FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to patient interfaces and respiratory
support systems for providing a breathable gases flow to patients, and more particularly
to respiratory support systems with sensors on or near the patient interface.
BACKGROUND
[002] When providing respiratory support to a patient, it can be beneficial to
monitor one or more patient parameters during the course of the therapy. In order to
measure these patient parameters one or more patient sensors is used, such as a pulse
oximeter, which can be used to determine blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. These
parameters can be used individually or in conjunction with further parameters in making
an assessment of the patient's health. Additionally, these parameters can be used to
adjust one or more control parameters of the respiratory support system being used to
provide respiratory support to the patient. This adjustment can be done manually by a
clinician, or automatically by a controller of the respiratory support system, such as
through feedback control. The parameters being adjusted can include any one or more
of flow rate, pressure, temperature, humidity, dew point, oxygen concentration, and/or
oxygen saturation.
SUMMARY
[003] The systems, methods and devices described herein have innovative aspects,
no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable
attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageous features
will now be summarized.
[004] Throughout, the term 'respiratory support system' m this specification
means the combination of a respiratory support apparatus and any associated
components used for providing respiratory support to a patient, such as a patient
interface and/or one or more gases conduits and/or other components used to provide
respiratory support to a patient. Components that may make up at least a part of the
respiratory support apparatus can include any one or more of: a flow generator, a
controller, a humidifier, a graphical user interface, a flow control valve.
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[005] Throughout, the term 'circuit' in this specification means the entire
breathable gases inspiratory pathway to the patient from a gases supply, and may also
include the expiratory gases path away from the patient to a gases supply. The circuit at
a minimum therefore includes the inspiratory gases pathway (including all the
components) from the gases supply to the patient interface. The interface itself e.g. mask
or cannula, is separate from the gases pathway and not part of the 'circuit'.
[006] Throughout this specification, a 'gases conduit' is any passageway configured
to transport a breathable gases flow.
[007] Throughout this specification, the terms 'clinician', 'patient', and 'user' may be
used to refer to individuals who may interact with the respiratory support apparatus. The
term 'patient' as used in this specification means the individual who is receiving therapy
(e.g. a therapeutic gases flow) from the respiratory support system, and in particular is
the individual who is wearing the patient interface. The term 'clinician' as used in this
specification means an individual such as a nurse or a doctor who is not receiving
therapy from the respiratory support system, but might adjust the settings of the
respiratory support apparatus, aid in setting up the respiratory support system, and/or
help to affix the patient interface to the patient, or prescribe therapy, among other tasks.
The term 'user' as used in this specification means an individual who may adjust the
settings of the respiratory support apparatus, aid in setting up the respiratory support
system, and/or help to affix the patient interface to the patient, among other tasks.
Depending on the situation, the user may be a clinician or the patient themselves. For
example, in a hospital scenario, a clinician is likely setup the system for the patient, and
as such the term 'user' likely refers to the clinician. For scenarios in which the 'user' is
adjusting the operating parameters of the respiratory support apparatus but not
necessarily interacting with the patient, the user may be a biomedical engineer or a
maintenance engineer or a technician. Conversely, in a scenario in which the patient is
using the respiratory support system at home, the patient may set the system themselves,
and as such the term 'user' likely refers to the patient.
[008] According to an aspect of this disclosure there is provided a patient interface for
supplying a gases flow to a patient comprising:
a body configured to engage with an orifice of the patient and direct the gases flow to
said orifice, and
one or more sensors configured to measure a parameter,
wherein the one or more sensors are mounted (i.e. positioned) on any one or more of:
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a) the patient interface;
b) headgear configured to mount the patient interface on the patient's head;
c) a headgear connector configured to connect the headgear to the patient interface;
d) a gas delivery conduit configured to deliver breathable gases to the patient.
[009] According to an aspect of this disclosure there is provided a patient interface for
supplying a gases flow to a patient comprising:
a body configured to engage with an orifice of the patient and direct the gases flow to
said orifice, and
a frame on which the body is permanently or removably mounted, the frame configured
to connect to headgear to mount the patient interface on the patient's head;
one or more sensors configured to measure a parameter,
wherein the one or more sensors are mounted on the patient interface and/or the frame
and/or the headgear.
[0010] According to an aspect of this disclosure there is provided a patient interface for
supplying a gases flow to a patient comprising:
a body configured to engage with an orifice of the patient and direct the gases flow to
said orifice, and
lateral arms extending laterally outwardly from the body and configured to connect to
headgear to mount the patient interface on the patient's head;
one or more sensors configured to measure a parameter,
wherein the one or more sensors are mounted on the patient interface and/or the lateral
arms and/or the headgear.
[0011] The one or more sensors may be removably mounted (i.e. can be removed from
the patient interface and re-positioned) into any one or more of:
a) the patient interface;
b) headgear configured to mount the patient interface on the patient's head;
c) a headgear connector configured to connect the headgear to the patient interface;
d) a gas delivery conduit configured to deliver breathable gases to the patient.
[0012] The one or more sensors being removable can be advantageous because the
sensors can be removed, cleaned and mounted into another interface. This allows the
sensors to be re-used between different patients.

CLAIMS
1. A nasal cannula interface for supplying a gases flow to a patient comprising:
a nasal cannula defining at least a portion of a gases flow path and comprising
a body having a base portion and at least one prong extending from the base
portion, the at least one prong being configured to direct the gases flow to an orifice of
the patient, and
one or more sensors configured to measure a parameter,
wherein the body further comprises a top surface and a rear surface, the rear
surface being adjacent the patient in use of the nasal cannula interface; wherein
an outer surface of the one or more sensors is flush with the top surface or the
rear surface.
2. The nasal cannula interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors
is a patient sensor, and the parameter is a physiological parameter of the patient.
3. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein the parameter is a
measure ofblood oxygenation of the patient.
4. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one
prong is configured to be received in one or more nares of the patient.
5. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the
at least one prong is configured to form a seal with one of the nares of the patient.
6. The nasal cannula interface of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more of the at least
one prong is configured be received in one ofthe nares of the patient in an unsealed manner.
7. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a head
securement assembly.
8. The nasal cannula interface of claim 7, wherein the head securement assembly
comprises one or more straps.
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9. The nasal cannula interface of claim 7, wherein the head securement assembly
comprises one or more facial pads.
10. The nasal cannula interface of claim 9, wherein the or each facial pad comprises an
adhesive surface to adhere to the patient's skin.
11. The nasal cannula interface of claim 9 or 10, wherein the or each facial pad comprises
two distinct patches.
12. The nasal cannula interface of claim 11, wherein the two distinct patches are removably
coupled.
13. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a pair of
side arms.
14. The nasal cannula interface of claim 13, wherein the pair of side arms is integral with
the body of the nasal cannula.
15. The nasal cannula interface of claim 13 or 14, when dependent on any of claims 7 to 9,
wherein the head securement assembly is connected to the side arms.
16. The nasal cannula interface of claim 13 or 14, when dependent on any of claims 9 to 12,
wherein the facial pads are located on the side arms.
17. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer surface of
the patient sensor is flush with the top surface, and the top surface is a patient contacting surface,
or the outer surface of the patient sensor is flush with the rear surface and the rear surface is a
patient contacting surface.
18. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the
one or more sensors is a pulse oximeter.
19. The nasal cannula interface of claim 18, wherein the pulse oximeter is a reflectance type
pulse oximeter.
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20. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a second
prong extending from the base portion.
21. The nasal cannula interface of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors are located
between the two prongs.
22. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one
prong extends from the top surface of the body of the nasal cannula, and the one or more sensors
are located on said top surface.
23. The nasal cannula interface of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more
sensors are arranged to contact the patient's columella whilst the nasal cannula interface is in
use.
24. The nasal cannula interface of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the at least one prong
extends from a top surface of the body of the nasal cannula, and the one or more sensors are
located on a surface of the body that is adjacent to said top surface.
25. The nasal cannula interface of any of claims 1 to 20, or 24, wherein the one or more
sensors are positioned on the body of the nasal cannula so as to contact the patient's upper lip
whilst the nasal cannula interface is in use.