Breathing mask arrangement and a forehead support device for same

• US 20100089401A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heidmann, Dieter, Vogele, Harald, Madaus, Stefan, Lang, Bernd, Biener, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.250
• 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 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking

Abstract

A forehead cushion for a forehead support of a breathing mask arrangement includes a cushion element including a contact surface adapted to contact a patient'"'"'s forehead and provide a distribution of contact force and a coupling element provided to the cushion element. The coupling element is adapted to couple the cushion element to the forehead support. The cushion element is movable with respect to the coupling element to achieve different contact positions on the patient'"'"'s forehead.

Claims

1. A breathing mask arrangement comprising:

an arch body,

a sealing lip adapted to bear against a face of a mask user,

a respiratory gas conduit to feed respiratory gas to a mask internal space which is defined by the arch body and which is adapted to communicate with a nose and/or mouth opening of the mask user, and

an application structure that supports the sealing lip jointly with the arch body, wherein the application structure has a carrier portion on which a respiratory gas conduit member is releasably coupled.

2. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is in the form of a tube connection.

3-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A breathing mask arrangement comprising:

an arch body,

a sealing lip adapted to bear against a face of a mask user,

a respiratory gas conduit to feed respiratory gas to a mask internal space which is defined by the arch body and which is adapted to communicate with a nose and/or mouth opening of the mask user, and

an application structure that supports the sealing lip jointly with the arch body, wherein the arch body and the sealing lip are produced integrally from an elastomer material and can be inserted as a releasably fixable unit into the application structure.

17. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the arrangement has a modular structure including at least one of a frame portion, a forehead supporting device releasably couplable to the frame portion and an integral member comprising the sealing lip means and the arch body.

18-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A forehead cushion for a forehead support of a breathing mask arrangement, the forehead cushion comprising:

a cushion element including a contact surface adapted to contact a patient'"'"'s forehead and provide a distribution of contact force; and

a coupling element provided to the cushion element, the coupling element adapted to couple the cushion element to the forehead support,

wherein the cushion element is movable with respect to the coupling element to achieve different contact positions on the patient'"'"'s forehead.

36. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the coupling element includes a foot that is adapted to be received within a respective opening provided in the forehead support.

37. The forehead cushion according to claim 36, wherein the foot includes an enlarged head portion and a tapered neck portion.

38. The forehead cushion according to claim 37, wherein the neck portion includes a ball joint.

39. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the coupling element is provided eccentrically to the cushion element.

40. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the contact surface is concavely relative to the patient'"'"'s forehead.

41. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the cushion element and the coupling element are formed in one piece of an elastomeric material.

42. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the contact force is substantially evenly distributed along substantially the entire contact surface.

43. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the cushion element is of a pad-like configuration.

44. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, further comprising a second cushion element.

45. The forehead cushion according to claim 44, wherein the second cushion element is connected to the cushion element.

46. The forehead cushion according to claim 35, wherein the coupling element is on or substantially near a line of action of force, which extends through a center point with respect to contact force of the cushion element.

47. A forehead support device for a breathing mask, comprising:

a contact element adapted to contact the forehead region of a mask user; and

a holding device that releasably holds the contact element in tiltably movable manner,

wherein the holding device includes a pivot device.

48. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the pivot device is formed by an elastomer structure.

49. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the pivot device is in the form of a ball joint device.

50. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element is formed of an elastomeric material.

51. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element is of a pad like configuration.

52. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element forms a contact surface that is concavely inwardly curved, and wherein the curvature is adjusted so as to provide a defined distribution in respect of surface pressure.

53. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein two contact elements are provided.

54. The forehead support device according to claim 53, wherein the two contact elements are connected with each other.

55. The forehead support device according to claim 53, wherein the two contact elements are formed integrally with one another.

56. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 47, wherein the pivot device is formed integrally with the contact element.

57. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the pivot device is configured and arranged such that it is located on or close to a line of force extending through a center point in respect to surface pressure of the contact element.

58. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element forms a contact surface that is configured so as to prevent suction on the surface of the patient'"'"'s forehead.

59. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element comprises holes or passages.

60. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein at least a surface portion of the contact element adapted to contact with the skin of the mask user has a velvety matt surface.

61. The forehead support device according to claim 47, further comprising a plurality of coupling options to couple the forehead support device so that different forehead spacings can be adjusted by a selective coupling, in particular a plug-in connection.

62. The forehead support device according to claim 47, wherein the contact element is provided with a push-in foot to releasably couple the contact element.

63. The forehead support device according to claim 62, wherein the push-in foot is eccentrically provided on the contact element.

64. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

an arch body;

a sealing lip adapted to rest on a face of a mask user;

a respiratory gas conduit member to supply respiratory gas to a mask interior which is defined by the arch body and which is adapted to communicate with a nose and/or mouth opening of the mask user; and

an application structure that supports the sealing lip together with the arch body and the forehead support device according to claim 47.

65. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is in the form of a tube connection.

66. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the application structure includes a frame portion.

67. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 66, wherein the forehead support device is coupled with the frame portion by a pivot device in a pivotably movable manner.

68. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 67, wherein the pivot device comprises an arcuate track guide and the forehead support device includes a guide portion.

69. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 66, wherein the frame portion is formed integrally with a carrier portion on which the respiratory gas conduit member is releasably coupled.

70. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 69, wherein the carrier portion includes an insert opening and the respiratory gas conduit member is releasably insertable into the insert opening.

71. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 69, further comprising a latching device to fix the respiratory gas conduit member to the carrier portion.

72. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 71, wherein the latching device is in the form of a bayonet or rotational latching device.

73. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 69, wherein the carrier portion is oriented substantially transversely with respect to the frame portion.

74. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the arch body is sealingly coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member.

75. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the arch body is made from an elastomer material.

76. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the arch body is formed integrally with the sealing lip.

77. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the arch body is provided with openings to discharge CO₂-laden respiratory gas.

78. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the arch body and the sealing lip are insertable into the application structure as a releasably fixable unit.

79. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 78, wherein the mask arrangement is structured to be assembled in a modular manner from a frame portion, a forehead support device releasably couplable to the frame portion, and an integral member comprising the sealing lip and arch body.

80. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a frame;

a seal provided to the frame and adapted to receive a nose region of a mask user;

a respiratory gas conduit member provided to the frame, the respiratory gas conduit member including a rotatably fitted hose connecting sleeve adapted to couple to a respiratory gas hose;

a forehead support movably coupled to the frame by an adjusting device, the adjusting device configured to allow pivotal movement of the forehead support with respect to the frame about a pivot axis, the adjusting device including a fixing mechanism by which the forehead support and the frame can be fixed in a selected relative position;

forehead cushion elements each including a contact surface adapted to contact a patient'"'"'s forehead and a coupling element adapted to couple the cushion element to the forehead support, wherein the coupling element includes a push-in foot adapted to be received within a respective opening provided in the forehead support.

81. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 80, wherein the forehead support includes arm elements adapted to support the forehead cushion elements, each arm element including an end portion that provides an opening through which a portion of an upper headband arrangement may pass.

82. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 81, wherein the forehead support is T-shaped.

83. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 82, wherein the fixing mechanism includes a tooth arrangement structured to positively lock the forehead support relative to the frame.

84. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 83, wherein the adjusting device includes a manually engageable actuator that is manually movable between locked and unlocked positions.

85. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a frame;

a seal provided to the frame and adapted to receive a nose region of a mask user;

a forehead support provided to the frame; and

a forehead cushion element coupled to the forehead support and made from an elastomer material so the forehead cushion element can tilt relative to the patient'"'"'s forehead in use.

86. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 85, wherein the forehead cushion element includes a push-in foot adapted to be received within a respective opening provided in the forehead support

87. A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a frame having an open construction that provides an annular mask retaining portion; and

a nasal mask having a body portion that defines a mask interior breathing chamber and a sealing portion structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face,

wherein the nasal mask is removably attachable within the annular mask retaining portion of the frame such that the breathing chamber is provided on one side of the annular mask retaining portion and the sealing portion is provided on the opposite side of the annular mask retaining portion.

89. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 87, wherein the body portion and the sealing portion are integrally formed in one piece.

90. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 87, wherein the annular mask retaining portion encloses or wraps around the body portion.

91. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 87, wherein the annular mask retaining portion is structured to support the sealing portion jointly with the body portion.

88. A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a frame having an open construction that provides an annular mask retaining portion; and

a nasal mask having a body portion that defines a mask interior breathing chamber and a sealing portion structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face,

wherein the nasal mask is removably attachable within the annular mask retaining portion of the frame, the annular mask retaining portion including a ring-shaped configuration that defines an inwardly facing annular retaining surface adapted to engage an outwardly facing side wall of the body portion.

92. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 88, wherein the body portion and the sealing portion are integrally formed in one piece.

93. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 88, wherein the annular mask retaining portion encloses or wraps around the body portion.

94. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 88, wherein the annular mask retaining portion is structured to support the sealing portion jointly with the body portion.

95. A forehead pad adapted to be removably secured to a forehead support of a respiratory mask, comprising:

a base body having a contact surface and an opposing outer surface, wherein the base body is constructed to flex to maintain the contact surface in a position which is substantially parallel to a user'"'"'s forehead in use;

a shank portion formed on and projecting from the outer surface of the base portion; and

a head portion formed at the projecting end of the shank portion.

96. The forehead pad according to claim 95, wherein the head portion has a generally rounded profile.

97. The forehead pad according to claim 95, wherein the forehead pad is molded integrally as one piece.

98. A forehead pad assembly comprising two forehead pads according to claim 95 connected by a flexible bridge portion.

99. The forehead pad assembly according to claim 98, wherein the forehead pad assembly is constructed of elastomer.

100. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a frame;

a seal provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal with a user'"'"'s face;

a forehead support provided to the frame; and

a forehead pad according to claim 95 removably secured to the forehead support.

101. A flexible forehead pad assembly, comprising:

two forehead pads connected by a flexible bridge portion,

each forehead pad including;

a base body defining a first surface and a contact surface opposed to the first surface and adapted to contact a user'"'"'s forehead;

a shank portion projecting from the first surface; and

a head portion mounted on the shank portion and adapted to pass through an aperture in a forehead support of a respiratory mask in use.

102. The forehead pad assembly according to claim 101, wherein the base body includes a curvature.

103. The forehead pad assembly according to claim 101, wherein the base body is concave.

104. The forehead pad assembly according to claim 101, wherein the forehead pad assembly is molded integrally as one piece.

105. The forehead pad assembly according to claim 101, wherein the forehead pad assembly is constructed of elastomer.

106. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a frame;

a seal provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal with a user'"'"'s face;

a forehead support provided to the frame; and

a forehead pad assembly according to claim 101 removably secured to the forehead support.