Abstract: Modular ventilatory support systems and methods are disclosed in which a user may transition the system between a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration. The modular components of the system include a compressor unit, a ventilator which may dock with the compressor unit, and a patient interface which may be connected to either the compressor unit or the ventilator unit. By rearranging these modular components into different configurations, mobility and duration of use may be optimized to fit the present needs. In the stationary configuration, mobility is most restricted, but duration of use is maximized. In the extended range configuration, mobility is enhanced, with duration of use limited by the battery power of the ventilator. In the stand-alone configuration, mobility is maximized, with duration of use limited by battery power of the ventilator and the quantity of an external gas supply.

Abstract: A head-mountable flow generator is configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient interface in communication with an entrance to a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing. The flow generator includes a motor, an impeller assembly and housing that encases the motor and the impeller assembly. The housing is configured to be mounted on the patient's head and comprises an inlet to receive the flow of breathable gas and a pair of opposing outlets to deliver the flow of breathable gas. In addition, the impeller assembly is configured to pressurize the flow of breathable gas received from the inlet, and the housing is configured to convey the pressurized flow of breathable gas through both outlets.

Abstract: A breathable gas inlet control device permits flow regulation at the inlet of a flow generator for a respiratory treatment apparatus such as a ventilator or continuous positive airway pressure device. The device may implement a variable inlet aperture size based on flow conditions. In one embodiment, an inlet flow seal opens or closes the inlet to a blower in accordance with changes in pressure within a seal activation chamber near the seal. The seal may be formed by a flexible membrane. A controller selectively changes the pressure of the seal activation chamber by controlling a set of one or more flow control valves to selectively stop forward flow, prevent back flow or lock open the seal to permit either back flow or forward flow. The controller may set the flow control valves as a function of detected respiratory conditions based on data from pressure and/or flow sensors.

Abstract: A patient circuit of a ventilation system, such as a non-invasive open ventilation system, wherein the patient circuit comprises a nasal pillows style patient interface that incorporates at least one “Venturi effect” jet pump proximal to the patient. The patient circuit further comprises a pair of uniquely configured 3-way connectors which, in cooperation with several uniquely configured tri-lumen tubing segments, facilitate the cooperative engagement of the patient interface to a ventilator of the ventilation system.

Abstract: A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus for respiratory assistance of a patient is disclosed. There is a blower having an output connectible to a ventilation mask wearable by the patient. A first pressure sensor measures blower pressure at the output of the blower, and a second pressure sensor that is connectible to the ventilation mask measures mask pressure therein. A pressure controller is connected to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and a patient inspiratory phase and a patient expiratory phase is be detectable by the pressure controller to regulate therapeutic airflow delivered to the patient based upon pressure differentials between the mask pressure and the blower pressure.

Abstract: A breathable gas inlet control device permits flow regulation at the inlet of a flow generator for a respiratory treatment apparatus such as a ventilator or continuous positive airway pressure device. The device may implement a variable inlet aperture size based on flow conditions. In one embodiment, an inlet flow seal opens or closes the inlet to a blower in accordance with changes in pressure within a seal activation chamber near the seal. The seal may be formed by a flexible membrane. A controller selectively changes the pressure of the seal activation chamber by controlling a set of one or more flow control valves to selectively stop forward flow, prevent back flow or lock open the seal to permit either back flow or forward flow. The controller may set the flow control valves as a function of detected respiratory conditions based on data from pressure and/or flow sensors.

Abstract: A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus for respiratory assistance of a pattern is disclosed. There is a blower having an output connectible to a ventilation mask wearable by the patient. A first pressure sensor measures blower pressure at the output of the blower, and a second pressure sensor that is connectible to the ventilation mask measures mask pressure therein. A pressure controller is connected to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and a patient inspiratory phase and a patient expiratory phase is be detectable by the pressure controller to regulate therapeutic pressure at the patient mask, based upon pressure differentials between the mask pressure and the blower pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient for the treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) that is less obtrusive includes a nasal cannula, cannulae (2a, 2b), prongs, or pillows and may be sealed or unsealed with the nares of the patient in use. The cannula, pillows or prongs may be positioned on the face of the patient by a headgear (6). The cannula, pillows or prongs may be smaller, lighter, and/or less visible than other nasal cannula, cannulae, pillows or prongs and may therefore be less obtrusive to the patient.

Abstract: An elbow for a respiratory mask includes a mask connection end adapted to connect to the mask and a tube connection end adapted to connect to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to a patient. The mask connection end includes a first region constructed of a more rigid material and a second region constructed of a more flexible material. The second region provides flexibility to one or more portions of the mask connection end to enable engagement and disengagement of the elbow with the mask and/or sealing of the elbow with the mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient for the treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) that is less obtrusive includes a nasal cannula, cannulae (2a, 2b), prongs, or pillows and may be sealed or unsealed with the nares of the patient in use. The cannula, pillows or prongs may be positioned on the face of the patient by a headgear (6). The cannula, pillows or prongs may be smaller, lighter, and/or less visible than other nasal cannula, cannulae, pillows or prongs and may therefore be less obtrusive to the patient.

Abstract: Modular ventilatory support systems and methods are disclosed in which a user may transition the system between a stationary configuration, an extended range configuration, and a stand-alone configuration. The modular components of the system include a compressor unit, a ventilator which may dock with the compressor unit, and a patient interface which may be connected to either the compressor unit or the ventilator unit. By rearranging these modular components into different configurations, mobility and duration of use may be optimized to fit the present needs. In the stationary configuration, mobility is most restricted, but duration of use is maximized. In the extended range configuration, mobility is enhanced, with duration of use limited by the battery power of the ventilator. In the stand-alone configuration, mobility is maximized, with duration of use limited by battery power of the ventilator and the quantity of an external gas supply.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided is provided a tubing arrangement and associated connectors, including a delivery adaptor and a Y-connector, which may be used to facilitate the operative interface of a patient interface to a ventilator within a ventilation system. The delivery adaptor is connected between the outlet connector of the flow generator and the main delivery tube (i.e., the quad-lumen tube) in the ventilation system. The delivery adaptor functions to retain the pneumatic isolation of a sense line of the ventilation system from certain other lumens of the quad-lumen tube, and further connects one of the small lumens of the quad-lumen tube to an external oxygen source or an external humidification source. The oxygen or humidification is delivered to such lumen through the adaptor. The oxygen or humidification is then bled into the air stream at the outlet of such lumen which is at the Y-connector.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mask, such as a nasal pillows mask, for achieving positive pressure mechanical ventilation (inclusive of CPAP, ventilator support, critical care ventilation, emergency applications). The mask of the present invention includes a piloted exhalation valve that is used to achieve the target pressures/flows to the patient. The pilot for the valve may be pneumatic and driven from the gas supply tubing from the ventilator. The mask of the present invention further includes a heat and moisture exchange (HME) device which is directly integrated into the housing or cushion thereof (thus residing in extremely close proximity to the patient's nostrils), and is further uniquely configured to induce a flow pattern between it and the cushion which maximizes the transmission of heat and moisture to air which is inhaled by and exhaled from the patient through the mask.

Abstract: A patient ventilation system including a ventilation interface and a ventilation source pneumatically coupled to a patient over the ventilation interface is disclosed. There is a controller that regulates airflow delivery from the ventilation source to the patient according to one or more predefined treatment configuration settings. The controller has an inactive ventilation state, a ventilation initiation state, a treatment state, a treatment suspension state, and a ventilation deactivation state. A display interface is coupled to the controller and configured to generate, exclusively, a device activation user element with the pressure controller in the inactive ventilation state, a fitment feedback indicator and a treatment screen in a ventilation initiation state, the fitment feedback indicator and a treatment status screen in the treatment state, a treatment suspension screen in the treatment suspension state, and a treatment conclusion screen in the ventilation deactivation state.

Abstract: A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient includes a first seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a first positive pressure; and a second seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a second positive pressure. The first seal also seals the first space from the second space. A leak reducing element may be provided on a seal to reduce and/or diffuse leakage of gas. A vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure may be provided in the second space to remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space. A seal may be connected to a conduit for delivering the flow of gas that is incorporated into a frame of the patient interface.

Abstract: A respiratory treatment apparatus configured to provide a flow of breathable gas to a patient, including a breathable air outlet, an outside air inlet, and an pneumatic block module, wherein the pneumatic block module includes: a volute assembly including an inlet air passage, a mount for a blower and an outlet air passage; the blower being mounted in the mount such that an impeller of the blower is in a flow passage connecting the inlet air passage and the outlet air passage; a casing enclosing the volute assembly, wherein air passages within the casing connect air ports on the volute assembly, wherein the inlet air passage of the volute assembly is in fluid communication with the outside air inlet and the outlet air passage of the volute assembly is in fluid communication with the air outlet.

Abstract: A ventilation gas cooling apparatus is configured in a modular form adapted for selective removable engagement to a ventilator. The apparatus includes a gas inlet port, a gas delivery port, a pressure sensing port, and a thermoelectric cooler. The inlet port is fluidly connectible to a source of therapeutic breathing gas at an external end and is fluidly connectible to an inlet of the ventilator at an internal end. The delivery port is fluidly connectible to a patient circuit at an external end and is fluidly connectable to an outlet of the ventilator at an internal end. The pressure sensing port is fluidly connectible to both a pressure sensing port of the ventilator and to the patient circuit. The apparatus may further include a cooling fluid system operative to circulate either a gas or liquid coolant along at least a portion of a multi-lumen tube integrated into the patient circuit.

Abstract: A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient includes a first seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a first positive pressure; and a second seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a second positive pressure. The first seal also seals the first space from the second space. A leak reducing element may be provided on a seal to reduce and/or diffuse leakage of gas. A vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure may be provided in the second space to remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space. A seal may be connected to a conduit for delivering the flow of gas that is incorporated into a frame of the patient interface.

Abstract: A forehead support for a facial mask is adapted to be moveable between a first position with respect to a frame of the mask and a second position with respect to the frame. The forehead support includes a biasing mechanism that urges the forehead support in the second position. A method of positioning a forehead support with respect to a frame of a patient interface includes positioning the forehead support and patient interface assembly on a face; disengaging a forehead support locking mechanism; allowing the forehead support to move from a first position to a second position; and engaging a forehead support locking mechanism.

Abstract: A mask system includes a frame (20) adapted to attach headgear, a sealing arrangement (40) releasably connectable to the frame, and an elbow (70) provided to the sealing arrangement and adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient. The sealing arrangement defines a breathing chamber and is adapted to form a seal with the patient's face. The sealing arrangement includes structure (50) to establish a positive connection with the frame and with the elbow.