Mask with gusset

• US 6,772,760 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frater, Robert H., Gunaratnam, Michael K., Drew, Joanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/322,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/206.24, 128/206.26, 128/207.11, 128/207.13
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or both.

Claims

1. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;

a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;

a cushion having a first portion attached to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and

headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;

wherein the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion in use, the distance being within a range of movement of the gusset portion that is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm, and wherein an interior of the gusset portion is exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and has a projected area on the user'"'"'s face A_g that is greater than an area A_c of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area A_g provides a component of a contact force F_c of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of A_g/A_c is greater than 1.6 and less than 4.0.

2. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the gusset portion is structured to expand or contract from an initial position to a position that is about 10-30 mm from the initial position.

3. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gusset portion is structured to expand or contract from an initial position to a position that is about 5-20 mm from the initial position.

4. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gusset portion is in the form of a piston that is axially slidably engaged with a cylinder portion of the shell.

5. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gusset portion includes a single gusset having a flexible sidewall with a generally triangular cross-section when not exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas that balloons to a generally rounded cross-section when exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas.

6. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of A_g/A_c is in the range of 1.8-3.5.

7. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;

a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;

a cushion having a first portion attached to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and

headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;

wherein the gusset portion includes an elastic sidewall having a spring constant that is at least partially determinative of a force applied to the patient'"'"'s face through the second portion of the cushion.

8. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion.

9. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the distance is within a range of movement of the gusset portion that is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm.

10. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein an interior of the gusset portion is exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and has a projected area on the user'"'"'s face A_g which is greater than an area A_c of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area A_g provides a component of a contact force F_c of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of A_g/A_c is greater than 1.6 and less than 4.0.

11. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the ratio of A_g/A_c is in the range of 1.8-3.5.

12. The breathable gas mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the gusset portion includes a single gusset having a flexible sidewall with a generally triangular cross-section when not exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas that balloons to a generally rounded cross-section when exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas.