Valsalva mask

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9907923-B2
Application number	US-201715630800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Sep 4, 2012
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

An interface for positive pressure therapy includes a mask assembly and a headgear assembly. The mask assembly comprises a mask seal that is adapted to underlie the nose. The mask seal extends up the lateral sides of the nose. The mask seal has a primary seal below the nose and a secondary seal alongside the nose.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mask assembly for use with a respiratory interface configured to provide respiratory gas to a user in use including improved nose tabs configured to provide additional lateral compressive forces against a user's nose for nose bridge support and to reduce air leakage, the mask assembly comprising:
a mask base comprising a mask base wall made of a first material, the mask base wall having a distal portion defining a respiratory gases inlet, the mask base wall extending from the distal portion, around the respiratory gases inlet and configured to extend proximally toward a user in use, to a proximal peripheral edge of the mask base wall, the mask base wall having an inner mask base wall surface;
a seal member made of a second material that is more flexible than the first material, the seal member having a distal peripheral edge, a sidewall portion, a face contacting wall portion, and a free edge of the face contacting wall portion, the distal peripheral edge being connected to the proximal peripheral edge of the mask base wall, the sidewall portion extending from the distal peripheral edge of the seal member and configured to extend proximally toward a user in use, to the face contacting wall portion of the seal member, the free edge of the face contacting wall portion disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall portion, the sidewall portion having a sidewall outer surface facing radially outwardly and the face contacting wall portion having a face contacting wall outer surface configured to face toward a user in use, wherein the sidewall portion and the face contacting wall portion have a sidewall inner surface and a face contacting wall inner surface, respectively, and wherein the sidewall inner surface, the face contacting wall inner surface, and the inner mask base wall surface define an inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly;
a first tab integrally formed with the seal member, the first tab having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first tab extending from the face contacting wall portion to the distal end of the first tab which is coupled with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly at a first location that is disposed distally from the face contacting wall portion, the first tab including first and second side edges extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the first tab forming a first loop with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly and configured to press at least part of the face contacting wall outer surface laterally against a first side of a user's nose in use; and
a second tab integrally formed with the seal member, the second tab having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second tab extending from the face contacting wall portion to the distal end of the second tab which is coupled with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly at a second location that is disposed distally from the face contacting wall portion, the second tab including first and second side edges extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the second tab forming a second loop with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly and configured to press at least part of the face contacting wall outer surface laterally against a second side of the user's nose in use.

2. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first and second tabs are adjustably connected to portions of the mask assembly, respectively.

3. The mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal ends of the first and second tabs extend from the free edge of the face contacting wall portion and the first and second tabs tapering toward the distal ends, respectively.

4. A mask assembly for use with a respiratory interface configured to provide respiratory gas to a user, the mask assembly comprising:
a mask base comprising a mask base wall, the mask base wall having a distal portion defining a respiratory gases inlet, the mask base wall extending from the distal portion to a peripheral edge of the mask base wall, the mask base wall having an inner base wall surface;
a seal member having a distal peripheral edge, a sidewall portion, and a face contacting wall portion, the distal peripheral edge being connected to the peripheral edge of the mask base wall, the sidewall portion extending from the distal peripheral edge of the seal member and configured to extend proximally toward a user in use, to the face contacting wall portion of the seal member, wherein the sidewall portion and the face contacting wall portion comprise a sidewall inner surface and a face contacting wall inner surface, respectively, and wherein the face contacting wall inner surface, the sidewall inner surface, and the inner base wall surface define an inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly; and
a first tab having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first tab extending from a free edge of the face contacting wall portion to the distal end of the first tab which is coupled with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly at a second location that is disposed distally from the proximal end such that the first tab forms a first loop with the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly,
wherein the first tab includes first and second side edges extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

5. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the mask base wall is made of a first material, the seal member being made of a second material that is more flexible than the first material.

6. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the free edge of the face contacting wall portion is disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall portion.

7. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the first tab is integrally formed with the seal member and tapers toward the distal end of the first tab.

8. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the first tab is configured to press at least part of an outer surface of the face contacting wall portion laterally against a first lateral side of a user's nose in use.

9. The mask assembly according to claim 8 , additionally comprising a second tab having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second tab extending from the free edge of the face contacting wall portion to the inwardly facing surface of the mask assembly at a third location that is disposed distally from the free edge of the face contacting wall portion, the second tab configured to press at least part of an outer surface of the face contacting wall portion laterally against a second side of a user's nose in use, opposite the first lateral side of the user's nose.

10. The mask assembly according to claim 4 , additionally comprising a second tab having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second tab extending from the face contacting wall portion to a third location disposed distally from the proximal end of the second tab.

11. A mask assembly for use with a respiratory interface configured to provide respiratory gas to a user, the mask assembly comprising:
a mask base comprising a distal inlet and a proximal peripheral edge;
a seal member having a sidewall portion and a face contacting wall portion, the sidewall portion being connected to the proximal peripheral edge of the mask base; and
a first tab extending from a first proximal location of the face contacting wall portion to a first distal location of the mask assembly that is disposed distally from the first proximal location, wherein the first tab forms a first loop with an inner surface of the mask assembly,
wherein the first tab is integrally formed with the seal member and includes first and second side edges e

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Stephenson Matthew Roger
• Bornholdt Melissa Catherine

Classifications

• A61M2210/0618

  Nose · CPC title

• A61M16/208

  Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · 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

• A61M16/0605 Primary

  Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient · CPC title