Interchangeable mask assembly

• US 10,183,138 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ng, Eva, Henry, Robert Edward, Kwok, Philip Rodney, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Stuart, Colin W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sul, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US15/841,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20180104430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• 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 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system of breathing arrangements for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes at least first and second cushion components, e.g., full-face, nasal, nasal prongs, nose tip, and/or a combination of any of the above, including a nasal or full-face cushion and nasal prongs/nozzles combination, etc., that are different from one another in at least one aspect, and a common frame assembly configured to support each of the first and second cushion components. Various embodiments are directed to a full-face or nasal mask used with a frame having lateral connector portions having a stiffening member. The mask assembly may include a nose height adjustment device for the height of the cushion, or a cushion adjustment member by which the position of the cushion may be adjusted relative to the frame. The mask assembly may include a chin strap assembly.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a cushion component including a body portion and a sealing portion,

wherein the body portion is relatively harder than the sealing portion, and

wherein the body portion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure, and the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth; and

a frame including a main body configured to releasably couple with the cushion component,

wherein the main body includes a lower opening having a closed circular shape through which the cushion component and an elbow to deliver a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure to the cushion component communicate with one another,

wherein the main body includes an upper opening having a closed shape that is spaced apart from and superior to the lower opening,

wherein the main body is configured to connect to a pair of lower headgear connectors associated with a pair of lower straps of headgear,

wherein the main body comprises a positioning and retaining arrangement configured and arranged to provide substantially non-adjustable coupling between the main body and the cushion component in which adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component is substantially resisted,

wherein the upper opening is configured to receive a protrusion of the cushion component to at least assist in substantially resisting adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component,

wherein the main body includes a wall between the upper opening and the lower opening, the wall configured to be arranged along an outside surface of the cushion component so that the wall is outside the breathing chamber formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component, and

the frame further including a forehead support, the forehead support including a neck extending from the main body and a bridge provided to the neck,

wherein the forehead support includes a pair of upper headgear connectors, each of the pair of upper headgear connectors adapted to connect to a respective one of a pair of upper straps of headgear.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening is positioned between the lower opening and the forehead support.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the neck includes a portion that tapers from a larger width adjacent the main body to a smaller width adjacent the bridge.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bridge is adjustably mounted with respect to the main body.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bridge comprises the pair of upper headgear connectors.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a pair of lateral arms configured to connect to the pair of lower headgear connectors.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body is configured to allow the cushion component and breathing chamber thereof as a whole to be removable from the main body for replacement.

13. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body is configured to releasably couple with a plurality of different cushion components.

14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component,

wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame,

wherein the upper opening is positioned between the lower opening and the forehead support,

wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening,

wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame,

wherein the neck includes a portion that tapers from a larger width adjacent the main body to a smaller width adjacent the bridge,

wherein the bridge comprises the pair of upper headgear connectors,

wherein the main body comprises a pair of lateral arms configured to connect to the pair of lower headgear connectors, and

wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

15. A CPAP system for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the CPAP system comprising:

the respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1;

a blower to supply a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure; and

a conduit to pass the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure from the blower to the respiratory mask assembly.

16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gas washout vent openings configured to provide a predetermined washout rate of gas from the breathing chamber.

17. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the forehead support is provided with forehead padding adapted to rest against a patient'"'"'s forehead.

18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the forehead support is supported by the frame independent from the positioning and retaining arrangement.

19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to releasably couple with the cushion component to allow removal of the cushion component without impact to the forehead support.

20. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a cushion component including a body portion and a sealing portion,

wherein the body portion is relatively harder than the sealing portion, and

wherein the body portion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure, and the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth; and

a frame including a main body configured to releasably couple with the cushion component,

wherein the main body includes a lower opening having a closed shape through which the cushion component and an elbow to deliver a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure to the cushion component communicate with one another,

wherein the main body includes an upper opening having a closed shape that is spaced apart from and superior to the lower opening,

wherein the main body comprises a positioning and retaining arrangement configured and arranged to provide substantially non-adjustable coupling between the main body and the cushion component in which adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component is substantially resisted,

wherein the upper opening is configured to receive a protrusion of the cushion component to at least assist in substantially resisting adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component,

wherein the main body includes a wall between the upper opening and the lower opening, the wall configured to be arranged along an outside surface of the cushion component so that the wall is outside the breathing chamber formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component,

the frame further including a pair of lower lateral arms, each of the pair of lower lateral arms configured to connect to a respective one of a pair of lower headgear connectors associated with a pair of lower straps of headgear, and

the frame further including a pair of upper lateral arms, each of the pair of upper lateral arms including a respective one of a pair of upper headgear connectors adapted to connect to a respective one of a pair of upper straps of headgear.

21. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

22. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part that is received in a space formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

23. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises an upper frame retainer part that is received in a space formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component, and wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprises a lower frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

24. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame.

25. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening.

26. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame.

27. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

28. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the main body is configured to allow the cushion component and breathing chamber thereof as a whole to be removable from the main body for replacement.

29. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises an upper frame retainer part that is received in a space formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component, and wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprises a lower frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component,

wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame,

wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening,

wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame,

wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component, and

wherein the main body is configured to allow the cushion component and breathing chamber thereof as a whole to be removable from the main body for replacement.

30. A CPAP system for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the CPAP system comprising:

the respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20;

a blower to supply a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure; and

a conduit to pass the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure from the blower to the respiratory mask assembly.