Mask assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10500363-B2
Application number	US-201615228111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2016
Priority date	Sep 7, 2001
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A mask assembly for therapy of Sleep Disordered Breathing may include: a cushion having a seal forming portion that is structured to form a seal with only the patient's nose in use, the cushion defining at least in part an interior chamber; a shell assembly including a generally rigid shell, the generally rigid shell having a port that opens into the interior chamber, the generally rigid shell including an exhalation vent for venting exhaled gas, an air inlet tube in fluid communication with the cushion to supply breathable gas from a pressurized supply to the interior chamber; and a swivel and an elbow attached to the air inlet tube, the swivel and the elbow configured to be attached to an air supply conduit, wherein the swivel and the elbow are positioned superior to the patient's head in use, and wherein the mask assembly does not contact the patient's forehead in use.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mask assembly for use in the delivery of Non-invasive Positive Airway Pressure (NPPV) to a patient for therapy of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB), the mask assembly comprising:
a cushion having a seal forming portion that is structured to seal with only the patient's nose in use, the cushion forming at least in part an interior chamber;
a shell assembly including a generally rigid shell, the generally rigid shell having a port that opens into the interior chamber, the generally rigid shell including slot portions, each of the slot portions being a hole formed through the generally rigid shell, and an exhalation vent configured to vent exhaled gas to atmosphere;
a retaining ring having clip portions, the cushion being attached to the retaining ring, and the retaining ring being configured to be engaged to the generally rigid shell by inserting the clip portions through corresponding ones of the slot portions; and
an air inlet tube attached to the port of the generally rigid shell such that the air inlet tube and the generally rigid shell are in fluid communication to supply breathable gas from a pressurized supply to the interior chamber;
wherein the cushion further comprises a sealing lip that is configured to contact and seal against the generally rigid shell when the cushion and the generally rigid shell are connected by the retaining ring; and
wherein the mask assembly does not contact the patient's forehead in use.

2. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet tube is separable from the generally rigid shell.

3. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cushion is separable from the generally rigid shell by disconnecting the retaining ring from the generally rigid shell.

4. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet tube is attached to the generally rigid shell in a fixed position.

5. The mask assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable harness configured to secure the mask assembly on the patient's head, and the adjustable harness comprising a strap configured to be positioned superior to the patient's ears in use.

6. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet tube is flexible.

7. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal forming portion is configured to contact a surface of the patient's nose and a portion of the patient's face in the region between the base of the nose and the upper lip.

8. The mask assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a swivel and an elbow attached to the air inlet tube, the swivel and the elbow being configured to be attached to an air supply conduit,
wherein the swivel and the elbow are positioned superior to the patient's head in use.

9. The mask assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser positioned at the exhalation vent.

10. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cushion is integrally molded to the retaining ring.

11. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clip portions are adapted to resiliently flex outwardly or inwardly.

12. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the clip portions includes a surface that is exposed through a corresponding one of the slot portions when the retaining ring is attached to the generally rigid shell, and the surface being configured to be contacted by the patient's finger to resiliently deflect the clip portion and detach the retaining ring from the generally rigid shell.

13. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring has two clip portions positioned generally opposite one another.

14. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring is configured to be detached from the generally rigid shell by squeezing the clip portions together to release the clip portions from corresponding ones of the slot portions.

15. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one component of the mask assembly is covered in foam to provide a cushioned and comfortable fit for the patient.

16. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one component of the mask assembly is covered in fabric to provide a cushioned and comfortable fit for the patient.

17. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing lip is configured to deform upon contact with the generally rigid shell.

18. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cushion includes a channel and the retaining ring includes a flange portion that extends into the channel to connect the retaining ring to the cushion.

19. The mask assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adjustable harness configured to secure the mask assembly on the patient's head; and
a diffuser positioned at the exhalation vent,
wherein the cushion is separable from the shell assembly by disconnecting the retaining ring from the generally rigid shell,
wherein the adjustable harness comprises a strap configured to be positioned superior to the patient's ears in use,
wherein the seal forming portion is configured to contact a surface of the patient's nose and a portion of the patient's face in the region between the base of the nose and the upper lip,
wherein the air inlet tube is flexible,
wherein the cushion is integrally molded to the retaining ring,
wherein the clip portions are adapted to resiliently flex outwardly or inwardly,
wherein the retaining ring has two clip portions positioned generally opposite one another,
wherein the sealing lip is configured to deform upon contact with the generally rigid shell,
wherein each of the clip portions further comprises an undercut configured to engage a corresponding portion of the generally rigid shell proximate to a corresponding one of the slot portions, and
wherein the cushion includes a channel and the retaining ring includes a flange portion that extends into the channel to connect the retaining ring to the cushion.

20. The mask assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the clip portions further comprises an undercut configured to engage a corresponding portion of the generally rigid shell proximate to a corresponding one of the slot portions.

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Raje Milind Chandrakant
• Drew Joanne Elizabeth
• Frater Robert Henry
• Guney Memduh
• Fu Timothy Tsun-Fai
• Amarasinghe Amal Shirley
• Solari Clive

Classifications

• A61M16/08

  Bellows; Connecting tubes {(having means for taking samples G01N1/22); Water traps; Patient circuits} · CPC title

• A61M16/0638

  in the form of a pivot · CPC title

• A61M16/065

  in the form of a pivot · CPC title

• A61M16/0633

  with forehead support · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title