Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with vent cover

• US 20030196657A1
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,100 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
• 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 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. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including one or more vent openings. A removable vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings. The vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. The vent cover includes a ring-shaped base defining an aperture into which a portion of the elbow assembly is inserted.

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;

an elbow assembly that is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including one or more vent openings; and

a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings, the vent cover including a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout,

wherein the vent cover includes a ring-shaped base defining an aperture into which a portion of the elbow assembly is inserted.

2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vent cover is made of resilient material.

3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly.

4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a flange that is detachably connected to a latch provided on the elbow assembly.

5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a collar that is detachably connected to a flange provided on the elbow assembly.

6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture provided through a main body of the frame for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity.

7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a mating portion that is inserted into the aperture provided in the frame and a lock is attached to the mating portion from an inner side of the frame so as to prevent withdrawal of the mating portion from the aperture.

8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle, and wherein the elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame.

9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8, wherein the baffle is configured to direct exhaust gas away from the nasal breathing cavity in a first direction that is substantially opposite to a second direction in which the intake port delivers incoming gas to the nasal breathing cavity.

10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow having a first end portion in communication with a gas delivery tube and a second end portion detachably coupled to the frame without accessing the nasal breathing cavity.

11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 10, wherein the second end portion of the swivel elbow includes a mating portion adapted to engage the aperture of the frame and a resilient collar that substantially surrounds the mating portion to define a receiving space between the collar and the mating portion, and the frame includes an extension defining the aperture with a flange formed thereon, and wherein the collar is configured to flex outwardly upon entry of the flange into the receiving space until the second end portion reaches an operative position in which the collar flexes inwardly by virtue of the resiliency thereof so as to lock the flange with respect to the collar and thereby detachably couple the elbow assembly to the frame.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the mating portion extends beyond the collar to facilitate alignment of the second end portion of the swivel elbow with respect to the frame.

13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the swivel elbow includes release portions on each side of the collar that are flexed towards one another to move the collar outwardly so as to allow the flange to move out of the receiving space to detach the elbow assembly from the frame.

14. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the extension of the frame includes an inside surface that sealingly engages an outside surface of the mating portion of the swivel elbow to seal and provide stability to the connection between the swivel elbow and the frame.

15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly is adapted to be connected directly to a gas delivery tube without a swivel connector between the elbow assembly and the gas delivery tube.

16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame, wherein the frame includes a main body accommodating the cushion and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, each side frame member including an integrally formed first connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with a second connector portion provided on the headgear assembly.

17. A removable vent cover for an elbow assembly of a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the removable vent cover comprising:

a main body positioned in covering relation with respect to one or more vent openings in the elbow assembly, the main body including at least one vent aperture for gas washout; and

a ring-shaped base connected to the main body and defining an aperture into which a portion of the elbow assembly is inserted.

18. A removable vent cover according to claim 17, wherein the main body is made of resilient material.

19. A removable vent cover according to claim 17, wherein a portion of the main body is detachably connected to the elbow assembly.

20. A removable vent cover according to claim 19, wherein the portion of the main body includes a collar that is detachably connected to a flange provided on the elbow assembly.