Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with cushion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8997742-B2
Application number	US-39068203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2003
Priority date	Apr 23, 2002
Publication date	Apr 7, 2015
Grant date	Apr 7, 2015

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. A cushion having a side wall is removably attachable to the frame. The cushion has a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane provided to substantially surround the rim. An inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a generally trapezoidal shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; and
a cushion having a side wall engageable with and removably attachable to the frame, the cushion having a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane extending away from the side wall and spaced from the rim provided to substantially surround the rim,
wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a predetermined shape adapted to form a seal on the patient's nasal bridge region positioned no higher than substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose,
wherein the membrane includes a contoured notch in a nasal bridge region of the cushion positioned substantially along the transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose to conform to the contours of the patient's nasal bridge region.

2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a generally trapezoidal shape.

3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient's lip region positioned below the patient's nose and above the upper lip of the patient.

4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, in at least a portion of the nasal bridge region of the patient positioned substantially along the transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose, the rim and the membrane are spaced away from one another to define a gap.

5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane includes a contoured portion that extends upwardly from the side wall and curves inwardly along a generally constant radius to terminate at the inner edge of the membrane, the contoured portion including a gap between the rim and the membrane, the gap being maximum in the contoured portion, and wherein the contoured portion is provided in a transition between cheek and nasal bridge regions of the cushion.

6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the contoured notch has a depth in the range of 12-27 mm.

7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a base portion with a length in the range of 31-45 mm, sides with a length in the range of 20-22 mm, and a top portion parallel to the base portion with a length in the range of 5-10 mm.

8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein an inner edge of the rim defines an aperture, the aperture of the membrane having a smaller dimension than a dimension of the aperture of the rim.

9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture of the rim has a generally trapezoidal shape.

10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the aperture of the rim has a base portion with a length in the range of 38-45 mm, sides with a length in the range of 20-23 mm, and a top portion parallel to the base portion with a length in the range of 32-36 mm.

11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane and the rim form a double-walled construction.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is spaced from the rim in a nasal bridge region of the cushion so that a sealing force applied to the cushion at the transition does not partially or wholly close the patient's nasal vents.

13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane has a thickness in a range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm.

14. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane has a thickness of 0.35 mm.

15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a thickness in a range of 2 to 10 mm.

16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a thickness of 5 mm.

17. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rim has a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

18. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rim has a thickness of 1.35 mm.

19. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, at an apex of a nasal bridge region at the cushion, the membrane has a radius of curvature of in a range of about 5 to 14 mm and an angle in a range of about 70 to 90 degrees.

20. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 19 , wherein, at the apex of the nasal bridge region, the membrane is spaced from the rim in a range of about 5 to 14 mm.

21. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; and
a cushion having a side wall engageable with and removably attachable to the frame, the cushion having a rim extending away from the side wall, and a membrane extending away from the side wall and spaced from the rim provided to substantially surround the rim,
wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a predetermined shape adapted to form a seal on the patient's nasal bridge region positioned no higher than substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose,
wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient's lip region positioned below the patient's nose and above the upper lip of the patient,
wherein the membrane includes a notch to accommodate a septum on the patient's lip region.

22. A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the cushion comprising:
a side wall structured to be engageable with and removably attached to a frame;
a rim extending away from the side wall; and
a membrane extending away from the side wall and spaced from the rim provided to substantially surround the rim,
wherein an inner edge of the membrane defines an aperture, the aperture having a predetermined shape adapted to form a seal on the patient's nasal bridge region positioned no higher than substantially along a transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose,
wherein the membrane includes a contoured notch in a nasal bridge region of the cushion positioned substantially along the transition between the bony region and the cartilage region of the patient's nose to conform to the contours of the patient's nasal bridge region.

23. A cushion according to claim 22 , wherein the aperture has a generally trapezoidal shape.

24. A cushion according to claim 23 , wherein the membrane is adapted to form a seal on the patient's lip region positioned below the patient's nose and above the upper lip of the patient.

25. A cushion according to claim 24 , wherein the membrane includes a notch to accommodate a septum on the patient's lip region.

26. A cushion according to claim 22 , wherein the membrane includes a contoured portion that extends upwardly from the side wall and curves inwardly along a generally constant radius to terminate at the inner edge of the membrane, the contoured portion including a gap between the rim and the membrane, the gap being maximum in the contoured portion, and wherein the contoured portion is provided in a transition between cheek and nasal bridge regions of the cushion.

27. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering bre

Assignees

• Moore Rachael E
• Price Andrew M
• Kwok Philip R
• Ging Anthony M
• Nasr Saad
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Moore Rachael E
• Price Andrew M
• Kwok Philip R
• Ging Anthony M
• Nasr Saad

Classifications

• A61M16/0694

  Chin straps · CPC title

• A61M16/0683 Primary

  Holding devices therefor · 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

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M2210/0618

  Nose · CPC title