Auto-adjusting mask stabilizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9707367-B2
Application number	US-13487108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2008
Priority date	Jun 21, 2007
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A forehead support for a facial mask is adapted to be moveable between a first position with respect to a frame of the mask and a second position with respect to the frame. The forehead support includes a biasing mechanism that urges the forehead support in the second position. A method of positioning a forehead support with respect to a frame of a patient interface includes positioning the forehead support and patient interface assembly on a face; disengaging a forehead support locking mechanism; allowing the forehead support to move from a first position to a second position; and engaging a forehead support locking mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forehead support for a facial mask, the mask including a mask frame and a mask cushion attached to the mask frame and adapted to contact a face of a patient in a substantially airtight manner, the forehead support being adapted to be moveable between a first position with respect to the mask frame and a second position with respect to the mask frame, the forehead support comprising:
a forehead support frame;
at least one forehead pad attached to the forehead support frame and adapted to contact the patient's forehead when the facial mask is mounted on the patient's face;
a spring biasing mechanism separate from a headgear and the at least one forehead pad, the spring biasing mechanism being configured to be positioned between the mask frame and the forehead support frame, the spring biasing mechanism being configured so that a spring action of the spring biasing mechanism urges the forehead support toward the second position; and
a locking mechanism adapted to hold the forehead support in position with respect to the mask frame.

2. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the spring biasing mechanism is configured to urge the forehead support against the patient's forehead.

3. The forehead support according to claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism adapted to release the forehead support from a hold position with respect to the mask frame.

4. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support is movable by translation.

5. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support is moveable by rotation.

6. The forehead support according to claim 1 , further comprising a second locking mechanism adapted to hold the forehead support in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mask frame.

7. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the spring biasing mechanism is configured to urge the forehead support into a stabilizing position on the forehead of the patient.

8. The forehead support according to claim 1 , wherein the forehead support includes a housing that at least partially houses the spring biasing mechanism.

9. The forehead support according claim 4 , wherein the forehead support is movable by linear translation.

10. The forehead support according to claim 9 , wherein the forehead support is movable by horizontal translation.

11. A stabilizer for a patient interface of a CPAP system, the patient interface being adapted to engage a patient's face and including a patient interface frame, the stabilizer being adapted to be moveable between a first position with respect to the patient interface frame and a second position with respect to the patient interface frame, the stabilizer comprising:
a spring biasing mechanism being separate from a headgear and configured to engage the patient interface frame such that a spring action of the spring biasing mechanism urges the stabilizer from the first position toward the second position; and
a locking mechanism adapted to hold the stabilizer in at least one intermediate position between the first and the second positions,
wherein the headgear comprises a strap.

12. The stabilizer according to claim 11 , wherein the spring biasing mechanism is a compression spring.

13. The stabilizer according to claim 12 , wherein a resistance to a compression of the compression spring generates a biasing force that directs the stabilizer to the second position.

14. A mask assembly comprising:
a frame,
a forehead support,
a spring biasing mechanism, and
a locking mechanism adapted to lock the spring biasing mechanism in a compressed state;
wherein the forehead support is free to move between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame and the spring biasing mechanism is arranged so that a spring action of the spring biasing mechanism directs the forehead support to the second position.

15. The mask assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the spring biasing mechanism is centrally located in the forehead support between headgear connectors.

16. The mask assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the spring biasing mechanism is separate from a headgear of the mask assembly.

17. A mask assembly comprising:
headgear;
a mask frame;
a mask cushion attached to the mask frame and adapted to contact a face of a patient in a substantially airtight manner;
a stabilizing element movably connected to the mask frame;
a stabilizing element cushion attached to the stabilizing element and adapted to contact a forehead of the patient when the mask assembly engages the patient's face; and
a spring biasing mechanism separate from the headgear and arranged to exert a first force on the mask frame and a second force on the stabilizing element so that the stabilizing element self-adjusts to align itself in position with respect to the patient when the mask assembly is mounted on the patient's face.

18. The mask assembly of claim 17 , wherein the stabilizing element is a forehead support.

19. The mask assembly of claim 18 , wherein the forehead support self-adjusts itself with respect to the forehead of the patient.

20. The mask assembly of claim 17 , wherein the stabilizing element is resiliently biased.

21. The mask assembly of claim 20 , wherein the stabilizing element is configured to be biased to align itself against the skin of the patient when the mask assembly is mounted on the patient's face.

22. The mask assembly of claim 17 , further comprising at least one locking mechanism for locking the stabilizing element in position with respect to the mask frame.

23. The mask assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the stabilizing element includes a housing that at least partially houses the spring biasing mechanism.

24. A mask assembly, comprising:
a mask frame;
a cushion attached to the mask frame and adapted to contact the face of a patient in a substantially airtight manner;
a stabilizer element connected to the mask frame and translatably biased via a spring action of a spring biasing element adapted to be compressed between the stabilizer element and the mask frame; and
a pad supported by the stabilizer element, the pad being configured to contact the patient's face,
wherein the spring biasing element engages the mask frame and an inclination angle between the stabilizer element and the mask frame remains constant as the stabilizer translates with respect to the mask frame.

25. A mask assembly according to claim 24 , further comprising a lock mechanism that locks the stabilizer element in position with respect to the mask frame.

26. A mask assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the position is one of a plurality of discrete positions.

27. A mask assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the position is one of an infinite number of positions.

28. A mask assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the stabilizer element includes a shaft translatably supported in a cylindrical extension of the mask frame, and the lock mechanism comprises a pawl on the cylindrical extension that engages the shaft.

29. A mask assembly according to claim 28 , wherein the pawl includes ratchet teeth that engage corresponding ratchet teeth formed on the shaft.

30. A mask assembly according to claim 28 , wherein the pawl is supported on a cantilevered lever formed in an oute

Assignees

• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Brambilla Enrico
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Henry Robert Edward
• Veliss Lee James
• Gunning Philip John
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Brambilla Enrico
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Henry Robert Edward
• Veliss Lee James
• Gunning Philip John

Classifications

• A61M16/0622

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/065

  in the form of a pivot · CPC title

• A61M16/0638

  in the form of a pivot · CPC title

• A61M16/0655

  in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide · CPC title