Mask vent

Abstract

Apparatus for providing positive airway pressure therapy to the airways of a patient includes a mask, a gas delivery conduit coupled to the mask, and a vent located in the mask or near the mask in the gas delivery conduit, to allow washout of exhaled carbon dioxide. The vent includes a plurality of vent orifices, the vent orifices being constructed and arranged to be open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the user's breathing cycle. Each of the vent orifices being molded into a surface as a curved flow path from an interior of the mask or gas delivery conduit to atmosphere so that a vent flow from each of the orifices is directed in different directions, into one another, and/or slightly offset from one another to create diffuse air flow.

1 - 99 . (canceled) 
     
     
         100 . Apparatus for providing positive airway pressure therapy to the airways of a patient, comprising:
 a mask;   a gas delivery conduit coupled to the mask; and   a vent located in the mask or near the mask in the gas delivery conduit, to allow washout of exhaled carbon dioxide, said vent comprising a plurality of vent orifices, said vent orifices being constructed and arranged to be open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the user's breathing cycle, each of said vent orifices being molded into a surface as a curved flow path from an interior of the mask or gas delivery conduit to atmosphere so that a vent flow from each of said orifices is directed in different directions, into one another, and/or slightly offset from one another to create diffuse air flow.   
     
     
         101 . Apparatus according to  claim 100 , wherein the vent includes a vent component adapted to cover one or more openings in the mask or gas delivery conduit, and the vent component includes one or more tracks or grooves along its outer surface that provide said vent orifices so that vent flow escapes along the one or more tracks or grooves between an outer surface of the mask or gas delivery conduit and the vent component. 
     
     
         102 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein one of the openings in the mask or air delivery conduit provides an entry/exit window to receive the vent component. 
     
     
         103 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the one or more tracks or grooves are provided on one or both sides of the vent component. 
     
     
         104 . Apparatus according to  claim 103 , wherein the track or groove is radially arched in a first direction on a first side of the vent component, and the track or groove is radially arched in a second direction on a second side of the vent component, further wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         105 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the vent component is deformable to assemble or disassemble to the mask or gas delivery conduit. 
     
     
         106 . Apparatus according to  claim 105 , wherein the vent component includes one or more finger tabs to facilitate deformation of the vent component. 
     
     
         107 . Apparatus according to  claim 105 , wherein the vent component includes a hinge and a locking mechanism diametrically opposed from the hinge, the hinge adapted to allow the vent component to be pivoted open when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position. 
     
     
         108 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the vent component is c-shaped, o-ring shaped, or u-shaped. 
     
     
         109 . Apparatus according to  claim 108 , wherein the one or more tracks or grooves extend from an inner radius of the vent component to an outer radius of the vent component. 
     
     
         110 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the vent component includes at least one port cap adapted to engage a respective port provided to the mask or gas delivery conduit. 
     
     
         111 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the vent component is a plug. 
     
     
         112 . Apparatus according to  claim 111 , wherein the plug is I-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped. 
     
     
         113 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein each track or groove is open-ended. 
     
     
         114 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein each track or groove combines with the mask or gas delivery conduit to define a vent orifice. 
     
     
         115 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein a vent orifice is defined by a part of the mask or gas delivery conduit and a part of the vent component. 
     
     
         116 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein each track or groove is tapered along its length. 
     
     
         117 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the track or groove is radially arched. 
     
     
         118 . Apparatus according to  claim 101 , wherein the one or more tracks or grooves extend into a thickness of the vent component. 
     
     
         119 . Apparatus according to  claim 100 , wherein the gas delivery conduit is an elbow. 
     
     
         120 . Apparatus according to  claim 100 , wherein the mask includes a mask frame. 
     
     
         121 . Apparatus according to  claim 100 , wherein each of said vent orifices extends into the surface as a curved recess. 
     
     
         122 . Apparatus according to  claim 100 , wherein each of said vent orifices is raised from the surface as a curved track.