BREATHING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS

摘要

In one embodiment, a nasal cannula is shaped to fit within a user's nares, where the nasal cannula includes at least one prong allowing high flow delivery of humidified gases and creates positive airway pressure in the patient's airway. The prongs have angled ends such that, in use, gases flowing through the prongs are directed to the user's nasal passages. The nasal cannula body is partially swiveling and preferably has a ball joint connector. In another embodiment the nasal cannula may have at least one flared end prong that preferably seals within a patient's nare.

主权项

1. An apparatus for supplying pressurized breathing gases from a gases supply to a user through an inspiratory conduit to provide a positive airway pressure in the user's airways, the apparatus comprising:
a body that defines a gases passageway through which breathing gases can flow, the body comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being wider than the second end, the second end defining a gas inlet to the gases passageway, the body further comprising an extension extending from a perimeter of the first end, the body further comprising an elongate surface having opposed rounded ends, the body further comprising a headgear extension to which a headgear strap is attached; a seal that creates a seal with the user's face, wherein the seal surrounds the extension extending from the perimeter of the first end of the body; an angled conduit connector that connects the gases passageway of the body with the inspiratory conduit, the angled conduit connector extending to a swivelable connector; and a bias flow vent comprising a plurality of openings defined in the elongate surface of the body, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a pattern, the pattern being symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the apparatus; wherein the plurality of openings are further arranged in a plurality of lines, each of the plurality of lines comprising more than one of the plurality of openings, the plurality of lines comprising a middle line and a pair of adjacent lines, wherein one of the pair of adjacent lines is positioned on one side of the middle line and the other of the pair of adjacent lines is positioned on the other side of the middle line, wherein the openings within the pair of adjacent lines are offset from the openings within the middle line, and wherein each of the pair of adjacent lines comprises the same number of openings; wherein the pattern further comprises a pair of relatively outer lines, wherein one of the pair of relatively outer lines is positioned on one side of the middle line and pair of adjacent lines and the other of the pair of relatively outer lines is positioned on the other side of the middle line and pair of adjacent lines, wherein each of the pair of relatively outer lines comprises one less opening than each of the pair of adjacent lines, and wherein the pair of relatively outer lines comprise the same number of openings as the middle line; wherein an end of the pattern comprises a first pair of diagonally arranged openings and a second pair of diagonally arranged openings, the first and second pair of diagonally arranged openings being a mirror image of each other relative to the middle line, and the end is defined by ends of the pair of adjacent lines; wherein the end of the pattern further comprises a first set of aligned openings and a second set of aligned openings positioned inwardly of and offset from the first set of aligned openings, wherein the first set of aligned openings comprises two openings and the second set of aligned openings comprises three openings, wherein the first set of aligned openings is defined by ends of the pair of adjacent lines and the second set of aligned openings is defined by ends of the pair of relatively outer lines and the middle line; and wherein openings in each of the pairs of adjacent lines are aligned and openings in each of the pair of relatively outer lines are aligned with corresponding openings of the middle line.