MASK WITH REMOVABLE HEADGEAR CONNECTOR

• US 20150122254A1
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: HENRY, Robert Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,937,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets

Abstract

A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, may comprise: a rigid mask frame having a bore and an interfacing structure, the interfacing structure being located on the rigid mask frame and along a peripheral edge of the bore, said mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points; a sealing cushion provided to the rigid mask frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s face, the rigid mask frame and the sealing cushion together forming, at least partly, a breathing cavity; and a headgear connector adapted to engage the interfacing structure with a snap-fit, said headgear connector including a pair of lower headgear clip anchors adapted to be engaged with respective ones of a pair of tower headgear clips to attach a pair of lower side straps, said headgear connector including a fixed forehead support.

Claims

1. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask comprising:

a rigid mask frame having a bore and an interfacing structure, the interfacing structure being located on the rigid mask frame and along a peripheral edge of the bore, said mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points;

a sealing cushion provided to the rigid mask frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s face, the rigid mask frame and the sealing cushion together forming, at least partly, a breathing cavity; and

a headgear connector adapted to engage the interfacing structure with a snap-fit, said headgear connector including a pair of lower headgear clip anchors adapted to be engaged with respective ones of a pair of lower headgear clips to attach a pair of lower side straps, said headgear connector including a fixed forehead support, said fixed forehead support including a pair of openings adapted to attach to respective ones of a pair of upper side straps.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the rigid mask frame and the sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask or a nasal mask.

3. The mask according to claim 2, wherein the sealing cushion is secured to the rigid mask frame.

4. The mask according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said mask frame.

5. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising an elbow assembly, said elbow assembly being adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the breathable gas to the breathing cavity.

6. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the headgear connector is removably attachable to the rigid mask frame.

7. The mask according to claim 6, wherein when said mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another.

8. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the bore is located on a front face of the rigid mask frame.

9. The mask according to claim 1, comprising a vent for gas washout.

10. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the fixed forehead support is T-shaped.

11. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the sealing cushion and the rigid mask frame are permanently attached.

12. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said headgear connector is constructed of a similar material as the rigid mask frame.

13. The mask according to claim 1, wherein said headgear connector and said mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

14. The mask according to claim 13, wherein said headgear connector and said mask frame are constructed of polycarbonate.

15. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elbow assembly, said elbow assembly being adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the breathable gas to the breathing cavity; and

a vent for gas washout,

wherein the rigid mask frame and the sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask or a nasal mask,

wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said mask frame,

wherein the headgear connector is removably attachable to the rigid mask frame,

wherein when said mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another,

wherein the sealing cushion and the rigid mask frame are permanently attached, and

wherein said headgear connector and said mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

16. A mask system for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:

a headgear including a pair of upper side straps, a pair of lower side straps, and a rear portion; and

the mask according to claim 1,

wherein the pair of lower headgear clips are adapted to receive respective ones of the pair of lower side straps.

17. The mask system according to claim 16, wherein the pair of upper side straps are arranged to extend above the patient'"'"'s ears and the pair of lower side straps are arranged to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears.

18. The mask system according to claim 17, wherein the rear portion of the headgear is adapted to cup the occiput of the patient'"'"'s head.

19. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask comprising:

a one-piece rigid mask frame having a bore and a flange projecting from the one-piece rigid mask frame at a peripheral edge of the bore, the one-piece rigid mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points;

a soft sealing cushion provided to the one-piece rigid mask frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s face;

an elbow assembly, said elbow assembly being adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the breathable gas to a breathing cavity defined by the one-piece rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion; and

a headgear connector having an opening and an attachment structure associated with the opening, the attachment structure being adapted to engage the flange of the one-piece rigid mask frame to removably connect the headgear connector to the one-piece rigid mask frame, said bore and said opening being concentrically disposed about a common axis in use,

wherein the headgear connector and the one-piece rigid mask frame are detachably connected together by translating the one-piece rigid mask frame and the headgear connector towards one another along the common axis until a snap-fit connection is established between the attachment structure of the headgear connector and the flange of the one-piece rigid mask frame, and

wherein said headgear connector includes a fixed forehead support.

20. The mask according to claim 19, wherein the one-piece rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask or a nasal mask.

21. The mask according to claim 19, wherein the soft sealing cushion is secured to the one-piece rigid mask frame.

22. The mask according to claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said one-piece rigid mask frame.

23. The mask according to claim 19, wherein when said one-piece rigid mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the one-piece rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another.

24. The mask according to claim 19, wherein the bore is located on a front face of the one-piece rigid mask frame.

25. The mask according to claim 19, comprising a vent for gas washout.

26. The mask according to claim 19, wherein the fixed forehead support is T-shaped.

27. The mask according to claim 19, wherein the soft sealing cushion and the one-piece rigid mask frame are permanently attached.

28. The mask according to claim 19, wherein said headgear connector is constructed of a similar material as the one-piece rigid mask frame.

29. The mask according to claim 19, wherein said headgear connector and said one-piece rigid mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

30. The mask according to claim 29, wherein said headgear connector and said one-piece rigid mask frame are constructed of polycarbonate.

31. The mask according to claim 19, further comprising a vent for gas washout,

wherein the one-piece rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask or a nasal mask,

wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said one-piece rigid mask frame,

wherein when said one-piece rigid mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the one-piece rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another,

wherein the soft sealing cushion and the one-piece rigid mask frame are permanently attached, and

wherein said headgear connector and said one-piece rigid mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

32. A mask system for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:

a headgear including a pair of upper side straps, a pair of lower side straps, and a rear portion;

a pair of lower headgear clip anchors formed on said headgear connector and adapted to be engaged with respective ones of a pair of lower headgear clips to attach the pair of lower side straps, the pair of lower headgear clips being adapted to receive respective ones of the pair of lower side straps;

a pair of openings formed on said forehead support adapted to attach to respective ones of the pair of upper side straps; and

the mask according to claim 19.

33. The mask system according to claim 32, wherein the pair of upper side straps are arranged to extend above the patient'"'"'s ears and the pair of lower side straps are arranged to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears.

34. The mask system according to claim 33, wherein the rear portion of the headgear is adapted to cup the occiput of the patient'"'"'s head.

35. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask comprising:

a rigid mask frame, the rigid mask frame including a main body, an annular elbow connection seal, and a vent for gas washout;

a soft sealing cushion provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s face, the rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion together forming, at least partly, a breathing cavity;

an elbow assembly having a first end adapted to engage the frame at the annular elbow connection seal and a second end adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient; and

a headgear connector including upper headgear attachment points and lower headgear attachment points structured to receiving corresponding headgear straps,

wherein the headgear connector comprises a rear edge that projects rearwardly toward the patient in use such that the rear edge is positioned proximal to the soft sealing cushion when the headgear connector is removably connected to the rigid mask frame.

36. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the rigid mask frame includes at least one interfacing structure at a peripheral edge to removably connect the headgear connector to the rigid mask frame with a snap-fit.

37. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the headgear connector further comprises a plurality of tabs to removably connect the headgear connector to the rigid mask frame with a snap-fit.

38. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the headgear connector further comprises a fixed forehead support.

39. The mask according to claim 38, wherein the fixed forehead support is T-shaped.

40. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask.

41. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the soft sealing cushion is secured to the rigid mask frame.

42. The mask according to claim 35, wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said rigid mask frame.

43. The mask according to claim 35, wherein when said rigid mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another.

44. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the soft sealing cushion and the rigid mask frame are permanently attached.

45. The mask according to claim 35, wherein said headgear connector is constructed of a similar material as the rigid mask frame.

46. The mask according to claim 35, wherein said headgear connector and said rigid mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

47. The mask according to claim 46, wherein said headgear connector and said rigid mask frame are constructed of polycarbonate.

48. The mask according to claim 35, wherein the rigid mask frame includes at least one interfacing structure at a peripheral edge to removably connect the headgear connector to the rigid mask frame with a snap-fit,

wherein the headgear connector further comprises a plurality of tabs to removably connect the headgear connector to the rigid mask frame with a snap-fit,

wherein the headgear connector further comprises a fixed forehead support,

wherein the rigid mask frame and the soft sealing cushion comprise a full-face mask,

wherein the soft sealing cushion is secured to the rigid mask frame,

wherein at least a portion of said headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of said rigid mask frame,

wherein when said rigid mask frame and said headgear connector are attached, the rigid mask frame and the headgear connector are not movable relative to one another,

wherein the soft sealing cushion and the rigid mask frame are permanently attached, and

wherein said headgear connector and said rigid mask frame are constructed of a substantially rigid, non-malleable plastic material.

49. A mask system for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising:

a headgear including a pair of upper side straps, a pair of lower side straps, and a rear portion; and

the mask according to claim 35.

50. The mask system according to claim 49, wherein the pair of upper side straps are arranged to extend above the patient'"'"'s ears and the pair of lower side straps are arranged to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears, and

wherein the rear portion of the headgear is adapted to cup the occiput of the patient'"'"'s head.