Mask system with snap-fit shroud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9770568-B2
Application number	US-201715440972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2008
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A shroud ( 1020 ) for a mask system includes a retaining portion structured to retain a frame ( 1040 ), a pair of upper headgear connectors ( 1024 ) each including an elongated arm ( 1026 ) and a slot ( 1027 ) at the free end of the arm adapted to receive a headgear strap, and a pair of lower headgear connectors ( 1025 ) each adapted to attach to a headgear strap. The retaining portion, the upper headgear connectors, and the lower headgear connectors are integrally formed as a one piece structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mask system to provide positive air pressure therapy to a patient, the mask system comprising:
a cushion module comprising:
a frame having an interior surface forming a breathing chamber, the frame including a circular frame opening positioned to receive a supply of air at positive pressure, wherein the frame includes a cylindrical collar surrounding the frame opening and extending away from an exterior surface of the frame, the collar having a longitudinal axis, and the collar having a cylindrical surface with an axis that is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the collar, wherein the collar includes at least one radial protrusion extending from the cylindrical surface, the at least one radial protrusion having a curvature centered about the longitudinal axis of the collar, wherein the frame, including the collar and the at least one radial protrusion, is constructed from polycarbonate, and
a cushion constructed of silicone, the polycarbonate of the frame being harder than the silicone of the cushion, the frame being more rigid than the cushion, the cushion configured to seal against the patient's face in use to enable the supply of air at positive pressure to be delivered to the patient, the cushion is constructed to engage the patient's face along a nasal bridge region, a cheek region, and a lower lip/chin region of the patient's face when in use,
wherein the cushion and the frame are joined to form a one-piece, integrated component;

an elbow configured to receive the supply of air at positive pressure and deliver the supply of air at positive pressure to the breathing chamber, the elbow having an anti-asphyxia valve;
a shroud without a forehead support, the shroud configured to removably connect to the frame of the cushion module, wherein the shroud includes a circular elbow opening that accommodates the elbow, wherein the shroud includes a rear surface at least partly covering the exterior surface of the frame, the shroud having a plurality of part-annular snap connection portions circumferentially spaced from one another and centered about a longitudinal axis of the elbow opening, the snap connection portions being positioned rearward of the elbow opening of the shroud, wherein the shroud, including the snap connection portions, is constructed from polycarbonate, the polycarbonate of the shroud being harder than the silicone of the cushion, and the shroud being more rigid than the cushion;
headgear configured to connect to the shroud to maintain the cushion module in position on the patient's head in use, the headgear comprising a pair of upper straps, each of the pair of upper straps configured to be positioned on a corresponding lateral side of the patient's head in use, and a pair of lower straps, each of the pair of lower straps configured to be positioned on a corresponding lateral side of the patient's head in use; and
a vent arrangement having a plurality of holes for gas washout from the breathing chamber to atmosphere,
wherein:
the shroud includes a pair of upper headgear connectors and a pair of lower headgear connectors, said pair of upper headgear connectors structured to connect to said headgear, and said pair of lower headgear connectors structured to connect to said headgear via clips,
each of the pair of upper headgear connectors comprises an elongated arm to direct a corresponding one of the pair of upper straps away from the patient's corresponding eye, each elongated arm being shaped to follow contours of the patient's face and avoid the patient's line of sight in use,
a portion of each elongated arm is enveloped by a fabric sleeve,
each elongated arm is constructed of a flexible material,
each elongated arm is connected to the shroud,
each elongated arm is configured to be positioned inferior to the patient's corresponding eye in use and is configured to direct a corresponding one of the pair of upper straps superior to the patient's corresponding ear in use,
each of the pair of lower headgear connectors is configured to direct a corresponding one of the pair of lower straps inferior to the patient's corresponding ear in use
to releasably connect the shroud to the cushion module, the at least one radial protrusion and the snap connection portions are structured to resiliently deflect relative to one another in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the collar to form a removable snap-fit connection between the at least one radial protrusion and the snap connection portions by moving the cushion module and the shroud towards one another along the longitudinal axis of the collar,
when the collar and the snap connection portions are joined to form the removable snap-fit connection, the cushion module and the shroud are stabilized against rotation relative to one another,
the elbow is directly attached to the shroud at the elbow opening, and
the elbow is rotatable 360° relative to the shroud.

2. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a rearwardly extending portion that is constructed of the polycarbonate of the frame, the rearwardly extending portion extending rearward from the collar and terminating in an edge having a substantially triangular shape, and
wherein the cushion is joined to the frame about the edge.

3. The mask system of claim 2 , wherein the rearwardly extending portion includes the interior surface of the frame that forms the breathing chamber.

4. The mask system of claim 1 ,
wherein the collar, the shroud, and the elbow are structured such that a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar intersects each of the shroud, the elbow, and the collar when the frame, the shroud, and the elbow are assembled.

5. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the shroud surrounding the elbow opening, a portion of the elbow that engages the shroud at the elbow opening, and the collar of the frame are arranged such that a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar intersects each of the shroud, the elbow, and the collar when the frame, the shroud, and the elbow are assembled together.

6. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises a front end positioned to face away from the patient in use, and
wherein when the frame and the shroud are assembled together, the front end of the collar is positioned rearward of the rear surface of the shroud.

7. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes a rearwardly extending portion that is constructed of the polycarbonate of the frame, the rearwardly extending portion extending rearward from the collar and terminating in an edge having a substantially triangular shape,
the cushion is joined to the frame about the edge,
the rearwardly extending portion includes the interior surface of the frame that forms the breathing chamber,
the collar, the shroud, and the elbow are structured such that a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collar intersects each of the shroud, the elbow, and the collar when the frame, the shroud, and the elbow are assembled,
the collar comprises a front end positioned to face away from the patient in use,
the collar and the snap-fit connection are arranged to remain stationary relative to one another as the elbow is rotated, and
when the frame and the shroud are assembled together, the front end of the collar is positioned rearward of the rear surface of the shroud.

8. The mask system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one radial protrusion further comprises a single radial protrusion having an annular shape.

9. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the collar and the snap-fit connection are arranged to remain stationary relative to one another as the elbow is rotated.

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Ng Eva
• Lockwood David James
• Wehbeh Jamie Graeme
• Valcic Zoran
• D'Souza Errol Savio Alex
• Eves Matthew
• SARI Mahsita Darwani

Classifications

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · 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

• A61M16/0694

  Chin straps · CPC title

• A61M16/20

  Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices · CPC title