Breathing mask for feeding a breathing gas to a mask user and discharge device for discharging breathing gas

• US 8,746,250 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed R&D Germany GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Biener, Achim, Lang, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/751,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.21, 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/207.11, 128/207.14, 128/207.18
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback

Abstract

A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a reinforcement element, a mask engaged with the reinforcement element and having a mask base body defining a mask interior and a sealing lip structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face, a forehead rest including forehead padding that is structured to engage a patient'"'"'s forehead, and a fixing mechanism to fix the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element. The mask base body and the sealing lip are two pieces that are fixedly attached to one another. The forehead rest is moveably coupled to the reinforcement element to allow movement of the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element. The forehead rest includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be coupled to an upper head band arrangement and the reinforcement element includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be coupled to a lower head band arrangement.

Claims

1. A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a reinforcement element;

a mask engaged with the reinforcement element and having a mask base body defining a mask interior and a sealing lip structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face, the mask base body and the sealing lip being two pieces that are fixedly attached to one another;

a forehead rest including forehead padding that is structured to engage a patient'"'"'s forehead, the forehead rest being moveably coupled to the reinforcement element to allow movement of the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element to thereby adjust the position of the forehead padding relative to the patient; and

a fixing mechanism to fix the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element,

wherein the forehead rest includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be coupled to an upper head band arrangement.

2. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising adhesive to adhere the mask base body and the sealing lip to one another.

3. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mask base body and the sealing lip comprise an integral unit whereby the mask base body and the sealing lip are fixed to one another.

4. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mask includes a decoupling structure that allows relative movement between a connector to deliver breathable gas into the mask and the sealing lip.

5. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the decoupling structure includes a bellows.

6. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mask base body and the sealing lip comprise an integral unit whereby the mask base body and the sealing lip are fixed to one another

wherein the mask includes a decoupling structure that allows relative movement between a connector to deliver breathable gas into the mask and the sealing lip, and

wherein the decoupling structure includes a bellows.

7. A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a frame;

a mask engaged with the frame and having a body portion defining a mask interior breathing chamber and a sealing portion structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face at least along nasal bridge and cheek regions of the patient'"'"'s face, the body portion and the sealing portion being two pieces that are fixedly attached to one another;

a forehead support supporting forehead padding that is structured to engage a patient'"'"'s forehead, the forehead support being moveably coupled to the frame to allow movement of the forehead support relative to the frame to thereby adjust the position of the forehead padding relative to the patient; and

an adjustment arrangement to allow selective adjustment of the forehead support relative to the frame, the adjustment arrangement including a fixing mechanism including a plurality of recesses and a projection, the recesses being adapted to receive the projection to positively lock the forehead support relative to the frame in one of a plurality of predetermined or fixed positions,

wherein the forehead support includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be removably connectable to an upper band arrangement of a headband assembly.

8. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the body portion forms an exterior surface exposed at a front side of the mask when provided to the frame.

9. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the frame has a front side and a rear side, and the frame defines an opening through which at least a portion of the body portion is exposed towards the front side of the frame.

10. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the body portion includes a decoupling structure that allows relative movement between a connector to deliver breathable gas into the mask and the sealing portion.

11. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the decoupling structure includes a bellows arrangement.

12. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the forehead support is T-shaped.

13. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the forehead support has an upper cross portion and a lower leg portion, the upper cross portion of the forehead support extending along a first axis and supporting the forehead padding, and the lower leg portion of the forehead support provided to the frame and extending along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis.

14. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the fixing mechanism includes at least four recesses.

15. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the frame includes an inwardly facing surface that engages an outwardly facing surface of the body portion.

16. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the inwardly facing surface of the frame faces inwardly towards the breathing chamber and the outwardly facing surface of the body portion faces outwardly away from the breathing chamber.

17. The breathing mask arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the body portion forms an exterior surface exposed at a front side of the mask when provided to the frame,

wherein the frame has the front side and a rear side, and the frame defines an opening through which at least a portion of the body portion is exposed towards the front side of the frame,

wherein the body portion includes a decoupling structure that allows relative movement between a connector to deliver breathable gas into the mask and the sealing portion,

wherein the decoupling structure includes a bellows arrangement,

wherein the forehead support is T-shaped,

wherein the forehead support has an upper cross portion and a lower leg portion, the upper cross portion of the forehead support extending along a first axis and supporting the forehead padding, and the lower leg portion of the forehead support provided to the frame and extending along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis,

wherein the fixing mechanism includes at least four recesses,

wherein the frame includes an inwardly facing surface that engages an outwardly facing surface of the body portion, and

wherein the inwardly facing surface of the frame faces inwardly towards the breathing chamber and the outwardly facing surface of the body portion faces outwardly away from the breathing chamber.