Holding device for a respiratory mask

• US 20040025882A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vogele, Harald, Madaus, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.27
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive

Abstract

A holding device for a respiratory mask, especially for use in the field of sleep medicine, includes a headband which, in an application position, extends from the forehead area of the patient to behind the ear area of the patient, whereby the headband is provided with a flexible reinforcing insert for reinforcing the headband in a lateral direction. This makes it advantageously possible to provide the mask retention forces, which are necessary for reliably applying a respiratory mask, in a manner that is very compatible with regard to ergonomics.

Claims

1. A holding device for a respiratory mask comprising a headband section, which in application position extends from the forehead portion of the patient up to the back head portion of the patient located behind the ears, wherein the headband has at least a flexible layer which substantially has flexural strength for reinforcing the headband section in the lateral direction.

2. A holding device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flexible layer is made of a flat plastic material.

3. A holding device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flexible layer is made of a sheet strip.

4. A holding device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible layer is made of a thermo-formable material.

5. A holding device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the headband section is provided with a padding means.

6. A holding device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the headband section is provided with a Velcro fastener fleece material.

7. A holding device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the headband is formed in a multi-layered backed manner.

8. A holding device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the flexible layer is provided with breakthroughs.

9. A holding device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the headband section has an extension in the application direction directed from the forehead portion of the patient towards the upper ear portion and that it has a locally drawn-up extension descending in the back head portion.

10. A holding device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the padding of the headband is formed by a foam layer, which is located in the application position of the headband between the flexible reinforcement inset and the patient.

11. A holding device for a breathing mask as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the padding comprises stitched sections.

12. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the stitched sections are formed by a thermal welding process.

13. A holding device for a respiratory mask having an element of increased flexural strength extending from the forehead portion laterally to the ear portion, having bracket sections descending behind the respective ear portion towards the neck, and having a means for supporting the two bracket sections in the back head portion.

14. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the element of increased flexural strength has a section projecting towards the nose tip of the patient, which urges the respiratory mask against the face of the patient.

15. A holding device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the introduction of forces into the respiratory mask is performed in a manner that a deformation axis extends through a point of gravity which extends through the pressure distribution of the mask rest surface.

16. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in at least one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the support on the back of the head defines a deformation axis that corresponds to the deformation axis acting on the mask.