Mask fitting system and method

• US 20080060652A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Green, Paul, Delangre, Peter, Tiller, Robert, Vuletich, Ivan, Abourizk, Mark, Maurer, Dimitri, Hoppe, Michael, Henry, Robert, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Drew, Joanne, Amarasinghe, Amal
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• 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 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment

Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting a mask system for a patient are provided. Certain example embodiments include generating 3D contours of patients and selecting mask systems based at least on these contours. These contours may be generated by using, for example, a cushion of translatable pins, a nasal cannular scanning device, and/or a shadow stereopsis sensor. Certain other example embodiments allow images and/or videos to be captured and optionally synchronized. Then, images of various mask systems may be overlaid to determine how well a mask system fits. In still other embodiments, a user can hold a transparency corresponding to a mask design in front of the patient'"'"'s face to determine how well a mask system fits.

Claims

1. A mask fitting system for selecting at least one mask system for a patient, comprising:

a cushion of pins capable of being positioned over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

a processor operable to;

associate a location in a three-dimensional space with each pin in the cushion of pins;

generate a contour of the patient'"'"'s face or portion of the patient'"'"'s face based at least in part on the location associated with each pin; and

,

based at least in part on the contour and/or the location associated with each pin, select at least one mask system suitable for the patient; and

,

a display operable to display the contour and/or the at least one mask system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cushion of pins is capable of being placed over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face from frontal and/or profile angles.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cushion of pins is capable of being placed over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face at an angle between frontal and profile angles.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further operable to compensate for the cushion being placed on the patient'"'"'s face or portion of the patient'"'"'s face at a skewed angle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to generate the contour based at least in part on data interpolated from the cushion of pins.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the location in three-dimensional space associated with each pin is based at least in part on one or both of the ends of the pin.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the location in three-dimensional space associated with each pin is determined relative to the cushion of pins.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operable to generate scheduling information, the scheduling information suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

10. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a cushion of pins over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

associating a location in three-dimensional space with each pin in the cushion of pins;

generating a contour of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face based at least in part on the location associated with each pin;

selecting at least one mask system suitable for the patient based at least in part on the contour and/or the location associated with each pin; and

,

displaying the contour and/or the at least one mask system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cushion of pins is positioned over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face from frontal and/or profile angles.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the cushion of pins is positioned over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face at an angle between frontal and profile angles.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising compensating for the cushion being positioned over the patient'"'"'s face or portion of the patient'"'"'s face at a skewed angle.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising interpolating data from the cushion of pins, and using the interpolated data when generating the contour.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

17. A mask fitting system for selecting at least one mask system for a patient, comprising:

a sensor operable to generate a signal representing at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face comprising at least the patient'"'"'s nasal area; and

,

a processor operable to generate a contour of at least the patient'"'"'s nasal area based at least in part on the signal, and further operable to determine a type and direction of nasal prongs suited to the patient based at least in part on the contour.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a laser, the laser being operable to scan the nasal area and generate the signal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a stylus, the stylus being operable to trace the nasal area and generate the signal.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to select at least one mask system for the patient based at least in part on the type and direction of nasal prongs suited to the patient.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a display operable to display the contour and/or the at least one mask system.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further operable to generate scheduling information, the scheduling information suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

24. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

generating a signal that represents a portion of the patient'"'"'s face comprising at least the patient'"'"'s nasal area;

generating a contour of at least the patient'"'"'s nasal area based at least in part on the signal; and

,

determining a type and direction of nasal prongs suited to the patient based at least in part on the contour.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the signal is generated by a laser that scans the nasal area.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensor is a stylus, the stylus being operable to trace the nasal area and generate the signal.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising selecting at least one mask system for the patient based at least in part on the type and direction of nasal prongs suited to the patient.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

30. A mask fitting system for selecting at least one mask system for a patient, comprising:

at least one light operable to cast a shadow on at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

a shadow steropsis sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to the shadow; and

,

a processor operable to generate a contour of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face based at least in part on the signal.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the system includes two lights.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one light is operable to create a shadow on the patient'"'"'s face'"'"'s frontal and/or profile portions.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is further operable to select at least one mask system for the patient based at least in part on the contour.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a display operable to display the contour and/or the at least one mask system.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further operable to generate scheduling information, the scheduling information suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

37. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

shining at least one light on at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

using a shadow steropsis sensor to generate a signal corresponding to the shadow; and

,

generating a contour of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face based at least in part on the signal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the signal corresponds to shadows on the patient'"'"'s face'"'"'s frontal and/or profile portions.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting at least one mask system for the patient based at least in part on the contour.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising displaying the contour and/or the at least one mask system.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

43. A mask fitting system for selecting at least one mask system for a patient, comprising:

an image and/or video acquiring device operable to capture at least one image and/or video of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face; and

,

a processor operable to process the at least one image and/or video to determine a physical characteristic of the patient'"'"'s face based at least on the at least one image and/or video and at least one symbol,

the at least one symbol having been applied to the patient'"'"'s face prior to the image and/or video acquiring device capturing the at least one image and/or video.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the image and/or video acquiring device is a digital camera and/or web cam.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one symbol comprises a sticker.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one symbol is located at least one predetermined position on the patient'"'"'s face, the at least one predetermined position corresponding to one or more of the patient'"'"'s nostrils'"'"' sidewalls, the patient'"'"'s nose'"'"'s bottom tip;

the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge, the patient'"'"'s middle of forehead, and the patient'"'"'s chin.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is further operable to select at least one mask system based at least in part on the physical characteristic of the patient'"'"'s face.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a display to show the at least one image and/or video and/or the at least one selected mask system.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the processor is further operable to generate scheduling information, the scheduling information suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

51. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

applying at least one symbol to the patient'"'"'s face;

capturing at least one image and/or video of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face; and

,

determining a physical characteristic of the patient'"'"'s face based at least in part on the at least one image and/or video and the at least one symbol.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one image and/or video is acquired by a digital camera and/or web cam.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one symbol comprises a sticker.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one symbol is applied at least one predetermined position on the patient'"'"'s face, the at least one predetermined position corresponding to one or more of the patient'"'"'s nostrils'"'"' sidewalls, the patient'"'"'s nose'"'"'s bottom tip;

the patient'"'"'s nasal bridge, the patient'"'"'s middle of forehead, and the patient'"'"'s chin.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the processor is further operable to select at least one mask system based at least in part on the physical characteristic of the patient'"'"'s face.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising displaying the at least one image and/or video and/or the at least one selected mask system.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

59. A mask fitting system for selecting at least one mask system for a patient, comprising:

an image and/or video acquiring device operable to capture at least one image and/or video of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

a routine operable to allow at least one image of at least one mask system and the at least one image and/or video to be overlaid; and

,

a display for showing the overlaid images and/or videos.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the image and/or video acquiring device is a digital camera and/or web cam.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the routine is further operable to synchronize a plurality of images and/or videos from a plurality of image and/or video acquiring devices.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the routine is further operable to generate scheduling information, the scheduling information suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

64. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

capturing at least one image and/or video of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s face;

displaying the at least one image and/or video;

displaying at least one image of a mask system; and

,

overlaying the at least one image and/or video and the at least one image of at least one mask system.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising synchronizing a plurality of images and/or videos of the patient, the plurality of images and/or videos of the patient having been captured by a plurality of image and/or video acquiring devices.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising selecting at least one mask system based at least in part on a resulting image when the at least one image and/or video and the at least one image of at least one mask system are overlaid.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

69. A transparency reflecting a design of a mask system, the transparency capable of being held to a patient'"'"'s face to determine a goodness of fit of the mask system as indicated by the transparency.

70. The transparency of claim 69, wherein the transparency is comprised of acetate.

71. A method of selecting at least one mask for a patient, the method comprising:

providing at least one transparency reflecting a design of a mask system;

holding the transparency up to the patient'"'"'s face; and

,

selecting the at least one mask system based on a goodness of fit of the mask system as indicated by the transparency.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the transparency is comprised of acetate.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein two or more mask systems are selected.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising generating a report that suggests when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

75. A method of prescribing mask equipment to a patient for a sleeping disorder, the method comprising:

compiling patient-specific data relevant to treatment of the sleeping disorder; and

,

selecting at least two mask systems suitable for alternating use by the patient based at least in part on the patient specific data.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising providing the patient with the at least two mask systems.

77. The method of claim 75, further comprising generating patient-specific data by using one or more of a cushion of pins, a laser sensor, a shadow stereopsis sensor, an image and/or video capture, and/or one or more transparencies.

78. The method of claim 75, further comprising suggesting when the patient should rotate among and/or switch between the two or more mask systems.

79. A head support and camera mount assembly comprising:

a base;

an upright provided to the base, the upright including a chin support adapted to support a patient'"'"'s chin in use; and

an arm extending outwardly from the upright, the arm having a distal end structured to support an imaging device configured to capture at least one image of the patient'"'"'s face when the patient'"'"'s chin is resting on the chin support in use.

80. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the base is adapted to clamp onto the side of a table or desktop.

81. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the imaging device includes a camera.

82. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the arm is laterally rotatable with respect to the upright.

83. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the arm is rotatable up and down with respect to the upright between an in-use configuration and a collapsed configuration.

84. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the upright includes a telescopic arrangement to control height adjustment of the upright.

85. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 84, wherein telescopic movement of the upright is controlled by a pneumatic system.

86. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 84, wherein the telescopic arrangement includes a bushing positioned to prevent the patient from squashing his/her finger between telescoping parts.

87. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the arm is slidable up and down with respect to the upright.

88. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the imaging device is movably mounted to the arm.

89. The head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79, wherein the base, upright, chin support, and/or arm is constructed of steel, plastic, and/or aluminum.

90. A mask fitting system comprising:

an imaging device; and

a head support and camera mount assembly according to claim 79.

91. The mask fitting system according to claim 90, further comprising a processor operable to process the at least one image.