Breathing assistance apparatus

• US 9,517,317 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Gleeson, Oliver, Erstich, Evan Stuart, Freeman, Simon Eric, Davies, Neil Glen, Schoenberg, Stephen John, Law, Kamman, Prentice, Craig Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US15/088,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20160213877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.18, 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 128/206.27, 128/207.11, 128/207.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 16/0622 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth

Abstract

Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear comprises a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user'"'"'s nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user'"'"'s nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask.

Claims

1. A mask assembly for supplying breathing gases to a user, the mask assembly comprising:

a body portion comprising an inlet portion disposed on a distal end of the body portion, first and second nasal pillows disposed on a proximal end of the body portion and a central portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the first and second nasal pillows being adapted to rest in a substantially sealed manner against a user'"'"'s nares in use, the inlet portion of the body portion comprising an outer circumferential surface, a reduced circumference lip extending distally away from the central portion, and a stepped wall comprising a transverse face disposed between and extending transverse to the outer circumferential surface and the reduced circumference lip, the reduced circumference lip comprising a reduced circumference outer surface and a distal end face on a distal end of the reduced circumference lip and extending transverse to the reduced circumference outer surface; and

a base portion comprising a body portion connector and an inlet, the body portion connector being disposed on a proximal side of the base portion and facing toward the distal end of the body portion, the body portion connector comprising a circumferentially extending channel facing toward the distal end of the body portion, the circumferentially extending channel comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, the outer wall comprising an outer wall end face on a proximal end of the outer wall, the outer wall end face extending transverse to the circumferentially extending channel;

wherein the base portion is connected to the body portion with the reduced circumference lip disposed in the circumferentially extending channel, between the inner and outer walls of the circumferentially extending channel, the outer wall end face of the outer wall being juxtaposed to the transverse face of the stepped wall, and wherein the reduced circumference outer surface is juxtaposed to an inner surface of the outer wall of the circumferentially extending channel.

2. The mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion and the base portion are connected together with one of a bump fit and a snap fit.

3. The mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises elongate projections extending on the inner wall of the circumferentially extending channel.

4. The mask assembly of claim 3, wherein the elongate projections are configured to assist the fitting of the reduced circumference lip to the circumferentially extending channel.

5. The mask assembly of claim 4, wherein the body portion is overmoulded to a clip, the clip fitting the body portion to the base portion.

6. A mask assembly for supplying breathing gases to a user, the mask assembly comprising:

a body portion comprising an inlet portion disposed on a distal end of the body portion, first and second nasal pillows disposed on a proximal end of the body portion and a central portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the first and second nasal pillows being adapted to rest in a substantially sealed manner against a user'"'"'s nares in use, the inlet portion of the body portion comprising an outer circumferential surface, a reduced circumference lip extending distally away from the central portion, and a transverse face connecting the outer circumferential surface and the reduced circumference lip; and

a base portion comprising a body portion connector and an inlet, the body portion connector being disposed on a proximal side of the base portion and facing toward the distal end of the body portion, the body portion connector comprising a channel facing toward the distal end of the body portion;

wherein the base portion is connected to the body portion with the reduced circumference lip being disposed in the channel and the transverse face juxtaposed to a proximal portion of an outer wall of the channel.

7. The mask assembly of claim 6, wherein the reduced circumference lip extends circumferentially around a distal side of the body portion and wherein the reduced circumference lip is connected to the channel.

8. The mask assembly of claim 6, wherein the outer circumferential surface has a greater circumference than an outer circumference of the reduced circumference lip such that the reduced circumference lip defines an area of reduced circumference around a distal side of the body portion relative to the outer circumferential surface.

9. The mask assembly of claim 6, wherein the base portion comprises at least one elongate projection extending on an inner wall of the channel.

10. The mask assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one elongate projection is configured to assist the fitting of the reduced circumference lip to the channel.

11. The mask assembly of claim 10, wherein the body portion is overmoulded to a clip, the clip fitting the body portion to the base portion.

12. A mask assembly for supplying breathing gases to a user, the mask assembly comprising:

a base portion and a body portion;

the body portion comprising a first nasal pillow and a second nasal pillow, the first and second nasal pillows adapted to rest in a substantially sealed manner against a user'"'"'s nares in use, the body portion also comprising a lip extending from a distal side of the body portion, the lip defining an area of reduced circumference around the distal side of the body portion, and wherein the body portion also comprises a stepped transition transitioning the distal side of the body portion to the area of reduced circumference;

the base portion comprising a channel configured to receive a portion of the lip when the base portion is connected to the body portion.

13. The mask assembly of claim 12, wherein the lip extends circumferentially around the distal side of the body portion.

14. The mask assembly of claim 12, wherein the stepped transition forms an abutment face that abuts an outer wall of the channel.

15. The mask assembly of claim 14, wherein the channel extends around a circumference of the base portion.

16. The mask assembly of claim 12, wherein the lip is connected to the channel.

17. The mask assembly of claim 12, wherein the base portion comprises at least one elongate projection extending on an inner wall of the channel.

18. The mask assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one elongate projection is configured to assist the fitting of the lip into the channel.

19. The mask assembly of claim 18, wherein the body portion comprises a substantially flexible material and the base portion comprises a substantially hard material.

20. The mask assembly of claim 19, wherein the body portion is overmoulded to a clip, the clip fitting the body portion to the base portion.