Nose mask

• US 7,219,669 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SleepNet Corporation
• Original Assignee: SleepNet Corporation
• Inventors: Lovell, John R., Moulton, Thomas M., Chiesa, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson; Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US09/328,120
• Time in Patent Office: 2,905 Days
• Field of Search: D820621-20626, D82/652.5, 446/222, 494/771, 277/345, 277/409, 277/935, 277944-946, 285/10, 285/15, 285/918
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A nasal mask includes a shell forming a chamber having an inlet and at least one outlet and a seal. The seal is disposed proximate the outlet for contacting and sealing with external skin proximate at least one naris at a base of a nose of a user donning the mask. Substantially all of the sealing occurs between the seal and the external skin.

Claims

1. A seal for use with a nasal mask, the seal comprising a bladder filled with a molded material in a predetermined configuration, the material having a durometer value less than about ten on a Shore OOO scale, wherein the seal is configured to seal against external skin proximate at least one naris at a base of a nose of a user.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein the bladder is substantially planar on a side thereof for contacting a shell of the nasal mask.

3. The seal of claim 1 wherein the bladder has at least one protrusion on a side thereof for contacting the external skin proximate at least one naris at a base of a nose of a user.

4. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal has a thickness and forms at least one aperture therethrough disposable proximate a naris.

5. The seal of claim 4 wherein a thickness of the bladder proximate the aperture is less than a thickness of the seal remote therefrom.

6. The seal of claim 1 wherein the material comprises silicone.

7. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal is about 0.225 inches thick.

8. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a generally oval shape.

9. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a concave area.

10. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a convex arc.

11. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a variable thickness.