Method and apparatus for measurement of pressure at a device/body interface

• US 7,260,440 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Raje, Milind Chandrakant, McAuliffe, Patrick John, Frater, Robert Henry, Selim, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland; Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US11/191,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 700/97, 700/117, 703/11, 73/37, 73/40, 73/46, 73/498, 738/625.3, 738/625.81, 738/625.82, 702/138, 702/139, 600/587, 128/206.4
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0841 for sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/02 by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes

Abstract

A system and method for measuring contact pressures between two surfaces, and especially, between the body and a device resting on the body, e.g., the skin and a breathable gas mask. A deformable, resilient probe having a flow passage therein is initially placed between the two surfaces such that the flow passage is blocked. Fluid pressure within the probe is then increased until the pressure in the probe overcomes the contact pressure between the two surfaces, such that fluid begins to flow through the flow passage in the probe. The pressure at which the fluid begins to flow through the flow passage in the probe is recorded as the contact pressure between the two surfaces. Contact pressure maps created using this apparatus and method may be used to create anthropometric models of the face and other body parts.

Claims

1. A method for measuring contact pressure between a cushion and a surface of a patient'"'"'s face, comprising:

providing at least one deformable probe having a flow passage therein, said flow passage being adapted for communication with and/or connection to a source of pressurized air;

inserting the probe between the cushion and the surface of the patient'"'"'s face;

urging the cushion against the surface of the patient'"'"'s face such that the probe is deformable from a normally open flow passage configuration to a substantially closed flow passage configuration; and

measuring fluid pressure within the probe and fluid flow through the probe to provide a measure of the contact pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an amount of opening of the flow passage as a measure of the contact pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a contact pressure map from contact pressures over an area of interface between the cushion and the surface of the patient'"'"'s face, and using the contact pressure map to develop a customized mask.