Mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9895503-B2
Application number	US-201313957475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2013
Priority date	May 2, 2003
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A mask system for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising headgear, a shell/cushion including a channel adjacent a front aperture, a frame, an elbow including at least one undercut on a proximal end, a retaining ring including a rear flange adapted to be retainably insertable in the channel of the shell/cushion, and a front flange adapted to retainably engage with the at least one undercut of the elbow.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mask system for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
a flexible shell and cushion unit including a cushion portion and a shell portion, the cushion portion having a face contacting portion adapted to form a seal with a patient's face when engaged with the patient's face, the face contacting portion including a nasal bridge region, a lip region and side regions extending between the nasal bridge region and the lip region, the shell portion including a front face with a centrally located aperture opposite the cushion portion, a channel formed in the shell portion adjacent the centrally located aperture, the flexible shell and cushion unit being an integral single piece of silicone defining an interior breathing chamber, the flexible shell and cushion unit including a rear flange, a plurality of front flanges and a plurality of discrete frame-receiving channels between the rear flange and the plurality of front flanges;
a rigid, generally triangularly-shaped frame with rounded lower corners, at least a part of the frame being shaped to be secured between the rear flange and the plurality of front flanges, the frame supporting the shell and cushion unit, the frame having at least one opening through which at least part of the shell portion extends with the frame secured to and positively located relative to the flexible shell and cushion unit;
a rigid ring-shaped member including an annular front flange ring and a rear flange ring with an annular groove between the front and rear flange rings, the rear flange ring received within the channel formed in the shell portion adjacent the aperture with part of the shell portion secured inside the annular groove, the front flange ring resting on an exterior surface of the front face of the shell portion;
a rotatable elbow having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted to engage with and rotate relative to the ring-shaped member, the rotatable elbow having a vent including at least one vent orifice adapted to vent exhaled gases out of the rotatable elbow;
a swivel provided to the second end of the rotatable elbow, the swivel including a first end engaged with the rotatable elbow, and the swivel having a second end adapted to engage an air delivery conduit;
a port including a port cap adapted to cover and seal the port;
headgear attachment points formed on the frame, a first pair of the headgear attachment points being provided on a first side portion of the frame, and a second pair of the headgear attachment points being provided on a second side portion of the frame; and
headgear adapted to attach to the headgear attachment points.

2. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped member is separate from the frame.

3. The mask system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of front flanges are spaced around the centrally located aperture.

4. The mask system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of front flanges include at least four flanges.

5. The mask system of claim 3 , wherein the rear flange of the shell and cushion unit is substantially continuous along the lip region and side regions.

6. The mask system of claim 3 , wherein the headgear includes four straps including a pair of lower straps and a pair of upper straps, the lower straps being adapted to be positioned below a patient's ears, the upper straps being adapted to be positioned above the patient's ears.

7. The mask system of claim 6 , wherein the frame and the shell portion are structured to be removably attachable to and detachable from each other.

8. The mask system of claim 7 , wherein the ring-shaped member and the shell portion are structured to be removably attachable to and detachable from each other.

9. The mask system of claim 8 , wherein the channel formed in the shell portion adjacent the centrally located aperture has a complementary shape to the rear flange ring of the ring-shaped member.

10. The mask system of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable elbow includes an approximately 90° bend between the first and second ends thereof.

11. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the frame has a width of approximately 90 mm.

12. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the headgear attachment points include four headgear attachment points.

13. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the headgear attachment points include a mushroom headed spigot adapted to connect to the headgear.

14. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the headgear attachment points include an aperture adapted to receive the headgear.

15. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the port cap comprises either a polypropelene or silicone material.

16. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable elbow comprises either a polycarbonate or polypropylene material.

17. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped member and the frame comprise a common material.

18. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the shell and cushion unit includes a finish to increase comfort.

19. The mask system of claim 1 , wherein the frame and the ring-shaped member have a common rigidity.

20. A mask system for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
a flexible shell and cushion unit including a cushion portion configured to form a seal with a patient when engaged with the patient's face, and including a shell portion, the shell portion including a front face with a centrally located aperture, the flexible shell and cushion unit being an integral single piece of silicone defining an interior breathing chamber, the flexible shell and cushion unit including a rear flange, a plurality of front flanges and a plurality of discrete frame-receiving channels between the rear flange and the plurality of front flanges;
a rigid frame including at least one portion shaped to fit into and be secured within the plurality of discrete frame-receiving channels, the frame supporting the shell and cushion unit;
a rigid ring-shaped member with an annular front flange ring and a rear flange ring with an annular groove between the front and rear flange rings, the annular front flange ring and the rear flange ring adapted to engage with the centrally located aperture of the shell portion;
a rotatable elbow having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to engage with the ring-shaped member; and
headgear adapted to attach to the frame.

21. The mask system of claim 20 , wherein the ring-shaped member is separate from the frame.

22. The mask system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of front flanges are spaced around the centrally located aperture.

23. The mask system of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of front flanges include at least four spaced front flanges.

24. The mask system of claim 22 , wherein the headgear includes four straps including a pair of lower straps and a pair of upper straps, the lower straps being adapted to be positioned below a patient's ears, the upper straps being adapted to be positioned above the patient's ears.

25. The mask system of claim 24 , wherein the frame and the shell portion are removably attachable to and detachable from each other.

26. The mask system of claim 25 , wherein the ring-shaped member and the shell portion are structured to be removably attachable to and detachable from each other.

27. The mask system of claim 26 , wherein the rotatable elbow includes an approximately 90° bend between the first and secon

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Jones Michael Andrew
• Amarasinghe Amal Shirley
• Fu Timothy Tsun Fai
• Lithgow Perry David
• Saada Jim
• Sweeney Fiachra Marcus

Classifications

• A61M16/0633

  with forehead support · CPC title

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0858

  Pressure sampling ports · 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

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title