Nasal mask with balloon exhalation valve

• US 20020096178A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saeed Ziaee
• Original Assignee: Saeed Ziaee
• Inventors: Ziaee, Saeed
• Granted Patent: US 6,581,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A nasal mask has a shell portion that is a hollow enclosure with a rearwardly facing opening that is defined by edge portions of the shell portion. A resiliently deformable endless interface member engages and extends around the edge portion of the opening and forms a seal between the shell portion and the user'"'"'s face. The shell portion and the interface member are generally symmetrical about a median place. The shell portion has two gas inlet orifices, one on each side of the median place. The shell portion has a tubular exhalation outlet extending from the face of the mask. The mask is further provided with a balloon exhalation valve connected to the exhalation outlet for alternately venting and sealing the interior of the mask during exhalation and inhalation, respectively.

Claims

1. A nasal mask for use by a patient, said nasal mask comprising:

a shell portion, said shell portion being in sealed communication with the patient'"'"'s face and having one or more inlet orifices for receiving supplied gas, said shell portion having an exhalation orifice and, adjacent said exhalation orifice, an outwardly extending tubular formation defining a flow passage through said exhalation orifice; and

a balloon exhalation valve removably connected to said outwardly extending tubular formation, said balloon exhalation valve having a balloon adapted to controllably seal and unseal said flow passage.

2. A nasal mask, said nasal mask comprising:

a shell portion, said shell portion defining a hollow enclosure with a rearwardly facing opening defined by edge portions of the shell portion, and wherein the shell portion is at least generally symmetrical about a median plane, said shell portion having two gas inlet orifices disposed one on each side of the median plane, the front of said shell portion having an exhalation orifice approximately centred on the median plane and, adjacent said exhalation orifice, an outwardly extending tubular elbow formation defining a flow passage through said exhalation orifice; and

a balloon exhalation valve comprising a hollow tubular casing having a lower end face with a central passage therethrough, an inlet tube securely attached to said lower end face of said casing and passing through said central passage, and a balloon disposed within said casing, the mouth of said balloon being in sealed communication with said inlet tube, wherein the upper end of said casing is removably connected to said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation, and wherein said casing has an outlet orifice disposed proximate said outwardly extending tubular elbow, said outlet orifice defining a flow passage from said exhalation orifice through said casing, and wherein said balloon seals said outlet orifice when said balloon is inflated.

3. A nasal mask as defined in claim 2, wherein said balloon comprises a generally tubular corrugated balloon member having a rounded tip, a plurality of relatively narrow intermediate portions and a plurality of relatively wide intermediate portions.

4. A nasal mask as defined in claim 3, wherein said inlet tube further comprises a disk member disposed about the upper end of said inlet tube, whereby the balloon is secured to said disk member by engaging said disk member in a selected relatively wide intermediate portion of said balloon.

5. A nasal mask as defined in claim 4, wherein said inlet tube further comprises a threaded collar disposed about said inlet tube and a nut adapted to engage said threaded collar and secure said inlet tube to said casing, and wherein said balloon is pinched between said lower end face and said disk member.

6. A nasal mask as defined in claim 2, wherein the external surface of said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation has a channel formed therein, said channel beginning at the outer edge of said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation and extending substantially circumferentially and somewhat longitudinally in said external surface, and wherein the interior wall of said casing has formed thereon a cam, said cam adapted to cooperate with said channel to secure said casing to said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation.

7. The nasal mask as defined in claim 6, wherein said channel further includes a locking mechanism proximate to an end of said channel furthest from said outer edge of said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation, said locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with said cam to frictionally prevent removal of said casing from said outwardly extending tubular elbow formation.

8. The nasal mask as defined in claim 7, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a ridge disposed transversely within said channel.