Headgear tensioning for respiratory mask

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744385-B2
Application number	US-90250907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2007
Priority date	Sep 21, 2006
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Headgear for a patient interface includes at least one headgear strap and an indicator provided to the at least one headgear strap structured to indicate attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear in response to headgear tension applied to the at least one headgear strap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headgear assembly for attachment to a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a headgear body adapted to fit to the patient's head and having connection portions adapted for connection to the patient interface;
means for adjusting said headgear body; and
means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body, the means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body being responsive to an adjustment parameter of the headgear body,
wherein the desired adjustment setting relates to a predetermined breathable gas pressure.

2. A headgear assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said adjustment parameter to which said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body is responsive is headgear tension.

3. A headgear assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body changes responsive to the headgear tension.

4. A headgear assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body conforms to a predetermined shape to indicate said desired adjustment setting.

5. A headgear assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body changes in elongation responsive to the headgear tension.

6. A headgear assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body indicates different adjustment settings.

7. A headgear assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body is located on said headgear body.

8. A headgear assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body changes in colour and/or shade to indicate said desired adjustment setting.

9. A headgear assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear body is configured to indicate that the desired adjustment setting has been achieved before the patient interface is pressurized with breathable gas.

10. A patient interface adapted to deliver breathable gas to a patient and adapted for attachment to the patient by means of adjustable headgear, comprising: means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear, the means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear being responsive to an adjustment parameter of the headgear,
wherein the attained desired adjustment setting is one of a plurality of adjustment settings of the headgear and each one of the plurality of adjustment settings relates to a predetermined breathable gas pressure.

11. A patient interface according to claim 10 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear is responsive to a pressure with which the patient interface is retained against the patient.

12. A patient interface according to claim 11 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear changes responsive to the pressure.

13. A patient interface according to claim 12 , wherein said patient interface includes a seal for sealing against the patient's face, and wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear co-operates with said seal.

14. A patient interface according to claim 13 , wherein said means for indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear is responsive to a contact pressure applied to the seal.

15. A patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein said contact pressure is the contact pressure between the seal and a body of the patient interface.

16. A method for controlling adjustment of headgear adapted to attach a patient interface to a patient, comprising:
adjusting a portion of the headgear that engages the patient interface; and
visually indicating attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the portion of the headgear that engages the patient interface,
wherein the desired adjustment setting is variable and depends on a treatment pressure of breathable gas delivered to the patient via the patient interface.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein visually indicating includes providing visible indicia structured to change in shape responsive to headgear tension.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein visually indicating includes providing visible indicia structured to become visible upon application of headgear tension corresponding to the desired adjustment setting.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein visually indicating includes providing a necked portion to the headgear structured to narrow as headgear tension is increased.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein visually indicating includes providing a contact pressure film to a mask provided to the headgear structured to change color as headgear tension is increased.

21. The method according to claim 16 , the portion of the headgear that engages the patient interface is adjusted to the desired adjustment setting before pressurized gas is supplied to the patient interface.

22. Headgear for a patient interface, comprising:
at least one headgear strap; and
an indicator provided to the at least one headgear strap structured to indicate attainment of a desired patient interface force against a patient's face in response to headgear tension applied to the at least one headgear strap,
wherein the desired patient interface force relates to a predetermined breathable gas pressure.

23. Headgear according to claim 22 , wherein the indicator includes visible indicia structured to change in shape in response to headgear tension.

24. Headgear according to claim 22 , wherein the indicator includes visible indicia structured to become visible upon application of headgear tension corresponding to the desired patient interface force against the patient's face.

25. Headgear according to claim 22 , wherein the indicator includes a necked portion structured to narrow as headgear tension is increased.

26. A patient interface, comprising:
a mask; and
headgear according to claim 22 provided to the mask.

27. Headgear according to claim 22 , wherein the indicator is configured to indicate attainment of a headgear tension corresponding to the desired patient interface force against the patient's face before the patient interface is pressurized with breathable gas.

28. A headgear assembly for attachment to a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
an adjustable headgear adapted to fit to the patient's head and has connection portions adapted for connection to the patient interface; and
an indicator responsive to a connection portion adjustment parameter and configured to indicate attainment of a desired connection portion adjustment setting,
wherein the attained desired connection portion adjustment setting is one of a plurality of connection portion adjustment settings and each one of the plurality of connection portion adjustment settings relates to a predetermined breathable gas pressure.

Assignees

• Henry Robert Edward
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Gunning Philip John
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Morrison James
• Green Paul Anthony
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Baxter Christopher John
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Henry Robert Edward
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Gunning Philip John
• Selvarajan Karthikeyan
• Morrison James
• Green Paul Anthony
• Blunsden Christopher Kingsley
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Baxter Christopher John

Classifications

• A61M2205/14

  Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title

• A62B18/084 Primary

  Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets · CPC title

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M2205/0283

  Electro-active polymers [EAP] · CPC title