Mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9642978-B2
Application number	US-201113110281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2011
Priority date	Dec 31, 2003
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

Mask system includes frame, cushion, cushion clip, swivel elbow, headgear and/or headgear clips configured for use in a clinical or hospital environment. One or more components of the mask system configured to promote single patient use, for example, by providing an age indicator and/or preventing disassembly and/or cleaning.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mask assembly for a patient, comprising:
a frame comprising an opening in a rear surface configured to receive a nose of the patient, the opening having a perimeter;
a pair of outrigger assemblies extending laterally from the frame, at least one outrigger assembly comprising a pair of resiliently bendable legs attached to the frame and a connector clip receptacle connected to the pair of resiliently bendable legs, the connector clip receptacle comprising a pair of protrusion catches formed on a pair of flexible arms;
headgear; and
a connector clip attached to the headgear and configured to secure the headgear to the at least one outrigger assembly, the connector clip comprising a pair of flexible arms and a protrusion adapted to be received within an orifice in the connector clip receptacle,
wherein the resiliently bendable legs of the at least one outrigger assembly are configured so that when the connector clip is received within the orifice in the connector clip receptacle, the resiliently bendable legs resist twisting of the connector clip and the headgear and
wherein the connector clip is prevented from twisting within the clip receptacle.

2. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the headgear comprises:
a substantially planar piece of material which includes at least one slit-shaped cutout,
wherein the at least one slit-shaped cutout is configured to expand to form a substantially enlarged open area when the headgear is positioned on a patient's head, so that the material substantially surrounds an occiput of the patient's head.

3. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the headgear comprises:
a substantially planar piece of material which includes at least one slit-shaped cutout,
wherein the at least one slit-shaped cutout is configured to expand and define at least one open area bordered on all sides by at least a portion of the material when the headgear is positioned on a patient's head.

4. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of resiliently bendable legs are rearwardly bendable.

5. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , wherein an axis extends through both resiliently bendable legs, and both of the resiliently bendable legs are bendable around the axis.

6. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the resiliently bendable legs extend along a common plane and wherein the orifice of the connector clip receptacle is configured to receive the connector clip in a direction substantially parallel to the common plane.

7. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one of said pair of resiliently bendable legs is offset from the other of said pair of resiliently bendable legs in a first direction and wherein the at least one outrigger is configured to move in the first direction.

8. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the resiliently bendable legs resist twisting of the connector clip and the headgear around an axis that is between the resiliently bendable legs and extends through the frame.

9. A mask assembly configured to provide pressurized gas to a patient, the mask assembly comprising:
headgear;
a cushion adapted to form a seal with the patient's face when the mask assembly is engaged with the patient's face;
a frame configured to support the cushion, the frame comprising:
a front wall;
a central aperture in the front wall; and
a pair of laterally extending outriggers, at least one of the laterally extending outriggers supporting a clip receptacle by way of a pair of resiliently flexible legs, the pair of resiliently flexible legs connecting the clip receptacle to the frame;

a headgear clip with a first end adapted to engage a headgear strap and a second end adapted to engage the clip receptacle; and
a swivel elbow rotatably attached to the frame at the central aperture and configured to deliver pressurized gas to the frame, wherein
the pair of resiliently flexible legs comprises a first leg and a second leg arranged so that the first leg is positioned above the second leg when the mask assembly engages the patient's face, the first leg being spaced apart from the second leg as viewed in a first direction and the second leg being spaced apart from the first leg as viewed in a second direction opposite the first direction, the clip receptacle of the at least one outrigger is movable in the first and second directions,
the pair of resiliently flexible legs are configured to bend rearwardly about an axis extending through both legs,
the headgear clip includes a flexible arm and a protrusion adapted to be received within an orifice in the clip receptacle,
the resiliently flexible legs are configured to resist twisting of the clip receptacle to facilitate alignment with the headgear clip, and
the headgear clip is prevented from twisting within the clip receptacle.

10. The mask assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cushion is comprised of silicone, foam or a combination thereof.

11. The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the frame includes a flange positioned around a perimeter of the frame.

12. The mask assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pair of resiliently flexible legs are substantially parallel.

13. The mask assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pair of resiliently flexible legs are configured so that the at least one outrigger is movable in an upward and downward direction when the mask assembly engages the patient's face.

14. The mask assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one outrigger is offset from the frame in a first direction and wherein the headgear clip is configured to be inserted and secured to the clip receptacle in a second direction opposite the first direction.

15. The mask assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the resiliently flexible legs are configured to resist movement of the at least one outrigger in the second direction.

16. The mask assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the resiliently flexible legs are configured to resist twisting of the clip receptacle around an axis that is between the resiliently flexible legs and extends through the frame.

17. A mask assembly configured to provide pressurized gas to a patient, the mask assembly comprising:
headgear;
a cushion adapted to form a seal with the patient's face when the mask assembly is engaged with the patient's face;
a frame configured to support the cushion;
a pair of laterally extending outriggers, at least one of the laterally extending outriggers supporting a clip receptacle by way of a pair of resiliently flexible legs spaced from one another, the pair of resiliently flexible legs connecting the clip receptacle to the frame, said pair of resiliently flexible legs being arranged so that one of the legs of the pair of legs is positioned above the other leg when the mask assembly engages the patient's face, said pair of resiliently flexible legs being configured to resiliently bend rearwardly substantially without twisting such that the bending of said pair of resiliently flexible legs facilitates self-tensioning of the headgear that helps prevent a twisting of the headgear; and
a headgear clip with a first portion adapted to engage the headgear and a second portion adapted to be spring-fit into the clip receptacle, the headgear clip being prevented from twisting within the clip receptacle.

18. The mask assembly of claim 17 , wherein said pair of resiliently flexible legs are configured to be biased forward away from the patient's face when said pair of resiliently flexible legs are flexed rearward toward the patient's face.

Assignees

• Ging Anthony Michael
• Worboys David John
• Smart Gregory Scott
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• Snow John Michael
• Stallard Philip Thomas
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Ging Anthony Michael
• Worboys David John
• Smart Gregory Scott
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• Snow John Michael
• Stallard Philip Thomas

Classifications

• A61M2205/43

  making noise when used correctly · CPC title

• A61M16/0683 Primary

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M2205/581

  by audible feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title