Respiratory mask assembly

• US 10,039,893 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frater, Robert Henry, Drew, Joanne Elizabeth, Kwok, Philip Rodney, McAuliffe, Patrick John, Davidson, Aaron Samuel, Hitchcock, Robin Garth, Gunaratnam, Michael Kassipillai, Darkin, Donald, Robinson, Gary Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODWARD, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US15/141,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20160235936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0655 in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame to support one of at least first and second compliant patient interfaces and a forehead support adjustably mounted to the frame. The forehead support is structured and configured to be moved between a first position for use with the first patient interface and a second position relative to the frame for use with a second patient interface, whereby the forehead support maintains a horizontal offset distance with the first and second patient interfaces which is substantially constant.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

at least first and second compliant patient interfaces that are different structurally from one another in at least one aspect;

a common frame configured to interchangeably interface with each of the at least first and second compliant patient interfaces; and

a forehead support comprising a pivotal connection to the common frame structured to pivotally connect the forehead support to the common frame,

wherein the pivotal connection between the forehead support and the common frame is structured and arranged to be movable between a first position on the common frame for use with the first compliant patient interface and a second position on the common frame for use with the second compliant patient interface, and the first position of the pivotal connection includes a first pivot axis and the second position of the pivotal connection includes a second pivot axis that is spaced from the first pivot axis, whereby the forehead support maintains a horizontal offset distance with the first and second compliant patient interfaces in respective first and second positions which is substantially constant.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first compliant patient interface is a cushion with a gusset portion and the second compliant patient interface is a cushion without a gusset portion.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the common frame includes first and second slots and a keyway, whereby a portion of the forehead support is movable between the first and second slots via the keyway.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the forehead support comprises a shaft having relatively shorter sides that are narrower than the keyway, and relatively wider sides that are wider than the keyway.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the forehead support is pivotable about the shaft.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the forehead support must be moved to an inoperative position to allow adjustment between the first and second positions.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the forehead support is linearly movable between the first and second positions.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a resiliently biased push button to allow adjustment of the forehead support between the first and second positions.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the forehead support is pivotably movable in each of the first and second positions to allow adjustment between the forehead support and a patient'"'"'s forehead in use.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second compliant patient interfaces include different depths from one another, and the forehead support is moveable between the first and second positions to accommodate the different depths and maintain the substantially constant, horizontal offset distance with the first and second compliant patient interfaces.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection comprises a shaft and slot arrangement including a shaft provided to the forehead support and at least first and second slots provided to the common frame, and the pivotal connection is movable between the first and second positions by movement of the shaft between the at least first and second slots.

12. A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas in a range of operating pressures to a patient, the cushion comprising:

a non-face contacting portion connected to a frame;

a face-contacting portion structured to form a contact seal with a patient'"'"'s face in use; and

a central portion that interconnects the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion,

the central portion being structured to automatically adjust a component of force applied to the patient'"'"'s face through the face-contacting portion in accordance with operating pressure, while maintaining the contact seal throughout the range of operating pressures,

wherein the central portion includes a concertina structure and a spring section with a spring constant constructed so that forces on the patient'"'"'s face from the cushion are a function of mask pressure and the spring constant of the spring section,

wherein forces applied by the spring section are variable around a perimeter of the central portion, wherein the concertina structure extends radially outwardly from the face-contacting portion to define a projected area that is variable around the perimeter of the central portion to vary forces applied by the concertina structure around the perimeter of the central portion, and

wherein the concertina structure extends radially inwardly from the face-contacting portion.

13. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the spring section includes an embedded wire spring.

14. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the spring section includes a T-shaped spring having a first anchored end and a second end structured to engage an internal shoulder portion of the face-contacting portion.

15. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the central portion includes an inwardly projecting gusset portion.

16. The cushion according to claim 15, further comprising an internal compression spring to follow a contour of the inwardly projecting gusset portion.

17. The cushion according to claim 15, further comprising an external tension spring to generally follow a contour of the inwardly projecting gusset portion.

18. The cushion according to claim 15, wherein the inwardly projecting gusset portion is constructed to be converted to an outwardly extending gusset portion, by everting action.

19. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the central portion includes an outwardly projecting gusset portion.

20. The cushion according to claim 19, further comprising a spring positioned on an inside of the outwardly projecting gusset portion.

21. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the concertina structure includes more than one fold.

22. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the concertina structure includes four gusset sections or side walls.

23. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the projected area extends outside an area of contact between the face-contacting portion and the patient'"'"'s face.

24. A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas in a range of operating pressures to a patient, the cushion comprising:

a non-face contacting portion connected to a frame;

a face-contacting portion structured to form a contact seal with a patient'"'"'s face in use; and

a central portion that interconnects the non-face contacting portion and the face-contacting portion,

the central portion being structured to automatically adjust a component of force applied to the patient'"'"'s face through the face-contacting portion in accordance with operating pressure, while maintaining the contact seal throughout the range of operating pressures,

wherein the central portion includes a concertina structure and a spring section with a spring constant constructed so that forces on the patient'"'"'s face from the cushion are a function of mask pressure and the spring constant of the spring section,

wherein forces applied by the spring section are variable around a perimeter of the central portion,

wherein the concertina structure extends radially outwardly from the face-contacting portion to define a projected area that is variable around the perimeter of the central portion to vary forces applied by the concertina structure around the perimeter of the central portion,

wherein the projected area extends outside an area of contact between the face-contacting portion and the patient'"'"'s face, and

wherein the concertina structure includes more than one fold, the concertina structure including at least one fold provided outside the area of contact and at least one fold provided inside the area of contact.