PATIENT INTERFACE ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED STABILIZATION

• US 20120216812A1
• Filed: 04/17/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: MATULA, JEROME Jr., PASTOOR, SANDER THEODOOR, BUSTRAAN, KRIJN FREDERIK, SEVERIJN, TOM JAN, JOSEPHUS VAN DER HORST, ADRIANUS JOHANNES
• Granted Patent: US 9,604,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors

Abstract

A patient interface assembly includes a support member having a central support portion and a pair of cheek mount supports coupled to the central portion. Each cheek mount support applies a force on or on a side of a user'"'"'s cheekbone. A seal member is coupled to the support portion and seals against the user. An additional nasal support member is provided that includes a first lateral side member operatively coupled to the central support portion and arranged to be disposed along a first side of a user'"'"'s nose, and a second lateral side member also operatively coupled the central support portion and arranged to be disposed along a second side of a user'"'"'s nose. At least a portion of the first lateral side member and the second lateral side member is rigid or semi rigid.

Claims

1. A patient interface assembly comprising:

(a) a support member comprising a central support portion and a pair of cheek mount supports coupled to the central portion, wherein each cheek mount support is configured to apply a force on or on a side of a user'"'"'s cheekbone;

(b) a seal member operatively coupled to the support portion and being adapted to seal against a surface of a user to communicate a flow of gas with an airway of such a user; and

(c) an additional nasal support member comprising;

(1) a first lateral side member having a first end operatively coupled to a second side of the central support portion and arranged to be disposed along a first side of a user'"'"'s nose, and

(2) a second lateral side member having a first end operatively coupled to a second side of the central support portion and arranged to be disposed along a second side of a user'"'"'s nose, wherein at least a portion of the first lateral side member and the second lateral side member is rigid or semi rigid.

2. A patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted for applying a stabilizing force on a lacrimal bone or maxilla of the user responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by the user.

3. A patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional nasal support member further comprises a connection member adapted for coupling a second end of the first lateral side member with a second end of the second lateral side member.

4. A patient interface assembly according to claim 3, wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted and/or arranged for applying a stabilizing force on the nasal bone of the user responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by the user.

5. A patient interface assembly according to claim 2, wherein the additional nasal support member is configured for applying a stabilizing force which at least partially limits a force component exerted on a lower nose area of the patient by the sealing member, responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a user, the stabilizing force acting between the patient interface assembly and a nasal area of the user.

6. A patient interface assembly according to claim 2, wherein the additional nasal support member is directly coupled with the support member and comprises at least one discrete contact point with the user'"'"'s nasal area when the patient interface assembly is worn by the user, and wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted for not coming in contact with a user'"'"'s face except for the at least one discrete contact point responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by the user.

7. A patient interface assembly according to claim 2, wherein the additional nasal support member comprises two or three discrete contact points with the user'"'"'s nasal area when the patient interface assembly is worn by the user, and wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted for not coming in contact with a user'"'"'s face except for the at least the two or three discrete contact points responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by the user.

8. A patient interface according to claim 1, wherein the cheek mount supports comprise a first member that is adapted to pass below the apex of the cheekbone when the patient interface is being worn by such a user, and such that no substantial translation of the cheek support member towards the eye, in a first direction defined by a straight line connecting the cheek bone apex and the eye of the user, is possible responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a user;

and wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted and arranged such that it limits the force exerted on the seal member by limiting a translational movement of the cheek mount support member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

9. A patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cheek mount support comprises a first member that is adapted to pass below the apex of the cheekbone when the patient interface is being worn by such a user, and such that no substantial translation of the cheek mount support member towards the eye, in a first direction defined by a straight line connecting the cheek bone apex and the eye of the user, is possible responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a user;

and wherein the additional nasal support member is adapted and arranged such that it limits the force exerted on the seal member by further limiting a rotational movement of the cheek mount support member responsive to the patient interface being worn by a user.

10. A patient interface assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cheek mount support member further comprises a second member that is adapted to pass between an apex of a cheekbone and an eye of a user when the patient interface is being worn by such a user;

and wherein the first member and the second member are fixedly coupled to each other such that they define an opening, the opening adapted for receiving the apex of the user'"'"'s cheekbone, and such that no substantial translation of the cheek mount support member away from the eye, in the first direction, is possible responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by a user.

11. The patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support member and the additional support member are unitary.

12. The patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is rotatably coupled to the support member.

13. A patient interface assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cheek mount supports comprise a first end portion positioned towards a central part of the user'"'"'s face and a second end portion positioned further away from the central part, when the patient interface assembly is worn by the user, further comprising a stabilization element which couples the additional nasal support member with the second end portion of the cheek mount support and which is adapted for maintaining a contact between the additional nasal support member and the nasal area responsive to the patient interface assembly being worn by the user.

14. A patient interface assembly according to claim 13, wherein the stabilization element is elastic.

15. The patient interface assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a headgear assembly operatively coupled to the cheek mount support.