Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with frame

• US 20030196658A1
• 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 7,743,767 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 16/0616 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 2016/0661 with customised shape
• 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, opposite the front surface, and adapted in use to face the patient. The frame defines an inner wall and an outer wall extending from the rear surface, the inner and outer walls being spaced to define a channel therebetween. A cushion is removably attachable to the frame such that the cushion and frame are repeatably engagable with and disengagable from one another. The cushion includes a side wall to be inserted into the channel of the frame, the side wall having a first interlocking surface that engages a second interlocking surface provided in the channel when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another. The first and second interlocking surfaces interlock with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

Claims

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

a frame having a front surface and a rear surface, opposite the front surface, and adapted in use to face the patient, the frame defining an inner wall and an outer wall extending from the rear surface, the inner and outer walls being spaced to define a channel therebetween; and

a cushion being removably attachable to the frame such that the cushion and frame are repeatably engagable with and disengagable from one another, the cushion including a side wall to be inserted into the channel of the frame, the side wall having a first interlocking surface that engages a second interlocking surface provided in the channel when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another, wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces interlocking with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the side wall of the cushion includes at least one lug that provides the first interlocking surface and at least one of inner and outer walls includes at least one protrusion that provides the second interlocking surface, the at least one lug engaging the at least one protrusion to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein a length of the inner wall is greater than a length of the outer wall such that the inner wall protrudes away from the rear surface a distance that is greater than a distance the outer wall protrudes away from the rear surface.

4. 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 defined by the cushion and the frame, and an elbow assembly that is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame.

5. 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.

6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first connector portion includes at least one locking clip receiver assembly having a slot configured to receive a locking tab provided on the headgear assembly, the locking tab interlocking with a locking flange provided in the slot to removably attach the headgear assembly to the frame.

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

a frame; and

a cushion removably attachable to the frame such that the cushion and frame are repeatably engagable with and disengagable from one another,

the cushion and the frame being structured to enable an engagement force for engaging the cushion with the frame and a disengagement force for disengaging the cushion from the frame to be adjustable such that the engagement force is (1) greater than the disengagement force, (2) less than the disengagement force, or (3) equal to the disengagement force.

8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, wherein the frame has a front surface and a rear surface, opposite the front surface, and adapted in use to face the patient, the frame defining an inner wall and an outer wall extending from the rear surface, the inner and outer walls being spaced to define a channel therebetween;

and

the cushion includes a side wall to be inserted into the channel of the frame, the side wall having a first interlocking surface that engages a second interlocking surface provided in the channel when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another, wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces interlocking with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8, wherein the side wall of the cushion includes at least one lug that provides the first interlocking surface and at least one of inner and outer walls includes at least one protrusion that provides the second interlocking surface, the at least one lug engaging the at least one protrusion to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8, wherein a length of the inner wall is greater than a length of the outer wall such that the inner wall protrudes away from the rear surface a distance that is greater than a distance the outer wall protrudes away from the rear surface.

11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, wherein the channel of the frame has a trapezoidal shape.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an aperture provided through a main body of the frame for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity defined by the cushion and the frame, and an elbow assembly that is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame.

13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 7, 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.

14. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 13, wherein the first connector portion includes at least one locking clip receiver assembly having a slot configured to receive a locking tab provided on the headgear assembly, the locking tab interlocking with a locking flange provided in the slot to removably attach the headgear assembly to the frame.

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

a main body having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient, the main body having an aperture provided therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity defined by the frame; and

a wall extending from the front surface and surrounding the aperture, the wall having a flange at a distal end thereof that is structured to swivelably couple with an elbow assembly.

16. A frame according to claim 15, further comprising an inner wall and an outer wall extending from the rear surface, the inner and outer walls being spaced to define a channel therebetween that is structured to receive a side wall of a cushion so as to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

17. A frame according to claim 15, further comprising an aperture provided through a main body of the frame for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity defined by the frame, and an elbow assembly that is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame.

18. A frame according to claim 17, 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.

19. A frame according to claim 18, 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.

20. A frame according to claim 15, 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.