Cushion for a respiratory mask assembly

• US 9,724,488 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guney, Memduh
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US14/251,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 12820525, 12820122-20124, 12820129, 12820621, 12820624, 12820626, 12820628, 12820711, 12820713
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4987 Elastic joining of parts

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly including a frame and a cushion provided to the frame. The cushion including a non-face contacting portion removably attached to the frame and a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient'"'"'s face. The face-contacting portion includes a side wall, a rim extending from the side wall and curving inwardly into a cavity of the cushion, and a membrane substantially surrounding the rim and including an inside surface spaced from an outside surface of the rim. The cushion includes a gusset portion extending radially outwardly from the side wall of the face-contacting portion and a reinforcing ring between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion. The reinforcing ring is constructed and arranged to act as a stiffening hoop to reduce the tendency of the cushion to expand when under pressure.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly, comprising:

a frame; and

a cushion provided to the frame, the cushion including;

a non-face contacting portion removably attached to the frame;

a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient'"'"'s face, the face-contacting portion including a side wall, a rim extending from the side wall and curving inwardly into a cavity of the cushion, and a membrane substantially surrounding the rim and including an inside surface spaced from an outside surface of the rim;

a gusset portion extending radially outwardly from the side wall of the face-contacting portion; and

a reinforcing ring between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion, said reinforcing ring being constructed and arranged to act as a stiffening hoop to reduce the tendency of the cushion to expand when under pressure.

2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing ring comprises polycarbonate.

3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory mask assembly is a nasal mask assembly.

4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a forehead support provided to an upper portion of the frame.

5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, further comprising headgear including upper straps removably connected to clip structures provided to the forehead support and lower straps removably connected to clip structures provided to the frame.

6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a swivel elbow assembly provided to a front portion of the frame.

7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is thinner than the rim.

8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gusset portion extends radially outwardly a distance away from the side wall of the face-contacting portion to provide additional footprint area outside a contact line of the cushion.

9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8, wherein the distance is varied in different regions of the gusset portion.

10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 9, wherein the distance in a nasal bridge region is different than the distance in cheek regions.

11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 9, wherein the additional footprint area is at least partially determinative of a contact force applied to the patient'"'"'s face through the face-contacting portion, and the distance is varied in different regions of the gusset portion to vary the contact force applied in different regions of the patient'"'"'s face.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gusset portion extends around an entire perimeter of the cushion.

13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a spring structure to provide a component of a contact force on the patient'"'"'s face.

14. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the non-face contacting portion, the face-contacting portion, and the gusset portion have a generally triangular shape.

15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion clip detachably engaged with the frame such that a shoulder of the non-face contacting portion is positioned between the clip and the frame to attach the cushion to the frame.

16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the non-face contacting portion, the face-contacting portion, and the gusset portion comprise silicone.

17. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory mask assembly is a nasal and mouth mask assembly.

18. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing ring is provided to the cushion at a point between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion, the reinforcing ring constructed and arranged to reduce the tendency of the cushion to expand at the point when under pressure.

19. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18, wherein the reinforcing ring extends in a ring around the entire perimeter of the cushion with the point provided at a junction between the gusset portion and the side wall of the face-contacting portion.

20. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing ring extends along an interior surface of the cushion within the cavity.

21. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises an overmolded connection to the cushion.

22. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing ring extends along an interior surface of the cushion within a cavity of the cushion.

23. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 21, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises polycarbonate.

24. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 21, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises the overmolded connection to the cushion at a point between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion such that the reinforcing ring extends in a ring around the entire perimeter of the cushion with the point provided at a junction between the gusset portion and the side wall of the face-contacting portion.

25. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises a push-fit connection to the cushion.

26. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing ring extends along an interior surface of the cushion within a cavity of the cushion.

27. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises polycarbonate.

28. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises the push-fit connection to the cushion at a point between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion such that the reinforcing ring extends in a ring around the entire perimeter of the cushion with the point provided at a junction between the gusset portion and the side wall of the face-contacting portion.