CUSHION TO FRAME ASSEMBLY MECHANISM

• US 20150007816A1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: D'SOUZA, Errol Savio Alex, DAVIDSON, Aaron Samuel, HITCHCOCK, Robin Garth
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.27
• 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 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking

Abstract

A patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to an entrance of a patient'"'"'s airways including: a cushion member that includes a face contacting portion, a retaining structure and a resiliently flexible lip; and a frame member, wherein the retaining structure and the frame member are repeatedly engageable with and disengageable from one another, wherein a gas chamber is formed at least in part by engagement of the cushion member and the frame member, and wherein the resiliently flexible lip is configured to provide a sealing force between the cushion member and the frame member.

Claims

1. A patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to an entrance of a patient'"'"'s airways comprising:

a cushion member that includes a face contacting portion, a retaining structure and a resiliently flexible lip; and

a frame member,

wherein the retaining structure and the frame member are repeatedly engageable with and disengageable from one another,

wherein a gas chamber is formed at least in part by engagement of the cushion member and the frame member, and

wherein the resiliently flexible lip is configured to provide a sealing force between the cushion member and the frame member and the resiliently flexible lip projects laterally from a wall that forms part of a groove in a tongue and groove arrangement.

2. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the resiliently flexible lip comprises a sealing lip that seals against the frame member when the retaining structure and frame member are attached to one another, and when air pressure increases within the cushion member, the sealing force is increased.

3. The patient interface of claim 2, wherein the sealing lip is a continuous inner peripheral edge integral to the resiliently flexible lip.

4. The patient interface of claim 3, wherein the sealing lip has an overall non-planar shape.

5. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure and the frame member are more rigid than the resiliently flexible lip.

6. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a channel configured to receive a respective mating feature of said cushion member.

7. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein said cushion member comprises a channel configured to receive a respective mating feature of said frame member.

8. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the resiliently flexible lip serves both nares of the patient with a single orifice.

9. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the face contacting portion includes a double wall construction.

10. The patient interface of claim 9, wherein the double wall construction includes a membrane and a cushion underlying the membrane.

11. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein an increase in air pressure within the cushion causes the sealing force.

12. The patient interface of claim 11, wherein the increase in air pressure is interior to the cushion member.

13. The patient interface of claim 11, wherein the increase in air pressure is within the gas chamber.

14. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the sealing force is between the resiliently flexible lip and the frame member.

15. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the groove extends in a direction and the resiliently flexible lip extends transverse to the direction.

16. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the groove extends parallel to an engagement direction between the retaining structure and the frame member.