Nasal mask interface assembly

• US 10,653,854 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Prentice, Craig Robert, Ip, Bernard Tsz Lun, Boyes, Richard John, Richardson, Thomas Mark, McDermott, Gareth Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Stanis, Timothy A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murphy, Victoria
• Application Number:
  US14/127,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,881 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/0611 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 16/0683 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 2202/0085 product washed out
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

An interface assembly comprises a nasal mask that includes a seal having a rolling portion. The rolling portion of the seal rolls over a portion of a clip that secures the seal to a frame. The frame has a ball and socket connection to a connector. The connector comprises an elbow having integrally formed exhaust holes and a swivel.

Claims

1. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user and an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, the opening having an upper end defined by an upper portion of the edge, the opening having a lower end defined by a lower portion of the edge;

wherein the flange comprises a first cheek region and a second cheek region, the first cheek region comprising a first thickened portion and the second cheek region comprising a second thickened portion, wherein each of the first and second thickened portions projects from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface;

wherein a lowermost end of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portions is spaced above the lower end of the opening;

wherein the upper end of the opening is located higher on a user'"'"'s face than the lower end of the opening while the seal member is in use;

wherein portions of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion are located above the upper end of the opening; and

wherein each of the first and second thickened portions comprises a solid panel of additional material integral with the flange of the seal member.

2. The seal member of claim 1, wherein the first and second thickened portions are formed on the interior surface of the flange.

3. The seal member of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the seal member is overmoulded onto a clip member.

4. The seal member of claim 3, wherein the clip member comprises a feature that receives a complementary feature of an interface frame.

5. The seal member of claim 3, wherein the clip member tapers in a distal direction.

6. An interface assembly comprising a frame and a seal member removably connected to the frame, the seal member being configured in accordance with claim 1.

7. The seal member of claim 1, wherein the first and second thickened portions are positioned along upper portions of the respective first and second cheek regions.

8. The seal member of claim 1, wherein the first and second thickened portions each comprise locally thickened regions of the respective first and second cheek regions.

9. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises an inverted T-shape having a base portion and a vertical portion that is narrower than the base portion, wherein the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion are located above a transition between the base portion and the vertical portion of the opening.

10. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion extends to the edge of the opening.

11. The interface assembly of claim 10, wherein an outer lateral edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion terminates within the face contacting surface such that an entirety of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion is contained within the face contacting surface.

12. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first thickened portion extends laterally beyond a lateral-most portion of the edge within the first cheek region and the second thickened portion extends laterally beyond a lateral-most portion of the edge within the second cheek region.

13. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion originates at the edge of the opening and extends upwardly towards a lateral portion of the seal member.

14. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein an inner lateral edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion is shorter than an outer lateral edge of each of the first and second thickened portions.

15. The interface assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the face contacting surface is configured to contact a user'"'"'s nasal bridge and wherein a lower portion of the face contacting surface is configured to contact a user'"'"'s upper lip.

16. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user and an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, the opening having an upper end defined by an upper portion of the edge, the opening having a lower end defined by a lower portion of the edge;

wherein the flange comprises a first cheek region and a second cheek region, the first cheek region comprising a first thickened portion and the second cheek region comprising a second thickened portion, wherein each of the first and second thickened portions projects from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface;

wherein a lowermost end of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portions are spaced above the lower end of the opening;

wherein the first and second thickened portions are formed on the interior surface of the flange;

wherein the upper end of the opening is located higher on a user'"'"'s face than the lower end of the opening while the seal member is in use;

wherein an outer lateral edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion terminates within the face contacting surface such that an entirety of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion is contained within the face contacting surface and the outer lateral edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion is spaced from an outer periphery of the face contacting surface; and

wherein each of the first and second thickened portions is defined entirely by an increased thickness of the flange of the seal member.

17. The seal member of claim 16, wherein a distal portion of the seal member is overmoulded onto a clip member.

18. The seal member of claim 17, wherein the clip member comprises a feature that receives a complementary feature of an interface frame.

19. The seal member of claim 17, wherein the clip member tapers in a distal direction.

20. An interface assembly comprising a frame and a seal member removably connected to the frame, the seal member being configured in accordance with claim 16.

21. The seal member of claim 16, wherein the first and second thickened portions are positioned along upper portions of the respective first and second cheek regions.

22. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein portions of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion are located above the upper end of the opening.

23. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein the opening comprises an inverted T-shape having a base portion and a vertical portion that is narrower than the base portion, wherein the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion are located above a transition between the base portion and the vertical portion of the opening.

24. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion extends to the edge of the opening.

25. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein an upper edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion originates at the edge of the opening and extends upwardly towards a lateral portion of the seal member.

26. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein an inner lateral edge of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion is shorter than an outer lateral edge of each of the first and second thickened portions.

27. The interface assembly of claim 16, wherein an upper portion of the face contacting surface is configured to contact a user'"'"'s nasal bridge and wherein a lower portion of the face contacting surface is configured to contact a user'"'"'s upper lip.

28. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user and an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, the opening having an upper end defined by an upper portion of the edge, the opening having a lower end defined by a lower portion of the edge;

wherein the flange comprises a first cheek region and a second cheek region, the first cheek region comprising a first thickened portion and the second cheek region comprising a second thickened portion, wherein each of the first and second thickened portions projects from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface;

wherein a lowermost end of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portions are spaced above the lower end of the opening;

wherein the upper end of the opening is located higher on a user'"'"'s face than the lower end of the opening while the seal member is in use;

wherein portions of each of the first thickened portion and the second thickened portion are located above the upper end of the opening; and

wherein each of the first and second thickened portions is a locally thickened region that is integral with the flange of the seal member.