초록 ▼

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 p

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising: a barrel comprising a first end and a second end, a tubular portion extending between the first end and the second end, and a pair of nasal prongs extending from the tubular portion; anda t

1. A patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising: a barrel comprising a first end and a second end, a tubular portion extending between the first end and the second end, and a pair of nasal prongs extending from the tubular portion; anda tube connector configured to connect a tube or cannula to the barrel, the tube connector comprising a first end configured to be inserted into the first end or second end of the barrel, and a second end configured to be inserted into the tube or cannula, the first and second ends being divided by a flange with first and second sides, the first side being adapted to directly engage the barrel and the second side being adapted to directly engage the tube or cannula when the tube or cannula is connected to the barrel,wherein the barrel is rotatable relative to the tube connector and the first and second sides of the flange are substantially parallel to each other. 2. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tube connector comprises a slot adjacent the second end of the tube connector configured to receive a wire extending from the tube or cannula. 3. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tube connector comprises a pocket adjacent the second end of the tube connector configured to receive at least one sensor. 4. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the tube connector comprises a chamfered flange. 5. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the tube connector is collinear with a longitudinal axis of the first end or the second end of the barrel. 6. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the tube connector is offset from a longitudinal axis of the first or second end of the barrel. 7. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portion of the barrel is generally cylindrical. 8. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portion of the barrel comprises an oblique surface. 9. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portion of the barrel comprise a generally D-shaped cross section. 10. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the barrel comprises an aperture, and further comprising a plug configured to be received in the aperture to seal the aperture. 11. A patient interface according to claim 10, wherein the plug is connected to the barrel by at least one tether. 12. A patient interface according to claim 10, wherein the plug is connected to the barrel by adhesive. 13. A patient interface according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure port connected to the barrel at the first end or the second end opposite the tube connector. 14. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tube connector and the barrel are formed of material having different hardnesses. 15. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the tube connector and the barrel are formed with different finishes. 16. A respiratory interface, comprising: a patient interface according to claim 1; anda headgear configured to support the patient interface in engagement with the face of the patient. 17. A respiratory interface according to claim 16, wherein the headgear comprises a pair of side straps configured to extend along opposite sides of the patient's face, an lower back strap extending between the side straps, and an upper back strap extending between the side straps. 18. A respiratory interface according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the lower back strap and the upper back strap comprises a strap adjustment. 19. A respiratory interface according to claim 18, wherein the strap adjustment comprises hook and loop fasteners, a buckle, or a ladder lock connector. 20. A respiratory interface according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the pair of side straps comprises a strap adjustment. 21. A respiratory interface according to claim 17, further comprising a rigidizer provided to each side strap. 22. A respiratory interface according to claim 21, wherein the rigidizers are connected to the barrel at the first and second ends. 23. A respiratory interface according to claim 21, wherein one of the rigidizers is integrally formed with the tube connector. 24. A respiratory interface according to claim 23, wherein the other rigidizer is integrally formed with a plug configured to be connected to the barrel. 25. A respiratory interface according to claim 17, further comprising a rigidizer extending between the side straps, the rigidizer comprising a pair of mounting bosses, each mounting boss being configured to be receive an end of the barrel of the patient interface. 26. A respiratory interface according to claim 25, wherein each mounting boss is configured to receive the tube connector. 27. A respiratory interface according to claim 16, wherein the headgear comprises side straps connected to ends of the barrel, each side strap having at least one slot configured to receive at least one additional strap. 28. A respiratory interface according to claim 27, wherein further comprising at least one strap guide extending over the at least one slot. 29. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the flange constitutes a thin-disc shape with first and second sides, the first side being configured to directly engage the barrel and the second side being configured to directly engage the tube or cannula. 30. A patient interface according to claim 29, wherein the flange of the tube connector is configured to engage the first end or the second end of the barrel when the tube connector is connected to the barrel. 31. A patient interface according to claim 30, wherein the tube connector further comprises an interior radial wall at a position corresponding to the position of the flange, the interior radial wall separating a first portion of the tube connector having a first diameter from a second portion of the tube connector having a second diameter. 32. A patient interface according to claim 31, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 33. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the second side of the flange is configured to abut a terminal side of the tube or cannula. 34. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the barrel is coupled to the tube connector by way of a swivel connection. 35. A patient interface for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the patient interface comprising: a barrel comprising a first end and a second end, a tubular portion extending between the first end and the second end, and a pair of nasal prongs extending from the tubular portion; anda tube connector configured to connect a tube or cannula to the barrel, the tube connector comprising a first end configured to be inserted into the first end or second end of the barrel, and a second end configured to be inserted into the tube or cannula,wherein the tube connector comprises an opening in an exterior surface of the tube connector, the opening providing communication between an interior of the tube connector and an exterior of the tube connector and being configured to receive a wire extending from the tube or cannula,wherein the opening is covered by the tube or cannula when the tube connector is connected to the tube or cannula, andwherein the barrel is rotatable relative to the tube connector. 36. A patient interface according to claim 35, wherein the exterior surface of the tube connector includes a recess with an opening. 37. A patient interface according to claim 36, wherein the recess is a pocket configured to receive at least one sensor. 38. A patient interface according to claim 37, wherein the pocket comprises an opening configured to receive wires from the sensor. 39. A patient interface according to claim 38, wherein the tube connector comprises a flange between the first and second end of the tube connector, the flange being configured to engage the first end or the second end of the barrel when the tube connector is connected to the barrel. 40. A patient interface according to claim 39, wherein the tube connector further comprises an interior radial wall at a position corresponding to the position of the flange, the interior radial wall extending inwardly from the exterior surface and separating a first portion of the tube connector having a first diameter from a second portion of the tube connector having a second diameter. 41. A patient interface according to claim 40, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 42. A patient interface according to claim 35 further comprising: the tube or cannula; andthe wire,wherein the wire is looped through the opening in the exterior surface of the tube connector to secure the tube connector to the tube or cannula. 43. A patient interface according to claim 42, wherein the wire is at least one of a heating wire and a sensing wire. 44. A patient interface according to claim 35, wherein the wire is at least one of a heating wire and a sensing wire. 45. A patient interface according to claim 35, wherein the opening is configured to receive the wire from an interior of the tube or cannula.