Breathing assistance apparatus

• US 9,561,338 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: McAuley, Alastair Edwin, Olsen, Gregory James, Patel, Roheet
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boecker, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US13/877,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20130239972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.29, 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/206.16, 128/206.21, 128/206.28, 21822-1827
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers

Abstract

A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user'"'"'s face and in use substantially seal against a user'"'"'s face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Claims

1. A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user, the mask assembly comprising:

a mask body having an inlet through which the flow of respiratory gases are provided to an interior of said mask body, the inlet adapted to be connected to a gases conduit, the mask body configured to be releasably attached to a mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material,

said seal having a first side and a second side and having an upper portion and a lower portion, an opening defined between the upper and lower portions, said upper portion being configured to be disposed proximate a user'"'"'s nose in use and the lower portion being configured to be disposed proximate to a user'"'"'s mouth in use, and a first direction extending from the upper portion of said seal toward said lower portion of said seal, said first side of said seal being shaped to approximately match contours of a user'"'"'s face and in use substantially seal against a user'"'"'s face, and wherein said second side is attached to said clip,

said clip providing an interface extending along a first perimeter of said mask seal assembly for releasably attaching said mask seal assembly to said mask body, and

said clip comprising a bridging portion extending outwards beyond an outermost mask body perimeter of said mask body and said interface along the first direction, wherein said bridging portion supports said seal at a location outside of said outermost mask body perimeter of said mask body and beyond said clip along the first direction.

2. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mask seal assembly comprises an inner cushion located between said clip and said first side of said seal.

3. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner cushion is located between said bridging portion of said clip and said first side of said seal.

4. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clip comprises a channel in said bridging portion, a first side of said inner cushion in use supporting said first side of said seal, and a second side of said inner cushion being received in said channel.

5. A mask assembly as claimed claim 1, wherein said seal is attached to a first side of said clip and a second side of said clip releaseably attaches to said mask body.

6. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mask seal assembly comprises a second seal of flexible material attached to said second side of said clip for forming a seal between said mask seal assembly and said mask body.

7. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bridging portion and said seal are sized according to one of a series of sizes, each one of said series of sizes suitable for sealing against a differently sized user'"'"'s face.

8. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 5, in combination with a mask package containing a plurality of mask seal assemblies comprising said mask seal assembly and at least another mask seal assembly, wherein, each mask seal assembly of said plurality of mask seal assemblies has said seal sized according to one of a series of sizes, each one of said series of sizes suitable for sealing against one sized user'"'"'s face of a plurality of sized user'"'"'s faces in use, and said second side of said clip of each said mask seal assembly being the same throughout said series of sizes to be releasably attached to said mask body.

9. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said seal and said second seal are integrally formed and joined together across said bridging portion.

10. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said seal and said second seal are integrally formed and joined together across said bridging portion via a runner across or through said bridging portion.

11. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mask assembly comprises an inner cushion located between said mask body and said first side of said seal.

12. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said mask assembly comprises a channel in said mask body, a first side of said inner cushion in use supporting said first side of said seal, and a second side of said inner cushion being received in said channel in said mask body.

13. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridging portion has an outward dimension that is generally uniform around said outermost mask body perimeter of said mask body.

14. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridging portion has an outward dimension that varies around said outermost mask body perimeter.

15. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said outward dimension of said bridging portion is larger at said lower portion of said seal and smaller at said upper portion of said seal.

16. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said bridging portion tapers from a first outward dimension in said lower portion of said seal to a second outward dimension in said upper portion of said seal.

17. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein each said mask seal assembly of said plurality of mask seal assemblies has a bridging portion with a first outward dimension in said lower portion of said seal and a second outward dimension in said upper portion of said seal and said first outward dimension is greater than said second outward dimension, and said second outward dimension of each said mask seal assembly is generally uniform, and said first outward dimension of each mask seal assembly of the plurality of mask seal assemblies is generally non-uniform, said first outward dimension of each mask seal assembly sized to be suitable for sealing against one sized user'"'"'s face of a plurality of sized user'"'"'s faces.

18. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridging portion also extends rearwardly away from said second side of said seal towards a user'"'"'s face in use.

19. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mask seal assembly of a plurality of different mask seal assemblies has said bridging portion, each mask seal assembly of said plurality of different mask seal assemblies having a seal of a different type comprising one of a cannula seal, a nasal seal, a mouth seal and a full face seal, and said second side of said clip of each said mask seal assembly being generally uniform to be releasably attached to said mask body.

20. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mask seal assembly releasably attaches to said outermost mask body perimeter of said mask body.

21. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said outermost mask body perimeter of said mask body defines an area being more than ten times an area of said mask body inlet.

22. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridging portion spaces said second side of said seal outwards from said outermost mask body perimeter by at least 10 mm.

23. A mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mask body defines a hollow space for receiving or covering a user'"'"'s nose or mouth or both.