Mask system

• US 20060283461A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nelson, Timothy Shawn, Oldenburg, Alison, Lubke, Steven John, Smart, Gregory Scott, Kwok, Philip Rodney, Scheiner, Rupert Christian, Skipper, Christopher Scott, Reid, Michael John, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Vandyke, James William Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,136,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.110
• 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 16/0666 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 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• 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 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/06 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0606 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient includes a mouth cushion, a pair of nasal prongs, an elbow, and a headgear assembly. The mouth cushion is structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, and the pair of nasal prongs are structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use. The elbow delivers breathable gas to the patient. The headgear assembly maintains the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face. The headgear assembly provides a substantially round crown strap that cups the parietal bone and occipital bone of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

Claims

1. A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the mask system comprising:

a mouth cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use;

a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use;

an elbow to deliver breathable gas to the patient; and

a headgear assembly to maintain the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear assembly providing a substantially round crown strap that cups the parietal bone and occipital bone of the patient'"'"'s head in use.

2. The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the elbow is provided to a front of the mask system.

13. The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the prongs each include a trampoline-like base that adds flexibility to the prongs in use.

14. The mask system according to claim 1, further comprising a frame that supports the mouth cushion and the prongs, the frame including a substantially low profile wherein side frame portions of the frame are curved such that the side frame portions are about 10-20 mm below a frame height at which the frame receives the prongs.

3-12. -12. (canceled)

15-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A nasal prong for sealing with a nasal passage of a patient, comprising:

a head portion structured to sealingly communicate with the patient'"'"'s nasal passage; and

a base portion structured to mount the nasal prong to a support structure,

wherein the base portion includes a horizontal segment, a radial segment, and a vertical segment that provide the base portion with a trampoline-like structure to add flexibility at the base portion.

35. The nasal prong according to claim 34, further comprising an articulating portion provided between the head portion and the base portion to add flexibility of the head portion with respect to the base portion.

36-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A sealing assembly for a mask system, comprising:

a mouth cushion adapted to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, and

a nasal prong insert provided to the mouth cushion, the nasal prong insert including a pair of nasal prongs adapted to sealingly communicate with respective nasal passages of a patient in use and a bridging strap to interconnect the pair of nasal prongs.

50. The sealing assembly according to claim 49, wherein the nasal prongs and bridging strap are integrally formed in one piece from an elastomeric material.

51. A nasal prong insert, comprising:

a pair of nasal prongs adapted to sealingly communicate with respective nasal passages of a patient in use; and

a bridging strap to interconnect the pair of nasal prongs.

52. The nasal prong insert according to claim 51, wherein the nasal prongs and bridging strap are integrally formed in one piece from an elastomeric material.

53-104. -104. (canceled)

105. A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the mask system comprising:

a mouth cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use;

a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use;

an elbow to deliver breathable gas to the patient; and

a headgear assembly to maintain the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face,

wherein the nasal prongs each include a trampoline-like base that adds flexibility to the nasal prongs in use.

106. The mask system according to claim 105, wherein each prong includes a base provided to the cushion, a head to seal with the patient'"'"'s nose, and a column to interconnect the base and pillow.

107. The mask system according to claim 106, wherein the column is adapted to move axially into the base in use.

108. A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the mask system comprising:

a mouth cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use;

a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient'"'"'s nose in use; and

a headgear assembly to maintain the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face,

wherein the nasal prongs each include at least a first trampoline-like base that adds flexibility to the nasal prongs in use.

109. The mask system according to claim 108, wherein each prong includes a base portion provided to the cushion, a head portion to seal with the patient'"'"'s nose, and a stalk to interconnect the base and head portion.

110. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the first trampoline-like base is provided between the head and the stalk.

111. The mask system according to claim 110, further comprising a second trampoline-like base provided between the stalk and the base portion.

112. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the first trampoline-like base is provided between the stalk and the base portion.

113. The mask system according to claim 112, further comprising a second trampoline-like base provided between the head and the stalk.

114. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the upper end of the stalk is adapted to flex at least partly into the head portion in use and the lower end of the stalk is adapted to flex at least partly into the mouth cushion in use.

115. The mask system according to claim 114, wherein a length of the first and/or second trampoline-like bases is variable upon rotational movement and/or axial compression.

116. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the stalk has an elliptical cross section with a diameter that is reduced upon compression.

117. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the stalk has an uncompressed length in the range of about 9-20 mm.

118. The mask system according to claim 117, wherein the length is about 12 mm.

119. The mask system according to claim 109, wherein the stalk has a length of up to 70 mm.

120-140. -140. (canceled)

141. A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the mask system comprising:

a substantially rigid frame including one or more vent openings;

a mouth cushion provided to the frame, the mouth cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use, the mouth cushion including a side wall, a undercushion extending away from the side wall, and a membrane provided to substantially surround the undercushion and provide a sealing structure;

a pair of nasal prongs formed separately from and selectively attachable to and detachable from the mouth cushion, said nasal prongs being adapted to sealingly communicate with respective nasal passages of a patient in use and a bridging strap to interconnect the pair of nasal prongs, each said nasal prong including a base having an annular recess that is secured within a respective opening provided to the side wall of the mouth cushion, a head to seal with the patient'"'"'s nose, and a column to interconnect the base and the head;

a swivel elbow provided to the frame to deliver breathable gas to the patient; and

a headgear assembly to maintain the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face, the headgear assembly including upper straps adapted to extend over the patient'"'"'s ears and lower straps adapted to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears, and the upper and lower straps include connectors that interface with upper and lower headgear connector portions provided on each side of the frame, the straps being length adjustable via a hook and loop fastening arrangement.

142. A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient, the mask system comprising:

a substantially rigid frame;

a mouth cushion provided to the frame, the mouth cushion structured to sealingly engage around an exterior of a patient'"'"'s mouth in use;

a pair of nasal prongs formed separately from and selectively attachable to and detachable from the mouth cushion, said nasal prongs being adapted to sealingly communicate with respective nasal passages of a patient in use and a bridging strap to interconnect the pair of nasal prongs,

a swivel elbow provided to the frame to deliver breathable gas to the patient; and

a headgear assembly to maintain the mouth cushion and the nasal prongs in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face.

143. A mask system according to claim 142, wherein the mouth cushion includes a side wall, a undercushion extending away from the side wall, and a membrane provided to substantially surround the undercushion and provide a sealing structure, the membrane and undercushion including spacing therebetween.

144. A mask system according to claim 143, wherein each nasal prong includes a base having an annular recess that is secured within a respective opening provided to the side wall of the mouth cushion, a head to seal with the patient'"'"'s nose, and a column to interconnect the base and the head.

145. A mask system according to claim 144, wherein the headgear assembly includes upper straps adapted to extend over the patient'"'"'s ears and lower straps adapted to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears.

146. A mask system according to claim 145, wherein and the upper and lower straps include connectors that interface with upper and lower headgear connector portions provided on each side of the frame, the straps being length adjustable via a hook and loop fastening arrangement.

147. A mask system according to claim 146, wherein the headgear assembly includes a strap that passes over the top of the patient'"'"'s head.

148. A mask system according to claim 147, wherein the mouth cushion includes a chin support integrally formed therewith, the chin support extending from a lower side wall of the mouth cushion.

149. A mask system according to claim 148, wherein the frame includes one or more vent openings.

150. A mask system according to claim 149, wherein each opening has a part conic shape including opposed walls that converge from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter.

151. A mask system according to claim 150, wherein the swivel elbow includes an elbow having a port and an anti-asphyxia valve provided to the elbow, the anti-asphyxia valve including a flap portion adapted to selectively close the port depending on the presence of pressurized gas.

152. A mask system according to claim 151, wherein the anti-asphyxia valve includes an arrowhead-shaped protrusion that secures the anti-asphyxia valve in position.

153. A mask system according to claim 152, wherein the side wall of the cushion includes spaced-apart prong support structures that provide respective openings to support respective prongs, the prong support structures providing an angled pedestal that projects the prongs at an angle to the patient'"'"'s nasal passages.

154. A mask system according to claim 153, wherein the mouth cushion includes an end portion that is adapted to be inserted and retained within a channel provided on the frame.