Mouth Seal Assembly for Nasal Mask System

• US 20090114229A1
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frater, Robert Henry, Peake, Gregory Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/988,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/06 Mouthpieces; Nose-clips for medical purposes A61M15/00

Abstract

A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system includes a mouth seal adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s mouth. The mouth seal is substantially independent from a supply of pressurized air from the nasal mask system. An anti-asphyxia valve may be provided to either the mouth seal over the patient'"'"'s lips or the nasal mask system. A strap arrangement may support the mouth seal in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face in use.

Claims

1. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system, comprising:

a mouth seal adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s mouth, the mouth seal being substantially independent from a supply of pressurized air from the nasal mask system; and

an anti-asphyxia valve provided to the mouth seal over the patient'"'"'s lips.

2. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mouth seal includes a substantially flat strip of silicone material.

3. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mouth seal includes an inflated, gel-filled, or foam-filled balloon section.

4. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mouth seal includes a ridge to locate the mouth seal between the patient'"'"'s lips.

5. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a strap arrangement to support the mouth seal in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face in use.

6. A nasal mask system comprising:

a nasal mask structured to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nose and deliver a supply of pressurized air; and

a mouth seal assembly according to claim 1.

7. The nasal mask system according to claim 6, wherein the mouth seal assembly includes a strap arrangement to support the mouth seal, the strap arrangement being independent from headgear of the nasal mask, and the strap arrangement including a strap that extends around the back of the patient'"'"'s neck.

8. The nasal mask system according to claim 6, wherein the mouth seal assembly includes a strap arrangement to support the mouth seal, the strap arrangement including a strap that extends along the sides of the patient'"'"'s face, each end of the strap being provided to a respective strap of headgear of the nasal mask.

9. The nasal mask system according to claim 8, wherein each end of the strap includes a Velcro®

section that allows each end to adjustably attach to the respective strap of the headgear.

10. The nasal mask system according to any claim 8, wherein the strap is retained to the anti-asphyxia valve.

11. The nasal mask system according to claim 6, wherein the mouth seal assembly is supported by the nasal mask by a support structure.

12. The nasal mask system according to claim 11, wherein the support structure includes an anchor provided to the nasal mask and a wire arrangement that interconnects the anchor and the mouth seal assembly.

13. The nasal mask system according to claim 12, wherein the wire arrangement wraps around the anti-asphyxia valve.

14. The nasal mask system according to claim 6, wherein the nasal mask includes headgear, the headgear including upper straps to support the nasal mask and lower straps to support the mouth seal assembly.

15. The nasal mask system according to claim 14, wherein each lower strap includes a clip that is adapted to engage a respective clip receiver provided to the mouth seal assembly.

16. The nasal mask system according to claim 6, wherein the nasal mask includes headgear attached thereto, the headgear adapted to maintain both the nasal mask and the mouth seal assembly in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face.

17. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system, comprising:

a substantially rigid tube adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s lips, the tube being substantially independent from a supply of pressurized air from the nasal mask system; and

a strap arrangement to support the tube in a desired position on the patient'"'"'s face in use.

18. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the strap arrangement includes side straps that extend along the sides of the patient'"'"'s face, each strap including an end provided to a respective lower strap of headgear of the nasal mask system.

19. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the tube is solid or hollow.

20. A nasal mask system comprising:

a nasal mask structured to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nose and deliver a supply of pressurized air; and

a mouth seal assembly according to claim 17.

21. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system, comprising:

a mouth seal adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s mouth, the mouth seal being substantially independent from a supply of pressurized air from the nasal mask system; and

a mount provided to the mouth seal and adapted to support the mouth seal on the nasal mask system,

wherein the mouth seal is formed with foam to provide a foam seal or interface with the patient'"'"'s mouth in use.

22. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 21, wherein foam mouth seal includes a foam-filled cylinder or strip.

23. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 21, further comprising an- anti-asphyxia valve provided to the mouth seal over the patient'"'"'s lips.

24. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 21, wherein the mount is biased to provided the mouth seal with a sealing force onto the patient'"'"'s mouth.

25. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a spring arrangement between the mount and the mouth seal to provide the mouth seal with the sealing force.

26. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 21, wherein the mouth seal is shaped or contoured to fit a facial profile around the patient'"'"'s lips.

27. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 26, wherein the mouth seal includes upper and lower protrusions that define a space adapted to fit the patient'"'"'s lips in use.

28. A nasal mask system comprising:

a nasal mask structured to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nose and deliver a supply of pressurized air; and

a mouth seal assembly according to claim 21.

29. A nasal mask system comprising:

a nasal mask structured to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nose and deliver a supply of pressurized air; and

a mouth seal assembly provided to the nasal mask, the mouth seal assembly including a mouth seal adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s mouth and a mount adapted to support the mouth seal on the nasal mask,

wherein the mouth seal includes a spring, bellows or gusset arrangement that provides the mouth seal with a sealing force onto the patient'"'"'s mouth in use.