Cheek-mounted patient interface

• US 20060060200A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Matula, Jerome Jr., Ho, Peter Chi Fai, Busch, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.240
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor

Abstract

A patient interface that includes a support body having a cushion and cheek interfaces. Collectively, the cushion and cheek interfaces operate to distribute compressive forces exerted on the user'"'"'s face. The support body of the patient interface is constructed from a flexible material to impart additional adjustability to the cheek interfaces. The support body also has arcuate eyelets designed to provide a hinge between the headgear assembly and the support body.

Claims

1. A patient interface comprising:

a cushion having a first aperture;

a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first centrally disposed aperture of the cushion;

at least one cheek interface attached to the support body; and

a headgear assembly connected to the support body.

2. The patient interface as described in claim 1, wherein the support body is constructed from a flexible material.

3. The patient interface as described in claim 2, wherein the flexible material is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene or polypropylene.

4. The patient interface as described in claim 1, wherein the support body comprises:

a central portion; and

at least one wing extending from the central portion.

5. The patient interface as described in claim 4, wherein the wing includes at least one eyelet, the eyelet having an arcuate shape.

6. The patient interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the cheek interface is selected from a group of materials consisting of silicone, foam, or gel.

7. The patient interface as recited in claim 6, wherein the cheek interface further comprises:

an inner surface;

a structure extending from the inner surface, the structure comprising a plurality of ribs; and

an outer surface attached to the structure.

8. A patient interface comprising:

a cushion having a first aperture;

a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first aperture of the cushion, the support body including a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from the central portion;

each wing having an elongate slot;

a plurality of cheek interfaces, each cheek interface being attached to one of the wings, each cheek interface having a projecting barb fitted through the elongate slot to provide sliding engagement along each elongate slot; and

a headgear assembly connected to the support body.

9. A patient interface comprising:

a cushion having a first aperture;

a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first aperture of the cushion;

at least one cheek interface being slidingly engaged to the support body; and

a headgear assembly connected to the support body.

10. The patient interface as recited in claim 9, wherein each cheek interface further comprises:

an inner surface;

an outer surface; and

a projecting barb extending from the inner surface.

11. The patient interface as recited in claim 10, wherein each cheek interface further comprises at least one rib extending between the inner surface and the outer surface.

12. The patient interface as recited in claim 11, wherein the cheek interface is selected from a group of materials consisting of foam, gel or plastic.

13. The patient interface as recited in claim 11, wherein the support body further comprises at least one wing having an elongate slot for receipt of the corresponding projecting barb of the cheek interface.

14. A patient interface:

a means for interfacing with the user;

a means for supporting the interface means, the means for supporting being flexible; and

a strapping means for securely fastening the interfacing means and the support means to the user.

15. The patient interface as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for interfacing with the user further includes a plurality of means for engaging the cheeks of the user.

16. The patient interface as recited in claim 14, wherein the patient interface further comprises a means for providing sliding engagement between the interfacing means and the supporting means.

17. The patient interface as recited in claim 14, wherein the patient interface further comprises a means for pivotably joining the strapping means to the support means.

18. A method for delivering a breathing gas to a user via a patient interface, the user having a nasal region and a plurality of cheek regions, the patient interface having a support structure with a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from the central portion, the support structure supporting a cushion, each wing supporting one of the cheek interfaces, the method comprising the steps of:

adjusting each cheek interface to correspond to the user'"'"'s cheek region;

placing the cushion about the user'"'"'s nasal region;

abutting the cheek interfaces with the corresponding cheek portions of the user'"'"'s face;

securing the patient interface to the user; and

administering a breathing gas to the patient interface.