Customizable user interface device for use with respiratory ventilation systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586017-B2
Application number	US-201214356642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2012
Priority date	Nov 9, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides a cost effective customization of user interface devices for use with respiratory ventilation systems, such as face masks that may be used for CPAP therapy. By integrating a user specific customize element ( 15 ) into a pre-fabricated user interface device ( 10 ), increased comfort for a user during use of the interface device ( 10 ) is provided. The customized element ( 15 ) is adapted to affect the shape of the user interface device making it compliant with at least one user specific body feature, for example, a facial feature of a particular user. The shape of the customized element may be computed from a user specific data set representing an e.g. three-dimensional shape at least one body feature of a user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A customizable mask element for a user interface device, said user interface device comprising a surface interface adapted for contacting a user's face, wherein the customizable mask element is either a cushion or a mask shell and comprises:
means for receiving and connecting a non-integrated customized element in a manner wherein the customized element affects a shape of the surface interface of the user interface device according to at least one body feature specific to the user,
wherein said means for receiving and connecting the customized element is arranged outside of a breathing path of the mask element wherein said means for receiving and connecting the customized element includes a holder element, the holder element being structured to removably receive and hold the customized element in a manner wherein the customized element when held by the holder element affects the shape of the surface interface according to the at least one body feature specific to the user, and where the holder element is made of a material having a durometer that is greater than a durometer of a material of the cushion, and wherein the holder is integrally formed as part of the cushion during molding of the cushion.

2. The customizable mask element according to claim 1 , wherein said means for receiving and connecting the customized element includes a chamber for receiving the customized element in a manner wherein the customized element when received within the chamber affects the shape of the surface interface according to the at least one body feature specific to the user.

3. The customizable mask element user interface device according to claim 1 , further comprising the customized element, wherein a shape of the customized element is determined based on a user specific data set representing a shape of the at least one body feature specific to the user.

4. A user interface device, comprising the customizable mask element as claimed in claim 1 .

5. A customizable mask element for a user interface device, said user interface device comprising a surface interface adapted for contacting a user's face, wherein the customizable mask element is either a cushion or a mask shell and comprises:
means for receiving and connecting a non-integrated customized element in a manner wherein the customized element affects a shape of the surface interface of the user interface device according to at least one body feature specific to the user,
wherein said means for receiving and connecting the customized element is arranged outside of a breathing path of the mask element, wherein said means for receiving and connecting the customized element includes a holder element, the holder element being structured to removably receive and hold the customized element in a manner wherein the customized element when held by the holder element affects the shape of the surface interface according to the at least one body feature specific to the user, and wherein the holder element comprises a chain structure comprising a plurality of base portions spaced along a length of the holder element, wherein each immediately adjacent pair of the base portions is linked to one another.

6. A customized element assembly adapted for connection with a customizable cushion for delivering a gas to a user, the customizable cushion having a surface interface adapted for contacting a user's face, the customized element assembly comprising:
a customized element having a first shape determined based on a user specific data set representing a shape of at least one body feature specific to the user, the customized element being structured to positioned in the cushion outside of the breathing path of the cushion in a manner wherein the customized element affects a second shape of the surface interface according to the first shape of the customized element, and
a holder element, the customized element being structured to be removably received and held by the holder element in a manner wherein the customized element affects the second shape of the surface interface according to the first shape of the customized element, and wherein, (i) the customized element includes an internal groove structured to receive and hold an enlarged portion of the holder element, or (ii) the holder element comprises a portion defining a channel, and the customized element has a cross-sectional shape that is complimentary to a shape of the channel to enable the portion to receive and hold the customized element, and wherein the holder element and the customized element are made of a material having a durometer that is greater than a durometer of a material of the cushion.

7. The customized element according to claim 6 , wherein the customized element is manufactured to have the first shape based on a user specific data set representing a shape of the at least one body feature specific to the user.

8. The customized element assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the customized element consists of several parts and/or wherein the customized element is fabricated from a metallic spring material or plastic.

9. The customized element assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the shape of the customized element is: (i) not changeable after being first adapted to have the first shape, or (ii) changeable after being first adapted to have the first shape.

10. A user interface device including the customized element assembly according to claim 6 .

11. A method of customizing a customizable user interface device for delivering a gas to a user, the customizable user interface device having a surface interface adapted for contacting a user's face, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a user specific data set representing a shape of at least one body feature specific to the user;
manufacturing a customized element to have a first shape determined according to the user specific data set such that the customized element is adapted to affect a second shape of the surface interface when the customized element is coupled to the user interface device,
connecting the manufactured customized element to the user interface device, such that the customized element is arranged outside of a breathing path.

12. Method of providing a customized element adapted for connection with a customizable user interface device outside of a breathing path, including the steps of:
receiving or determining a user specific data set representing a shape of at least one body feature specific to the user, and
using the user specific data set for determining a structure of the customized element having a first shape,
manufacturing the customized element or selecting a customized element suitable for the user from a predetermined set of patient interfaces.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Znamenskiy Dmitry Nikolayevich
• Vlutters Ruud
• Van Bree Karl Catharina

Classifications

• A61M16/0057

  Pumps therefor · CPC title

• A61M2016/0661

  with customised shape · CPC title

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A61M16/0611

  with a gusset portion · CPC title