Patent Application
20140000618
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to patient interface devices for transporting a gas to and/or from an airway of a user, and in particular, to a patient interface device including a mechanism for adjusting a forehead support of the patient interface device that employs a helical adjustment mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous situations where it is necessary or desirable to deliver a flow of breathing gas non-invasively to the airway of a patient, i.e., without intubating the patient or surgically inserting a tracheal tube in their esophagus. For example, it is known to ventilate a patient using a technique known as non-invasive ventilation. It is also known to deliver continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or variable airway pressure, which varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, to treat a medical disorder, such as sleep apnea syndrome, in particular, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or congestive heart failure.
Non-invasive ventilation and pressure support therapies involve the placement of a patient interface device including a mask component on the face of a patient. The mask component may be, without limitation, a nasal mask that covers the patient's nose, a nasal cushion having nasal prongs that are received within the patient's nares, a nasal/oral mask that covers the nose and mouth, or a full face mask that covers the patient's face. The patient interface device interfaces the ventilator or pressure support device with the airway of the patient, so that a flow of breathing gas can be delivered from the pressure/flow generating device to the airway of the patient. It is known to maintain such devices on the face of a wearer by a headgear having one or more straps adapted to fit over/around the patient's head.
Because such patient interface devices are typically worn for an extended period of time, it is important for the headgear to maintain the mask component of the device in a tight enough seal against the patient's face without discomfort. One area where fit and comfort is often a concern is the bridge of the patient's nose, as most patient interface devices will apply a pressure to this area. If this pressure is not able to be managed effectively, either or both of a poor fit or patient discomfort will result, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a patient interface device that overcomes the shortcomings of conventional patient interface devices. This object is achieved according to one embodiment of the present invention by providing a patient interface device that includes a selectively adjustable forehead support assembly that allows for simple and convenient management of the nose bridge pressure that is applied by the patient interface device.
In one embodiment, a patient interface device is provided that includes a patient sealing assembly for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The patient sealing assembly includes a cushion, a frame member coupled to the cushion, and an adjustable forehead support assembly provided at a distal end of the frame member. The adjustable forehead support assembly includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to a forehead cushion. The adjustment mechanism including a forehead cushion support member having a base portion coupled to the forehead cushion, a projecting member extending from the base portion, a rotatable knob member having a surface having a helical groove provided therein, and a post coupled to one of the frame member and the projecting member. The post is received within the helical groove such that rotation of the knob member causes a position of the post within the helical grove to change thereby causing relative movement between the projecting member and the frame member, and wherein movement of the frame member relative to the projection member causes movement of the frame member and the cushion relative to the forehead cushion.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “coupled” shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or components, so long as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other.
As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body. As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts or components “engage” one another shall mean that the parts exert a force against one another either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or components. As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).
Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and without limitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.
A system 10 adapted to provide a regimen of respiratory therapy to a patient according to one exemplary embodiment is generally shown in
Patient interface device 25 includes a patient sealing assembly 35, which in the illustrated embodiment is a nasal mask. However, other types of patient sealing assemblies, such as, without limitation, a nasal/oral mask or a nasal cushion, which facilitates the delivery of the flow of breathing gas to the airway of a patient may be substituted for patient sealing assembly 35 while remaining within the scope of the present invention. Patient sealing assembly 35 includes a cushion 40 coupled to a frame member 45. In the illustrated embodiment, cushion 40 is defined from a unitary piece of soft, flexible, cushiony, elastomeric material, such as, without limitation, silicone, an appropriately soft thermoplastic elastomer, a closed cell foam, or any combination of such materials. Also in the illustrated embodiment, frame member 45 is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as, without limitation, an injection molded thermoplastic or silicone, and includes a faceplate portion 50 to which cushion 40 is fluidly attached. An opening in faceplate portion 50, to which fluid coupling conduit 30 is coupled, allows the flow of breathing gas from pressure generating device 15 to be communicated to an interior space defined by cushion 40, and then to the airway of a patient. In an alternative embodiment, cushion 40 may be supported by and received through an orifice in frame member 45 so that fluid coupling conduit 30 can be directly connected to cushion 40 rather than to a faceplate portion. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, faceplate portion 50 includes first and second socket type connecting members 55 for receiving a ball connector of a respective strap of a headgear component (not shown) to secure patient interface device 8 to the patient's head.
Frame member 45 also includes an elongated connecting member 60 having a distal end 65 that is connected to an adjustable forehead support assembly 100 of patient interface device 25. Adjustable forehead support assembly 100 includes an adjustment mechanism 102 that is coupled to a forehead cushion 104, which in the exemplary embodiment is made of a material that is similar to the material of cushion 40. As described in detail herein, adjustment mechanism 100 provides a mechanism for selectively adjusting the force applied to the bridge of the nose of a patient by an apex portion of cushion 40 by varying the position of connecting member 60, and in particular distal end 65 thereof, with respect to forehead cushion 104.
Adjustment mechanism 102 is assembled by inserting the front end of drive beam 112 into gap 126 as seen in
Adjustment mechanism 202 includes a housing portion 206 coupled to the distal end of a frame member 208.
As seen in
Adjustment mechanism 202 also includes a linear translation assembly 220 partially received and housed within housing portion 206. Linear translation assembly 220 includes a forehead cushion support member 222, shown in
As seen in
Adjustment mechanism 202 is assembled by inserting the front end of elongated post member 226 into receiving channel portion 212 of housing portion 206 in a manner wherein tongue members 216A, 216B are received in grooves 228A, 228B. In addition, when this is done, post 230 will extend through top slot portion 214. Knob member 232 is then coupled thereto in a manner wherein post 230 is inserted into helical groove 236 and bottom lip 238 is received within circular channel 218. By rotating knob member 232, the position of post 230 along helical groove 236 will be caused to change, which in turn will cause the position of housing portion 206 and frame member 208 relative to forehead cushion support member 222 and forehead cushion 204 (which will be at a fixed position on the patient's head) to be linearly adjusted, thereby allowing for selective adjustment of the force that is applied to the bridge of the patient's nose as described elsewhere herein.
In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannot be used in combination.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
This patent application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/454,786 filed on Mar. 21, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB12/51166 | 3/13/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/16/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61454786 | Mar 2011 | US |
