Face mask support

• US 6,854,465 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somnetics International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aeiomed, Inc.
• Inventors: Bordewick, Steven S., Quinn, H. Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US10/643,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.22, 128/201.23, 128/201.24, 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/206.18, 128/206.21, 128/206.27, 128/206.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.13, 128/207.17, 128/DIG.26, 241/0, 2/5, 2/61, 2/62, 2/66, 2/68, 241/7, 241/8, 242/1, 242/2, 242/4, 2/9, 217/1, 217/3, 220/2, 220/5, 220/6, 220/9, 290/8, 290/9, 291/2
• US Class Current: 128/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor

Abstract

A face mask support for CPAP comprising a hemispheric cap with biasing means support at the medial line of the head. The circumferential edge of the cap extends from the high forehead to below the inion protrusion at the nape of the neck. A biasing means which is preferably of a length of spring steel is formed so as to extend from the biasing means support to form a loop around a face mask. The biasing means may be adjusted to accommodate facial configurations and to vary the pressure with which the face mask is apposed to the face. In an alternative embodiment, the support is open and is comprised of a circumferential band extending from the middle of the forehead to below the inion protrusion and a medial band extending along the medial line of the head and connecting to the circumferential band at the middle of the forehead and below the inion protrusion.

Claims

1. A mask support for continuous positive airway pressure comprising:

a circumferential band adapted to encircle a head of a patient and to extend from a forehead of a patient to below an inion protrusion of an occipital bone of a patient;

a medial band operably connected to the circumferential band at a forehead and at an inion protrusion of an occipital bone and passing over the approximate medial line of a patient'"'"'s head;

a biasing means support positioned on the medial band at a point from the apex of the skull to about the middle of a forehead and comprising at least two receiving slots;

a biasing means comprising a continuous length of rigid material fanned into a loop with two lateral arms of equal size, the ends of the arms being inserted into the receiving slots of the biasing means support and the lateral arms extending horizontally to a point forward to a nose of a patient and at that point curved downward at an approximately 90°

angle to form descending arms the descending arms of a length to form a loop to encircle a face mask.

2. The mask support of claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises spring steel.

3. The mask support of claim 1 wherein the receiving slots of the biasing means support comprise means for adjusting the horizontal length of the biasing means.

4. The mask support of claim 1 which comprises means for adjustment of the circumferential band.

5. The mask support of claim 1 which comprises means for adjustment of the medial band.

6. The mask support of claim 1 wherein the circumferential and medial bands are formed from a single piece of material.

7. The mask support of claim 1 wherein the medial band is bifurcated so as to form two arms and each arm of the medial band is connected to the circumferential band at each side of the medial line.

10. The mask support of claims 1, 8 or 9 wherein the biasing means comprises at least one length of spring steel which connect individually or in combination with a face mask.

11. The mask support of claims 1, 6 or 8 wherein the biasing means comprises angular adjustments means for a face mask in the region approximately from where the descending arm or arms connect to or form a loop around the face mask.

8. A mask support for continuous positive airway pressure comprising:

a circumferential band comprising an elastic material, said band adapted to encircle the head of a patient and to extend from a forehead of a patient to below an inion protrusion of an occipital bone;

a medial band comprising an elastic material operably connected to the circumferential band at a forehead of a patient and at an inion protrusion of an occipital bone of a patient and passing over the approximate medial line of a patient'"'"'s head;

a biasing means support positioned on the medial band at a point from the apex of the skull to about the middle of a forehead and comprising two receiving slots;

a biasing means comprising a continuous length of rigid material formed into a loop with two lateral anus of equal size, the ends of the arms being inserted into the receiving slots of the biasing means support and the lateral arms extending horizontally to a point forward to a nose of a patient and at that point curved downward at an approximately 90°

angle to form descending arms, the descending arms of a length to form a loop to encircle the distal end of a face mask.

9. A mask support for continuous positive airway pressure comprising:

a hemispheric cap, a circumferential edge of which is adapted to extend from a forehead of a patient to below an inion protrusion of an occipital bone;

a medial band operably connected to the circumferential edge of the cap at a forehead of a patient and at an inion protrusion of an occipital bone of a patient and passing over the approximate medial line of a patient'"'"'s head;

a biasing means support positioned on the medial band at a point from the apex of a skull of a patient to about the middle of a forehead of a patient and comprising at least one receiving slot;

a biasing means comprising a continuous length of rigid material formed into a loop with two lateral arms of equal size, the ends of the arms being inserted into the at least one receiving slot of the biasing means support and the lateral arms extending horizontally and at that point forming an approximately 90°

angle, to form descending arms of a length to encircle the distal end of a face mask.