Headgear assembly for a respiratory mask assembly

• US 7,509,958 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guney, Memduh, Lithgow, Perry D., Amarasinghe, Amal S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nihir
• Application Number:
  US10/655,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.24, 128/206.26, 128/206.27, 128/206.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.13, 128/207.17, 128/201.22, 128/201.23, 128/201.19, 128/205.25, 217/3
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• 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: Y10T 24/2164 Midline

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly includes a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions. The pair of side portions includes at least one strap. The rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material. One of the layers of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction which resists movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a frame; and

a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame and including a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions, the pair of side portions including at least one strap,

wherein;

the rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material, one of the layers of material having a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction, the rear portion of the headgear being operatively connected to the pair of side portions to thereby resist movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction,

each of the pair of side portions includes an upper strap removably attachable to an upper portion of the frame and a lower strap removably attachable to a lower portion of the frame, the upper strap being adapted to extend above the patient'"'"'s ear and the lower strap being adapted to extend below the patient'"'"'s ear, and

the rear portion includes an upper strap, a lower strap, and an intermediate strap arrangement between the upper and lower straps of the rear portion, the intermediate strap arrangement including the at least one strap constructed of two layers of material.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement is structured to resist movement of the lower strap of each of the pair of side portions in the first direction which is towards the patient'"'"'s ear.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement includes a stiffener attached thereto that adds rigidity of the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate strap arrangement includes a pair of upper straps angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion, a pair of lower straps angled with respect to the lower strap of the rear portion, and a cross-bar strap that extends between the upper and lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the stiffener is generally C-shaped including a body that extends along the cross-bar strap and a pair of arm members that extend along respective lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the stiffener has an overall length in the range of 100-140 mm, an overall height in the range of 40-80 mm, and the arm members are angled in the range of 110-140°

with respect to the body.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the stiffener has an overall length of 120 mm, an overall height of 62.5 mm, and the arm members are angled 125°

with respect to the body.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the stiffener comprises a pair of arcuate-shaped stiffeners, each of the pair of stiffeners extending along a respective upper strap and lower strap of the intermediate strap arrangement.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the cross-bar strap of the intermediate strap arrangement, the pair of lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement, and the lower strap of the rear portion define an opening therebetween that is adapted to allow folds of the patient'"'"'s skin to extend therethrough.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein an overall length of the headgear assembly is in the range of 640-680 mm and an overall height of the headgear assembly is in the range of 175-215 mm.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 10, wherein an overall length of the headgear assembly is 660 mm and an overall height of the headgear assembly is 196.1 mm.

12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pair of upper straps of the intermediate strap arrangement are angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion in the range of 40-50°

and have a width in the range of 16-22 mm.

13. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 12, wherein the pair of upper straps of the intermediate strap arrangement are angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion 45°

and have a width of 19 mm.

14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the upper strap of the rear portion is curved and has a radius of curvature in the range of 145-170 mm.

15. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14, wherein the upper strap of the rear portion has a radius of curvature of 166 mm.

16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the stiffener has a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm.

17. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 16, wherein the stiffener has a thickness of 1.0 mm.

18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the stiffener is attached to the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement by stitching.

19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the stiffener is attached to the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement by placing it in a pocket which is permanently attached to the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement.

20. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the stiffener is attached to the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement by utilizing a hook and loop fastening system.

21. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion removably attachable to the frame and adapted to engage the patient'"'"'s face.

22. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap of the rear strap includes a stiffener attached thereto that adds rigidity of the at least one strap of the rear strap.

23. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 22, wherein the at least one strap of the rear strap with the stiffener attached thereto is structured to resist movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction which is towards the patient'"'"'s ear.

24. A headgear assembly for attachment to a frame of a respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a pair of side portions; and

a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions, the pair of side portions including at least one strap,

wherein;

the rear portion has at least one strap constructed of two layers of material, one of the layers of material having a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction, the rear portion of the headgear being operatively connected to the pair of side portions to thereby resist movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction,

each of the pair of side portions includes an upper strap removably attachable to an upper portion of the frame and a lower strap removably attachable to a lower portion of the frame, the upper strap being adapted to extend above the patient'"'"'s ear and the lower strap extending below the patient'"'"'s ear, and

the rear portion includes an upper strap, a lower strap, and an intermediate strap arrangement between the upper and lower straps of the rear portion, the intermediate strap arrangement including the at least one strap constructed of two layers of material.

25. The headgear assembly according to claim 24, wherein the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement is structured to resist movement of the lower strap of each of the pair of side portions in the first direction which is towards the patient'"'"'s ear.

26. The headgear assembly according to claim 25, wherein the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement includes a stiffener attached thereto that adds rigidity of the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement.

27. The headgear assembly according to claim 26, wherein the intermediate strap arrangement includes a pair of upper straps angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion, a pair of lower straps angled with respect to the lower strap of the rear portion, and a cross-bar strap that extends between the upper and lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement.

28. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the stiffener is generally C-shaped including a body that extends along the cross-bar strap and a pair of arm members that extend along respective lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement.

29. The headgear assembly according to claim 28, wherein the stiffener has an overall length in the range of 100-140 mm, an overall height in the range of 40-80 mm, and the arm members are angled in the range of 110-140°

with respect to the body.

30. The headgear assembly according to claim 29, wherein the stiffener has an overall length of 120 mm, an overall height of 62.5 mm, and the arm members are angled 125°

with respect to the body.

31. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the stiffener comprises a pair of arcuate-shaped stiffeners, each of the pair of stiffeners extending along a respective upper strap and lower strap of the intermediate strap arrangement.

32. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the cross-bar strap of the intermediate strap arrangement, the pair of lower straps of the intermediate strap arrangement, and the lower strap of the rear portion define an opening therebetween that is adapted to allow folds of the patient'"'"'s skin to extend therethrough.

33. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein an overall length of the headgear assembly is in the range of 640-680 mm and an overall height of the headgear assembly is in the range of 175-215 mm.

34. The headgear assembly according to claim 33, wherein an overall length of the headgear assembly is 660 mm and an overall height of the headgear assembly is 196.1 mm.

35. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the pair of upper straps of the intermediate strap arrangement are angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion in the range of 40-50°

and have a width in the range of 16-22 mm.

36. The headgear assembly according to claim 35, wherein the pair of upper straps of the intermediate strap arrangement are angled with respect to the upper strap of the rear portion 45°

and have a width of 19 mm.

37. The headgear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the upper strap of the rear portion is curved and has a radius of curvature in the range of 145-170 mm.

38. The headgear assembly according to claim 37, wherein the upper strap of the rear portion has a radius of curvature of 166 mm.

39. The headgear assembly according to claim 26, wherein the stiffener has a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm.

40. The headgear assembly according to claim 39, wherein the stiffener has a thickness of 1.0 mm.

41. The headgear assembly according to claim 26, wherein the stiffener is attached to the at least one strap of the intermediate strap arrangement by stitching.

42. The headgear assembly according to claim 24, wherein the at least one strap of the rear strap includes a stiffener attached thereto that adds rigidity of the at least one strap of the rear strap.

43. The headgear assembly according to claim 42, wherein the at least one strap of the rear strap with the stiffener attached thereto resists movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction which is towards the patient'"'"'s ear.