Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with elbow assembly

• US 10,675,429 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ging, Anthony Michael, Nasr, Saad, Moore, Rachael Elizabeth, Price, Andrew Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O
• Application Number:
  US15/601,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20170252528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• 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 16/0616 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 16/0666 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: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1959 Magnetic, adhesive, or snap type fastener connects tie to shirt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

A patient interface includes a frame having a circular opening to receive pressurized gas and a cushion supported on the frame and defining a breathing chamber configured to receive the pressurized gas. The patient interface further includes support structure configured to support the patient interface on the patient'"'"'s head, a plurality of gas washout holes configured to vent gas from the breathing chamber to atmosphere, and an elbow assembly. The elbow assembly includes a rotatable elbow that is releasably snap-fittable to the frame. The rotatable elbow having a pair of diametrically opposed flexible sides that are configured to flex upon engagement with the frame and produce an audible click when the rotatable elbow has been securely attached to the frame. The rotatable elbow further includes a pair of diametrically opposed finger depressable release portions that are resiliently movable towards one another to allow release of the rotatable elbow from the frame.

Claims

1. A patient interface configured to treat sleep disordered breathing of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame having a circular opening to receive pressurized gas;

a cushion supported on the frame and defining a breathing chamber configured to receive the pressurized gas;

a support structure configured to support the patient interface on the patient'"'"'s head;

a plurality of gas washout holes configured to vent gas from the breathing chamber to atmosphere; and

an elbow assembly comprising;

a rotatable elbow that is releasably snap-fittable to the frame, the rotatable elbow having a pair of diametrically opposed flexible sides that are configured to flex upon engagement with the frame and produce an audible click when the rotatable elbow has been securely attached to the frame; and

a pair of diametrically opposed finger depressable release portions that are resiliently movable towards one another to allow release of the rotatable elbow from the frame,

wherein the support structure comprises a rigidizer that extends from the frame, the rigidizer having different flexibilities in different directions.

2. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an annular portion surrounding the circular opening and projecting away from a front side of the frame and the rotatable elbow is snap-fittable to the annular portion.

3. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the annular portion includes a terminal flange and the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage around an outer rim of the terminal flange.

4. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly further comprises a swivel adapted to connect to an air delivery tube.

5. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to resiliently flex in a radial direction relative to the circular opening as the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage and disengage the frame.

6. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to move radially outwards relative to the circular opening when the rotatable elbow initially engages the frame and then radially inwards when the rotatable elbow is pushed into further engagement with the frame.

7. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the finger depressable release portions are textured.

8. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein each of the diametrically opposed flexible sides comprises a ramped section configured to:

radially flex relative to a flange associated with the circular opening of the frame when the elbow assembly is pushed into initial engagement with the frame, and

return to an unflexed state that secures the rotatable elbow relative to the frame after the ramped sections have overcome the flange as the rotatable elbow and the frame are pushed into further engagement with one another.

9. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the circular opening of the frame engages an outside surface of the elbow assembly.

10. The patient interface of claim 1 further comprising a seal between the rotatable elbow and the frame.

11. The patient interface of claim 1 further comprising a stop that limits an insertion depth of the rotatable elbow into the circular opening of the frame.

12. The patient interface of claim 1 further comprising:

a stop to limit insertion depth of the rotatable elbow into the circular opening of the frame,

wherein the frame includes an annular portion surrounding the circular opening and projecting away from a front side of the frame and the rotatable elbow is snap-fittable to the annular portion,

wherein the elbow assembly further comprises a swivel adapted to connect to an air delivery tube,

wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to resiliently flex in a radial direction relative to the circular opening as the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage and disengage the frame,

wherein the finger depressable release portions are textured,

wherein each of the diametrically opposed flexible sides comprises a ramped section configured to;

radially flex relative to a flange associated with the circular opening of the frame when the elbow assembly is pushed into initial engagement with the frame, and

return to an unflexed state that secures the rotatable elbow relative to the frame after the ramped sections have overcome the flange as the rotatable elbow and the frame are pushed into further engagement with one another, and

wherein an inside surface of the circular opening of the frame engages an outside surface of the elbow assembly.

13. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the rigidizer is formed of a first material, and wherein a second material is applied to a side of the rigidizer configured to engage the patient'"'"'s face, the second material being softer than the first material.

23. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the rigidizer is connected to the frame.

14. A patient interface configured to treat sleep disordered breathing of a patient, the patient interface comprising:

a frame having a circular opening to receive pressurized gas;

a cushion defining a breathing chamber to receive the pressurized gas;

a support structure configured to support the patient interface on the patient'"'"'s head;

a plurality of gas washout holes to allow escape of CO₂ from the breathing chamber; and

an elbow assembly having a frame engaging end at least partly insertable into the circular opening, the elbow assembly having a quick release mechanism with a pair of diametrically opposed flexible sides that are configured to flex upon engagement with the frame so that the quick release mechanism is releasably snap-fittable to the frame with an audible click signaling that the elbow assembly has been securely attached to the frame,

wherein the elbow assembly includes a pair of diametrically opposed finger depressable release portions that are resiliently movable towards one another to allow release of the quick release mechanism from the frame, and

wherein the support structure comprises a rigidizer that extends from the frame, the rigidizer having different flexibilities in different directions.

15. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to resiliently flex in a radial direction relative to the circular opening as the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage and disengage the frame.

16. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to move radially outwards relative to the circular opening when the rotatable elbow initially engages the frame and then radially inwards when the elbow assembly is pushed into further engagement with the frame.

17. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein each of the diametrically opposed flexible sides comprises a ramped section configured to:

radially flex relative to a flange associated with the circular opening of the frame when the elbow assembly is pushed into initial engagement with the frame, and

return to an unflexed state that secures the elbow assembly relative to the frame after the ramped sections have overcome the flange as the elbow assembly and the frame are pushed into further engagement with one another.

18. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein an inside surface of the circular opening of the frame engages an outside surface of the elbow assembly.

19. The patient interface of claim 14 further comprising a seal between the elbow assembly and the frame.

20. The patient interface of claim 14 further comprising a stop that limits an insertion depth of the elbow assembly into the circular opening of the frame.

21. The patient interface of claim 14 further comprising:

a stop to limit insertion depth of the elbow assembly into the circular opening of the frame,

wherein the frame includes an annular portion surrounding the circular opening and projecting away from a front side of the frame and the elbow assembly is snap-fittable to the annular portion,

wherein the annular portion includes a terminal flange and the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage around an outer rim of the terminal flange,

wherein the elbow assembly further comprises a swivel adapted to connect to an air delivery tube,

wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to resiliently flex in a radial direction relative to the circular opening as the diametrically opposed flexible sides engage and disengage the frame,

wherein the diametrically opposed flexible sides are configured to move radially outwards relative to the circular opening when the elbow assembly initially engages the frame and then radially inwards when the elbow assembly is pushed into further engagement with the frame,

wherein the pair of finger depressable release portions are textured,

wherein each of the diametrically opposed flexible sides comprises a ramped section configured to;

radially flex relative to a flange associated with the circular opening of the frame when the elbow assembly is pushed into initial engagement with the frame, and

return to an unflexed state that secures the elbow assembly relative to the frame after the ramped sections have overcome the flange as the elbow assembly and the frame are pushed into further engagement with one another, and

wherein an inside surface of the circular opening of the frame engages an outside surface of the elbow assembly.

22. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein the rigidizer is formed of a first material, and wherein a second material is applied to a side of the rigidizer configured to engage the patient'"'"'s face, the second material being softer than the first material.

24. The patient interface of claim 14, wherein the rigidizer is connected to the frame.