Breathing mask device and application device and frontal support device thereof

• US 7,320,323 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vogele, Harald, Madaus, Stefan, Lang, Bernd, Heidmann, Dieter, Biener, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matter; Kristen C.
• Application Number:
  US10/493,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 12820626-20628, 128/206.18, 128/206.12, 128/207.11, 128/207.13, 128/205.25, 217/12, 220/6
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes

Abstract

The invention concerns a breathing mask arrangement for feeding a respiratory gas to a patient. The invention further concerns a forehead support device for same. The breathing mask arrangement according to the invention includes an arch body, a sealing lip means for bearing against the surface of the face of a mask user, a respiratory gas conduit means for feeding respiratory gas to a mask internal space which is defined by the arch body and which is in communication with the nose and/or mouth opening of the user of the mask. The breathing mask arrangement according to the invention is distinguished by an application structure for application of the sealing lip means jointly with the arch body, wherein the application structure has a carrier portion on which a respiratory gas conduit member in the form of a docking port is releasably mounted. The forehead support device according to the invention includes a contact element provided in the application position of the breathing mask for bearing against the forehead region of a user of the mask, and a holding device for holding the contact element in tiltably movable manner. By virtue thereof, even when using a contact element of comparatively large area, that provides for good adaptability to the most widely varying facial architectures.

Claims

1. A forehead support device for a breathing mask comprising:

a forehead support portion adapted to contact a forehead region of a user;

a conduit element adapted to couple a respiratory gas conduit to the breathing mask; and

a coupling structure provided between the forehead support portion and the conduit element and structured to support the conduit element at a predetermined spacing from the forehead support portion,

wherein the coupling structure is pivotably coupled to the conduit element so that the coupling structure can be selectively pivoted about an axis that is transverse to an axis of the conduit element to selectively adjust the spacing of the conduit element from the forehead support portion, and further including an adjusting drive device having a manually rotatable sleeve adapted to be selectively manually rotated to pivot the coupling structure relative to the conduit element to selectively adjust the spacing,

wherein the coupling structure includes a bent wire member.

2. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask frame;

a sealing device provided to the mask frame;

a forehead support device movably mounted to the frame for adjustable movement with respect to the frame; and

a rotatable adjustment knob operatively associated with the forehead support device such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob relative to the forehead support device is adapted to cause relative movement between the forehead support device and the frame,

wherein the forehead support device includes a frame connector provided to the mask frame and a forehead pad support movably mounted to the frame connector for adjustable movement with respect to the frame connector, and

wherein the adjustment knob is rotatably mounted to the frame connector and operatively engaged with the forehead pad support such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob is adapted to cause the forehead pad support to be adjustably moved with respect to the frame connector.

3. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the forehead support device includes a right arm element adapted to support a right forehead support pad and a left arm element adapted to support a left forehead support pad.

4. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment knob provides symmetric adjustment of the right and left arm elements.

5. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each arm element includes an end portion adapted to connect to an upper headband arrangement.

6. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the end portion of each arm element includes an eye portion through which a portion of the upper headband arrangement may pass.

7. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the forehead support device is slidably connected to the frame.

8. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment knob includes a marking to indicate a position of the forehead support device.

9. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising a braking structure structured to fix the adjustment knob in a desired rotational position.

10. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the braking structure includes detent projections.

11. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment knob is substantially round.

12. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment knob includes a fluted or grooved structure around its perimeter.

13. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask frame;

a sealing device provided to the mask frame;

a forehead support device movably mounted to the frame for adjustable movement with respect to the frame; and

a rotatable adjustment knob operatively associated with the forehead support device such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob relative to the forehead support device is adapted to cause relative movement between the forehead support device and the frame,

wherein the forehead support device includes a right arm element adapted to support a right forehead support pad and a left arm element adapted to support a left forehead support pad, and

wherein the adjustment knob provides asymmetric adjustment of the right and left arm elements.

14. A breathing mask arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the arrangement includes two adjustment knobs.

15. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask frame;

a sealing device provided to the mask frame;

a forehead support device movably mounted to the frame for adjustable movement with respect to the frame; and

a rotatable adjustment knob operatively associated with the forehead support device such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob relative to the forehead support device is adapted to cause relative movement between the forehead support device and the frame,

wherein the forehead support device is adapted to move radially with respect to an axis of rotation of the adjustment knob.

16. A breathing mask arrangement, comprising:

a mask frame;

a sealing device provided to the mask frame; and

a forehead support device movably mounted to the frame for adjustable movement with respect to the frame; and

a rotatable adjustment knob operatively associated with the forehead support device such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob is adapted to cause relative movement between the forehead support device and the frame,

wherein the adjustment knob is rotatable about an axis that is adapted to extend substantially perpendicular to the forehead of the patient.