Respiratory mask with user interface

• US 20110220112A1
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleepnea, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sleepnea, LLC
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• 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 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/04 Tools for specific apparatus

Abstract

This invention is a respiratory mask for delivering pressurized gas with a perimeter that can be custom fitted to the contours of a person'"'"'s face by active and individual adjustment of multiple shape-changing members in the body of the mask. In different embodiments of this invention, the shape-changing members may be located around the perimeter of the mask and individually adjusted by inflation, other pneumatic means, hydraulic means, electric means, or magnetic means. The resulting mask can conform to the contours of an individual'"'"'s face, even while they sleep, so that there are no places around the mask that fit too tightly (causing irritation, skin marks, and pain) and no places that fit too loosely (causing air leaks).

Claims

1. A respiration-related mask with a user interface for custom fitting the mask to a person'"'"'s face to reduce leaks and skin irritation comprising:

a respiration-related mask that directs a breathable gas into a person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both;

two or more differentially and selectively movable members that are part of the mask, wherein differential and selective movement of these members changes the face-contacting contour of the mask; and

a user interface that allows the person to differentially and selectively adjust the movable members so as to better fit the face-contacting contour of the mask to the person'"'"'s face while the person is wearing the mask.

2. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein the differentially and selectively movable members are located along the face-contacting contour of the mask that defines a space that channels the breathable gas into the person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both.

3. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein the differentially and selectively movable members can be differentially and selectively moved by one or more means selected from the group consisting of:

inflation by a gas, or other pneumatic means;

expansion by a liquid or gel, or other hydraulic means;

movement by magnetic force, such as magnetic repulsion or attraction; and

the operation of small electromechanical motors, such as Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS).

4. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members is selected from the group consisting of:

different levels of pressure between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different segment curvatures at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different radial distances from the center of the mask to the perimeter of the mask at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask; and

different widths of contact between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask.

5. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by a remote control unit, at least ten inches away from the main body of the mask, that transmits control signals through wires, wireless transmission, or fiber optics.

6. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by one or more interface features selected from the group consisting of:

knob;

button;

switch;

sliding control;

display screen;

touch screen;

computer mouse;

touch pad;

keypad;

keyboard;

joystick;

track ball;

motion capture;

gesture recognition;

motion recognition glove;

motion recognition clothing; and

accelerometer.

7. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members occurs in real time.

8. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 1 wherein, in addition to manual adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members, adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members can also be set to occur automatically in real time, such as to eliminate leaks that are automatically detected or to automatically alleviate places where tissue is too compressed, by automatically adjusting the differentially and selectively moveable members on the face-contacting contour of the mask.

9. A respiration-related mask with a user interface for custom fitting the mask to a person'"'"'s face to reduce leaks and skin irritation comprising:

a respiration-related mask that directs a breathable gas into a person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both;

two or more differentially and selectively movable members that are part of the mask,

wherein differential and selective movement of these members changes the face-contacting contour of the mask;

wherein these members are located along the face-contacting contour of the mask that defines a space that channels the breathable gas into the person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both; and

wherein these members can be differentially and selectively moved by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;

inflation by a gas, or other pneumatic means;

expansion by a liquid or gel, or other hydraulic means;

movement by magnetic force, such as repulsion or attraction; and

the operation of small electromechanical motors, such as Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS);

and a user interface that allows the person to differentially and selectively adjust the movable members so as to better fit the face-contacting contour of the mask to the person'"'"'s face while the person is wearing the mask.

10. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 9 wherein adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members is selected from the group consisting of:

different levels of pressure between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different segment curvatures at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different radial distances from the center of the mask to the perimeter of the mask at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask; and

different widths of contact between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask.

11. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 9 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by a remote control unit, at least ten inches away from the main body of the mask, that transmits control signals through wires, wireless transmission, or fiber optics.

12. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 9 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by one or more interface features selected from the group consisting of:

knob;

button;

switch;

sliding control;

display screen;

touch screen;

computer mouse;

touch pad;

keypad;

keyboard;

joystick;

track ball;

motion capture;

gesture recognition;

motion recognition glove;

motion recognition clothing; and

accelerometer.

13. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 9 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members occurs in real time.

14. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 9 wherein, in addition to manual adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members, adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members can also be set to occur automatically in real time, such as to eliminate leaks that are automatically detected or to automatically alleviate places where tissue is too compressed, by automatically adjusting the differentially and selectively moveable members on the face-contacting contour of the mask.

15. A respiration-related mask with a user interface for custom fitting the mask to a person'"'"'s face to reduce leaks and skin irritation comprising:

a respiration-related mask that directs a breathable gas into a person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both;

two or more differentially and selectively movable members that are part of the mask,

wherein differential and selective movement of these members changes the face-contacting contour of the mask;

wherein these members are located along the face-contacting contour of the mask that defines a space that channels the breathable gas into the person'"'"'s nose, mouth, or both; and

wherein these members can be differentially and selectively moved by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;

inflation by a gas, or other pneumatic means;

expansion by a liquid or gel, or other hydraulic means;

movement by magnetic force, such as repulsion or attraction; and

the operation of small electromechanical motors, such as Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS);

and a user interface that allows the person to differentially and selectively adjust the movable members so as to better fit the face-contacting contour of the mask to the person'"'"'s face while the person is wearing the mask,

wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by a remote control unit, at least ten inches away from the main body of the mask, that transmits control signals through wires, wireless transmission, or fiber optics.

16. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 15 wherein adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members is selected from the group consisting of:

different levels of pressure between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different segment curvatures at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask;

different radial distances from the center of the mask to the perimeter of the mask at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask; and

different widths of contact between the mask and the person'"'"'s face at different locations around the face-contacting contour of the mask.

17. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 15 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members is controlled by one or more interface features selected from the group consisting of knob;

button;

switch;

sliding control;

display screen;

touch screen;

computer mouse;

touch pad;

keypad;

keyboard;

joystick;

track ball;

motion capture;

gesture recognition;

motion recognition glove or clothing; and

accelerometer.

18. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 15 wherein movement of the differentially and selectively movable members occurs in real time.

19. The respiration-related mask with a user interface in claim 15 wherein, in addition to manual adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members, adjustment of the differentially and selectively movable members can also be set to occur automatically in real time, such as to eliminate leaks that are automatically detected or to automatically alleviate places where tissue is too compressed, by automatically adjusting the differentially and selectively moveable members on the face-contacting contour of the mask.