position to prevent the pressurised flow of gas from being discharged from the passage to atmosphere, and the first flexible membrane being configured not to cover the at least one first vent hole in an open position to allow the vent flow of gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the passage; a second vent hole extension extending from the base and at least partially defining the passage; at least one second vent hole passing through the second vent hole extension, the at least one second vent hole configured to allow a vent flow of gas to pass from the passage to atmosphere; and a second flexible membrane constructed of an elastically deformable material and attached to the second vent hole extension and extending into the passage, the second flexible membrane being configured to cover the at least one second vent hole in a closed position to prevent the pressurised flow of gas from being discharged from the passage to atmosphere, and the second flexible membrane being configured not to cover the at least one second vent hole in an open position to allow the vent flow of gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the passage.

Claims (10)

1. A vent assembly for discharging gas from a plenum chamber to atmosphere, the vent assembly comprising: a base having a first side and a second side and a passage through the base from the first side to the second side, the passage configured to allow a pressurised flow of gas through the base from the first side to the second side; a first vent hole extension extending from the base and at least partially defining the passage; at least one first vent hole passing through the first vent hole extension, the at least one first vent hole configured to allow a vent flow of gas to pass from the passage to atmosphere; a first flexible membrane constructed of an elastically deformable material and attached to the first vent hole extension and extending into the passage, the first flexible membrane being configured to cover the at least one first vent hole in a closed position to prevent the pressurised flow of gas from being discharged from the passage to atmosphere, and the first flexible membrane being configured not to cover the at least one first vent hole in an open position to allow the vent flow of gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the passage; a second vent hole extension extending from the base and at least partially defining the passage; at least one second vent hole passing through the second vent hole extension, the at least one second vent hole configured to allow a vent flow of gas to pass from the passage to atmosphere; and a second flexible membrane constructed of an elastically deformable material and attached to the second vent hole extension and extending into the passage, the second flexible membrane being configured to cover the at least one second vent hole in a closed position to prevent the pressurised flow of gas from being discharged from the passage to atmosphere, and the second flexible membrane being configured not to cover the at least one second vent hole in an open position to allow the vent flow of gas to be discharged to atmosphere from the passage.

2. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the first vent hole extension includes a first interior vent hole surface, each at least one first vent hole passing through the first interior vent hole surface to the passage, and wherein the second vent hole extension includes a second interior vent hole surface, each at least one second vent hole passing through the second interior vent hole surface to the passage.

3. The vent assembly of claim 2, wherein the first flexible membrane is attached to the first vent hole extension at the first interior vent hole surface, and wherein the second flexible membrane is attached to the second vent hole extension at the second interior vent hole surface.

4. The vent assembly of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first vent hole extension includes a first exterior vent hole surface, each at least one first vent hole passing through the first exterior vent hole surface to atmosphere, and wherein the second vent hole extension includes a second exterior vent hole surface, each at least one second vent hole passing through the second exterior vent hole surface to atmosphere.

5. The vent assembly of claim 4, wherein the first vent hole extension further comprises a first internal surface, wherein the first vent hole extension has a generally triangular cross-section formed by the first interior vent hole surface, the first exterior vent hole surface, and the first internal surface, wherein the second vent hole extension further comprises a second internal surface, and wherein the second vent hole extension has a generally triangular cross-section formed by the second interior vent hole surface, the second exterior vent hole surface, and the second internal surface.

6. The vent assembly of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first interior vent hole surface slopes downwardly into the interior of the vent assembly relative to the flow of pressurised gas passing through the passage, and wherein the second interior vent hole surface slopes downwardly into the interior of the vent assembly relative to the flow of pressurised gas passing through the passage.

7. The vent assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first vent hole extension and the second vent hole extension are diametrically opposed to one another, wherein the vent assembly further comprises a divider positioned between the first vent hole extension and the second vent hole extension to form a first portion of the passage and a second portion of the passage.

8. The vent assembly of claim 7, wherein the first flexible membrane and the second flexible membrane do not contact the divider in the open position.

9. The vent assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first flexible membrane and the second flexible membrane are cantilevered to corresponding ones of the first vent hole extension and the second vent hole extension.

10. A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) system comprising: at least one housing portion at least partially defining a plenum chamber pressurisable to a therapeutic pressure of at least 6 cmH O above ambient air pressure; a seal-forming structure constructed and arranged to form a seal with a region of a patient’s face at or surrounding an entrance to the patient’s airways such that a flow of air at said therapeutic pressure is delivered to at least the entrance to the patient’s nares, the seal-forming structure constructed and arranged to maintain said therapeutic pressure in the plenum chamber throughout the patient’s respiratory cycle in use; a positioning and stabilising structure constructed and arranged to provide an elastic force to hold the seal-forming structure in a therapeutically effective position on the patient’s head, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising a tie, a lateral portion of the tie being constructed and arranged to overlie a region of the patient’s head superior to the otobasion superior in use, and a superior portion of the tie being constructed and arranged to overlie a region of the patient’s head in a region of the parietal bone in use, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure has a non-rigid decoupling portion; a blower configured to generate the flow of air at said therapeutic pressure and pressurise the plenum chamber to the therapeutic pressure, the blower having a motor, the blower being connected to the plenum chamber such that in use the blower is suspended from the patient’s head and an axis of rotation of the motor is generally perpendicular to the patient’s sagittal plane; and a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the blower, wherein the at least one housing portion comprises the vent assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9. ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4 ResMed Ref: P1285NZ5 / JAWs Ref: 506229NZDIV4