Breathing mask arrangement as well as an application device and a forehead support device for same

• US 9,757,534 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed R&D Germany GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lang, Bernd Christoph, Biener, Achim, Heidmann, Dieter, Madaus, Stefan Rolf, Vgele, Harald Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beocker, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US14/829,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0655 in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes

Abstract

A respiratory mask includes a frame and a mask releasably engaged with the frame. The mask includes a body portion defining a mask internal space and a sealing portion structured to engage a patient'"'"'s face. The body portion includes a plurality of outlet openings for gas washout.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a frame including a main body and a forehead support extending from the main body, the forehead support including a pair of upper headgear connectors and the main body including a pair of lower headgear connectors, and the frame further including a conduit carrier portion having an insert opening;

a mask releasably coupled with the frame, the mask including a body portion and a sealing portion,

the body portion forming a mask internal space pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient pressure, and the body portion including a circular inlet opening structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient,

wherein the body portion includes an inside surface exposed to said therapeutic pressure in use and an outside surface exposed to ambient pressure, and the main body of the frame includes a side wall arranged along the outside surface of the body portion so that the side wall is outside the mask internal space,

wherein the body portion includes a plurality of outlet openings for discharge of gas from the mask internal space to ambient atmosphere,

the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth, the sealing portion including a hole therein adapted to receive the patient'"'"'s nose and mouth such that the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure is delivered to the patent'"'"'s nose and mouth,

wherein the sealing portion comprises an elastomer material and the body portion does not comprise an elastomer material;

a positioning and retaining arrangement structured and arranged to releasably couple the mask to the frame,

the positioning and retaining arrangement comprising a plurality of positioning members provided to the frame, wherein the plurality of positioning members are structured and arranged to extend posteriorly from the main body of the frame and into the body portion of the mask such that the body portion covers the plurality of positioning members when the mask and the frame are coupled to one another, and

the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprising a mask retainer part provided to the body portion of the mask, wherein the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind a frame retainer part of the frame to releasably retain the mask to the frame;

a respiratory gas conduit member structured to connect to a respiratory gas conduit to deliver the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure to the internal space, and the respiratory gas conduit member is mounted within the insert opening of the conduit carrier portion of the frame; and

headgear to maintain the respiratory mask assembly in position on a patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including upper bands adapted to connect to the upper headgear connectors of the frame and lower bands adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors of the frame, and the upper bands adapted to be routed over respective ones of a patient'"'"'s ears and the lower bands adapted to be routed under respective ones of the patient'"'"'s ears.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body portion is integral with the sealing portion.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame supports the sealing portion jointly with the body portion.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and the sealing portion are provided as an integral component structured to be releasably engaged with the frame.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is in the form of a tube connection.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, 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.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of outlet openings are exposed towards the front side of the frame.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a pair of positioning members provided to the frame adjacent respective ones of the lower headgear connectors,

wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to at least partly align with one another along a direction of assembly, and the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind the frame retainer part to positively and releasably interlock the mask and the frame in an assembled position,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is substantially circular when viewed in cross-section, and the respiratory gas conduit member includes an axis that is substantially aligned with an axis of the insert opening when the respiratory gas conduit member and the conduit carrier portion are connected,

further comprising a connector sleeve rotatably coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member to allow rotatable movement between the respiratory gas conduit member and the respiratory gas conduit,

wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear and the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear,

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, and the plurality of outlet openings are exposed towards the front side of the frame,

wherein each of the plurality of outlet openings includes a cross-section that enlarges in an outlet direction,

wherein the frame and the carrier portion comprise a one-piece structure, and

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member comprises a bend to change a direction of the flow of air therethough.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 10, wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to allow deflection into the assembled position,

wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprises a recessed region in the frame adapted to receive a protrusion provided to the body portion of the mask to facilitate positioning of the mask with respect to the frame, and

wherein the pair of positioning members comprise a tapered configuration in a posterior direction.

12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a fold in a nasal bridge region of the mask.

13. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a frame including a main body and a forehead support extending from the main body, the forehead support including a pair of upper headgear connectors and the main body including a pair of lower headgear connectors, and the frame further including a conduit carrier portion having a insert opening;

a mask releasably coupled with the frame, the mask including a body portion and a sealing portion,

the body portion forming a mask internal space pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient pressure, and the body portion including a circular inlet opening structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient,

wherein the body portion includes an inside surface exposed to said therapeutic pressure in use and an outside surface exposed to ambient pressure, and the main body of the frame includes a side wall outside the mask internal space,

the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose, the sealing portion including a hole therein adapted to receive the patient'"'"'s nose such that the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure is delivered to the patent'"'"'s nose, the sealing portion including an upper lip region adapted to pass along an upper lip of the patient,

wherein the sealing portion comprises an elastomer material and the body portion does not comprise an elastomer material;

a positioning and retaining arrangement structured and arranged to releasably couple the mask to the frame,

the positioning and retaining arrangement comprising at least one positioning member provided to the frame, wherein the at least one positioning member structured and arranged to extend posteriorly from the main body of the frame and into the body portion of the mask such that the body portion covers the at least one positioning member when the mask and the frame are coupled to one another, and

the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprising a mask retainer part provided to the body portion of the mask, wherein the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind a frame retainer part of the frame to releasably retain the mask to the frame;

a respiratory gas conduit member structured to connect to a respiratory gas conduit to deliver the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure to the internal space, and the respiratory gas conduit member is mounted within the insert opening of the conduit carrier portion of the frame;

headgear to maintain the respiratory mask assembly in position on a patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including upper bands adapted to connect to the upper headgear connectors of the frame and lower bands adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors of the frame, and the upper bands adapted to be routed over respective ones of a patient'"'"'s ears and the lower bands adapted to be routed under respective ones of the patient'"'"'s ears; and

a plurality of outlet openings for discharge of gas from the mask internal space to ambient atmosphere.

14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 13, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a pair of positioning members provided to the frame adjacent respective ones of the lower headgear connectors,

wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to at least partly align with one another along a direction of assembly, and the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind the frame retainer part to positively and releasably interlock the mask and the frame in an assembled position,

wherein the side wall of the frame is arranged along the outside surface of the body portion so that the side wall is outside the mask internal space,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is substantially circular when viewed in cross-section, and the respiratory gas conduit member includes an axis that is substantially aligned with an axis of the insert opening when the respiratory gas conduit member and the conduit carrier portion are connected,

further comprising a connector sleeve rotatably coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member to allow rotatable movement between the respiratory gas conduit member and the respiratory gas conduit,

wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear and the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear,

wherein each of the plurality of outlet openings includes a cross-section that enlarges in an outlet direction,

wherein the frame and the carrier portion comprise a one-piece structure, and

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member comprises a bend to change a direction of the flow of air therethough.

15. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14, wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to allow deflection into the assembled position,

wherein the pair of positioning members comprise a tapered configuration in a posterior direction, and

wherein the positioning and retainment arrangement further comprises a recessed region adapted to receive a protrusion to facilitate positioning of the frame with respect to the mask.

16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a fold in a nasal bridge region of the mask.

17. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 13, wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to at least partly align with one another along a direction of assembly, and the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind the frame retainer part to positively and releasably interlock the mask and the frame in an assembled position,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is substantially circular when viewed in cross-section, and the respiratory gas conduit member includes an axis that is substantially aligned with an axis of the insert opening when the respiratory gas conduit member and the conduit carrier portion are connected,

further comprising a connector sleeve rotatably coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member to allow rotatable movement between the respiratory gas conduit member and the respiratory gas conduit,

wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear and the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear,

wherein each of the plurality of outlet openings includes a cross-section that enlarges in an outlet direction,

wherein the frame and the carrier portion comprise a one-piece structure,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member comprises a bend to change a direction of the flow of air therethough, and

wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to allow deflection into the assembled position,

wherein the positioning and retainment arrangement further comprises a recessed region in the frame adapted to receive a protrusion provided to the body portion of the mask to facilitate positioning of the mask with respect to the frame.

18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 17, wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a tapered configuration in a posterior direction.

19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a fold in a nasal bridge region of the mask.

20. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a frame including a pair of upper headgear connectors and a pair of lower headgear connectors, and the frame further including a conduit carrier portion having a insert opening;

a mask releasably coupled with the frame, the mask including a body portion and a sealing portion,

the body portion forming a mask internal space pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient pressure, and the body portion including a circular inlet opening structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient,

wherein the body portion includes an inside surface exposed to said therapeutic pressure in use and an outside surface exposed to ambient pressure, and the frame includes a side wall arranged along the outside surface of the body portion so that the side wall is outside the mask internal space,

the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth, the sealing portion including a hole therein adapted to receive the patient'"'"'s nose and mouth such that the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure is delivered to the patent'"'"'s nose and mouth,

wherein the sealing portion comprises an elastomer material and the body portion does not comprise an elastomer material;

a positioning and retaining arrangement structured and arranged to releasably couple the mask to the frame,

the positioning and retaining arrangement comprising at least one positioning member provided to the frame, wherein the at least one positioning member structured and arranged to extend posteriorly from the frame and into the body portion of the mask such that the body portion covers the at least one positioning member when the mask and the frame are coupled to one another, and

the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprising a mask retainer part provided to the body portion of the mask, wherein the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind a frame retainer part of the frame to releasably retain the mask to the frame;

a respiratory gas conduit member structured to connect to a respiratory gas conduit to deliver the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure to the internal space, and the respiratory gas conduit member is mounted within the insert opening of the conduit carrier portion of the frame;

headgear to maintain the respiratory mask assembly in position on a patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including upper bands adapted to connect to the upper headgear connectors of the frame and lower bands adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors of the frame, and the upper bands adapted to be routed over respective ones of a patient'"'"'s ears and the lower bands adapted to be routed under respective ones of the patient'"'"'s ears; and

a plurality of outlet openings for discharge of gas from the mask internal space to ambient atmosphere.

21. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 20, wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is substantially circular when viewed in cross-section, and the respiratory gas conduit member includes an axis that is substantially aligned with an axis of the insert opening when the respiratory gas conduit member and the conduit carrier portion are connected,

further comprising a connector sleeve rotatably coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member to allow rotatable movement between the respiratory gas conduit member and the respiratory gas conduit,

wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear and the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member comprises a bend to change a direction of the flow of air therethough,

wherein the mask retainer part and the frame retainer part are structured and arranged to allow deflection into an assembled position, and

wherein the positioning and retainment arrangement further comprises a recessed region adapted to receive a protrusion to facilitate positioning of the mask with respect to the frame.

22. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:

a frame including a pair of upper headgear connectors and a pair of lower headgear connectors, and the frame further including a conduit carrier portion having a insert opening;

a mask releasably coupled with the frame, the mask including a body portion and a sealing portion,

the body portion forming a mask internal space pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure above ambient pressure, and the body portion including a circular inlet opening structured to receive a flow of air at the therapeutic pressure for breathing by the patient,

wherein the body portion includes an inside surface exposed to said therapeutic pressure in use and an outside surface exposed to ambient pressure, and the frame includes a side wall arranged along the outside surface of the body portion so that the side wall is outside the mask internal space,

the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient'"'"'s nose, the sealing portion including a hole therein adapted to receive the patient'"'"'s nose such that the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure is delivered to the patent'"'"'s nose, the sealing portion including an upper lip region adapted to pass along an upper lip of the patient,

wherein the sealing portion comprises an elastomer material and the body portion does not comprise an elastomer material;

a positioning and retaining arrangement structured and arranged to releasably couple the mask to the frame,

the positioning and retaining arrangement comprising a mask retainer part provided to the body portion of the mask, wherein the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind a frame retainer part of the frame to releasably retain the mask to the frame;

a respiratory gas conduit member structured to connect to a respiratory gas conduit to deliver the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure to the internal space, and the respiratory gas conduit member is mounted within the insert opening of the conduit carrier portion of the frame;

headgear to maintain the respiratory mask assembly in position on a patient'"'"'s head, the headgear including upper bands adapted to connect to the upper headgear connectors of the frame and lower bands adapted to connect to the lower headgear connectors of the frame, and the upper bands adapted to be routed over respective ones of a patient'"'"'s ears and the lower bands adapted to be routed under respective ones of the patient'"'"'s ears; and

a plurality of outlet openings for discharge of gas from the mask internal space to ambient atmosphere.

23. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 22, wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement further comprises a pair of positioning members provided to the body portion of the mask,

wherein the mask retainer part is structured and arranged to engage over and behind the frame retainer part to positively and releasably interlock the mask and the frame in an assembled position,

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member is substantially circular when viewed in cross-section, and the respiratory gas conduit member includes an axis that is substantially aligned with an axis of the insert opening when the respiratory gas conduit member and the conduit carrier portion are connected,

further comprising a connector sleeve rotatably coupled to the respiratory gas conduit member to allow rotatable movement between the respiratory gas conduit member and the respiratory gas conduit,

wherein the upper headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the upper bands of the headgear and the lower headgear connectors comprise a pair of slots structured to removably receive respective ones of the lower bands of the headgear, and

wherein the respiratory gas conduit member comprises a bend to change a direction of the flow of air therethough.