Mask assembly

• US 6,823,869 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frater, Robert H., Guney, Memduh, Fu, Timothy Tsun-Fai, Raje, Milind, Drew, Joanne, Amarasinghe, Amal, Solari, Clive
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US10/235,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/206.13, 128/206.16, 128/206.17, 128/206.18, 128/206.19, 128/206.21, 128/206.23, 128/206.24, 128/206.26, 128/206.27, 128/207.11, 128/207.12, 128/207.13, 128/201.23
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• 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 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0655 in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for use in the delivery of non-invasive positive airway pressure to a user. The assembly includes a rigid shell having a channel portion defined by an inner wall, an outer wall and a channel floor, a face-contacting cushion acting to space the shell away from the user'"'"'s face and a sealing tab extending from the cushion to engage a portion of the shell to provide a continuous airtight seal between the cushion and the shell. A retaining ring within the mask assembly is configured to secure the cushion to the shell. The retaining ring has a first portion including at least one clip configured to pass through at least one slot portion such that an underside surface of the at least one clip engages a section of the shell when the retaining ring is positioned within the channel.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly for use in the delivery of non-invasive positive airway pressure to a user, comprising:

a substantially rigid shell that includes a channel portion defined by an inner wall, an outer wall and a channel floor, the channel floor has at least one slot portion allowing access from the channel portion to a surface of the shell opposite to the channel floor;

a face-contacting cushion acting to space the shell away from the user'"'"'s face, said cushion having a retaining channel and a retaining lip adjacent the retaining channel, and a sealing tab extending from the cushion to engage a portion of the shell to provide a continuous airtight seal between the cushion and the shell; and

a retaining ring configured to secure the cushion to the shell, the retaining ring having a first portion including at least one clip configured to pass through the at least one slot portion such that an underside surface of the at least one clip engages a section of the shell when the retaining ring is positioned within the channel, and a flange extending from a second portion of the retaining ring, the flange being configured to be received within the retaining channel of the cushion.

2. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one clip of the first portion is positioned on an actuator arm.

3. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel has a triangular shape and extends around a peripheral side of the cushion.

4. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel of the shell extends around a peripheral side of the cushion.

5. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the shell further comprises:

a base portion defining a cavity with a rear opening;

a pair of flange assemblies extending in an upward direction from the base portion and configured to provide support for a latching mechanism;

an air inlet tube connected to an upper central portion of the shell and having a port opening to an interior to supply breathable gas from a pressurized supply to an interior of the respiratory mask assembly;

at least one gas washout vent positioned on respective sides of the air inlet tube to exhaust gases from the respiratory mask assembly; and

at least one port configured to connect to at least one supply tube to permit the flow of at least one of medication and oxygen to the interior of the respiratory mask assembly.

6. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing tab engages an outer surface of the inner wall of the shell.

7. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing tab engages a top surface of the inner wall of the shell.

8. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism located in an interior portion of the shell and configured to separate intake and exhalation gas flow.

9. A method for securing a cushion and shell in a respiratory mask assembly, comprising:

providing a cushion on a retaining ring;

engaging a flange portion of the retaining ring between a channel portion and retaining lip of the cushion to provide a cushion and retaining ring assembly;

aligning the cushion and retaining ring assembly in a channel of a shell; and

inserting the cushion and retaining ring assembly into the channel of the shell such that at least one clip of the cushion and retaining ring assembly passes through a channel floor of the shell to engage an underside surface of the at least one clip to the shell.

10. The method of claim 9, further including configuring the channel floor to have at least one slot portion to allow access from channel of the shell to a surface of the shell opposite the channel floor.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising actuating a mechanism configured to maintain a position of the cushion and retaining ring assembly.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating includes clamping the retaining lip of the cushion to the channel floor of the shell and engaging a sealing tab to provide a continuous airtight seal between the cushion and the shell.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising squeezing the at least one clip of the cushion and retainer ring assembly between the thumb and forefinger of one hand to disassemble the cushion and retainer ring.

14. A respiratory mask assembly for use in the delivery of non-invasive positive airway pressure to a user, comprising:

a substantially rigid shell that includes a channel portion defined by an inner wall, an outer wall and a channel floor, the channel floor has at least one slot portion allowing access from the channel portion to a surface of the shell opposite to the channel floor;

a face-contacting cushion acting to space the shell away from the user'"'"'s face, said cushion having a retaining channel and a retaining lip adjacent the retaining channel, and a sealing tab extending from the cushion to engage a portion of the shell to provide a continuous airtight seal between the cushion and the shell; and

a retaining ring configured to secure the cushion to the shell, the retaining ring having a first portion including at least one clip configured to pass through the at least one slot portion such that an underside surface of the at least one clip engages a section of the shell when the retaining ring is positioned within the channel.

15. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one clip of the first portion is positioned on an actuator arm.

16. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 14, wherein the channel has a triangular shape and extends around a peripheral side of the cushion.

17. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 14, wherein the channel of the shell extends around a peripheral side of the cushion.