Respiratory mask facial seal

• US 5,540,223 A
• Filed: 12/09/1994
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Starr, Eric W., Starr, John R., Walthour, Mary T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/352,876
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/206.21, 128/206.24
• US Class Current: 128/205.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A flexible, resilient respiratory mask facial seal adapted for confronting engagement with the face of a user to form an annular sealed interface encompassing a predetermined portion of the user'"'"'s face. The facial seal includes a peripheral wall and an inturned flap seal. The flap seal projects radially inwardly of the peripheral wall and defines a contoured sealing surface adapted for confronting and sealing engagement with the user'"'"'s face. The flap seal includes a recessed area corresponding substantially in the shape to a human nose for continuously and matingly conforming to the front and side contours of the user'"'"'s nose when the facial seal is brought into confronting engagement with the user'"'"'s face. The facial seal may be adapted for attachment to a respiratory mask body or may be removably placeable over the facial seal of an existing respiratory mask.

Claims

1. A flexible, resilient respiratory mask facial seal adapted for confronting engagement with a face of a human user to form an annular sealed interface encompassing a predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face, said facial seal being adapted for operative connection to a source of breathing gas and comprising:

a peripheral wall portion having an annular inner end and an outer end opposite said inner end;

a generally annular inturned flap seal portion integral with said peripheral wall portion and located adjacent said outer end, said flap seal portion projecting radially inwardly of said peripheral wall portion and defining a contoured sealing surface adapted for confronting and sealing engagement with said predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face, said flap seal portion further defining a surface opposite said contoured sealing surface against which a flow of breathing gas delivered from a breathing gas source urges said contoured sealing surface into said confronting and sealing engagement with said predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face; and

means formed in said flap seal portion for continuously and matingly conforming to the front and side contours of a nose of a user responsive to a breathing gas flow against said surface opposite said contoured sealing surface, said means for matingly conforming comprising a recessed area integral and contiguous with said flap seal portion and corresponding substantially in shape to that of a human nose.

2. The facial seal of claim 1 wherein the width of said recessed area is less than that of the nose of said user.

3. The facial seal of claim 1 further comprising means for resiliently supporting said peripheral wall portion and said flap seal portion against excessive deformation.

4. The facial seal of claim 3 wherein said means for resiliently supporting comprise a plurality of flexible ribs disposed about said peripheral wall portion.

5. A respiratory mask adapted for operative connection to a source of breathing gas and comprising:

a respiratory mask body; and

a flexible, resilient respiratory mask facial seal adapted for confronting engagement with a face of a human user to form an annular sealed interface encompassing a predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face, said facial seal comprising;

a peripheral wall portion having an annular inner end sealingly attached to said respiratory mask body, and an outer end opposite said inner end;

a generally annular inturned flap seal portion integral with said peripheral wall portion and located adjacent said outer end, said flap seal portion projecting radially inwardly of said peripheral wall portion and defining a contoured sealing surface adapted for confronting and sealing engagement with said predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face, said flap seal portion further defining a surface opposite said contoured sealing surface against which a flow of breathing gas delivered from a breathing gas source urges said contoured sealing surface into said confronting and sealing engagement with said predetermined portion of a user'"'"'s face; and

means formed in said flap seal portion for continuously and matingly conforming to the front and side contours of a nose of a user responsive to a breathing gas flow against said surface opposite said contoured sealing surface, said means for matingly conforming comprising a recessed area integral and contiguous with said flap seal portion and corresponding substantially in shape to that of a human nose.

6. The respiratory mask of claim 5 wherein the width of said recessed area is less than that of the nose of said user.

7. The respiratory mask of claim 5 further comprising means for resiliently supporting said peripheral wall portion and said flap seal portion against excessive deformation.

8. The respiratory mask of claim 7 wherein said means for resiliently supporting comprise a plurality of flexible ribs disposed about said peripheral wall portion.