Liner for use with respiratory mask

• US 8,365,733 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naturs Design Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Naturs Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Rutan, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Application Number:
  US12/469,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.21, 12820623-20626, 128/206.28, 128/207.11
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer

Abstract

A liner for use with a respiratory mask having a face-engaging portion, such as a CPAP mask, includes a body constructed from an absorbent material, the body having an outer edge, an inner edge, and an opening bounded by the inner edge. A perimeter of the outer edge is larger than a perimeter of the face-engaging portion of the respiratory mask for forming an extending portion of the body, and the liner is configured to be releasably held by the mask and a user'"'"'s face such that the outer edge extends beyond the face-engaging portion.

Claims

1. A liner for use with a respiratory mask having a face-engaging portion, the liner comprising:

a body constructed from an absorbent material, the body having an outer edge, an inner edge, and an opening bounded by the inner edge, wherein a perimeter of the outer edge is larger than a perimeter of the face-engaging portion of the respiratory mask for forming an extending portion of the body, the extending portion configured to be in non-adhering communication with a user'"'"'s face, and the liner is configured to be releasably held by the mask and the user'"'"'s face such that the outer edge extends beyond the face-engaging portion.

2. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion is a baffle for regulating the flow of air away from the face-engaging portion.

3. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion configured to generally follow the contour of the user'"'"'s face.

4. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge has a shape scaled to a general shape of the face-engaging portion.

5. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a single layer of material.

6. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the material is stretchable.

7. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the material includes cotton.

8. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge is spaced apart from the mask when the liner is releasably held by the mask and the user'"'"'s face.

9. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the liner is configured to be held by pressure of the mask on the user'"'"'s face without requiring securing of the liner to the mask.

10. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the liner is a continuous perimeter.

11. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the liner is disposable.

12. A liner for use with a respiratory mask having a face-engaging portion, the liner comprising:

a body having an outer edge, an inner edge, and an opening bounded by the inner edge, wherein a perimeter of the outer edge is larger than a perimeter of the face-engaging portion, the perimeter being discontinuous, and the liner is configured to be releasably held between the mask and a user'"'"'s face such that a first portion of the body is covered by the face-engaging portion and a second, extending portion of the body extends beyond the mask face-engaging portion with the outer edge spaced apart from the mask, the extending portion configured to be in non-adhering communication with the user'"'"'s face.

13. The liner according to claim 12, wherein the extending portion is a baffle for regulating the flow of air away from the face-engaging portion.

14. The liner according to claim 12, wherein the extending portion is configured to generally follow the contour of the user'"'"'s face.

15. A two-piece liner system for use with a respiratory mask having a face-engaging portion and a forehead stabilizer portion, the system comprising:

a mask liner including a body constructed from an absorbent material, the body having an outer edge, an inner edge, and an opening bounded by the inner edge, wherein a perimeter of the outer edge is larger than a perimeter of the face-engaging portion of the respiratory mask for forming an extending portion of the body, the extending portion configured to be in non-adhering communication with a user'"'"'s face, and the mask liner is configured to be releasably held by the face-engaging portion and the user'"'"'s face such that the outer edge extends beyond the face-engaging portion; and

a forehead liner having a generally rectangular shape with an area at least as large as an area of the forehead stabilizer portion, wherein the forehead liner is configured to be releasably held by the forehead stabilizer portion and the user'"'"'s face.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the forehead liner comprises a multi-layer material.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the mask and forehead liners are disposable.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the mask liner body comprises a single layer of material.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the extending portion is a baffle for regulating the flow of air away from the face-engaging portion.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the extending portion is configured to generally follow the contour of the user'"'"'s face.