APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUSHIONING A VENTILATION MASK

• US 20090223522A1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tri-Anim Health Services, Inc. (Sarnova HC LLC)
• Original Assignee: JRJ Medical Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Wright, Jerry, Hernandez, Johnny, Ahmed, Rizwana
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.260
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer

Abstract

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for preventing facial wounds caused by an applied ventilation mask are provided. For example, the apparatus includes a cushion formed in an inverted “V” shape, wherein the cushion comprises a superior portion and two inferior portions, wherein the superior portion corresponds to the vertex of the inverted “V” shape, wherein the superior portion is configured to cushion the nose of a human, and wherein the two inferior portions are configured to cushion the cheekbones of a human.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing facial wounds caused by an applied ventilation mask, comprising:

a cushion formed in an inverted “

V”

shape,

wherein the cushion comprises a superior portion and two inferior portions,

wherein the superior portion corresponds to the vertex of the inverted “

V”

shape,

wherein the superior portion is sized and shaped to contact the nose of a human while the two inferior portions are sized and shaped to respectively contact the cheekbones of the human such that the superior portion cushions the nose from the ventilation mask and the two inferior portions cushion the respective cheekbones from the ventilation mask.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion is sized and shaped to be thicker where the cushion contacts a pressure point of the face of the human.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the superior portion is thicker than at least one of the two inferior portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a cushioning material selected from the group consisting of:

silicone and a hydrocolloid material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushioning material is a flexible material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a cushioning material including an injectable gel selected from the group consisting of:

a silicone elastomer, medical grade gel, and foam rubber.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion is operative to redistribute pressure applied by a ventilation mask away from a pressure point.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion is dimensioned to accommodate the ventilation mask.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a medication coating applied to a surface of the cushion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the medication coating is selected from the group consisting of:

a vasodilator and an antibiotic ointment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a perforation.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a plurality of pores.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes ribs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cushion further defines openings adjacent to the ribs.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the superior portion includes a lip protruding from the superior portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an attachment means for attaching the cushion to the ventilation mask.

17. A method of preventing facial wounds caused by an applied ventilation mask, the method comprising:

applying a “

V”

shaped cushion to cover the nose and cheekbones of a patient, wherein the vertex of the “

V”

shaped cushion corresponds to the nose of the patient;

applying a ventilation mask over the applied “

V”

shaped cushion; and

distributing a pressure applied to the nose and cheekbones of the patient by the applied ventilation mask.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

applying a coating of medication to a surface of the “

V”

shaped cushion, wherein the applying of the “

V”

shaped cushion further comprising applying the surface of the “

V”

shaped cushion having the coating of medication to the nose and cheekbones of a patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

adapting the “

V”

shaped cushion to fit the face of the patient by trimming the “

V”

shaped cushion along a perforation.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

coupling the “

V”

shaped cushion to the ventilation mask using an attachment means.