NASAL MASK INTERFACE ASSEMBLY

• US 20170266403A1
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,413,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a side wall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of a nose of a user in use, the lower section defining left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the side wall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the side wall that are adjacent to the left and right portions;

a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the side wall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of flange and adapted to contact a face of the user in use at a location above a vermillion border and below a user'"'"'s nares, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of a nose of a user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extend between the lip surface and the lateral surface, the left and right cheek surfaces adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of a user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of a user; and

a left thickened panel positioned along a left side of the upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels being configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of a user'"'"'s nose in use;

wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from an interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band.

2. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed along the edge of the flange that defines the opening.

3. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that defines the opening.

4. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein the left and right thickened panels have top edges angled relative to the edge of the flange, and bottom edges perpendicular to the edge of the flange.

5. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a side wall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of a nose of a user in use;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the side wall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of flange and adapted to contact a face of the user in use at a below a user'"'"'s nares, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of a nose of a user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extend between the lip surface and the lateral surface; and

a left thickened panel positioned along a left side of the upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels being configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of a user'"'"'s nose in use;

wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from an interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band.

6. The seal member according to claim 5, the lower section of the sidewall defining left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the side wall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the side wall that are adjacent to the left and right portions.

7. The seal member according to claim 5 additionally comprising a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall.

8. The seal member according to claim 5, wherein the left and right cheek surfaces adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of a user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of a user in use.

9. The seal member according to claim 5, wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that defines the opening.

10. The seal member according to claim 5, wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that defines the opening.

11. The seal member according to claim 5, wherein the left and right thickened panels have top edges angled relative to the edge of the flange, and bottom edges perpendicular to the edge of the flange.

12. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a side wall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of a nose of a user in use;

a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the side wall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of a user; and

a left thickened panel positioned along a left side of an upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels being separate from the thickened band and configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of a user'"'"'s nose in use.

13. The seal member according to claim 12, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of flange and adapted to contact a face of the user in use at a below a user'"'"'s nares, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of a nose of a user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extend between the lip surface and the lateral surface

14. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from an interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band.

15. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein the lower section of the sidewall define left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the side wall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the side wall that are adjacent to the left and right portions.

16. The seal member according to claim 12 additionally comprising a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall.

17. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein the left and right cheek surfaces adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of a user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of a user in use.

18. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed along the edge of the flange that defines the opening.

19. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that defines the opening.

20. The seal member according to claim 12, wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that defines the opening.