Patient interface and headgear for a respiratory apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to headgear and a patient interface, or components of a headgear or patient interface, such as a nasal cannula. In one embodiment is a size adjustable headstrap to be provided as a headgear or a part thereof, in another is a portion of a headstrap or component for association therewith in which the portion or component facilitates improved location of the strap upon a user's face, in another embodiment is a system for encapsulating or covering a connector from contact with a user's face or facial skin, in another embodiment is a face mount part or body for a patient interface of a particular configuration, and in yet a further embodiment is a gases flow manifold for delivering of gases to a patient interface of a particular configuration for improved patient comfort.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A nasal cannula comprising:
 a face mount part comprising a base portion and a first elongate wing portion extending laterally from a first side of the base portion; and   a first nasal prong extending transversely from the base portion and capable of fitting in a nare of a user,   the first elongate wing portion comprising an exterior surface configured to contact a portion of a face of the user in use, and an elongate ridge extending transversely along the first elongate wing portion opposing the exterior surface to aid in stabilising the face mount part upon the face of the user in use.   
     
     
         31 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the face mount part comprises a second of wing portion that extends laterally from a second side of the base portion. 
     
     
         32 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the face mount part comprises a second nasal prong that is capable of fitting into another nare of the user. 
     
     
         33 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the first nasal prong comprises a non-sealing prong configured such that, in use, a seal is not formed between the first nasal prong and the nare of the user. 
     
     
         34 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the first nasal prong is sized to maintain a sufficient gap between an outer surface of the first nasal prong and skin of the user to avoid sealing a gas path between the nasal cannula and the user. 
     
     
         35 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the elongate ridge of the first elongate wing portion extends along an upper region of the first elongate wing portion. 
     
     
         36 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the first elongate wing portion comprises an accentuated terminal end extending in a direction substantially towards a cheek of the user in use. 
     
     
         37 . The nasal cannula of  claim 36 , wherein the accentuated terminal end of the first elongate wing portion is angled obtusely relative to a longitudinal orientation of the base portion of the face mount part. 
     
     
         38 . The nasal cannula of  claim 36 , wherein the accentuated terminal end of the first elongate wing portion has a greater contact surface area than a contact surface area of the first elongate wing portion that is adjacent the base portion. 
     
     
         39 . The nasal cannula of  claim 38 , wherein the accentuated terminal end of the first elongate wing portion tapers outwardly. 
     
     
         40 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein a distal end of the first elongate wing portion comprises a first formation configured to releasably couple with a first connector of headgear associated with the nasal cannula. 
     
     
         41 . The nasal cannula of  claim 40 , wherein the first connector comprises a lateral projection at an end of an elongate body, the lateral projection configured to engage the first formation with a push-fit type arrangement. 
     
     
         42 . The nasal cannula of  claim 41 , wherein the first formation comprises a channel with an entry aperture, an exit aperture, and an abutment surface located at the exit aperture, the first connector comprising an elongate body configured to be received and retained within the channel, and the lateral projection configured to engage the abutment surface at the exit aperture of the channel such that the first connector is retained therein. 
     
     
         43 . The nasal cannula of  claim 42 , wherein the channel is configured to be elastically deformed to receive the first connector and to allow the first connector to be rotated axially about 180° to enable ease of removal of the first connector from the channel. 
     
     
         44 . The nasal cannula of  claim 43 , wherein, when the lateral projection of the first connector is rotated through about 180° within the channel, the lateral projection of the first connector disengages from the abutment surface of the exit aperture of the channel. 
     
     
         45 . The nasal cannula of  claim 30 , wherein the nasal cannula further comprises a bridge extending from the base portion of the face mount part to a lower region of the first elongate wing portion and forming a side entry on either side of the bridge. 
     
     
         46 . The nasal cannula of  claim 45 , wherein the nasal cannula further comprises a gases flow manifold part having a gases inlet configured to receive a flow of gas from a gas source, and a gases outlet configured to deliver the flow of gas to the first nasal prong of the face mount part, the gases flow manifold part being adapted to be received by the base portion through either side entry of the face mount part to fluidly connect the gases outlet with the first nasal prong of the face mount part. 
     
     
         47 . The nasal cannula of  claim 46 , wherein the face mount part further comprises a recess formed in an interior of the base portion, the gases flow manifold part comprising a corresponding lip at the gases outlet configured to releasably engage the recess to fluidly connect the gases outlet with the first nasal prong of the face mount part. 
     
     
         48 . The nasal cannula of  claim 48 , wherein the face mount part is formed from a soft, flexible material relative to the gases flow manifold part. 
     
     
         49 . A respiratory assistance system comprising:
 the cannula of  claim 30  configured to deliver a flow of humidified gas to the user; and   headgear configured to retain the nasal cannula on the face of the user.   
     
     
         50 . The respiratory assistance system of  claim 49 , further comprising a flow source configured to generate a flow of gases, and a humidifier coupled to a gases outlet of the flow source to humidify the flow of gases. 
     
     
         51 . The respiratory assistance system of  claim 50 , further comprising an inspiratory conduit configured to couple between the humidifier and the nasal cannula. 
     
     
         52 . The respiratory assistance system of  claim 51 , further comprising an extension tube configured to couple between the inspiratory conduit and the nasal cannula. 
     
     
         53 . The respiratory assistance system of  claim 52 , further comprising a retention clip configured to couple around the extension tube and to the headgear to tether the extension tube to the headgear and to relocate at least a portion of a pull force on the extension tube from the nasal cannula to the headgear.