Headgear assembly for a respiratory mask assembly

• US 10,639,445 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amarasinghe, Amal Shirley, Lithgow, Perry David, Guney, Memduh
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tu A
• Application Number:
  US14/886,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2164 Midline

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly includes a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions. The pair of side portions includes at least one strap. The rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material. One of the layers of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction which resists movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly configured to deliver breathable gas to a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing by providing non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to the patient during sleep, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a nasal mask comprising;

a mask frame having a forehead support; and

a cushion removably connected to the mask frame, the cushion configured to seal against the patient'"'"'s face to deliver breathable gas to the patient'"'"'s nose during treatment; and

a headgear assembly configured to stabilize and position the nasal mask to maintain the nasal mask in a desired adjusted position on the patient'"'"'s face during treatment, the headgear assembly comprising;

a first upper side strap portion and a second upper side strap portion, each of the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion configured to extend across a corresponding lateral side of the patient'"'"'s head and superior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear and eye in use, and each of the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion having a free end;

a first lower side strap portion and a second lower side strap portion, each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion configured to extend across a corresponding lateral side of the patient'"'"'s head from posterior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear to anterior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear and inferior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear in use, and each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion having a free end;

an upper strap portion connecting the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion and configured to resist movement of the headgear assembly in an inferior direction on the patient'"'"'s head in use;

a rear lower strap portion connecting the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion;

a rear cross-bar strap portion configured to be positioned inferior to the upper strap portion and superior to the rear lower strap portion in use;

a first upper intermediate strap portion and a second upper intermediate strap portion, each of the first upper intermediate strap portion and the second upper intermediate strap portion connecting a corresponding one of the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion to the rear cross-bar strap portion;

a first lower intermediate strap portion and a second lower intermediate strap portion, each of the first lower intermediate strap portion and the second lower intermediate strap portion connecting the rear cross-bar strap portion to the rear lower strap portion;

an upper opening defined between the upper strap portion and the rear cross-bar strap portion; and

a rear lower opening defined between the rear lower strap portion and the rear cross-bar strap portion and configured to be positioned inferior to the upper opening in use,

wherein the first upper intermediate strap portion and the second upper intermediate strap portion and the first lower intermediate strap portion and the second lower intermediate strap portion are oriented to avoid contact with the patient'"'"'s ears in use,

wherein each of the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion and each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion are constructed from a composite material, the composite material comprising a first layer of material configured to be positioned against the patient'"'"'s head in use and a second layer of material further comprising a loop material,

wherein a strip of hook material is attached to the composite material adjacent to the free end of each of the first upper side strap portion, the second upper side strap portion, the first lower side strap portion, and the second lower side strap portion, each strip of hook material and the loop material being configured to form a hook-and-loop connection, and

wherein the upper opening and the rear lower opening are dimensioned such that the upper opening is configured to accommodate a larger portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use than the rear lower opening.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the first layer of material and the second layer of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the first layer of material and the second layer of material to resist compression of the rear lower strap portion in a superior direction in use and thereby resist movement of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion in the superior direction.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening is further defined by the first upper intermediate strap portion and the second upper intermediate strap portion, and the rear lower opening is further defined by the first lower intermediate strap portion and the second lower intermediate strap portion.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion, the first lower intermediate strap portion, the second lower intermediate strap portion, the first upper intermediate strap portion, and the second upper intermediate strap portion are configured to engage the patient'"'"'s head posterior the patient'"'"'s ears in use.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear lower strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s neck in use, and the rear cross-bar strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion is configured to engage a lower portion of the patient'"'"'s occipital bone in use.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion and the rear lower strap portion are configured to resist movement of the headgear assembly in a superior direction on the patient'"'"'s head in use.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper strap portion is configured to extend across an upper portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper strap portion is configured to engage a portion of the patient'"'"'s parietal bones in order to resist movement of the headgear assembly in the inferior direction on the patient'"'"'s head in use.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening and the rear lower opening are configured to be oriented on the patient in use such that the upper opening and the rear lower opening are substantially bisected by the patient'"'"'s median plane.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein a lowermost edge of the rear lower strap portion is configured to be positioned superior to a lowermost edge of each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion on the patient'"'"'s head in use.

12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the upper opening is further defined by the first upper intermediate strap portion and the second upper intermediate strap portion, and the rear lower opening is further defined by the first lower intermediate strap portion and the second lower intermediate strap portion,

wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion, the first lower intermediate strap portion, the second lower intermediate strap portion, the first upper intermediate strap portion, and the second upper intermediate strap portion are configured to engage the patient'"'"'s head posterior to the patient'"'"'s ears in use,

wherein the upper strap portion is configured to extend across an upper portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use,

wherein the upper opening and the rear lower opening are configured to be oriented on the patient in use such that the upper opening and the rear lower opening are substantially bisected by the patient'"'"'s median plane,

wherein a lowermost edge of the rear lower strap portion is configured to be positioned superior to a lowermost edge of each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion on the patient'"'"'s head in use,

wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion is wider than the rear lower strap portion, and

wherein the rear lower strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s neck in use, and the rear cross-bar strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

13. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion are configured to be attached to the forehead support and the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion are configured to be attached to the mask frame.

14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a clip structure configured to attach each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion to the mask frame, wherein each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion is configured to be wrapped around a corresponding clip structure.

15. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of the first upper side strap portion and the second upper side strap portion is configured to be attached to the forehead support superior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding eye and ear in use, and each of the first lower side strap portion and the second lower side strap portion is configured to be attached to the mask frame inferior to the patient'"'"'s corresponding eye and ear in use.

16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear cross-bar strap portion is wider than the rear lower strap portion.

17. A respiratory mask assembly configured to deliver breathable gas to a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing by providing non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to the patient during sleep, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a nasal mask comprising;

a mask frame having a forehead support; and

a cushion removably connected to the mask frame, the cushion configured to seal against the patient'"'"'s face to deliver breathable gas to the patient'"'"'s nose during treatment; and

a headgear assembly configured to stabilize and position the nasal mask to maintain the nasal mask in a desired adjusted position on the patient'"'"'s face during treatment, the headgear assembly comprising;

a first side portion and a second side portion, each of the first side portion and the second side portion including an upper side strap portion configured to extend above the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear and eye in use and a lower side strap portion configured to extend below the patient'"'"'s corresponding ear in use;

an upper strap portion;

a rear lower strap portion; and

an intermediate rear strap arrangement between the upper strap portion and the rear lower strap portion,

wherein the intermediate rear strap arrangement comprises a first upper intermediate strap portion, a second upper intermediate strap portion, a first lower intermediate strap portion, a second lower intermediate strap portion, and a cross-bar strap portion,

wherein the first upper intermediate strap portion, the second upper intermediate strap portion, the first lower intermediate strap portion, and the second lower intermediate strap portion are oriented to avoid contact with the patient'"'"'s ears in use,

wherein the upper strap portion is constructed and arranged to engage a portion of the patient'"'"'s parietal bones in use to resist downward movement of the headgear assembly,

wherein the cross-bar strap portion is structured to engage a portion of the patient'"'"'s occipital bone in use and the rear lower strap portion is structured to engage a rear upper portion of the patient'"'"'s neck to resist upward movement of the headgear assembly in use,

wherein the cross-bar strap portion, the first upper intermediate strap portion, the second upper intermediate strap portion, and the upper strap portion define an upper opening therebetween,

wherein the cross-bar strap, the first lower intermediate strap portion, the second lower intermediate strap portion, and the rear lower strap portion define a lower opening therebetween,

wherein the headgear assembly is constructed from a composite material comprising a first layer of material configured to be positioned against the patient'"'"'s head in use and a second layer of material further comprising a loop material, and

wherein the lower opening and the upper opening are dimensioned such that the upper opening is configured to accommodate a larger portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use than the lower opening.

18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a strip of hook material attached to the composite material adjacent to a free end of each upper side strap portion and each lower side strap portion for attachment to the loop material, the strip of hook material and the loop material configured to form a hook-and-loop connection.

19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein one of the first layer of material and the second layer of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the first layer of material and the second layer of material to resist compression of the rear lower strap portion in a superior direction in use and thereby resist movement of each lower side strap portion in the superior direction.

20. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the upper strap portion is configured to extend across an upper portion of the patient'"'"'s head.

21. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the rear lower strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s neck in use, and the cross-bar strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

22. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the upper opening and the lower opening are oriented on the patient in use such that the upper opening and the lower opening are substantially bisected by the patient'"'"'s median plane.

23. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the cross-bar strap portion, the first lower intermediate strap portion, the second lower intermediate strap portion, the first upper intermediate strap portion, and the second upper intermediate strap portion are configured to engage the patient'"'"'s head behind the patient'"'"'s ears in use.

24. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein a lowermost edge of the rear lower strap portion is configured to be positioned superior to a lowermost edge of each of the lower side strap portions on the patient'"'"'s head in use.

25. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17,

wherein the headgear assembly further comprises a strip of hook material attached to the composite material adjacent to a free end of each upper side strap portion and each lower side strap portion for attachment to the loop material, the strip of hook material and the loop material forming a hook-and-loop connection,

wherein the upper strap portion is configured to extend across the rear upper portion of the patient'"'"'s head,

wherein the cross-bar strap portion, the first lower intermediate strap portion, the second lower intermediate strap portion, the first upper intermediate strap portion, and the second upper intermediate strap portion are configured to engage the patient'"'"'s head behind the patient'"'"'s ears in use,

wherein a lowermost edge of the rear lower strap portion is configured to be positioned superior to a lowermost edge of each of the lower side strap portions on the patient'"'"'s head in use,

wherein the cross-bar strap portion is wider than the rear lower strap portion, and

wherein the rear lower strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s neck in use, and the cross-bar strap portion is configured to extend across a lower, rear portion of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

26. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17,

wherein each upper side strap portion is configured to be attached to the forehead support and each lower side strap portion is configured to be attached to the mask frame.

27. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 26, further comprising a clip structure configured to attach each lower side strap portion to the mask frame, wherein each lower side strap portion is configured to be wrapped around a corresponding clip structure.

28. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 26, wherein each upper side strap portion is configured to be attached to the forehead support.

29. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the cross-bar strap portion is wider than the rear lower strap portion.