Mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11154679-B2
Application number	US-202017095062-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A mask system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a nares portion and a mouth portion and an inlet conduit connected to at least one of the nares portion and the mouth portion to deliver the pressurized, breathable gas. The mask system is adapted to selectively utilize the nares portion and/or the mouth portion in a first mode utilizing both the nares portion and the mouth portion, and in a second mode utilizing the nares portion and not utilizing the mouth portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mask system to deliver pressurized air to airways of a patient, the mask system comprising:
a cushion to seal with a face of the patient around a mouth of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the cushion defining a breathing chamber and a mouth aperture to deliver pressurized air from the breathing chamber to the mouth of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient;
a nasal seal portion to seal with the face of the patient at a nose of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the nasal seal portion defining a nasal aperture to deliver pressurized air to the nose of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the nasal aperture being spaced apart from the mouth aperture;
a rigid mask portion located at a distal portion of the cushion, the rigid mask portion being more rigid than the cushion, the rigid mask portion defining a rigid mask portion aperture to receive air into the breathing chamber, wherein a depth of the rigid mask portion, defined from the rigid mask portion aperture to a proximal side of the rigid mask portion that is proximal the face of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, varies around the rigid mask portion aperture;
a fascia that is removably attachable to the rigid mask portion, a patient-facing side of the fascia facing an outwardly-facing side of the rigid mask portion when the fascia is removably attached to the rigid mask portion, the fascia defining a conduit aperture to receive pressurized air; and
a conduit to attach to the fascia to deliver pressurized air to the cushion and the nasal seal portion when the mask assembly is worn by the patient.

2. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the nasal seal portion is shaped to seal with the face of the patient at the nose of the patient entirely below a nasal bridge of the patient.

3. The mask system of claim 2 , wherein the cushion is shaped to seal with the face of the patient around the mouth of the patient through contact with a front of a chin of the patient below a lower lip of the patient.

4. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the cushion is formed of a different material than the rigid mask portion.

5. The mask system of claim 4 , wherein:
the cushion is formed of silicone;
the rigid mask portion is formed of nylon or polypropylene; and
the fascia is formed of nylon, polypropylene, or polycarbonate.

6. The mask system of claim 4 , wherein a one-piece component forms the cushion and the nasal seal portion.

7. The mask system of claim 6 , wherein the rigid mask portion is moulded to the cushion.

8. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein:
the rigid mask portion is integrally formed with the cushion;
the rigid mask portion has a hardness of 35-50 Shore A; and
the cushion has a hardness of 5-15 Shore A.

9. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cushion extends to a free edge that defines the mouth aperture; and
a rounded surface of the cushion that is spaced apart from the free edge is adapted to contact the face of the patient around the mouth of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient.

10. The mask system of claim 9 , wherein a cross-section of the cushion, extending from the rigid mask portion to the free edge, defines a question-mark-type shape.

11. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the nasal seal portion comprises nasal prongs or nasal pillows.

12. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the nasal seal portion extends above the fascia when the mask system is worn by the patient and viewed from in front of the patient.

13. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein a periphery of the rigid mask portion is surrounded by the cushion.

14. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the fascia includes a left lower headgear connector and a right lower headgear connector.

15. The mask system of claim 14 , wherein the fascia is transparent or semi-opaque.

16. The mask system of claim 14 , wherein:
the conduit aperture is laterally centered within the fascia; and
the conduit aperture is an only aperture in the fascia that is located between the left lower headgear connector and the right lower headgear connector.

17. The mask system of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the fascia that defines the conduit aperture is a most outwardly-protruding portion of the fascia when the mask system is worn by the patient and viewed from in front of the patient.

18. The mask system of claim 1 , further comprising headgear that includes:
a left lower headgear portion to extend, below a first ear of the patient, between the face of the patient and a back of a head of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient;
a right lower headgear portion to extend, below a second ear of the patient, between the face of the patient and the back of the head of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient;
a left side portion to extend, between the first ear of the patient and a first eye of the patient, upwards away from the face of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient; and
a right side portion to extend, between the second ear of the patient and a second eye of the patient, upwards away from the face of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient.

19. The mask system of claim 18 , wherein:
the left lower headgear portion is configured to attach to a left side of the fascia by passing through a first slot and folding back onto and connecting to itself with hook and loop material when the mask system is worn by the patient; and
the right lower headgear portion is configured to attach to a right side of the fascia by passing through a second slot and folding back onto and connecting to itself with hook and loop material when the mask system is worn by the patient.

20. The mask system of claim 18 , wherein the headgear includes:
a crown portion to position over a top of the head of the patient when the mask system is worn by the patient, the crown portion connecting with the left side portion at a first junction and connecting with the right side portion at a second junction when the mask system is worn by the patient; and
a rear portion that connects with the left side portion at the first junction, the right side portions at the second junction, and the left lower headgear portion and the right lower headgear portion at a connection region at the back of the head of the patient.

21. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cushion includes means for sealing with the face of the patient around the mouth of the patient;
the nasal seal portion includes means for sealing with the face of the patient at the nose of the patient;
the rigid mask portion includes means for connecting with the cushion; and
the fascia includes means for connecting with the rigid mask portion.

22. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the depth of the rigid mask portion is greater at lateral sides of the rigid mask portion than at a bottom of the rigid mask portion.

23. The mask system of claim 22 , wherein the depth of the rigid mask portion is greater at the lateral sides of the rigid mask portion than at a top of the rigid mask portion.

24. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein an inner circumferential surface of the rigid mask portion that defines the rigid mask portion aperture is free of connection to the cushion.

25. A mask system to deliver pressurized air to airways of a patient, the mask system compri

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Formica Justin John
• Romagnoli Jose Ignacio
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Gibson Joel Edward
• Pidcock David Anthony
• Skipper Christopher Scott
• Gray Stephen

Classifications

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0666 Primary

  Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02) · 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

• A61M2209/06

  Packaging for specific medical equipment · CPC title

• A61M2210/0625

  Mouth · CPC title