The present embodiments are directed to nonrebreather facemasks for efficiently delivering oxygen to patients.
Non-rebreather face (NRB) and regular face masks (RFM) are used in medical emergencies where people in distress require oxygen therapy. Such emergencies include physical trauma, chronic airway limitations, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning and other respiratory impairments.
A typical NRB facemask covers both the nose and the mouth of a patient. It is constrained to their face by way of an elastic strap that goes around the back of the patient's head. The elastic strap is essentially attached to the perimeter of the typical facemask (within a quarter/half an inch from the perimeter). Facemasks used today are somewhat inefficient and uncomfortable. It is to innovations related to this subject matter that the embodiments of the invention is generally directed.
The present embodiments are directed to facemasks, such as nonrebreather facemasks, for efficiently and comfortably delivering oxygen to patients.
Certain embodiments of the present invention contemplate a variable stiffness facemask comprising: a cup shaped pliable facemask that is essentially defined by a nose covering region, a mouth covering region, two cheek coving regions and a perimeter, the perimeter essentially defined by a nose bridge rim, two cheek rims and a chin rim, the nose covered region shaped to closely conform to a human nose, the mouth covering region configured to be in front of a human mouth, the cheek covering regions configured to at least partially contact the corresponding sides of each human cheek; an inlet tube outwardly extending from the facemask, the inlet tube generally defined by a passageway that leads through a distal aperture and a nose aperture in the facemask; at least one strap anchor between the inlet tube and the mouth covering region; and a low force deflection band that extends at least 0.3 inches from the perimeter towards the mouth covering region, the low force deflection band being at least 15% more pliable than the mouth covering region.
Other certain embodiments of the present invention contemplate a nasal directed flow facemask comprising: a pliable cup shaped facemask that is essentially defined by a nose covering region, a mouth covering region, two cheek coving regions and a perimeter, the perimeter essentially defined by a nose bridge rim, two cheek rims and a chin rim, the nose covered region shaped to closely conform to a human nose, the mouth covering region configured to be in front of a human mouth, the cheek covering regions configured to at least partially contact the corresponding sides of each human cheek; an inlet tube outwardly extending from the facemask, the inlet tube generally defined by a passageway that leads through a distal aperture and nose aperture in the facemask, the inlet tube extending in a downward direction from the facemask at an angle between 30° and 60° from horizontal when the facemask is worn on a human face and the human face is in a neutral position.
Yet other certain embodiments of the present invention contemplate a nasal directed flow facemask comprising: a pliable cup shaped facemask that is essentially defined by a nose covering region, a mouth covering region, two cheek coving regions and a perimeter, the perimeter essentially defined by a nose bridge rim, two cheek rims and a chin rim, the nose covered region shaped to closely conform to a human nose, the mouth covering region configured to be in front of a human mouth, the cheek covering regions configured to at least partially contact the corresponding sides of each human cheek; an inlet tube outwardly extending from the facemask, the inlet tube generally defined by a passageway that leads through distal aperture and nose aperture in the facemask, a facemask cup volume that is essentially defined by a maximum amount of water the facemask can hold, the facemask cup volume less than 80 cc (5 in3).
Initially, this disclosure is by way of example only, not by limitation. Thus, although the instrumentalities described herein are for the convenience of explanation, shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the principles herein may be applied equally in other types of instruments and situations involving aspects of the inventive concepts of the disclosed nonrebreather facemasks. In what follows, similar or identical structures may (and may not) be identified using identical callouts.
Disclosed herein are embodiments describing nonrebreather facemasks for efficiently and comfortably delivering oxygen to patients. One embodiment describes a cup-shaped pliable facemask that is suited to cover and seal a patient's nose, mouth, and cheeks within the cup-shaped facemask. Certain other embodiments describe an inlet tube outwardly extending from the facemask at an angle in line with the pathway of a patient's nostrils to better provide oxygen directly into a patient's nose. Other embodiments envision varying facemasks stiffness for improved comfort, sealing against the patient's face and improved fitting for different face geometries and sizes. While other embodiments envision a reduction in dead space of a facemask when worn by a patient to improve oxygen efficiency used by the patient. Some embodiments envision a reduction in dead space as described below can improve oxygen purity levels breathed in by a patient to be greater than 80% due of a reduction in CO2 exhalent from the patient that normally sits in the dead space in the facemask while being worn. Yet additional embodiments envision placement of a retaining strap across the facemask or optionally anchored just below the nose portion on either side of the nose portion of the facemask to reduce dead space and provide flexibility to reduce the potential for obstructing a person's nostrils base on a variety of different face shapes and sizes. Still other embodiments envision a diffuser in the inlet to break up or otherwise change incoming laminar oxygen flow to turbulent oxygen flow to improve comfort of oxygen flowing in a patient's nostrils. These embodiments of the present invention more generally relate to a detailed description in view of the associated figures illustrating examples of the inventive concepts presented below.
The facemask embodiment 100 is a clear polymer pliable cup-shaped facemask 100 that is essentially defined by a nose-covering region 102, a mouth-covering region 104, and two cheek-covering regions 106 within a facemask perimeter 110. In this embodiment, the nose-covering region 102 is shaped to closely conform to the person's nose 140, the mouth-covering region 104 is in front of the person's mouth 142, and the cheek-covering regions 106 is at least partially in contact with the person's cheek 144. The mouth-covering region 104 comprises a plurality of perforations 105 (see
The facemask 100 further comprises a nose bridge reinforcement spring 190, a spring member to stiffen or otherwise retain the facemask to be shaped over the bridge 141 of the person's nose 140 (see
Some other embodiments envision the facemask 500 not necessarily having different thickness material, but rather different kinds of materials. More specifically, the low stiffness region 510 could be composed of a different more flexible/lower stiffness material than the high stiffness region 504. Hence, better conformity and comfort can be accomplished with the facemask 500 being comprised of at least two different materials, one less stiff material in the low stiffness region 510 and a different stiffer material in the high stiffness region 504. The stiffer areas (and in some embodiments, the thicker areas) provide the needed integrity to maintain the facemask's shape so as not to compromise a wearer's breathing. The more pliable areas (thinner areas in some embodiments) provide greater dynamic deformity facilitating more comfort and a better seal of the facemask 500 against a person's cheek 144 than prior art facemasks.
With the present description in mind, below is a summary of some embodiments consistent with the present invention. The elements called out below are examples provided to assist in the understanding of the present invention and should not be considered limiting.
One embodiment of the present invention contemplates a variable stiffness facemask 100 comprising: a facemask cup 151 that is essentially defined by a nose covering region 102, a mouth covering region 104, two cheek coving regions 106 and a perimeter 110. A nose bridge rim 112, two cheek rims 114 and a chin rim 116 essentially define the perimeter 110. The nose covered region 102 is shaped to closely conform to a human nose 140, the mouth covering region 104 configured to be in front of a human mouth 142, and the cheek covering regions 106 configured to at least partially contact a corresponding sides of a human cheek 144. The term “shaped to” should be construed to mean “configured to conform by way of shape” within the scope and spirit of the present invention. An inlet tube 120 outwardly extends from the facemask 100, the inlet tube 120 generally defined by a passageway 122 that leads through a distal aperture 124 and through a nose aperture 126 in the facemask 100. At least one strap anchor 118 is between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104. And, a low force deflection band 130 that extends at least 0.3 inches from the perimeter 110 towards the mouth covering region 104, the low force deflection band 130 is at least 15% more pliable than the mouth covering region 104.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further envisioning wherein the low force deflection band 130 is at least 10% thinner than the rest of the facemask 100.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further envisioning wherein each of the cheek rims 114 interface with the chin rim 116 in a flared lateral touch region 111. This embodiment further envisions wherein the flared lateral touch region 111 extends from one of the cheek covering regions 106 between 0.5 inch and 1.5 inch. Optionally this embodiment further envisions wherein the flared lateral touch region 111 is part of the low force deflection band 130.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein the low deflection band 130 comprises a more pliable material than the rest of the facemask 100.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further considering wherein the facemask 100 is a unitary polymer structure.
The variable stiffness facemask embodiment further envisioning wherein the low deflection band 130 is defined by variable thicknesses that provide variable stiffness.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein the nose bridge rim 112, the two cheek rims 114 and the chin rim 116 are thicker than the low deflection band 130.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further comprising perforations through the mouth covering region 104.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 further considering wherein at least part of the nose covering region 102 is thicker than the rest of the facemask 100.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein the inlet tube 120 extends from the facemask 100 at between 30° and 60° when worn on a human face.
The variable stiffness facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein the at least one strap anchor 118 is within 1.25 inches from a facemask midline, which is defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104.
Another embodiment includes a nasal directed flow facemask 100 comprising: a pliable facemask cup 151 that is essentially defined by a nose covering region 102, a mouth covering region 104, two cheek coving regions 106 and a perimeter 110, the perimeter 110 essentially defined by a nose bridge rim 112, two cheek rims 114 and a chin rim 116. The nose covered region 102 is shaped to closely conform to a human nose 140, the mouth covering region 104 is configured to be in front of a human mouth 142, the cheek covering regions 106 are configured to at least partially contact a corresponding sides of a human cheek 144. An inlet tube 120 outwardly extends from the facemask 100, the inlet tube 120 is generally defined by a passageway 122 that leads through a distal aperture 124 and a proximal nose aperture 126 in the facemask 100. The inlet tube 120 extends in a downward direction from the facemask 100 at an angle 160 between 30° and 60° from horizontal 162 when the facemask 100 is worn on a human face 200 that is in a neutral position 205.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further comprising at least one strap anchor 118 between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104 configured to retain a head retention strap 150, the at least one strap anchor 118 is within 1.25 inches from a facemask midline 311, the facemask midline 311 is defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein the angle 160 is between 42° and 50°.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further envisioning wherein the nose aperture 126 is configured to direct airflow 215 into a human's nostrils 206 at approximately at the angle 160 which is approximately a nostril angle of the nostril 206.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further comprising a diffuser 210 that disrupts laminar flow 216 of airflow 215. This embodiment embodiment further contemplating wherein the diffuser 210 is selected from a group comprising obstructing slots 222, obstructing grids 224, and a plurality of perforations 105.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further comprising perforations through the mouth covering region 104.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein the facemask 100 is a unitary polymer structure.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further considering wherein the inlet tube 120 and the facemask 100 is a unitary polymer structure.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein each of the cheek rims 114 extend away from the mouth covering region 104 in an elongated flared lateral touch region 111 that is at least one inch in length 117 to a cheek rim apex 192 at a right angle 197 from a vertical reference line 189 defined by a 90° reference angle 195 that passes through a face mask nose bridge rim apex 188 along the Y-axis 189 and the chin rim apex 186 along the X-axis 191.
The nasal directed flow facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein the inlet tube 120 is approximately in-line with the nose covering region 102 along a facemask midline 311 that is defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104.
While other embodiments include a reduced dead space adult facemask 100 comprising: a pliable adult sized facemask cup 151 that is essentially defined by a nose covering region 102, a mouth covering region 104, two cheek coving regions 106 and a perimeter 110, the perimeter 110 essentially defined by a nose bridge rim 112, two cheek rims 114 and a chin rim 116. The nose covered region 102 is shaped to closely conform to an adult human nose 140, the mouth covering region 104 is configured to be in front of an adult human mouth 142, the cheek covering regions 106 are configured to at least partially contact a corresponding sides of adult human cheeks 144. An inlet tube 120 outwardly extends from the adult facemask 100, the inlet tube 120 is generally defined by a passageway 122 that leads through a distal aperture 124 and nose aperture 126 in the facemask 100. A facemask cup volume 302 is essentially defined by a maximum amount of water the facemask cup 151 can hold. The facemask cup volume 302 is less than 6.1 in3.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further comprising at least one strap anchor 118 between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104 configured to retain a head retention strap 150, the strap anchor 118 is less than 1.25 inches from a facemask midline 311 defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein no part of an interior portion 702 of the facemask cup 151 is more than 0.35 inch from a human face 200, the interior portion 702 is defined as the interior surface of the facemask cup 151 that is configured to face the person's face 200.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further considering wherein at least 90% of an interior portion 702 of the facemask cup 151 is within one eighth of an inch from a human face 200, the interior portion 702 is defined as the interior surface of the facemask cup 151 that is configured to face the person's face 200.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further comprising a head strap 150 that crosses over a facemask midline 311 between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104, the facemask midline 311 is defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104. This embodiment further contemplating wherein the head strap 150 possesses a strap portion 310 that spans between two head strap anchors 118 that are between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104, the head strap anchors 118 are less than 1.25 inches from the facemask midline 311, the strap portion 310 is configured to deflect the facemask 100 towards a person's face 200 when facemask 100 is worn by a person 101. This can further be wherein the head strap 150 is a contiguous elastic band.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further envisioning wherein the facemask 100 is a unitary polymer element.
The reduced dead space adult facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein each of the cheek rims 114 extend away from the mouth covering region 104 in an elongated flared lateral touch region 111 at least one inch in length 117 to a cheek rim apex 192 at a right angle 197 from a vertical reference line 189 defined by a 90° reference angle 195 that passes through the face mask nose bridge rim apex 188 along the Y-axis 189 and the chin rim apex 186 along the X-axis 191.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a pliable adult facemask 100 comprising: a facemask cup 151 that is essentially defined by a nose covering region 102, a mouth covering region 104, two cheek coving regions 106 and a perimeter 110, the perimeter 110 essentially defined by a nose bridge rim 112, two cheek rims 114 and a chin rim 116. The nose covered region 102 being shaped to closely conform to an adult human nose 140, the mouth covering region 104 being configured to be in front of an adult human mouth 142, the cheek covering regions 106 being configured to at least partially contact a corresponding sides of an adult human cheek 144. An inlet tube 120 can outwardly extend from the adult facemask 100. A passageway 122 that leads through distal aperture 124 and nose aperture 126 in the facemask 100 generally defines the inlet tube 120. At least 80% of an interior portion 702 of the facemask cup 151 is within one eighth of an inch from a human face 200.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further comprising at least one strap anchor 118 between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104 configured to retain a head retention strap 150, the strap anchor 118 is less than 1.25 inches from a facemask midline 311 defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further contemplating wherein no part of an interior portion 702 of the facemask cup 151 is more than 0.35 inch from a human face 200.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further imagining wherein at least 90% of an interior portion 702 of the facemask 100 is within one eighth of an inch from a human face 200.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further comprising a head strap 150 that crosses over a facemask midline 311 between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104, the facemask midline 311 is defined as extending along the center of the facemask 100 bisecting the nose covering region 102 and the mouth covering region 104. This can further include wherein the head strap 150 possesses a strap portion 310 that spans between two head strap anchors 118 that are between the inlet tube 120 and the mouth covering region 104, the head strap anchors 118 are less than 1.25 inches from the facemask midline 311, the strap portion 310 is configured to deflect the facemask 100 towards a person's face 200 when facemask 100 is worn by a person 101.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further envisioning wherein each of the cheek rims 114 extend away from the mouth covering region 104 in an elongated flared lateral touch region 111 at least one inch in length 117 to a cheek rim apex 192 at a right angle 197 from a vertical reference line 189 defined by a 90° reference angle 195 that passes through a face mask nose bridge rim apex 188 along the Y-axis 189 and the chin rim apex 186 along the X-axis 191.
The pliable adult facemask 100 embodiment further considering wherein a facemask cup volume 302 that is essentially defined by a maximum amount of water the facemask 100 can hold it is less than 5 in3.
The above embodiments are not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention whatsoever because many more embodiments are easily conceived within the teachings and scope of the instant specification. Moreover, the corresponding elements in the above example should not be considered limiting.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended embodiments are expressed. For example, though the embodiments generally describe at least one mouth perforation 105 in a mouth-covering region 104, in any of the facemask embodiments, a filter, such as a HEPA filter, can be used over the mouth-covering region 104 covering plurality of mouth region perforations 105 to protect against contaminants including viruses and bacteria. It should be understood and appreciated that any element described in one embodiment can be equally used and/or substituted in place of a like element in other embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the terms “one” is synonymous with “a”, which may be a first of a plurality.
It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/857,150 filed on Apr. 23, 2020 entitled Non-Rebreather Face Mask, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/394,704 filed Dec. 29, 2016 entitled NON-REBREATHER FACE MASK, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/394,704 which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/122,119 entitled NON-REBREATHER FACE MASK filed Aug. 26, 2016, PCT application PCT/2015US/018021 filed Feb. 27, 2015, and to U.S. provisional application No. 61/946,602 filed Feb. 28, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61946602 | Feb 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16857150 | Apr 2020 | US |
Child | 18137955 | US | |
Parent | 15122119 | Aug 2016 | US |
Child | 15394704 | US | |
Parent | PCT/US2015/018021 | Feb 2015 | US |
Child | 15122119 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15394704 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 16857150 | US |