Headgear tensioning for respiratory mask

• US 20080083412A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blunsden, Chripstopher, Baxter, Christopher, Green, Paul, Henry, Robert, Selvarajan, Karthikeyan, Morrison, James, Kwok, Philip, Gunning, Philip, Peake, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,744,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0283 Electro-active polymers [EAP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets

Abstract

Headgear for a patient interface includes at least one headgear strap and an indicator provided to the at least one headgear strap structured to indicate attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear in response to headgear tension applied to the at least one headgear strap.

Claims

1. A headgear assembly for attachment to a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a headgear body adapted to fit to the patient'"'"'s head and has connection portions adapted for connection to the patient interface;

adjustment means for adjusting said headgear; and

indicating means responsive to an adjustment parameter of the headgear for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear.

2. A headgear assembly according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment parameter to which said indicating means is responsive is headgear tension.

3. A headgear assembly according to claim 2, wherein said indicating means comprises one or more visible indicia which change responsive to the headgear tension.

4. A headgear assembly according to claim 3, wherein said visible indicia comprise indicia which conforms to a predetermined shape to indicate said desired adjustment setting.

5. A headgear assembly according to claim 4, wherein said indicia change in elongation responsive to the headgear tension.

6. A headgear assembly according to claim 5, wherein said indicia include an ellipse which conforms to a substantially circular shape to indicate said desired adjustment setting.

7. A headgear assembly according to claim 5, wherein said indicia comprise a set of indicia each adapted to indicate a different adjustment setting.

8. A headgear assembly according to claim 7, wherein said set of indicia comprises a set of ellipses of different aspect ratios.

9. A headgear assembly according to claim 3, wherein said visible indicia are located on said headgear.

10. A headgear assembly according to claim 3, wherein said visible indicia change in colour and/or shade to indicate said desired adjustment setting.

11. A headgear assembly according to claim 10, wherein said visible indicia comprise a portion of said headgear having an underlying material of a first appearance and an overlying material of a second appearance, and wherein said underlying material becomes visible upon application of a tension corresponding to said desired adjustment setting.

12. A headgear assembly according to claim 11, wherein said first and second appearances comprise different colours.

13. A headgear assembly according to claim 11, wherein said underlying material becomes visible by movement of the overlying material to a position not overlying said underlying material.

14. A patient interface adapted to deliver breathable gas to a patient and adapted for attachment to the patient by means of adjustable headgear, comprising:

indicating means responsive to an adjustment parameter of the headgear for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear.

15. A patient interface according to claim 14, wherein said indicating means is responsive to a pressure with which the patient interface is retained against the patient.

16. A patient interface according to claim 15, wherein said indicating means comprises one or more visible indicia which change responsive to the pressure.

17. A patient interface according to claim 16, wherein said patient interface includes a seal for sealing against the patient'"'"'s face, and wherein said indicating means co-operates with said seal.

18. A patient interface according to claim 17, wherein said indicating means is responsive to a contact pressure applied to the seal.

19. A patient interface according to claim 18, wherein said contact pressure is the contact pressure between the seal and the body of the patient interface.

20. A patient interface according to claim 19, wherein said indicating means includes a pressure-sensitive display between said seal and the body.

21. A patient interface according to claim 20, wherein said display changes colour in response to pressure.

22-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method for controlling adjustment of headgear, comprising:

adjusting the headgear; and

visually indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein visually indicating includes providing visible indicia structured to change in shape responsive to headgear tension.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein visually indicating includes providing visible indicia structured to become visible upon application of headgear tension corresponding to the desired adjustment setting.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein visually indicating includes providing a necked portion to the headgear structured to narrow as headgear tension is increased.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein visually indicating includes providing a contact pressure film to a mask provided to the headgear structured to change color as headgear tension is increased.

43-46. -46. (canceled)

47. Headgear for a patient interface, comprising:

at least one headgear strap; and

an indicator provided to the at least one headgear strap structured to indicate attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear in response to headgear tension applied to the at least one headgear strap.

48. Headgear according to claim 47, wherein the indicator includes visible indicia structured to change in shape in response to headgear tension.

49. Headgear according to claim 47, wherein the indicator includes visible indicia structured to become visible upon application of headgear tension corresponding to the desired adjustment setting.

50. Headgear according to claim 47, wherein the indicator includes a necked portion structured to narrow as headgear tension is increased.

51. A patient interface, comprising:

a mask; and

headgear according to claim 47 provided to the mask.

52-56. -56. (canceled)