Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with cushion

• US 20030196656A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nasr, Saad, Ging, Anthony M., Kwok, Philip R., Moore, Rachael E., Price, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,997,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.22
• 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

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. A cushion having a side wall is removably attachable to the frame. The cushion has a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim. An inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a generally trapezoidal shape.

Claims

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

a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; and

a cushion having a side wall removably attachable to the frame, the cushion having a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim,

wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a generally trapezoidal shape.

2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge region positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose.

3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 2, wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient'"'"'s lip region positioned below the patient'"'"'s nose and above the upper lip of the patient.

4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the membrane includes a notch to accommodate a septum on the patient'"'"'s lip region.

5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in at least a portion of a nasal bridge region of the patient positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose, the rim and the membrane are spaced away from one another to define a gap.

6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the membrane includes a contoured portion that extends upwardly from the side wall and curves inwardly along a generally constant radius to terminate at an inner edge of the membrane, the contoured portion including a gap between the rim and the membrane, the gap being maximum in the contoured portion, and wherein the contoured portion is provided in a transition between cheek and nasal bridge regions of the cushion.

7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the membrane includes a contoured notch in a nasal bridge region of the cushion positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose to conform to the contours of the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge region.

8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, wherein the contoured notch has a depth in the range of 12-27 mm.

9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aperture has a base portion with a length in the range of 31-45 mm, sides with a length in the range of 20-22 mm, and a top portion parallel to the base portion with a length in the range of 5-10 mm.

10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein an inner edge of the rim defines an aperture, the aperture of the membrane having a smaller dimension than a dimension of the aperture of the rim.

11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 10, wherein the aperture of the rim has a generally trapezoidal shape.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the aperture of the rim has a base portion with a length in the range of 38-45 mm, sides with a length in the range of 20-23 mm, and a top portion parallel to the base portion with a length in the range of 32-36 mm.

13. A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the cushion comprising:

a side wall structured to be removably attached to a frame;

a rim extending away from the side wall; and

a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim,

wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a generally trapezoidal shape.

14. A cushion according to claim 13, wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge region positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose.

15. A cushion according to claim 14, wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient'"'"'s lip region positioned below the patient'"'"'s nose and above the upper lip of the patient.

16. A cushion according to claim 15, wherein the membrane includes a notch to accommodate a septum on the patient'"'"'s lip region.

17. A cushion according to claim 13, wherein the membrane includes a contoured portion that extends upwardly from the side wall and curves inwardly along a generally constant radius to terminate at an inner edge of the membrane, the contoured portion including a gap between the rim and the membrane, the gap being maximum in the contoured portion, and wherein the contoured portion is provided in a transition between cheek and nasal bridge regions of the cushion.

18. A cushion according to claim 13, wherein the membrane includes a contoured notch in a nasal bridge region of the cushion positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose to conform to the contours of the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge region.

19. A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the cushion comprising:

a side wall structured to be attached to a frame; and

a membrane extending away from the side wall,

wherein the membrane is structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face such that forces applied to the patient'"'"'s face are substantially evenly distributed around the entire perimeter of the cushion.

20. A cushion according to claim 19, wherein a contact area between the membrane and the patient'"'"'s face in a nasal bridge region positioned substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient'"'"'s nose is greater than a contact area between the membrane and lip and cheek regions of the patient.