Interchangeable mask assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10183138-B2
Application number	US-201715841488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 25, 2005
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A system of breathing arrangements for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes at least first and second cushion components, e.g., full-face, nasal, nasal prongs, nose tip, and/or a combination of any of the above, including a nasal or full-face cushion and nasal prongs/nozzles combination, etc., that are different from one another in at least one aspect, and a common frame assembly configured to support each of the first and second cushion components. Various embodiments are directed to a full-face or nasal mask used with a frame having lateral connector portions having a stiffening member. The mask assembly may include a nose height adjustment device for the height of the cushion, or a cushion adjustment member by which the position of the cushion may be adjusted relative to the frame. The mask assembly may include a chin strap assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:
a cushion component including a body portion and a sealing portion,
wherein the body portion is relatively harder than the sealing portion, and
wherein the body portion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure, and the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient's nose and mouth; and
a frame including a main body configured to releasably couple with the cushion component,
wherein the main body includes a lower opening having a closed circular shape through which the cushion component and an elbow to deliver a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure to the cushion component communicate with one another,
wherein the main body includes an upper opening having a closed shape that is spaced apart from and superior to the lower opening,
wherein the main body is configured to connect to a pair of lower headgear connectors associated with a pair of lower straps of headgear,
wherein the main body comprises a positioning and retaining arrangement configured and arranged to provide substantially non-adjustable coupling between the main body and the cushion component in which adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component is substantially resisted,
wherein the upper opening is configured to receive a protrusion of the cushion component to at least assist in substantially resisting adjustable movement between the main body and the cushion component,
wherein the main body includes a wall between the upper opening and the lower opening, the wall configured to be arranged along an outside surface of the cushion component so that the wall is outside the breathing chamber formed by the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component, and
the frame further including a forehead support, the forehead support including a neck extending from the main body and a bridge provided to the neck,
wherein the forehead support includes a pair of upper headgear connectors, each of the pair of upper headgear connectors adapted to connect to a respective one of a pair of upper straps of headgear.

2. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

3. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame.

4. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is positioned between the lower opening and the forehead support.

5. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening.

6. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame.

7. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the neck includes a portion that tapers from a larger width adjacent the main body to a smaller width adjacent the bridge.

8. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge is adjustably mounted with respect to the main body.

9. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge comprises the pair of upper headgear connectors.

10. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a pair of lateral arms configured to connect to the pair of lower headgear connectors.

11. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

12. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to allow the cushion component and breathing chamber thereof as a whole to be removable from the main body for replacement.

13. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to releasably couple with a plurality of different cushion components.

14. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning and retaining arrangement comprises a frame retainer part structured and arranged to engage behind a mask retainer part of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component,
wherein the upper opening is configured to expose the protrusion towards a front side of the frame when the cushion component is releasably coupled with the frame,
wherein the upper opening is positioned between the lower opening and the forehead support,
wherein the upper opening is positioned in its entirety superior to the lower opening,
wherein the upper opening is a hole that extends from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame,
wherein the neck includes a portion that tapers from a larger width adjacent the main body to a smaller width adjacent the bridge,
wherein the bridge comprises the pair of upper headgear connectors,
wherein the main body comprises a pair of lateral arms configured to connect to the pair of lower headgear connectors, and
wherein the wall does not form part of the breathing chamber of the cushion component when the frame is releasably coupled with the cushion component.

15. A CPAP system for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the CPAP system comprising:
the respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 ;
a blower to supply a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure; and
a conduit to pass the flow of air at the therapeutic pressure from the blower to the respiratory mask assembly.

16. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gas washout vent openings configured to provide a predetermined washout rate of gas from the breathing chamber.

17. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support is provided with forehead padding adapted to rest against a patient's forehead.

18. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support is supported by the frame independent from the positioning and retaining arrangement.

19. The respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to releasably couple with the cushion component to allow removal of the cushion component without impact to the forehead support.

20. A respiratory mask assembly for providing respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory mask assembly comprising:
a cushion component including a body portion and a sealing portion,
wherein the body portion is relatively harder than the sealing portion, and
wherein the body portion forms at least a portion of a breathing chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure, and the sealing portion is constructed and arranged to form a seal with a patient's nose and mouth; and
a frame including a main body configured to releasably couple with the cushion component,
wherein the main body includes a lower opening having a closed shape through which the cushion component and an elbow to deliver a flow of air at a therapeutic pressure to the cushion component communicate with one

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Ng Eva
• Henry Robert Edward
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan

Classifications

• A61M16/0633

  with forehead support · CPC title

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0616

  with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure · CPC title

• A61M16/0694

  Chin straps · CPC title

• A61M16/0672

  Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy · CPC title