Cushion and mask therefor

• US 20070261697A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kwok, Philip, Styles, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• 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 16/0622 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 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A nasal cushion (30) comprises a substantially triangularly frame (32) from which extends a membrane (34). The frame (32) has a scalloped edge (36) by which the cushion (30) is affixed to a mask body. The member (34) has an aperture (38) into which the wearer'"'"'s nose is received. The membrane (34) is spaced away from the rim (40) of the frame (32), and its or surface (41) is of substantially the same shape as the rim (40). Respective notches (42,44) receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"'s nose. The wearer'"'"'s nose is received through the aperture (38) into the chamber within the mask body (46). The seal forming portion (45) thus contacts both the surface of the wearer'"'"'s nose and a portion of the wearer'"'"'s face in the region between the base of the nose and the upper lip, and around the sides and over the bridge of the nose. The shape of the seal forming portion (45) is particularly suited to effectively seal the difficult region of the facial contour that is the crease between the sides of the nose and the face.

Claims

1. A nasal mask cushion to sealingly connect a mask to a wearer'"'"'s face, the cushion comprising:

a substantially triangularly-shaped frame of resilient material having a rim to surround wearer s nose;

a membrane also of resilient material, said membrane being relatively more flexible than said frame, and being of the same general shape as said rim and fixed to and extending away from said frame so as to have an outer surface spaced from said rim, a portion of said outer surface forming a face contacting seal; and

a nose-receiving cavity bounded by said frame and said membrane;

and wherein said seal portion is generally coterminous with respect to said rim and is resiliently deformable towards said rim in use of said cushion.

2. A nasal cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein said membrane and said rim have a co-located notch to accommodate the bridge of a nose.

3. A nasal cushion as claimed in claim 2, wherein said membrane and said rim are substantially saddle-shaped.

4. A nasal cushion as claimed in claim 3, wherein said membrane is shaped so that said seal portion, in use, contacts at least wearer'"'"'s nose.

5. A nasal cushion as claimed in claim 4, wherein said seal portion, in use, contacts the facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose, and between the base of the nose and the top lip.

6. A nasal cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rim and said seal portion are shaped to generally match facial contours in the region of facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose, and between the base of the nose and the top lip.

7. A nasal mask for connection to a wearer'"'"'s face comprising:

a mask body for connection with a supply of breathable gas; and

a nasal cushion, the body and cushion defining a nose-receiving cavity, said cushion including;

a substantially triangularly-shaped frame of resilient material having a rim to surround wearer s nose;

a membrane also of resilient material, said membrane being relatively more flexible than said frame, and being of the same general shape as said rim and fixed to and extending away from said frame so as to have an outer surface spaced from said frame, a portion of said outer surface forming a face contacting seal;

and wherein said seal portion is generally coterminous with respect to said rim and is resiliently deformable towards said rim in use of said mask.

8. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mask body includes attachment points.

9. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 8, further comprising securing straps fixed to said attachment points.

10. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 9, wherein said membrane and said rim each have a co-located notch to accommodate the bridge of a nose.

11. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 10, wherein said membrane and said rim are substantially saddle-shaped.

12. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 11, wherein said membrane is shaped so that said seal portion, in use, contacts at least wearer'"'"'s nose.

13. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 12, wherein said seal portion, in use, contacts the facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose, and between the base of the nose and the top lip.

14. A nasal mask as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rim and said seal portion are shaped to generally match facial contours in the region of facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose, and between the base of the nose and the top lip.

15-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A nasal mask cushion to sealingly connect a mask to a wearer'"'"'s face, the cushion comprising:

a substantially triangularly-shaped frame of resilient material having a rim shaped to generally match facial contours in the region of facial tissue around the sides and over the bridge of the nose, and between the base of the nose and the top lip;

a membrane also of resilient material, the membrane being relatively more flexible than the frame, and being of the same general shape as said rim and fixed to and extending away from the frame so as to have an outer surface spaced from the rim, a portion of said outer surface forming a face contacting seal; and

a nose-receiving cavity bounded by said frame and said membrane;

and wherein said seal portion is generally coterminous with respect to said rim and is resiliently deformable towards said rim in use of said cushion.