Cushion element for a patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017203069-A1
Application number	US-201515124838-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2014
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cushion element ( 14 ) for a patient interface ( 10 ) for providing a flow of breathable gas to a patient ( 12 ), wherein the cushion element ( 14 ) comprises a face-contacting layer ( 32 ) for contacting a face of the patient ( 12 ) during use of the cushion element ( 14 ); and a multi-layer responsive structure ( 34 ) which is covered by the face-contacting layer ( 32 ). The responsive structure ( 34 ) comprises a plurality of actuators ( 38, 40 ) for moving the face-contacting layer ( 32 ), wherein said plurality of actuators ( 38, 40 ) comprises first actuators ( 38 ) belonging to a first group of actuators and second actuators ( 40 ) belonging to a second group of actuators. Each of the first and the second actuators ( 38, 40 ) comprises an electrode ( 44, 46 ). The electrodes ( 44 ) of the first actuators ( 38 ) are arranged in one or more first layers ( 50 ), and wherein the electrodes ( 46 ) of the second actuators ( 40 ) are arranged in one or more second layers ( 52 ), wherein the one or more first and second layers ( 50, 52 ) are arranged above each other. The electrodes ( 44 ) of the first actuators ( 38 ) are, with respect to a first axis ( 42 ) transverse to the one or more first and second layers ( 50, 52 ), arranged spatially offset relative to the electrodes ( 46 ) of the second actuators ( 40 ) such that the electrodes ( 44 ) of the first actuators ( 38 ) do not overlap the electrodes ( 46 ) of the second actuators ( 40 ) when being viewed along the first axis ( 42 ).

First claim

1 . A cushion element for a patient interface for providing a flow of breathable gas to a patient, wherein the cushion element comprises:
a face-contacting layer for contacting a face of the patient during use of the cushion element; and a multi-layer responsive structure which is covered by the face-contacting layer; wherein the responsive structure comprises a plurality of actuators for moving the face-contacting layer, wherein said plurality of actuators comprises first actuators belonging to a first group of actuators and second actuators belonging to a second group of actuators, wherein each of the first and the second actuators- comprises an electrode, wherein the electrodes of the first actuators are arranged in one or more first layers, and wherein the electrodes of the second actuators are arranged in one or more second layers, wherein the one or more first and second layers are arranged above each other, and wherein the electrodes of the first actuators are, with respect to a first axis which is transverse to the one or more first and second layers, arranged spatially offset relative to the electrodes of the second actuators ( 40 ), characterized in that the electrodes of the first actuators do not overlap the electrodes of the second actuators when being viewed along the first axis.

2 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer responsive structure comprises a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers.

3 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first layers and the one or more second layers of the multi-layer responsive structure are spaced apart from each other along the first axis.

4 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first layers and the one or more second layers of the multi-layer responsive structure are arranged parallel to the face-contacting layer.

5 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more first layers is arranged between two second layers.

6 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more first layers comprises a plurality of spaced apart electrodes of first actuators, and wherein each of the one or more second layers comprises a plurality of spaced apart electrodes of second actuators.

7 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of the first actuators are arranged in a plurality of first columns, and the electrodes of the second actuators are arranged in a plurality of second columns, wherein the first and second columns are parallel to the first axis, wherein each of the first columns comprises a plurality of electrodes of first actuators that are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first axis, and each of the second columns comprises a plurality of electrodes of second actuators that are also arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the first and second columns are preferably arranged alternately side by side to one another.

8 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first actuators and each of the second actuators further comprises an electroactive polymer material that is integrated in the responsive structure.

9 . The cushion element according to claim 8 , wherein the electroactive polymer material is arranged between the electrodes of the first actuators and between the electrodes of the second actuators, respectively.

10 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of the first actuators and the electrodes of the second actuators are arranged in concentric closed loops.

11 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes of the first and second actuators has a width of 100 μm≦w≦100 mm, said width being measured in a second direction transverse to the first axis.

12 . The cushion element according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion element is one of a nose cushion, a mouth cushion and a forehead cushion.

13 . A patient interface for providing a flow of breathable gas to a patient, wherein the patient interface comprises a cushion element according to claim 1 .

14 . The patient interface according to claim 13 , further comprising a voltage source which is connected to the first and second actuators, a control unit that is configured to alternately activate the first and the second actuators by means of the voltage source.

15 . A pressure support system, comprising:
a pressure generator for generating a flow of breathable gas; and a patient interface for providing a flow of breathable gas to a patient, wherein the patient interface comprises a cushion element according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Van De Molengraaf Roland Alexander
• Hendriks Cornelis Petrus

Classifications

• A61M2016/0661

  with customised shape · CPC title

• A61M2205/0283

  Electro-active polymers [EAP] · CPC title

• A61M16/0633

  with forehead support · CPC title

• A61M16/0605 Primary

  Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient · CPC title

• A61M2205/0233

  Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention · CPC title