Patient interface device with universal headgear mounting member

• US 7,513,255 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ho, Peter Chi Fai, Busch, Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTER, KRISTEN CLARETTE
• Application Number:
  US11/440,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.27, 128/206.24, 128/207.11, 128/207.17, 128/202.27, 128/206.21, 128/206.26, 128/206.28, 128/207.13
• US Class Current: 128/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• 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 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets

Abstract

A patient interface device of the invention includes a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough, a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port, and a mounting member rotatably. The mounting member is coupled to the conduit coupling, or both such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell or conduit while the patient interface device is donned on a user.

Claims

1. A patient interface device comprising:

a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough;

a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port; and

a mounting member, including a strap connection portion, wherein the mounting member is rotatably coupled to the shell such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell while the patient interface device is donned on a user, wherein the port defines a rotation axis for the mounting member such that the mounting member rotates around the port, wherein the strap connection portion comprises a slot defined in the mounting member and adapted to be coupled to a strap of a headgear assembly, wherein the slot includes at least one ridge extending from an edge of the slot such that the slot is separated into a plurality of discrete recesses, and wherein each of the plurality of recesses is sized and configured to retain a strap of a headgear assembly.

2. The patient interface device of claim 1, further comprising a headgear assembly having at least one strap operatively coupled to the strap connection portion.

3. The patient interface device of claim 2, wherein the headgear assembly is a three-point headgear assembly, a four-point headgear assembly, a vertical headgear assembly, a horizontal headgear assembly, or a combination thereof.

4. The patient interface device of claim 1, wherein the conduit coupling has a first end operatively coupled to the shell and a second end adapted to be coupled to a patient circuit.

5. The patient interface device of claim 1, wherein the slot includes at least one tooth projection extending from an edge of the slot such that the tooth is urged against a strap of a headgear assembly and the strap is urged against an opposing edge of the slot, thereby acting as a bearing surface.

6. The patient interface device of claim 1, wherein the strap connection portion comprises a plurality of slots defined in a periphery of the mounting member.

9. The patient interface device of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is formed from a substantially rigid material, a substantially flexible material, or a combination thereof.

7. A patient interface device comprising:

a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough;

a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port;

a mounting member, including a strap connection portion, wherein the mounting member is rotatably coupled to the shell such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell while the patient interface device is donned on a user, wherein the port defines a rotation axis for the mounting member such that the mounting member rotates around the port, and wherein the mounting member is a generally circular disk, and wherein a central portion of the disk is rotatably attached to the shell in a position substantially adjacent the port.

8. A patient interface device comprising:

a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough;

a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port;

a mounting member, including a strap connection portion, wherein the mounting member is rotatably coupled to the shell such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell while the patient interface device is donned on a user, and wherein the port defines a rotation axis for the mounting member such that the mounting member rotates around the port; and

at least one flex slot defined in the mounting member to enhance a flexibility of the mounting member.

10. A patient interface device comprising:

sealing means for contacting a surface of a user;

conduit coupling means for coupling the sealing means with a patient circuit such that a flow of gas is communicated between the sealing means and the patient circuit; and

mounting means, operatively coupled to the sealing means, the conduit coupling means, or both, for coupling the patient interface device to a headgear such that the mounting means is rotatably coupled to the sealing means, wherein the mounting means is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking the mounting means in a fixed position relative to the sealing means, wherein a port in the sealing means defines a rotation axis for the mounting means such that the mounting means rotates around the port, and wherein the mounting means includes a strap connection portion comprising a slot defined in the mounting member and adapted to be coupled to a strap of a headgear assembly, wherein the slot includes at least one ridge extending from an edge of the slot such that the slot is separated into a plurality of discrete recesses, and wherein each of the plurality of recesses is sized and configured to retain a strap of a headgear assembly.

11. The patient interface device of claim 10, further comprising a headgear assembly having at least one strap operatively coupled to the strap connection portion.

12. The patient interface device of claim 11, wherein the headgear assembly is a three-point headgear assembly, a four-point headgear assembly, a vertical headgear assembly, a horizontal headgear assembly, or a combination thereof.

13. A patient interface device comprising:

a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough;

a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port; and

a mounting member, including a strap connection portion, wherein the mounting member is rotatably coupled to the shell such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell while the patient interface device is donned on a user, wherein the port defines a rotation axis for the mounting member such that the mounting member rotates around the port, wherein the strap connection portion comprises a slot defined in the mounting member and adapted to be coupled to a strap of a headgear assembly, and wherein the slot includes at least one tooth projection extending from an edge of the slot such that the tooth is urged against a strap of a headgear assembly and the strap is urged against an opposing edge of the slot, thereby acting as a bearing surface.

14. The patient interface device of claim 13, further comprising a headgear assembly having at least one strap operatively coupled to the strap connection portion.

15. The patient interface device of claim 13, wherein the mounting member is formed from a substantially rigid material, a substantially flexible material, or a combination thereof.

16. A patient interface device comprising:

sealing means for contacting a surface of a user;

conduit coupling means for coupling the sealing means with a patient circuit such that a flow of gas is communicated between the sealing means and the patient circuit; and

mounting means, operatively coupled to the sealing means, the conduit coupling means, or both, for coupling the patient interface device to a headgear such that the mounting means is rotatably coupled to the sealing means, wherein the mounting means is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking the mounting means in a fixed position relative to the sealing means, wherein a port in the sealing means defines a rotation axis for the mounting means such that the mounting means rotates around the port, and wherein the mounting means includes a strap connection portion comprising a slot defined in the mounting member and adapted to be coupled to a strap of a headgear assembly, and wherein the slot includes at least one tooth projection extending from an edge of the slot such that the tooth is urged against a strap of a headgear assembly and the strap is urged against an opposing edge of the slot, thereby acting as a bearing surface.

17. The patient interface device of claim 16, further comprising a headgear assembly having at least one strap operatively coupled to the strap connection portion.

18. The patient interface device of claim 16, wherein the mounting member is formed from a substantially rigid material, a substantially flexible material, or a combination thereof.

19. A patient interface device comprising:

a shell having a wall with a port extending therethrough;

a conduit coupling in fluid communication with the port; and

a mounting member, including a strap connection portion, wherein the mounting member is rotatably coupled to the shell such that the mounting member is rotatable over a 360 degree range while the patient interface device is donned on a user and without locking in a fixed position relative to the shell while the patient interface device is donned on a user, wherein the port defines a rotation axis for the mounting member such that the mounting member rotates around the port, and wherein the mounting member is defined by a substantially rigid material such that the mounting member does not substantially deflect response to a force being appled to the strap connection portion.

20. The patient interface device of claim 19, further comprising a headgear assembly having at least one strap operatively coupled to the strap connection portion.