Unobtrusive Nasal Mask

• US 20200330713A1
• Filed: 07/07/2020
• Published: 10/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barlow, Adam Francis, Eves, Matthew, Von Moger, Lochlan, Hill, Phoebe Katherine, Stuebiger, Kai, Anderson, Peter Ross
• Granted Patent: US 10,974,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0075 Bellows-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0644 having the means for adjusting its position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/02 characterised by a particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a sealing portion including a nose tip engagement portion adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nose tip, an upper lip engagement portion adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s upper lip and/or base of the patient'"'"'s nares, and nostril engagement flaps adapted to form a seal with the patient'"'"'s nares. The nose tip engagement portion, the upper lip engagement portion, and the nostril engagement flaps are all structured to extend or curve outwardly from a supporting wall defining an air path.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A positive airway pressure system for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:

a mask with a seal portion that is shaped to seal with a face of a patient around nares of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, the seal portion defining a first aperture to provide pressurized air from an interior of the mask to both nares of the patient, the seal portion comprising a hanging flexible membrane that surrounds the first aperture and includes;

a nose tip engagement portion shaped to contact a tip of a nose of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient and being flexible toward a distal portion of the mask when the nose tip engagement portion contacts the nose of the patient;

an upper lip engagement portion shaped to contact an upper lip region of the patient, a base of the nose of the patient, or both the upper lip region of the patient and the base of the nose of the patient;

a first nostril engagement flap portion located between the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion on a first side of the mask; and

a second nostril engagement flap portion located between the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion on a second side of the mask opposite from the first side of the mask; and

headgear structured to maintain the mask in position on the face of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, the headgear including;

a first side headgear portion attachable to the mask at the first side of the mask so that the first side headgear portion extends between a first eye of the patient and a first ear of the patient on a first side of a head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient; and

a second side headgear portion attachable to the mask at the second side of the mask so that the second side headgear portion extends between a second eye of the patient and a second ear of the patient on a second side of the head of the patient opposite from the first side of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

22. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein the headgear includes:

a top headgear portion that both connects to the first headgear portion above the first ear of the patient and connects to the second headgear portion above the second ear of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, and that passes over a top of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient; and

a back headgear portion that both connects to the first headgear portion above the first ear of the patient and connects to the second headgear portion above the second ear of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, and that passes around a back of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

23. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein the mask is shaped to not extend into nostrils of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

24. The positive airway pressure system of claim 23, wherein the seal portion forms a nasal cradle, and the mask avoids contact with a nasal bridge region of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

25. The positive airway pressure system of claim 24, wherein the first nostril engagement flap portion and the second nostril engagement flap portion are angled with respect to each other in a V-shaped orientation at a first angle of about 75-95 degrees.

26. The positive airway pressure system of claim 25, wherein:

the seal portion includes an annular supporting wall;

the first nostril engagement flap portion extends away from the annular supporting wall; and

the second nostril engagement flap portion extends away from the annular supporting wall.

26-1. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein:

the mask is connectable to an air-delivery conduit to receive pressurized air through a second aperture that is spaced apart from the first aperture, wherein the mask includes an interior surface between the first aperture and the second aperture that is in communication with pressurized air when pressurized air is provided to the mask from the air-delivery conduit; and

the hanging flexible membrane is a continuous extension of the interior surface that is in communication with pressurized air when pressurized air is provided to the mask from the air-delivery conduit.

27. The positive airway pressure system of claim 26, wherein the first aperture has a width of about 15-40 mm.

28. The positive airway pressure system of claim 27, wherein the first aperture has a height of about 5-15 mm, the width of the first aperture being greater than the height of the first aperture.

29. The positive airway pressure system of claim 28, wherein a length of the nose tip engagement portion between the first aperture and a periphery of the hanging flexible membrane is about 12-18 mm.

30. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein the seal portion includes a first stiffer portion integrally formed with the first nostril engagement flap portion and a second stiffer portion integrally formed with the second nostril engagement flap portion, each of the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion being more stiff than each of the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion.

31. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein:

the first stiffer portion extends radially from the first aperture to a periphery of the hanging flexible membrane on the first side of the mask; and

the second stiffer portion extends radially from the first aperture to the periphery of the hanging flexible membrane on the second side of the mask.

32. The positive airway pressure system of claim 31, wherein:

the nose tip engagement portion includes a first flexible portion that is less stiff than each of the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion, the first flexible portion extending radially from the first aperture to the periphery of the seal portion;

the upper lip engagement portion includes a second flexible portion that is less stiff than each of the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion, the second flexible portion extending radially from the first aperture to the periphery of the seal portion; and

each of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion are located between the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion.

33. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion are more stiff than each of the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion due to both the first stiffer portion having a greater thickness than each of the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion and the second stiffer portion having greater thickness than each of the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion.

34. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein the hanging flexible membrane comprises varying materials, with the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion comprising a harder material than the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion.

35. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein:

the first stiffer portion is located within the seal portion to seal with a portion of the nose of the patient adjacent a first nasal labial crease of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient; and

the second stiffer portion is located within the seal portion to seal with a portion of the nose of the patient adjacent a second nasal labial crease of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

36. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein:

a thickness of the first stiffer portion is about 1-5 mm; and

a thickness of the second stiffer portion is about 1-5 mm.

37. The positive airway pressure system of claim 36, wherein:

the first stiffer portion has a radius of curvature of between about 2.4 mm-6 mm; and

the second stiffer portion has a radius of curvature of between about 2.4 mm-6 mm.

38. The positive airway pressure system of claim 30, wherein the first stiffer portion and the second stiffer portion define portions of the hanging flexible membrane having the greatest stiffness.

39. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein:

the first nostril engagement flap portion includes a first integrally molded thickened region that is more rigid than the nose-tip engagement portion; and

the second nostril engagement flap portion includes a second integrally molded thickened region that is more rigid than the nose-tip engagement portion.

40. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein:

the mask includes a frame to which the seal portion is attached;

the first side headgear portion is attachable to the mask at a first side of the frame;

the second side headgear portion is attachable to the mask a second side of the frame opposite from the first side of the frame;

the hanging flexible membrane is formed of silicone; and

the frame is more rigid than the hanging flexible membrane and is formed of a material different from silicone.

41. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein the mask is connectable to a first air delivery conduit at the first side of the mask and a second air delivery conduit at the second side of the mask.

42. The positive airway pressure system of claim 21, wherein the headgear includes means for connecting the first side headgear portion to the mask at the first side of the mask and means for connecting the second side headgear portion to the mask at the second side of the mask.

43. The positive airway pressure system of claim 42, wherein the seal portion includes means for varying stiffness among different portions of the hanging flexible membrane.

44. The positive airway pressure system of claim 43, wherein the mask includes a frame that is more rigid than the hanging flexible membrane, and the mask includes means for connecting the frame to the hanging flexible membrane.

45. A positive airway pressure system for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:

a mask with a seal portion that is shaped to seal with a face of a patient around nares of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, the seal portion defining a first aperture to provide air from an interior of the mask to both nares of the patient, the mask being shaped to not extend into nostrils of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient and being shaped to avoid contact with a nasal bridge region of the patient, the mask defining a second aperture that is spaced apart from the first aperture and through which the mask is adapted to receive pressurized air from an air-delivery conduit that is attachable to the mask at the second aperture, the mask including an interior surface between the first aperture and the second aperture that is in communication with pressurized air when pressurized air is provided to the mask through the second aperture from the air-delivery conduit, wherein the seal portion comprises a hanging flexible membrane that surrounds the first aperture and includes;

a nose tip engagement portion shaped to contact a tip of a nose of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient and being flexible toward a distal portion of the mask when the nose tip engagement portion contacts the nose of the patient;

an upper lip engagement portion shaped to contact an upper lip region of the patient, a base of the nose of the patient, or both the upper lip region of the patient and the base of the nose of the patient;

a first nostril engagement flap portion located between the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion on a first side of the mask, the first nostril engagement flap portion including a first stiffer portion that is more stiff than the nose tip engagement portion and more stiff than the upper lip engagement portion; and

a second nostril engagement flap portion located between the nose tip engagement portion and the upper lip engagement portion on a second side of the mask opposite from the first side of the mask, the second nostril engagement flap portion including a second stiffer portion that is more stiff than the nose tip engagement portion and more stiff than the upper lip engagement portion,

wherein the hanging flexible membrane is a continuous extension of the interior surface that is in communication with pressurized air when pressurized air is provided to the mask from the air-delivery conduit; and

headgear structured to maintain the mask in position on the face of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, the headgear including;

a first side headgear portion attachable to the mask at the first side of the mask so that the first side headgear portion extends between a first eye of the patient and a first ear of the patient on a first side of a head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient;

a second side headgear portion attachable to the mask at the second side of the mask so that the second side headgear portion extends between a second eye of the patient and a second ear of the patient on a second side of the head of the patient opposite from the first side of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient;

a top headgear portion that both connects to the first headgear portion above the first ear of the patient and connects to the second headgear portion above the second ear of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, and that passes over a top of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient; and

a back headgear portion that both connects to the first headgear portion above the first ear of the patient and connects to the second headgear portion above the second ear of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient, and that passes around a back of the head of the patient when the mask is worn by the patient.

46. The positive airway pressure system of claim 45, wherein:

the first stiffer portion extends radially from the first aperture to a periphery of the hanging flexible membrane on the first side of the mask; and

the second stiffer portion extends radially from the first aperture to the periphery of the hanging flexible membrane on the second side of the mask.