초록 ▼

A fan unit which in use forms part of a gases supply unit, the gases supply unit suitable for use as part of a system for providing heated humidified gases to a user, the fan unit having a casing that has an inlet aperture and an outlet passage, the outlet passage including an exit aperture, the fan

A fan unit which in use forms part of a gases supply unit, the gases supply unit suitable for use as part of a system for providing heated humidified gases to a user, the fan unit having a casing that has an inlet aperture and an outlet passage, the outlet passage including an exit aperture, the fan unit also including a fan which is located inside the casing and which is adapted for connection to a motor to drive rotation of the fan in use, the fan drawing gases into the casing via the inlet aperture, and forcing these gases out of the casing via the outlet passage as a gases stream, the outlet passage further including at least one bypass vent hole independent of the exit aperture and arranged at an angle to the path of the gases stream through the outlet passage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A user interface for use as part of a system for providing gases to a patient for therapeutic purposes, said system comprising a gases supply conduit which in use provides a gases stream, said patient having nares, said user interface comprising; a substantially hollow main body adapted for attac

1. A user interface for use as part of a system for providing gases to a patient for therapeutic purposes, said system comprising a gases supply conduit which in use provides a gases stream, said patient having nares, said user interface comprising; a substantially hollow main body adapted for attachment to one end of the gases supply conduit so that in use the gases stream from the gases supply conduit can enter said main body,a pair of nasal pillows fluidically connected to said main body, a portion of an outer-surface of each one of said pillows having a sealing mechanism adapted so that in use each of said pillows can seal against the corresponding nare of said patient,each one of said pair of nasal pillows having a divider extending longitudinally through and dividing the nasal pillow into three separate passages, each of said three separate passages sealed from the other passages at least within said pillows, a first one of said three separate passages configured to act in use as a gases delivery passageway and connected to said main body so that in use the gases stream from the gases supply conduit can pass along said first passage to the patient, a second one of said three separate passages configured to act as a pressure measurement duct in use, and a third one of said three separate passages open to atmosphere and adapted to act as a high-flow bypass passage. 2. A user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body is internally divided so that the gases stream divides into two substantially equal portions which pass out of said main body, one portion to each of said pillows. 3. A user interface as claimed in claim 2 wherein said main body is further internally divided so that said main body further comprises a main body pressure measurement duct sealed from the gases stream entering said main body from the gases supply conduit, and said second one of said three separate passages of each one of said pair of nasal pillows configured to merge within said main body into said main body pressure measurement duct. 4. A user interface as claimed in claim 3 further including an interface pressure sensor, said main body pressure measurement duct fluidically connected to said interface pressure sensor in use. 5. A user interface as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interface pressure sensor is a standard pressure sensor. 6. A user interface as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interface pressure sensor is a single differential pressure sensor. 7. A user interface as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interface pressure sensor is a standard pressure sensor. 8. A user interface as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interface pressure sensor is a single differential pressure sensor. 9. A user interface as claimed claim 3 wherein further comprising a pressure sensor and a tube, said pressure sensor located remotely from said main body and said pillows and connected to said main body pressure measuring duct by said tube. 10. A user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein geometry and dimensions of said user interface are chosen to provide a fixed resistance to flow such that when a differential pressure of 10 cm H2O is provided to said interface in use, a flow rate through said high-flow bypass passage is substantially between 50 to 70 Liters per minute. 11. A user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said nasal pillows is formed from a soft rubber material. 12. A user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said third passages is adapted to vent to atmosphere immediately adjacent to the corresponding nare. 13. A user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein only said third passage of said three separate passages is adapted to vent to atmosphere immediately adjacent to the corresponding nare. 14. A user interface for use as part of a system for providing gases to a patient for therapeutic purposes, the system comprising a gases supply conduit which in use provides a gases stream, the patient having nares, said user interface comprising: a substantially hollow main body adapted for attachment to one end of the gases supply conduit so that in use the gases stream from the gases supply conduit can enter said main body,a pair of nasal pillows fluidically connected to said main body, a portion of an outer surface of each one of said pillows having a soft rubber flange adapted so that in use each of said pillows can seal against a corresponding nare of the patient,each one of said pair of nasal pillows having a separator to separate the nasal pillow into three separate passages, each of said three separate passages in each pillow sealed from the other, a first one of said three separate passages configured as a gases delivery passageway and connected to said main body so that in use gases from the gases stream pass along said first passage to the patient, a second one of said three separate passages configured to act as a pressure measurement duct in use, and a third one of said three separate passages open to atmosphere and adapted to act as a high-flow bypass passage. 15. A user interface as claimed in claim 14 wherein said main body is internally divided so that the gases stream from the gases supply conduit divides into two substantially equal portions on entering said main body, each said substantially equal portion passing out of said main body into each of said pillows. 16. A user interface as claimed in claim 14 wherein geometry and dimensions of said user interface are chosen so that a flow rate at a pressure of 10 cmH2O will lie substantially in a range of 50 to 70 Liters per minute when a differential pressure of 10 cmH2O is provided to said interface in use, so that a resistance to flow of the bypass passage is such that the flow rate at a pressure of 10 cmH2O will typically be 50 to 70 Liters per minute at a pressure of 10 cmH2O. 17. A user interface as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said nasal pillows is formed from a soft rubber material. 18. A user interface as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second one of said two separate passages is adapted to vent to atmosphere immediately adjacent to the corresponding nare. 19. A user interface as claimed in claim 14 wherein only said second passage of said two separate passages is adapted to vent to atmosphere immediately adjacent to the corresponding nare.