Nasal mask and mask cushion therefor

• US 6,357,441 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kwok, Philip Rodney, Styles, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P.
• Application Number:
  US09/230,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.24, 128/207.13, 128/206.21, 128/206.23, 128/205.25, 128/206.18, 2/9
• US Class Current: 128/207.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A nasal cushion (30) comprises a substantially triangularly shaped frame (32) from which extends a membrane (34). The frame (32) has a scalloped edge (36) by which the cushion (30) is affixed to a mask body. The membrane (34) has an aperture (38) into which the wearer'"'"'s nose is received. The membrane (34) is spaced away from the rim (40) of the frame (32), and its outer surface (41) is of substantially the same shape as the rim (40). Respective notches (42,44) receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose. The wearer'"'"'s nose is received through the aperture (38) into the chamber within the mask body (46). The seal forming portion (45) thus contacts both the surface of the wearer'"'"'s nose and a portion of the wearer'"'"'s face in the region between the base of the nose and the upper lip, and around the sides and over the bridge of the nose. The shape of the seal forming portion (45) is particularly suited to effectively seal the difficult region of the facial contour that is the crease between the sides of the nose and the face.

Claims

1. A nasal mask cushion assembly to sealingly connect a nasal mask to a wearer'"'"'s face by adjusting tension on at least one tension strap connected to the nasal mask, the cushion assembly comprising:

a generally triangularly shaped frame of resilient material, the frame including an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture, and a rim defining the perimeter of the aperture, the rim including a notch in a region of the rim adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose; and

a generally triangularly shaped membrane of resilient material, the membrane including an aperture adapted to receive the wearer'"'"'s nose, an outer surface including a seal forming portion adapted to deform and form a seal over a portion of the wearer'"'"'s face in a region between the base of the nose and the upper lip and around the sides and over the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose when the mask is in use, an inner surface opposing the outer surface of the frame and spaced a first distance from the outer surface of the frame in at least the region of the frame adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose when the mask is in use, an edge defining the perimeter of the aperture, and a notch in a region of the membrane adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose, wherein

the membrane is more flexible than the frame;

the aperture of the frame is larger than the aperture of the membrane;

the edge of the membrane is spaced a second distance from the rim, the second distance being variable and largest in the regions of the rim and the membrane adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose; and

the first distance between the outer surface of the frame and the inner surface of the membrane is variable with the tension applied to the at least one tension strap.

2. A nasal mask cushion assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame and the membrane are formed in a single piece.

4. A nasal mask cushion assembly according to claim 2, wherein the frame and the membrane are formed in a single piece.

3. A nasal mask cushion assembly to sealingly connect a nasal mask to a wearer'"'"'s face by adjusting tension on at least one tension strap connected to the nasal mask, the cushion assembly comprising:

a generally triangularly shaped frame of resilient material, the frame including a first side adapted to contact a mask body of the nasal mask, a second side opposite the first side, an aperture extending from the first side to the second side, a rim on the second side extending around the perimeter of the aperture, and a notch in the rim in a region adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose; and

a generally triangularly shaped membrane of resilient material, the membrane including an aperture adapted to receive the wearer'"'"'s nose, an edge defining the perimeter of the aperture, a notch in a region adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose, a first surface including a seal forming portion disposed around the perimeter of the aperture adapted to deform and form a seal over a portion of the wearer'"'"'s face in a region between the base of the nose and the upper lip and around the sides and over the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose when the mask is in use, a second surface opposite the first surface that surrounds and is spaced a first distance from the rim of the frame in at least the region adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose when the mask is in use, wherein

the membrane is more flexible than the frame;

the aperture of the membrane is smaller than the aperture of the frame;

the edge of the membrane is spaced a second distance from the rim of the frame, the second distance being variable and largest in the regions of the membrane and the frame adapted to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose;

the first distance between the second surface of the membrane and the rim of the frame is variable with the tension applied to the at least one tension strap.