Hybrid ventilation mask with nasal interface and method for configuring such a mask

• US 20060124131A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salter Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Respcare, Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Collazo, Louis Javier, Chandran, Sanjay
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.280
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• 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 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth

Abstract

A nasal ventilation interface and method for providing nasal ventilation to a patient includes a hybrid face mask, covering only the mouth, coupled with removable nasal inserts extending from the upper surface of the mask. The nasal interface has modular, removable, and disposable nasal pillows connecting the upper surface of the mouth-portion of the mask to the user'"'"'s nares. Each part of the hybrid mask is modular and can be formed in various shapes and sizes. The ventilation interface has differing gas line entry ports and can be shallow with a relatively deep soft facial interface or deep with a relatively shallow facial interface. In either case, the upper surface receives the nasal interface. The upper surface can have a removable ceiling in which is defined a nasal interface connector. The nasal interface can be integral with a removable ceiling. The entire hybrid mask can be made in one piece.

Claims

1. A respiration assist mask for supplying a positive gas pressure to a mouth and nose of a user, the mask comprising:

a ventilation interface defining a gas entry port to be fluidically connected to a positive gas pressure source supplying a gas to said ventilation interface;

a cushioned facial interface connected to said ventilation interface, said facial interface having a gas exit shaped to gas-tightly seal from the environment only the mouth of the user when applied to the user'"'"'s face; and

a removable nasal interface fluidically coupling said gas entry port with nares of the user when said nasal interface is applied to the user'"'"'s nose.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface has at least one exhalation port.

3. The mask according to claim 2, wherein said exhalation port is selected from at least one of the group consisting of bleed nipples, variable bleed ports, and diffusers.

4. The mask according to claim 2, wherein said exhalation port has an adjustable opening for adjusting a pressure of the gas to be delivered.

5. The mask according to claim 2, wherein said exhalation port is a plurality of exhalation ports.

6. The mask according to claim 1, wherein:

said ventilation interface has a front surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces; and

said gas entry port is disposed on at least one of said front surface, said top surface, said bottom surface, and said side surfaces.

7. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface is removably and substantially gas-tightly connected to said ventilation interface.

8. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface is integral with said ventilation interface.

9. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface is relatively rigid and said facial interface is relatively flexible.

10. The mask according to claim 9, wherein said facial interface feels relatively softer than said ventilation interface.

11. The mask according to claim 1, wherein:

said ventilation interface has two circumferential, rearwardly projecting walls defining a groove therebetween; and

said facial interface has a forward wall removably and substantially gas-tightly secured in said groove.

12. The mask according to claim 11, wherein said walls have the same thickness.

13. The mask according to claim 11, wherein said walls have different thicknesses.

14. The mask according to claim 11, wherein:

said facial interface has an upper surface with a depth; and

said walls are relatively short and said depth is relatively long.

15. The mask according to claim 11, wherein:

said facial interface has an upper surface with a depth; and

said walls are relatively long and said depth is relatively short.

16. The mask according to claim 15, wherein said walls define an entire connection area for receiving said nasal interface.

17. The mask according to claim 1, wherein:

said walls each have a user-face-side with a given thickness and an opposite side with a thickness greater than said given thickness; and

said facial interface has a forward wall shaped to securely and substantially gas-tightly fit between said walls.

18. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface has a face-contacting periphery forming the only contact point between the face of the user and both of said ventilation interface and said facial interface.

19. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said gas exit is shaped to completely surround only the mouth of the user.

20. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said gas exit is shaped to completely surround the mouth and a chin of the user.

21. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface has a chin portion and a face-contacting periphery.

22. The mask according to claim 21, wherein said chin portion is shaped to extend around and include at least a part of a chin of the user.

23. The mask according to claim 21, wherein said chin portion is shaped to extend around and include substantially all of the chin of the user.

24. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface is of an elastomeric-material.

25. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface is of a material having a durometer between 20 and 80.

26. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said nasal interface is disposable.

27. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said facial interface has an upper surface defining a nasal interface connection area at which said nasal interface is connected.

28. The mask according to claim 27, wherein said nasal interface is fixedly attached at said upper surface.

29. The mask according to claim 27, wherein said nasal interface is removably connected at said upper surface.

30. The mask according to claim 27, wherein said nasal interface is removably connected to said upper surface in a form-fitting connection.

31. The mask according to claim 27, wherein said nasal interface has two separate nasal pillows respectively delivering the gas to the user'"'"'s nares of the nose when at least one of said nasal interface and said facial interface are placed at the user'"'"'s face.

32. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said pillows are connected to one another with a connecting member.

33. The mask according to claim 32, wherein said pillows have central axes tilted with respect to one another.

34. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said pillows are of the same material as said facial interface.

35. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said pillows are of the same material as said ventilation interface.

36. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said pillows have an insert adjusting a fluid flow therethrough.

37. The mask according to claim 27, wherein each nasal pillow has a bottom end formed with a first connecting surface and said upper surface defines a second connecting surface forming a substantially gas-tight, removable connection when said first and second connecting surfaces are connected together.

38. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said upper surface defines two portals respectively receiving one of said two nasal pillows therein in a substantially gas-tight fit.

39. The mask according to claim 38, wherein:

each of said pillows has a bottom end formed with rings defining at least one groove therebetween, said at least one groove having a given width; and

each of said portals has an interior surface having a thickness no greater than said given width for mating with said rings in a substantially gas-tight connection when said nasal pillows are placed inside said portals.

40. The mask according to claim 38, wherein:

said portals each have interior threads; and

said nasal pillows each have corresponding external threads for screwing into said interior threads of said portals.

41. The mask according to claim 31, wherein:

said upper surface has two protrusions extending upwards from said upper surface and respectively receiving one of said two nasal pillows thereat; and

said nasal pillows are at least one of stretched to fit over said protrusions and compressed to insert in said protrusions.

42. The mask according to claim 27, wherein:

said upper surface has a removable insert defining a portion of said upper surface substantially gas-tightly connected to said upper surface when connected at said upper surface;

said nasal interface has two nasal pillows; and

said insert defines two portals respectively receiving one of said two nasal pillows therein in a substantially gas-tight fit.

43. The mask according to claim 27, wherein:

said upper surface defines an insert orifice; and

said nasal interface is a removable insert substantially gas-tightly connected to said upper surface and defining a portion of said upper surface when connected at said upper surface, said nasal interface having two integral nasal pillows projecting upward for connecting to the nares of a user'"'"'s nose.

44. The mask according to claim 27, wherein:

said upper surface has an removable insert orifice; and

said nasal interface is a removable insert defining a portion of said upper surface when connected at said upper surface, said nasal interface having a nasal triangle projecting upward for substantially gas-tightly sealing around a user'"'"'s nose on an upper lip, cheeks, and nose bridge of the user.

45. The mask according to claim 1, wherein any two of said nasal interface, said ventilation interface, and said facial interface are integral and a remaining one of said nasal interface, said ventilation interface, and said facial interface is removably attached to said two integral other interfaces.

46. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface and said facial interface are integral and are of two different materials.

47. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface and said facial interface form a single part having a uniform density.

48. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface and said facial interface form a single part having a non-uniform density.

49. The mask according to claim 1, wherein:

said nasal interface, said ventilation interface, and said facial interface are integral to form a one-piece oral and nasal mask;

said facial interface has an upper surface; and

said nasal interface is two nasal pillows projecting upward from said upper surface.

50. The mask according to claim 1, wherein:

said facial interface and said ventilation interface defining a first interior breathing chamber fluidically connected to said gas entry port for receiving the gas therein; and

said nasal interface defines a second interior breathing chamber fluidically connected to first chamber for supplying the gas to the user'"'"'s nose.

51. The mask according to claim 50, wherein said first and second chambers are shaped to form laminar flow in said nasal interface, said ventilation interface, and said facial interface.

52. The mask according to claim 50, wherein:

said ventilation interface has a swiveling elbow connector for attaching said ventilation interface to the gas pressure source; and

said elbow connector is fluidically connected to said first chamber.

53. The mask according to claim 2, wherein said nasal interface, said ventilation interface, and said facial interface are shaped to form laminar flow between said gas entry port and said exhalation port.

54. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable headgear connected to at least one of said ventilation interface and said facial interface for pressing said ventilation interface against the face of the user and maintaining a substantially gas-tight seal between the user'"'"'s face and said facial interface when said headgear is placed on a user'"'"'s head.

55. The mask according to claim 54, wherein said headgear is integral with one of said ventilation interface and said facial interface.

56. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation interface, said facial interface, and said nasal interface form a mask selected from one of a continuous positive airway pressure mask, a bi-level positive airway pressure mask, an intermittent mechanical positive pressure ventilation mask, and a ventilation mask.

59. In combination with a ventilation gas source having a gas feeder tube, a mask according to claim 1, wherein said gas entry port is fluidically connected to the gas feeder tube.

60. The mask according to claim 14, wherein said walls define an entire connection area for receiving said nasal interface.

61. The mask according to claim 31, wherein said pillows are of a material different from said facial interface and said ventilation interface.

57. A respiration assist mask for supplying a positive gas pressure to a mouth and nose of a user, the mask comprising:

a ventilation interface defining a gas entry port to be fluidically connected to a positive gas pressure source supplying a gas to said ventilation interface;

a cushioned facial interface connected to said ventilation interface, said facial interface having;

a gas exit shaped to substantially gas-tightly seal from the environment only the mouth of the user when applied to the user'"'"'s face; and

an upper surface; and

a nasal interface removably and substantially gas-tightly connected to said upper surface of said facial interface and fluidically coupling said gas entry port with nares of the user when said nasal interface is applied to the user'"'"'s nose.

58. A respiration assist mask for supplying a positive gas pressure to a mouth and nose of a user, the mask comprising:

a relatively hard ventilation interface having a front face defining a gas entry port to be fluidically connected to a positive gas pressure source supplying a gas to said ventilation interface;

a relatively soft facial interface removably and substantially gas-tightly connected to said ventilation interface, said facial interface having;

a gas exit shaped to substantially gas-tightly seal from the environment only the mouth of the user when applied to the user'"'"'s face; and

an upper surface defining two nasal ports; and

two nasal pillows removably and substantially gas-tightly connected to said upper surface of said facial interface and fluidically coupling said gas entry port with nares of the user when said nasal interface is applied to the user'"'"'s nose.