Ventilation interface

• US 8,261,745 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salter Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Respcare, Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Chandran, Sanjay, Hernandez, Shara, Collazo, Louis Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stuart, Colin W
• Application Number:
  US11/298,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,465 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/206.21, 128/204.23, 12820614- 18, 128/207.13, 128/206.24, 128/206.28, 128/206.27, 128/207.18
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• 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 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames

Abstract

A respiration assist mask having an input gas feed tube, a ventilation interface, a facial interface and nasal inserts. The gas feed tube can connect to the ventilation interface and form a seal. The ventilation interface may be joined with the facial interface to form a seal between the ventilation interface and the facial interface, as well as between the facial interface and the face of a user. Additionally, nasal inserts may be inserted into a portion of the facial interface and form a seal between the inserts and the facial interface.

Claims

1. A respiration assist mask, comprising:

a ventilation interface including a gas entry port defined in the ventilation interface;

a positive gas pressure source tube coupled to the gas entry port of the ventilation interface to facilitate supplying a gas to the ventilation interface;

a cushioned facial interface connected to said ventilation interface, the facial interface having a gas exit shaped to gas-tightly seal only the mouth from the environment, the cushioned facial interface comprising at least one first exterior membrane that facilitates providing a seal across an upper lip and around a mouth of a user, and at least one second interior membrane positioned adjacent the at least one first exterior membrane such that a distance is defined therebetween, wherein the entire portion of the at least one first exterior membrane that facilitates providing a seal across an upper lip of a user has a first edge that extends toward the gas exit shaped to gas-tightly seal only the mouth that does not extend further than an adjacent second edge of the at least one second interior membrane;

at least one removable nasal insert removably coupled in flow communication to an orifice in an upper portion of the cushioned facial interface; and

a cavity defined within the cushioned facial interface between the gas entry port and an end of the at least one removable nasal insert farthest from the cushioned facial interface.

2. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the cushioned facial interface further comprises an elongated portion at the bottom portion of the interface that extends away therefrom, the elongated portion facilitates at least one of providing a seal under a chin of the user and preventing movement of a lower jaw of the user.

3. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable nasal insert is coupled with a second nasal insert.

4. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, further comprising at least one protrusion for the attachment of headgear.

5. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the ventilation interface and the cushioned facial interface are removably attached.

6. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the at least one first exterior membrane facilitates providing a seal and the at least one second interior membrane facilitates providing support to the at least one first exterior membrane.

7. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the at least one first exterior membrane facilitates providing a gas tight seal against the face of a user and the at least one second interior membrane being thicker than the at least one first exterior membrane and providing structural rigidity to the facial interface and limiting movement of the respiration assist mask.

8. The respiration assist mask of claim 7, wherein the distance between the at least one first exterior membrane and the at least one second interior membrane is larger at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the cushioned facial interface than the distance between the at least one first exterior membrane and the at least one second interior membrane at least one of a first side portion and a second side portion of the cushioned facial interface.

16. A respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the ventilation interface comprises at least one exhalation port defined therein.

17. A respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the distance between the at least one first exterior membrane and the at least one second interior membrane is larger at a top portion of the cushioned facial interface than the distance between the at least one first exterior membrane and the at least one second interior membrane at least one of a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion of the cushioned facial interface.

19. The respiration assist mask of claim 1, wherein the at least one first exterior membrane has a periphery edge at the gas exit that is configured to not contact the nose during use.

9. A respiration assist mask, comprising:

a gas supply tube;

a ventilation interface;

a cushioned facial interface comprising a first exterior membrane that facilitates providing a seal across an upper lip and around a mouth of a user, and a second interior membrane positioned adjacent the first exterior membrane such that a distance is defined therebetween, wherein the entire portion of the at least one first exterior membrane that facilitates providing a seal across an upper lip of a user has a first edge that extends toward a gas exit shaped to gas-tightly seal only the mouth that does not extend further than an adjacent second edge of the at least one second interior membrane;

at least one nasal insert;

a cavity defined within the cushioned facial interface between the ventilation interface and an end of the at least one nasal insert farthest from the cushioned facial interface; and

the gas supply tube removably connected to the ventilation interface and creating a seal therebetween, the cushioned facial interface removably connected to the ventilation interface and creating a seal therebetween, and the at least one nasal insert removably connected to an upper portion of the cushioned facial interface and creating a seal therebetween.

10. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the cushioned facial interface creates a first seal between the cushioned facial interface and an upper lip of a user and a second seal between the cushioned facial interface and a chin of a user.

11. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the at least one nasal insert is joined to a second nasal insert.

12. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the first exterior membrane is thinner than the second interior membrane.

13. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the first exterior membrane being separated from the second interior membrane by a greater distance at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the cushioned facial interface than at least one of a first side portion and a second side portion of the cushioned facial interface.

14. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the ventilation interface further comprises at least one protrusion for the attachment of head gear.

15. The respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the ventilation interface has at least one exhaust port defined therein.

18. A respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the first exterior membrane being separated from the second interior membrane by a greater distance at a top portion of the cushioned facial interface than at least one of a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion of the cushioned facial interface.

20. A respiration assist mask of claim 9, wherein the cushioned facial interface has a gas exit shaped to gas-tightly seal only the mouth from the environment, and wherein the first exterior membrane has a periphery edge at the gas exit that is configured to not contact the nose during use.