Gel cushion pad for mask

• US 9,999,738 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chimenti, Jeffrey P., Santella, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/504,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,260 Days
• Field of Search: 12820624, 12820623, 12820313, 12820612, 12820614, 12820713, 1281121, 128889, 128894, 12820117, 12820119, 12820124, 12820329, 12820525, 2 9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0661 with customised shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment

Abstract

The present invention is a gel cushion that is placed on a user'"'"'s nose bridge before putting on a ventilator mask. The gel cushion is composed of a tacky gel material, such as a viscoelastic polymer gel. The gel cushion is wider than the edges of the ventilator mask and remains in place even if the mask is repositioned. The gel cushion adapts to the user'"'"'s face in the area on and around the nose bridge to cushion and seal the ventilator mask in that area.

Claims

1. A cushion pad for a ventilator mask arranged to form a seal with a user'"'"'s face so as to provide pressurized gas to the user, the cushion pad comprising:

a first surface adapted to contact the user'"'"'s face when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s face;

a second surface opposite the first surface; and

an edge surface extending from the first surface to the second surface around a perimeter of the cushion pad, wherein

central portions of the first and second surfaces together form a central region of the cushion pad, the central region being adapted to extend along a central ridge of the user'"'"'s nose to at least the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose,

lateral portions of the first and second surfaces form a pair of side regions of the cushion pad that extend in opposite directions laterally from the central region and are adapted to extend laterally from the user'"'"'s nose to an area beyond the user'"'"'s nose when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose,

the cushion pad is adapted to assist the seal in avoiding undue leakage of gas,

the cushion pad is separate from the ventilator mask,

a thickness of the central region tapers at a first slope from an upper portion to a lower portion of the central region so that the thickness at the upper portion is greater than the thickness at the lower portion, and

a portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region tapers from the second surface to the first surface at a second slope that is different from the first slope.

2. A cushion pad as recited in claim 1, wherein a thickness of at least a portion of the central region is greater than a thickness of the pair of side regions.

3. A cushion pad as recited in claim 2, wherein the thickness of the central region tapers toward the side regions.

4. A cushion pad as recited in claim 3, wherein a maximum thickness of the cushion pad is about ⅛

of an inch to about 3/16 of an inch.

5. A cushion pad as recited in claim 4, wherein a minimum thickness of the cushion pad is about 1/16 of an inch to about ⅛

of an inch.

6. A cushion pad as recited in claim 5, wherein a distance between distal ends of the side regions is about 3 inches to about 4⅛

inches.

7. A cushion pad as recited in claim 6, wherein a distance between the upper portion of the central region and the lower portion of the central region is about 1 13/32 inches to about 2 inches.

8. A cushion pad as recited in claim 3, wherein the cushion pad is comprised of a tacky gel material.

9. A cushion pad as recited in claim 8, wherein the tackiness of the gel material is sufficient to maintain the cushion pad on the user'"'"'s face.

10. A cushion pad as recited in claim 9, wherein the cushion pad comprises a single layer of material.

11. A cushion pad as recited in claim 10, wherein the cushion pad is scented.

12. A cushion pad as recited in claim 1, wherein the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region forms an acute angle with the first surface and forms an obtuse angle with the second surface.

13. A cushion pad as recited in claim 12, wherein the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region is positioned to be distal to the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the cushion pad is placed on the user'"'"'s nose.

14. A cushion pad as recited in claim 1, wherein the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region of the cushion pad is angled so that the first surface extends beyond the second surface.

15. A cushion pad as recited in claim 14, wherein the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region is arranged to avoid undue leakage of gas where the cushion pad ends.

16. A cushion pad as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushion pad is configured to protect a patient'"'"'s face from damage caused by the ventilator mask being supported against the patient'"'"'s face.

17. A cushion pad as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushion pad is configured to form a seal with the ventilator mask when the ventilator mask engages the cushion pad.

18. A ventilator mask comprising head straps, wherein the ventilator mask is configured to be sealingly engaged with a cushion pad as recited in claim 11.

19. A ventilator mask as recited in claim 18, wherein the ventilator mask is a continuous positive pressure airway (CPAP) mask.

40. A patient interface comprising:

a ventilator mask; and

a cushion pad as recited in claim 1,

wherein the ventilator mask and the cushion pad form a sealed chamber adapted to maintain gas at a predetermined positive pressure.

41. A patient interface as recited in claim 40, wherein the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region is angled so that the first surface extends beyond the second surface, at least a section of the portion of the edge surface in the lower portion of the central region being adapted to be positioned inside a chamber formed by the ventilator mask when the ventilator mask is positioned on the cushion pad.

20. A cushion pad for a ventilator mask arranged to form a seal with a user'"'"'s face so as to provide pressurized gas to the user, the cushion pad comprising:

a first surface adapted to contact the user'"'"'s face when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s face;

a second surface opposite the first surface; and

an edge around a perimeter of the cushion pad, the edge connecting the first surface to the second surface, wherein

central portions of the first and second surfaces together form a central lobe adapted to extend along a central ridge of the user'"'"'s nose to at least the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose,

lateral portions of the first and second surfaces form a pair of side lobes that extend laterally in opposite directions from the central lobe and are adapted to extend laterally from the user'"'"'s nose to an area beyond the user'"'"'s nose when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose,

the cushion pad is adapted to assist the seal in avoiding undue leakage of gas,

the cushion is substantially T-shaped,

the cushion pad is separate from the ventilator mask,

a thickness of the cushion pad tapers at a first slope from an upper end of the cushion pad to a lower end of the cushion pad so that the thickness of the cushion pad at the upper end of the cushion pad is greater than the thickness of the cushion pad at the lower end of the cushion pad, and

a portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad tapers from the second surface to the first surface at a second slope that is different from the first slope.

21. A cushion pad as recited in claim 20, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is beveled.

22. A cushion pad as recited in claim 21, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is configured so that the first surface extends beyond the second surface.

23. A cushion pad as recited in claim 22, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is positioned to be distal to the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the cushion pad is placed on the user'"'"'s nose.

24. A cushion pad as recited in claim 21, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad forms an acute angle with the first surface, forms an obtuse angle with the second surface and is adapted to extend from a first side of the user'"'"'s nose to a second side of the user'"'"'s nose when the cushion pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose.

25. A cushion pad as recited in claim 21, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is arranged to avoid undue leakage of gas where the cushion pad ends.

26. A cushion pad as recited in claim 20, wherein a thickness of at least a portion of the central lobe is greater than a thickness of the pair of side lobes.

27. A cushion pad as recited in claim 26, wherein the thickness of the cushion pad at the central lobe tapers toward each of said pair of side lobes.

42. A patient interface comprising:

a ventilator mask; and

a cushion pad as recited in claim 20,

wherein the ventilator mask forms a chamber adapted to maintain gas at a predetermined positive pressure.

43. A patient interface as recited in claim 42, wherein the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is beveled and wherein the at least a section of the portion of the edge at the lower end of the cushion pad is adapted to be positioned inside a chamber formed by the ventilator mask when the ventilator mask is positioned on the cushion pad.

28. A cushion kit for a ventilator mask arranged to form a seal with a user'"'"'s face so as to provide pressurized gas to the user, in use, the cushion kit comprising:

a first pad separate from the ventilator mask and having a substantially T-shape with a central lobe and two side lobes, the central lobe being adapted to contact the user'"'"'s face and extend upward from a central ridge of the user'"'"'s nose to at least the user'"'"'s nose bridge and the side lobes being adapted to contact the user'"'"'s face and laterally extend from the user'"'"'s nose to an area beyond the patient'"'"'s nose when the first pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose;

a second pad separate from the ventilator mask; and

a sealable container containing both pads,

wherein at least the first pad has a first surface adapted to contact the user'"'"'s face when the respective pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s face, a second surface opposite the first surface and a side surface connecting a side edge of the first surface to a side edge of the second surface,

wherein the central lobe and the two side lobes of the first pad are formed by the first and second surfaces,

wherein at least the first pad is adapted to assist the seal in avoiding undue leakage of gas,

wherein a thickness of the first pad tapers at a first slope from an upper portion of the first pad to a lower portion of the first pad so that the thickness of the first pad at the upper portion of the first pad is greater than the thickness at the lower portion of the first pad, and

a portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad tapers at a second slope that is different from the first slope.

29. A cushion kit as recited in claim 28, wherein the first pad and the second pad have different shapes.

30. A cushion kit as recited in claim 29, wherein the first and second pads are comprised of a tacky gel, the tackiness of the gel being sufficient to maintain the first and second pads on the user'"'"'s face.

31. A cushion kit as recited in claim 30, wherein the thickness of the first pad at the central lobe is greater than the thickness of the first pad at the side lobes.

32. A cushion kit as recited in claim 31, wherein the thickness of the central lobe of the first pad tapers toward the side lobes.

33. A cushion kit as recited in claim 30, wherein the first and second pads each comprise a single layer.

34. A cushion kit as recited in claim 28, wherein the portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad is structured so that the first surface extends beyond the second surface.

35. A cushion kit as recited in claim 34, wherein the portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad is positioned to be distal to the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the first pad is placed on the user'"'"'s nose.

36. A cushion kit as recited in claim 34, wherein the side surface is arranged to avoid undue leakage of gas where the first pad ends.

37. A cushion kit as recited in claim 28, wherein the portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad is adapted to extend from a first side of the user'"'"'s nose to a second side of the user'"'"'s nose when the first pad is positioned on the user'"'"'s nose.

38. A ventilator mask comprising head straps, the ventilator mask being configured so that when the ventilator mask is mounted on a user'"'"'s head, a main portion of the ventilator mask is placed on a first cushion pad as recited in claim 28, and the head straps engage a second cushion pad separate from the ventilator mask, the main portion of the ventilator mask is configured to form a seal with the first cushion pad.

39. A ventilator mask as recited in claim 38, wherein the portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad is distal to the user'"'"'s nose bridge when the first pad is placed on the user'"'"'s nose, and the ventilator mask is configured so that when the ventilator mask is mounted on the user'"'"'s head, the ventilator mask forms a chamber and at least a section of the portion of the side surface at the lower portion of the first pad is positioned inside the chamber.