Apparatus to provide continuous positive airway pressure
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for communicating a breathable gas with positive pressure to a patient'"'"'s air passageways to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mask manufactured from a composite material having a cloth outer portion and a soft plastic inner portion and having each of a first open end and a second open end, said first open end of said mask being disposed for communicating said positive fluid pressure to such patient'"'"'s air passageways, said soft plastic inner portion of said mask engageable with at least a portion of an area generally adjacent to such patient'"'"'s pair of nasal passageways for sealing said mask to said area;
(b) at least one fluid communication means for communicating such positive air pressure to said second open end of said mask;
(c) a means disposed on said mask for retaining said first open end of said mask in said area adjacent such patient'"'"'s pair of nasal passageways during use; and
(d) a plurality of apertures through said composite material to serve as an exhalation valve for exhausting gas to the atmosphere.
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Abstract
Apparatus for communicating a positive fluid pressure to patient'"'"'s nasal passageways including a mask engaging the area surrounding such patient'"'"'s nasal passageways, sealing the mask, for delivering breathable gas to patient'"'"'s air passageways. The mask is manufactured from a composite material with a relatively soft plastic inner layer and a cloth outer layer. The device has an exhaust valve including a plurality of apertures through the composite material. The apparatus includes a retaining means of at least one strap.
92 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for communicating a breathable gas with positive pressure to a patient'"'"'s air passageways to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a mask manufactured from a composite material having a cloth outer portion and a soft plastic inner portion and having each of a first open end and a second open end, said first open end of said mask being disposed for communicating said positive fluid pressure to such patient'"'"'s air passageways, said soft plastic inner portion of said mask engageable with at least a portion of an area generally adjacent to such patient'"'"'s pair of nasal passageways for sealing said mask to said area; (b) at least one fluid communication means for communicating such positive air pressure to said second open end of said mask; (c) a means disposed on said mask for retaining said first open end of said mask in said area adjacent such patient'"'"'s pair of nasal passageways during use; and (d) a plurality of apertures through said composite material to serve as an exhalation valve for exhausting gas to the atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 2. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said positive fluid communication means is formed from a composite material having a cloth outer portion and a soft plastic inner portion.
Specification