NASAL MASK SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A nasal mask defining a breathing chamber for the delivery of a supply of gas at positive pressure to the airways of a patient, the nasal mask including a sidewall, and a cushion located adjacent the sidewall at a rear side of the nasal mask, a rearward sealing surface of the cushion has a contour in a top lip region that is formed with a concave curvature to have a shape that is complementary to a top lip region of a person, the contour of the rearward surface of the cushion is constructed and arranged to extend in use along respective left and right sides of the nose from a nasal bridge region of a person located adjacent the joint between the nasal bone and the cartilage to respective left and right nasal corner regions of a person adjacent the left and right naso-labial creases, the contour of the rearward sealing surface of the cushion is further adapted to extend along the top lip of a person from the left side of the nose to the right side of the nose,the cushion includes a relatively thick backup band formed from a resilient flexible material and extending from the sidewall to form respective cantilevers in a top lip region, a corner region and a side of nose region of the cushion, said cantilevers each having a length and a thickness and said cantilevers defining respective lip region, corner region and side of nose region stiffnesses, wherein the corner region cantilever is stiffer than the top lip region cantilever in a direction normal to the plane of the face,the cushion further includes a relatively thin facial flap, the facial flap is inwardly curving and extends around the perimeter of the cushion to define the rearward sealing surface of the cushion, an inner edge of the facial flap defines an orifice through which a portion of a nose of the patient passes in use.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mask system includes a frame (20) adapted to attach headgear, a sealing arrangement (40) releasably connectable to the frame, and an elbow (70) provided to the sealing arrangement and adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient. The sealing arrangement defines a breathing chamber and is adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s face. The sealing arrangement includes structure (50) to establish a positive connection with the frame and with the elbow.
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Citations
150 Claims
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1. A nasal mask defining a breathing chamber for the delivery of a supply of gas at positive pressure to the airways of a patient, the nasal mask including a sidewall, and a cushion located adjacent the sidewall at a rear side of the nasal mask, a rearward sealing surface of the cushion has a contour in a top lip region that is formed with a concave curvature to have a shape that is complementary to a top lip region of a person, the contour of the rearward surface of the cushion is constructed and arranged to extend in use along respective left and right sides of the nose from a nasal bridge region of a person located adjacent the joint between the nasal bone and the cartilage to respective left and right nasal corner regions of a person adjacent the left and right naso-labial creases, the contour of the rearward sealing surface of the cushion is further adapted to extend along the top lip of a person from the left side of the nose to the right side of the nose,
the cushion includes a relatively thick backup band formed from a resilient flexible material and extending from the sidewall to form respective cantilevers in a top lip region, a corner region and a side of nose region of the cushion, said cantilevers each having a length and a thickness and said cantilevers defining respective lip region, corner region and side of nose region stiffnesses, wherein the corner region cantilever is stiffer than the top lip region cantilever in a direction normal to the plane of the face, the cushion further includes a relatively thin facial flap, the facial flap is inwardly curving and extends around the perimeter of the cushion to define the rearward sealing surface of the cushion, an inner edge of the facial flap defines an orifice through which a portion of a nose of the patient passes in use.
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15-54. -54. (canceled)
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55. A nasal mask defining a breathing chamber for the delivery of a supply of gas at positive pressure to the airways of a patient, the nasal mask including a sidewall, and a cushion located adjacent the sidewall at a rear side of the nasal mask, a rearward sealing surface of the cushion has a contour in a top Hp region that is formed with a concave curvature to have a shape that is complementary to a top lip region of a person, the contour of the rearward surface of the cushion is constructed and arranged to extend in use along respective left and right sides of the nose from a nasal bridge region of a person to respective left and right nasal corner regions of a person, the contour of the rearward sealing surface of the cushion is further adapted to extend along the top lip of a person from the left side of the nose to the right side of the nose,
the cushion includes a relatively thick backup band formed from a resilient flexible material and extending from the sidewall to form respective cantilevers in a top lip region, a corner region and a side of nose region of the cushion, wherein the top lip region cantilever has a C-shaped cross-section, the cushion further includes a relatively thin facial flap, the facial flap is inwardly curving and extends around the perimeter of the cushion to define the rearward sealing surface of the cushion, an inner edge of the facial flap defines an orifice through which a portion of a nose of the patient passes in use.
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56-110. -110. (canceled)
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111. A nasal mask defining a breathing chamber for the delivery of a supply of gas at positive pressure to the airways of a patient, the nasal mask including a sidewall, and a cushion located adjacent the sidewall at a rear side of the nasal mask, a rearward sealing surface of the cushion has a contour in a top lip region that is formed with a concave curvature to have a shape that is complementary to a top lip region of a person, the contour of the rearward surface of the cushion is constructed and arranged to extend in use along respective left and right sides of the nose from a nasal bridge region of a person to respective left and right nasal corner regions of a person, the contour of the rearward sealing surface of the cushion is further adapted to extend along the top lip of a person from the left side of the nose to the right side of the nose,
the cushion includes a relatively thin facial flap, the facial flap is inwardly curving and extends around the perimeter of the cushion to define the rearward sealing surface of the cushion, an inner edge of the facial flap defines an orifice through which a portion of a nose of the patient passes in use, the cushion further includes a relatively thick backup band formed from a resilient flexible material and extending from the sidewall to form respective cantilevers in a top lip region, a corner region and a side of nose region of the cushion, wherein a length of the side of nose region cantilever is longer than a length of the corner region cantilever, and the side of nose region cantilever is constructed and arranged to provide a force in a direction approximately normal to the side of the nose.
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112. (canceled)
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113. A nasal cushion for a mask system, comprising:
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a side wall defining a breathing chamber; an undercushion extending from the side wall; and a membrane that at least partially covers the undercushion, the membrane is adapted to seal along the nasal bridge, sides of nose, corners of nose, and upper lip of the patient'"'"'s face in use; the undercushion is only provided along the side of nose, corner of nose, and upper lip regions of the cushion, the undercushion includes a flap or extending portion in each side of nose region that is wider than the other regions thereof and adapted to engage and provide a force into the sides of the patient'"'"'s nose in use.
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114-118. -118. (canceled)
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119. A forehead support for a respiratory mask, comprising:
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a forehead support arm structured to extend from a frame; and a forehead support pad provided to the arm, the forehead support pad including upper headgear connectors adapted to engage upper headgear straps and a flexible region, the upper headgear connectors constructed of a first material and the flexible region constructed of a second material that is more flexible than the first material to allow adjustment of the distance of the forehead support pad from the patient'"'"'s forehead in use.
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120. (canceled)
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121. A vent for a respiratory mask, comprising:
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a stem; at least one branch extending from the stem; and a vent array provided to the end of each branch, each vent array including a body and at least one vent hole through the body, wherein the branches are spaced about the stem and/or the branches are angled with respect to stem to position the vent arrays such that they achieve diffuse exiting air flow streams.
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122-148. -148. (canceled)
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149. A method for making a mask, comprising:
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molding a vent structure; inserting the vent structure into a mold for a mask component; and molding the mask component over the vent structure, wherein molding the mask component aligns the vent structures to create air flow paths that reduce interference of exiting air streams in use.
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150. (canceled)
Specification