Respiratory Mask

• US 20080302365A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Periodic Breathing Foundation, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Periodic Breathing Foundation, LLC
• Inventors: Cameron, Allan, Daly, Robert W., Braunstein, Daniel J., Ciccone, Christine M., Cohen, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US11/760,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer

Abstract

A respiratory mask having a shell and a cushion that is adhered to a user'"'"'s face is sufficiently rigid to provide dimensional stability and a constant volume between the respiratory mask and the user'"'"'s face, while also being comfortable and conformable to a user'"'"'s individual facial features. The respiratory mask may cover the nose, the mouth, or both of the user and is useful for respiratory therapies including sleep apnea. The respiratory mask may have a quick release mechanism such as a pull tab that tears a portion of the mask when pulled to allow access to the user'"'"'s breathing passage or a pull string embedded in the adhesive that breaks the seal between the adhesive and the user'"'"'s face when pulled.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a cushion shaped to surround a breathing passage of a user, said cushion having a first surface and a second surface;

an adhesive disposed on said first surface of said cushion to adhere said cushion to the face of the user;

a shell disposed on said second surface of said cushion;

a port formed in said shell; and

a pull tab disposed on said respiratory mask wherein when said pull tab is pulled, at least a portion of said respiratory mask is torn to at least partially remove said portion to allow access to the breathing passage of the user.

2. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein said pull tab is disposed on said shell.

3. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein said pull tab is disposed on said cushion.

4. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein said pull tab is disposed at an interface between said shell and said cushion.

5. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein said shell is transparent.

6. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape.

7. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a cushion shaped to surround a breathing passage of a user, said cushion having a first surface and a second surface;

an adhesive disposed on said first surface of said cushion to adhere said cushion to the face of a user;

a shell disposed on said second surface of said cushion;

a port formed in said shell; and

a string embedded in said adhesive wherein at least one end of said string is accessible to the user when in use such that when the user pulls said string, a seal between said adhesive and the user'"'"'s face is broken and said respiratory mask may be removed.

8. The respiratory mask of claim 7, wherein said string is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester, and nylon.

9. The respiratory mask of claim 7, wherein said shell is transparent.

10. The respiratory mask of claim 7, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape.

11. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a cushion shaped to surround a breathing passage of a user, said cushion having a first surface, a second surface and a flange extending from said first surface such that positive pressure present in an interior of said respiratory mask exerts a force on said flange normal to the skin of a user, forcing said flange against the skin of a user, thereby reinforcing a seal of said respiratory mask to the face of a user;

an adhesive for adhering said cushion to the face of a user disposed on said first surface;

a shell disposed on said second surface of said cushion; and

a port formed in said shell.

12. The respiratory mask of claim 11, wherein:

said flange is part of said cushion and divides said first surface of said cushion into a first section and a second section forming a groove between said flange and said second section of said first surface; and

said adhesive is disposed on said first section of said first surface of said cushion.

13. The respiratory mask of claim 12, wherein said flange is movable to change an angle of said groove between said flange and said second section of said first surface.

14. The respiratory mask of claim 11, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape and said flange is part of said adhesive that extends inward past said first surface of said cushion.

15. The respiratory mask of claim 11, wherein said shell provides dimensional stability to maintain a constant volume between said respiratory mask and a face of a user.

16. The respiratory mask of claim 11, further comprising an emergency removal mechanism.

17. The respiratory mask of claim 16, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a pull tab disposed on said respiratory mask wherein when said pull tab is pulled, at least a portion of said respiratory mask is torn to at least partially remove said portion to allow access to said breathing passage of the user.

18. The respiratory mask of claim 16, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a string embedded in said adhesive wherein at least one end of said string is accessible to the user when in use such that when the user pulls said string, a seal between said adhesive and the user'"'"'s face is broken and said respiratory mask may be easily removed.

19. The respiratory mask of claim 11, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape.

20. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a cushion shaped to surround a breathing passage of a user, said cushion having a first surface and a second surface;

an adhesive disposed on said first surface of said cushion to seal said cushion to a user'"'"'s face; and

a shell disposed on a second surface of said cushion, wherein said shell is sufficiently rigid to provide dimensional stability and a constant volume between said respiratory mask and a face of a user; and

a port formed in said shell.

21. The respiratory mask of claim 20, wherein said constant volume is less than 100 ml.

22. The respiratory mask of claim 20, wherein said shell comprises a flange extending around a perimeter of said shell such that said flange contacts said second surface of said cushion.

23. The respiratory mask of claim 22, wherein said flange is substantially parallel to the skin of a user when said respiratory mask is sealed to the face of a user.

24. The respiratory mask of claim 22, wherein said second surface of said cushion comprises a concave channel that receives said flange of said shell.

25. The respiratory mask of claim 24, wherein said flange is substantially parallel to the skin of a user when said respiratory mask is sealed to the face of a user.

26. The respiratory mask of claim 20, wherein said respiratory mask surrounds the nose of a user and said cushion has a notch corresponding to a region of said cushion that covers the bridge of the nose of a user.

27. The respiratory mask of claim 20, wherein said respiratory mask surrounds the nose of a user and said cushion is shaped such that when said respiratory mask is placed over the nose and adhered to the nose, the mask spreads the exterior nasal skin to open and keep open the nasal cavity.

28. The respiratory mask of claim 20, further comprising an emergency removal mechanism.

29. The respiratory mask of claim 28, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a pull tab disposed on said respiratory mask wherein when said pull tab is pulled, at least a portion of said respiratory mask is torn to at least partially remove said portion to allow access to said breathing passage of the user.

30. The respiratory mask of claim 28, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a string embedded in said adhesive wherein at least one end of said string is accessible to the user when in use such that when the user pulls said string, a seal between said adhesive and the user'"'"'s face is broken and said respiratory mask may be easily removed.

31. The respiratory mask of claim 20, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape.

32. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a cushion shaped to surround at least the mouth of a user, said cushion having a first surface and a second surface;

an adhesive disposed on a first surface of said cushion to seal said cushion to a user'"'"'s face including the chin of a user to prevent a user'"'"'s mouth from opening;

a shell disposed on a second surface of said cushion; and

a port formed in said shell.

33. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said shell comprises a flange extending around a perimeter of said shell such that said flange contacts said second surface of said cushion.

34. The respiratory mask of claim 33, wherein said flange is substantially parallel to the skin of a user when said respiratory mask is sealed to the face of a user.

35. The respiratory mask of claim 33, wherein said second surface of said cushion comprises a concave channel that receives said flange of said shell.

36. The respiratory mask of claim 35, wherein said flange is substantially parallel to the skin of a user when said respiratory mask is sealed to the face of a user.

37. The respiratory mask of claim 33, wherein said cushion has a stiffening insert that acts as a sling for the jaw of the user.

38. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said respiratory mask surrounds the nose of a user and said cushion has a notch corresponding to a region of said cushion that covers the bridge of the nose of a user.

39. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said respiratory mask surrounds the nose of a user and said cushion is shaped such that when said respiratory mask is placed over the nose and adhered to the nose, the mask spreads the exterior nasal skin to open and keep open the nasal cavity.

40. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said shell provides dimensional stability to maintain a constant volume between said respiratory mask and a face of a user.

41. The respiratory mask of claim 32, further comprising an emergency removal mechanism.

42. The respiratory mask of claim 41, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a pull tab disposed on said respiratory mask wherein when said pull tab is pulled, at least a portion of said respiratory mask is torn to at least partially remove said portion to allow access to said breathing passage of the user.

43. The respiratory mask of claim 41, wherein said emergency removal mechanism is a string embedded in said adhesive wherein at least one end of said string is accessible to the user when in use such that when the user pulls said string, a seal between said adhesive and the user'"'"'s face is broken and said respiratory mask may be easily removed.

44. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said cushion also surrounds the nose of a user.

45. The respiratory mask of claim 32, wherein said adhesive is a double sided tape.