Patient interface device with dampening cushion

• US 20070163594A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ho, Peter, Busch, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.240
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support

Abstract

A cushion for use with a patient interface device includes a first end portion, which typically contacts the patient'"'"'s face when the patient interface device is worn, a second end and/or opposite the first end, which is typically coupled to a portion of the patient interface device, a chamber, which is typically disposed between the first and second end portions, and an orifice. The chamber is structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and the orifice, which is in operative communication with the chamber, controls the passage of the dampening medium into and/or out of the chamber. A patient interface device including a mask shell and the cushion is also described.

Claims

1. A cushion for a patient interface device, the cushion comprising:

a first end portion structured to contact a portion of a patient'"'"'s face;

a second end portion structured to couple to a portion of the patient interface device, the second end being opposite the first end;

a chamber disposed between the first end and the second end, the chamber structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and

an orifice in operative communication with the chamber, the orifice operable to control passage of such a dampening medium to and/or from the chamber.

2. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an outer wall connecting a first edge of the first end portion to a first edge of the second end portion; and

an inner wall connecting a second edge of the first end portion to a second edge of the second end portion, wherein the chamber is defined by the first end portion, the inner wall, the outer wall, and at least one of the second end portion and the portion of the patient interface device.

3. The cushion of claim 2, wherein the chamber has a chamber gap width associated therewith, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall have a wall per side thickness associated therewith, and wherein the cushion is constructed of a material having a hardness selected according to a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio.

4. The cushion of claim 3, wherein a portion of the cushion has at least one of:

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to one and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 2 and 10;

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to four and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 10 and 25;

or

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to five and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 26 and 30.

5. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an outer wall connecting a first edge of the first end portion to a first edge of the second end portion;

an inner wall connecting a second edge of the first end portion to a second edge of the second end portion; and

an intermediate wall connecting the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the first end portion, the outer wall, the intermediate wall, and the inner wall form a first portion, wherein the outer wall, the intermediate portion, the inner wall, and at least one of the second end portion and the portion of the patient interface device form a second portion; and

wherein the chamber is defined by the intermediate wall, the inner wall, the outer wall, and at least one of the second end portion and the portion of the patient interface device.

6. The cushion of claim 5, wherein the first portion comprises a foam, a silicone gel, a viscoelastic polyurethane polymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, a silicone, a rubber, a polyurethane, a gel, or a combination thereof.

7. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the cushion further comprises an intermediate wall substantially parallel with the first end portion and the second end portion, and an outer wall interconnecting the first end portion, the intermediate wall, and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion, the intermediate wall, and the outer wall form a. first portion, wherein the intermediate wall, the outer wall, and at least one of the second end portion and a portion of the patient interface device form a second portion;

and wherein the chamber is disposed within the second portion.

8. The cushion of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir in operative communication with the chamber via the orifice, the reservoir structured to receive and store the dampening medium when the cushion is compressed.

9. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the cushion is employed by the patient interface device as at least one of a mask cushion, a forehead cushion, a cheek cushion, and a chin cushion.

10. A patient interface device comprising:

a mask shell structured for receiving a flow of gas, the mask shell having a patient-side and an outer-side opposite the patient-side; and

a cushion coupled to the mask shell, the cushion including a chamber and a number of orifices;

wherein the chamber is structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and

wherein the number of orifices are in operative communication with the chamber.

11. The patient interface device of claim 10, wherein the number of orifices are operable to control the passage of the dampening medium to and/or from the chamber.

12. The patient interface device of claim 10, further comprising a reservoir in operative communication with the chamber via at least some of the number of orifices, the reservoir structured to receive and store the dampening medium when the mask cushion is compressed.

13. The patient interface device of claim 10, wherein the cushion is employed as at least one of a mask cushion, a forehead cushion, a cheek cushion, and a chin cushion.

14. The patient interface device of claim 13, wherein the mask cushion is coupled to the patient-side of the mask shell, and wherein the mask cushion includes a cavity structured to receive a portion of the patient'"'"'s face therein and structured to be in communication with the flow of gas.

15. A cushioning system for a patient interface device, the cushioning system comprising:

a first portion structured to provide active conformation in compression contact with a patient'"'"'s face; and

a second portion structured to provide passive position displacement, the second portion including a chamber with a dampening medium therein.

16. The cushioning system of claim 15, wherein the first portion comprises a foam, a silicone gel, a viscoelastic polyurethane polymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, a silicone, a rubber, a polyurethane, a gel, or a combination thereof.

17. The cushioning system of claim 15, wherein the chamber includes a number of orifices associated therewith, the orifices being structured to control the flow of the damping medium into and out of the chamber.

18. The cushioning system of claim 17, wherein the damping medium is vented to atmosphere, a reservoir, or a combination thereof.

19. The cushioning system of claim 15, wherein the cushioning system is used by the patient interface device for a mask cushion, a forehead cushion, a check cushion, or a chin cushion.

20. A cushion for a patient interface device, the cushion comprising:

a first end portion structured to contact a portion of a patient'"'"'s face;

a second end portion coupled to a portion of the patient interface device, the second end being opposite the first end; and

a dampening means disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, the dampening means structured to provide passive position displacement.

21. The cushion of claim 20, wherein the dampening means includes:

a chamber structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and

an orifice in operative communication with the chamber, the orifice operable to control the passage of the dampening medium into and out of the chamber.

22. The cushion of claim 20, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an outer wall connecting a first edge of the first end portion to a first edge of the second end portion; and

an inner wall connecting a second edge of the first end portion to a second edge of the second end portion, wherein the dampening means is disposed between the first end portion, the inner wall, the outer wall, and at least one of the second end portion and the portion of the patient interface device.

23. The cushion of claim 20, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an outer wall connecting a first edge of the first end portion to a first edge of the second end portion;

an inner wall connecting a second edge of the first end portion to a second edge of the second end portion; and

an intermediate wall connecting the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the first end portion, the outer wall, the intermediate wall, and the inner wall form a first portion;

wherein the outer wall, the intermediate portion, the inner wall, and at least one of the second end portion and the portion of the patient interface device form a second portion; and

wherein the dampening means is disposed within the second portion.

24. The cushion of claim 20, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an intermediate wall between the first end and the second end; and

an outer wall interconnecting the first end portion, the intermediate wall, and the second end portion;

wherein the first end portion, the intermediate wall, and the outer wall form a first portion;

wherein the intermediate wall, the outer wall, and at least one of the second end portion and a portion of the patient interface device form a second portion; and

wherein the dampening means is disposed within the second portion.

25. A cushion for a patient interface device, the cushion comprising:

a first end portion having a first end wall structured to contact a portion of a patient'"'"'s face;

a second end portion having a second end wall structured to be coupled to a portion of the patient interface device, the second end being opposite the first end;

an outer wall connecting a first edge of the first end wall to a first edge of the second end wall; and

an inner wall connecting a second edge of the first end wall to a second edge of the second end wall, wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, the inner wall, and the outer wall define a chamber therebetween.

26. The cushion of claim 25, wherein the chamber has a gap width associated therewith;

wherein the outer wall and the inner wall have a wall per side thickness associated therewith, and wherein the cushion is constructed of a material having a hardness selected according to a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio.

27. The cushion of claim 26, wherein a portion of the cushion has at least one of:

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to one and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 2 and 10;

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to four and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 10 and 25;

or

a wall per side thickness to chamber gap width ratio of approximately one to five and is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness between approximately 26 and 30.

28. The cushion of claim 25, wherein the chamber is structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein.

29. The cushion of claim 28, wherein the chamber is in operative communication with an orifice, the orifice structured to control the passage of the dampening medium to and/or from the chamber.