GB2581713A - Strapless nasal interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

A nasal interface device configured to be positioned about a user's nose includes an air supply interface body including an air supply opening, at least one nasal opening, and first and second attachment surfaces, a bendable metallic member including a bridge portion between first and second ends, a first elastic member having a first proximal end and a portion, the first proximal end including a first coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the first end of the bendable metallic element, and the first portion engaging with the first attachment surface on the air supply interface body, and a second elastic member having a second proximal end and a second portion, the second proximal end including a second coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the second end of the bendable metallic element, and the second portion engaging with the second attachment surface.

Claims (17)

1. A nasal interface device configured to be positioned about a user's nose, comprising: an air supply interface body including an air supply opening, at least one nasal opening, and first and second attachment surfaces; a bendable metallic member including a bridge portion between first and second ends; a first elastic member having a first proximal end and a portion, the first proximal end including a first coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the first end of the bendable metallic element, and the first portion engaging with the first attachment surface on the air supply interface body; and a second elastic member having a second proximal end and a second portion, the second proximal end including a second coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the second end of the bendable metallic element, and the second portion engaging with the second attachment surface on the air supply interface body.

2. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic members has a length of between about 5 cm and about 6 cm.

3. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic members comprises a rubber material.

4. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic members comprises a woven elastic band.

5. The nasal interface device of claim 1, further comprising first and second rings connected to the first and second ends of the bendable metallic member, respectively, wherein the first and second elastic members extend through the first and second rings, respectively.

6. The nasal interface device of claim 5, wherein the adhesive means comprise a hook and loop material, and wherein each of the first and second elastic members including a corresponding hook and loop material to receive the adhesive means of the first and second elastic members, respectively.

7. The nasal interface device of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second adhesive portions has a length of at least about 3 cm.

8. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic members extends from the first and second ends, respectively, of the bendable metallic member and through the first and second attachment surfaces, respectively.

9. The nasal interface device of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second adhesive means comprise an adhesive tape configured to adhere to the user's nose.

10. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second adhesive means comprise an adhesive tape configured to adhere to the user's nose.

11. The nasal interface device of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second adhesive means has a length of about 3 cm.

12. The nasal interface device of claim 1, wherein the air supply interface connects to one of a ventilator, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, and a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine.

13. A method of wearing a nasal interface device comprising the steps of: providing the nasal interface device comprising: an air supply interface body including an air supply opening, at least one nasal opening, and first and second attachment surfaces; a bendable metallic member including a bridge portion between first and second ends, wherein the first and second elastic members attach to the first and second ends of the bendable metallic member, respectively; a first elastic member having a first proximal end and a first portion, the first proximal end including a first coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the first end of the bendable metallic element, and the first portion engaging with the first attachment surface on the air supply interface body; and a second elastic member having a second proximal end and a second portion, the second proximal end including a second coupling means for directly or indirectly attaching to the second end of the bendable metallic element, and the second portion engaging with the second attachment surface on the air supply interface body; conforming the bendable metallic element about a bridge of the user's nose; positioning the air supply interface body about a user's nose, wherein the first and second attachment surfaces of the air supply interface body are adjacent to the first and second sides, respectively, of the user's nose; pulling the first and second elastic members taut in order to form a seal where the air supply interface body meets the user's nose; and securing each of the first and second adhesive means to maintain the seal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nasal interface device further comprises a bendable metallic member including a bridge portion between first and second ends, wherein the first and second elastic members attach to the first and second ends of the bendable metallic member, respectively.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coupling means comprise a hook and loop material, and wherein each of the first and second elastic members including a corresponding hook and loop material to receive the coupling means of the first and second elastic members, respectively.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: extending the first elastic member across a bridge of the user's nose to position the first coupling means on the second side of the user's nose; and extending the second elastic member across a bridge of the user's nose to position the second coupling means on the first side of the user's nose.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: extending the first coupling means cross a bridge of the user's nose; and extending the second coupling means across the bridge of the user's nose.