Respiratory mask

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981102-B2
Application number	US-37780108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2008
Priority date	Mar 2, 2007
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A respiratory mask for use with a patient, and that is suited for use with children, includes a flexible cushion arranged to interface with and deliver air to the patient's nose. The cushion has a tube connection portion at one or both sides adjacent the patient's nares, the tube connection portion being arranged to connect to an air delivery tube. This location, plus the very low profile of the mask, allows a patient (e.g. an infant) to sleep on their face more comfortably. A more rigid support structure adjacent the cushion is provided to stabilize the cushion and prevent it from collapsing. Headgear is also provided and arranged for releasable attachment to the support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient interface configured for sealed delivery of a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance of a patient's airways including at least an entrance of the patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure above ambient air pressure throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface comprising:
a flexible cushion arranged to form an air chamber around and deliver the breathable gas to the patient's nose and having a tube connection portion at one or both lateral sides configured to be adjacent the patient's nares when the flexible cushion is engaged to the patient's face, the tube connection portion arranged to receive an air delivery tube configured to provide the flow of breathable gas to the patient interface, the tube connection portion being an integral part of the flexible cushion,
a rigid support structure adjacent the flexible cushion to constitute an assembly in combination with the flexible cushion, and
headgear arranged for releasable attachment to the flexible cushion and support structure assembly by way of the support structure,
wherein the tube connection portion is configured to decouple movement of the air delivery tube from the flexible cushion and the support structure.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is overmolded to the support structure.

3. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is co-molded with the support structure.

4. A patient interface according claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is translucent, transparent or water clear.

5. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is triangular, rectangular, circular or square shaped.

6. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is formed by injection molding.

7. A patient interface according to claim 1 , further comprising a plug configured to be received in the tube connection portion.

8. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a cylindrical portion configured to support the tube connection portion of the flexible cushion.

9. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to extend over the patient's nasal bridge but not over the apex of the patient's nose when the patient interface is engaged with the patient's face, such that the support structure substantially stops the flexible cushion from collapsing when a force is applied to a front side of the patient interface.

10. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure is covered in a material that is less rigid than the support structure.

11. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion and the flexible tube connection portion are constructed from the same material.

12. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion and the tube connection portion comprise a one-piece construction.

13. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion and the tube connection portion together constituting a continuous flexible body.

14. A patient interface according claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is formed of elastomeric material.

15. A patient interface according to claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone or foam.

16. A patient interface according claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion is generally trapezoidally shaped and structured so that when the flexible cushion is engaged to the patient's face, a top side of the generally trapezoidal shape bridges the nose of a patient, a bottom side of the generally trapezoidal shape is adjacent the patient's nares, and lateral sides of the generally trapezoidal shape are adjacent the patient's nostrils.

17. A patient interface according to claim 16 , wherein a length of the top side of the generally trapezoidal shape is between about 10-50 mm, a length of the bottom side of the generally trapezoidal shape is between about 20-90 mm, and a length of each lateral side of the generally trapezoidal shape is between about 20-60 mm.

18. A patient interface according to claim 17 , wherein the length of the top side of the generally trapezoidal shape is about 28.4 mm, the length of the bottom side of the generally trapezoidal shape is about 55.4 mm, and the length of each lateral side of the generally trapezoidal shape is about 36.5 mm.

19. A patient interface according to claim 16 , wherein top corners between the top side and the lateral sides are rounded and have a radius of up to 30 mm and bottom corners between the bottom side are rounded and have a radius up to 20 mm.

20. A patient interface according to claim 19 , wherein the top corners have a radius of 13 mm and the bottom corners have a radius of 5 mm.

21. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible cushion comprises a dome portion on a front side and a base wall and a flexible membrane extending from the base wall on a rear side, the rear side being configured to engage the patient's face, and the dome portion, the base wall and the membrane forming the air chamber.

22. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein the base wall and the membrane form side walls of the air chamber, the membrane defining an aperture to receive the patient's nose.

23. A patient interface according to claim 22 , wherein the aperture has a trapezoidal shape similar to a trapezoidal shape of the flexible cushion.

24. A patient interface according to claim 23 , wherein a length of a top side of the aperture is about 18.5 mm, a length of a bottom side of the aperture is about 40.2 mm, and a length of each lateral side of the aperture is about 28.1 mm.

25. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein the membrane has a substantially C-shaped cross section.

26. A patient interface according to claim 25 , wherein top and bottom portions of the membrane have a larger curvature than lateral side portions.

27. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein a bottom portion of the membrane is thicker than top and lateral side portions.

28. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein top and bottom portions of the base wall are wider than lateral side portions of the base wall.

29. A patient interface according to claim 28 , wherein a width of the top and bottom portions of the base wall is about 8 mm, a width of the lateral side portions of the base wall is about 5 mm, and transition zones of tapered width are provided between the lateral side portions and the top and bottom portions.

30. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein a thickness of the top, bottom and lateral side portions of the base wall is about 0.9 mm, and the thickness of the top and bottom portions tapers to about 0.5 mm in a transition region between the base wall and the membrane.

31. A patient interface according to claim 21 , wherein the membrane is visco-elastic foam.

32. A patient interface according to claim 31 , wherein the membrane has a variable cross section.

33. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wher

Assignees

• Veliss Lee James
• Harrington Carmel Therese
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Gunning Philip John
• Gudiksen Joshua Adam
• Caffin Bart Jeremy
• Sokolov Richard
• Johnson Ian Fredrick
• Siu Eric
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Veliss Lee James
• Harrington Carmel Therese
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Gunning Philip John
• Gudiksen Joshua Adam
• Caffin Bart Jeremy
• Sokolov Richard
• Johnson Ian Fredrick
• Siu Eric

Classifications

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/0825

  with ball-sockets · CPC title

• A61M16/0622

  having an underlying cushion · CPC title

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title