Sealing lip device for a respiratory mask, respiratory mask and a method and mould for producing the same
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A62B-018/08
A61M-016/06
B29C-045/16
B29L-031/48
출원번호
US-0320484
(2009-01-27)
등록번호
US-8931484
(2015-01-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Melidis, Paris
Lauboeck, Theodor
출원인 / 주소
ResMed R&D Germany GmbH
대리인 / 주소
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
6인용 특허 :
28
초록▼
A sealing lip device for a breathing mask includes a receiving opening for receiving at least the nose tip region of a mask wearer, a sealing lip which is formed from an elastomeric material and which surrounds the receiving opening and which is configured to cross the bridge of the nose and which h
A sealing lip device for a breathing mask includes a receiving opening for receiving at least the nose tip region of a mask wearer, a sealing lip which is formed from an elastomeric material and which surrounds the receiving opening and which is configured to cross the bridge of the nose and which has a contact zone provided for bearing against the face of a mask wearer in use. The sealing lip is elastically and yieldingly arranged in such a way that a first sealing lip zone which in use seals the region of the bridge of the nose has a higher degree of flexibility than a second sealing lip zone which in use is adjacent to at least one of the nostrils and the upper lip of the mask wearer in the application position of the breathing mask. The sealing lip includes a folding bellows structure that suspends the sealing lip in the region of the first zone provided for sealing of the region of the bridge of the nose. The folding bellows structure includes a fold indentation having zones of differing wall thickness.
대표청구항▼
1. A sealing lip device for a breathing mask, the sealing lip device comprising: a receiving opening for receiving at least a nose tip region of a mask wearer, anda sealing lip which is formed from an elastomeric material and which surrounds the receiving opening and which is configured to cross a b
1. A sealing lip device for a breathing mask, the sealing lip device comprising: a receiving opening for receiving at least a nose tip region of a mask wearer, anda sealing lip which is formed from an elastomeric material and which surrounds the receiving opening and which is configured to cross a bridge of a nose of the mask wearer and which has a contact zone provided for bearing against a face of the mask wearer when the breathing mask engages the face of the mask wearer,wherein the sealing lip is elastically and yieldingly arranged in such a way that a first sealing lip zone has a higher degree of flexibility than a second sealing lip zone, the first sealing lip zone being configured to seal a region of the bridge of the nose and the second sealing lip zone being opposite the first sealing lip zone, andwherein the sealing lip device further includes a bellows structure that suspends the sealing lip, the bellows structure including an inwardly projecting portion that extends toward an interior of the breathing mask and terminates at a vertex, an elastomeric portion of the inwardly projecting portion having an elastomeric wall with a variable wall thickness, the inwardly projecting portion having an inwardly projecting indentation in the elastomeric wall which provides the variable wall thickness. 2. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bellows structure forms an abutment device. 3. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bellows structure has a hinge characteristic defined by different wall thicknesses. 4. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bellows structure has a plurality of vertexes. 5. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vertex is structured to extend from the nose bridge region into a region adjacent to the mask wearer's mouth when the mask engages the mask wearer's face. 6. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vertex extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the sealing lip device. 7. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the sealing lip, which is related to an application direction, is structured to define an articulation axis. 8. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein zones of higher load-bearing capability are provided in a region of the sealing lip and are configured to be positioned adjacent to the mask wearer's mouth when the mask engages the mask wearer's face, the zones of higher load-bearing capability having a higher load-bearing capability than other zones provided in the region of the sealing lip. 9. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones of higher load-bearing capability are formed by locally thickened zones of the sealing lip. 10. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the locally thickened zones are supported on a mask frame zone by way of a support structure which is formed in the sealing lip. 11. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones of higher load-bearing capability are of a pad configuration. 12. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones of higher load-bearing capability are each of a substantially crescent moon-shaped configuration in the region of the face-contact zone. 13. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 8, wherein a zone of reduced load-bearing capability is configured to be provided adjacent an upper lip of the mask wearer in a region of the sealing lip which is between the zones of higher load-bearing capability when the mask engages the mask wearer's face, the sealing lip device being flexible in an application direction and in an opposite direction of the application direction. 14. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones of high load-bearing capability are of a different color from thinner-wall zones. 15. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sealing lip device is adapted to be mounted to a mask base body. 16. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the mask base body is formed by a hard shell. 17. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the hard shell has a conduit connection. 18. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 16, further comprising structure to fix a position of the sealing lip device with respect to the hard shell in a peripheral direction. 19. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 16, wherein there is imparted to the sealing lip device a prestressing which is achieved by elastic deformation upon coupling to the hard shell. 20. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a coupling structure for coupling the sealing lip device to a hard shell. 21. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a frame portion extending substantially in one plane. 22. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the frame portion is of a configuration which advances toward the sealing lip in a region of an articulation axis relative to a zone of high load-bearing capability. 23. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of a thin zone of the sealing lip is in the range of between 0.65 and 1.85 mm. 24. A mold for producing a sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a mold core device which in conjunction with an outer mold defines a mold cavity with a fold portion for forming a portion of the sealing lip device having a varying degree of flexibility. 25. A mold as set forth in claim 24, wherein the outer mold is of a multi-part configuration. 26. A mold as set forth in claim 24, wherein the outside of a sealing lip, which in use is towards the mask wearer, is formed by an outer mold portion in conjunction with the mold core device, wherein the outer mold portion has a peripherally extending mold cavity channel which defines the outside of the sealing lip. 27. A mold as set for in claim 26, wherein an outer edge of the mold cavity channel extends in a region of the outer peripheral edge of the sealing lip. 28. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone rubber. 29. A sealing lip device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inwardly projecting portion comprises an externally facing surface and an internally facing surface, the inwardly projecting indentation being in the internally facing surface. 30. A breathing mask comprising: a mask base body, anda sealing lip device comprising a mask base body engagement portion and a sealing lip formed from an elastomeric material and surrounding a receiving opening configured to receive at least a nose tip region of a mask wearer, the sealing lip being configured to cross a bridge of a nose of the mask wearer, and having a contact zone provided for bearing against a face of the mask wearer,wherein the sealing lip is elastically and yieldingly arranged so that the sealing lip has a higher level of flexibility in a first zone corresponding to a region of the bridge of the nose when the mask is mounted on the mask wearer's face than in a second zone opposite the first zone,wherein the sealing lip device further includes a bellows structure that suspends the sealing lip, the bellows structure including a first leg and a second leg,wherein the first and second legs converge toward an interior of the breathing mask and diverge toward an exterior of the breathing mask,wherein the first leg extends from the mask base body engagement portion to the second leg and has an elastomeric wall with a variable wall thickness,wherein the first leg has a relatively thin wall portion compared to adjacent portions of the elastomeric wall, andwherein the first leg comprises an externally facing surface and an internally facing surface, the relatively thin wall portion corresponding to an indentation in the internally facing surface. 31. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 30, further comprising a hard shell injection molded to the sealing lip device. 32. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 30, wherein the breathing mask is a nasal mask. 33. A breathing mask comprising: a mask body; a sealing pad device which is formed from an elastomeric material and which in conjunction with the mask body delimits a mask internal space; and an outlet device for the discharge of at least partially consumed respiratory gas from the mask internal space, wherein the outlet device has a flow path portion extending through an elastomeric wall of the sealing pad device so that the flow path is at least partially defined by the sealing pad device, andwherein the elastomeric wall includes an inwardly projecting portion that extends toward an interior of the breathing mask and terminates at a vertex, an elastomeric portion of the inwardly projecting portion having an elastomeric wall with a variable wall thickness, the inwardly projecting portion having an inwardly projecting indentation in the elastomeric wall which provides the variable wall thickness. 34. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein the mask body is formed by a hard shell. 35. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein the sealing pad device is formed from a silicone rubber material. 36. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein the flow path portion is formed by an opening formed in the sealing pad device. 37. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein the flow path portion is formed by a channel which is formed in the mask body. 38. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein the flow path portion is in a region above a peripheral bead of the mask body and is at least partially aligned with an opening in the mask body. 39. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 33, wherein provided at the sealing pad device is a portion which faces inwardly into the mask internal space and in which there is provided at least one outlet opening. 40. An elastomeric cushion for a breathing mask, comprising: a sealing lip;a frame; anda bellows structure provided between the sealing lip and the frame,wherein the bellows structure includes an indentation with converging legs that converge toward an interior of the breathing mask, the indentation having an indentation depth that is variable in different regions of the bellows structure, andwherein one of the converging legs is oriented towards the frame and has a locally weakened region proximate the interior of the breathing mask, the locally weakened region being a thinned portion of an elastomeric wall that reduces a stiffness of the one converging leg, andwherein an elastomeric thickness on each side of the locally weakened region is greater than an elastomeric thickness of the locally weakened region. 41. A cushion as set forth in claim 40, wherein the cushion has a generally triangular-shaped cross-section including an apex zone, a pair of side zones extending from the apex zone, and a bottom zone interconnected between the pair of side zones. 42. A cushion as set forth in claim 41, wherein the bellows structure includes a bottom bellows structure extending along the bottom zone. 43. A cushion as set forth in claim 41, wherein the indentation depth of the bellows structure indentation is greatest at the apex zone. 44. A cushion as set forth in claim 40, wherein the sealing lip includes an apex zone having a length, a pair of side zones having a length, and a bottom zone having a length. 45. A cushion as set forth in claim 44, wherein the length of the apex zone is longer than the length of the bottom zone. 46. A cushion as set forth in claim 40, wherein the sealing lip has a thickness and the frame has a thickness. 47. A cushion as set forth in claim 46, wherein the thickness of the sealing lip is less than the thickness of the frame. 48. A cushion as set forth in claim 40, wherein the breathing mask is a nasal mask. 49. A resilient cushion that is structured to engage a face of a patient and to form a seal between the face of the patient and a frame, the cushion comprising: a deformable bellows portion comprising a first deformable element and a second deformable element connected together at a vertex, the bellows portion extending about a perimeter of a region, the region being structured to be an enclosed region situated between the face and the frame when the cushion is engaged with the face, whereinthe first deformable element comprises a first leg that extends from the vertex, the first deformable element being structured to be engaged with the face of the patient;the second deformable element comprises a second leg that extends from the vertex, the second deformable element being structured to be engaged with the frame, andan interior indentation in an elastomeric wall of the first or second deformable element promotes a hinged action around the vertex and provides a localized region of reduced stiffness. 50. The cushion of claim 49, wherein the indentation extends along at least a portion of the perimeter that is structured to be situated adjacent the nose of the patient. 51. The cushion of claim 50, wherein the indentation extends along a portion of the perimeter that is structured to extend across the bridge of the nose and adjacent the sides of nose. 52. The cushion of claim 49, wherein the second deformable element comprises an attachment element disposed on the second leg opposite the vertex, the attachment element being structured to be connected with a supply apparatus, the indentation being situated between the vertex and the attachment element. 53. The cushion of claim 49, wherein the bellows portion comprises an apex region that is structured to extend across the bridge of the nose of the patient, and wherein the bellows portion has a width measured in a direction extending generally away from the vertex and a depth measured in a direction extending generally transverse to the width, at least one of the width and the depth decreasing in a direction extending along the perimeter generally away from the apex region. 54. A patient interface structured to be engaged with the face of a patient and to provide a flow of breathing gas to an airway of the patient, the patient interface comprising: a mask shell with a connecting portion adapted to connect to an air supply tube;a cushion according to claim 49; andheadgear configured to support the breathing mask on a patient's head. 55. A patient interface as set forth in claim 54, wherein the patient interface is a nasal mask. 56. The cushion of claim 49, wherein the second deformable element comprises an externally facing surface and an internally facing surface, and wherein the interior indentation is in the internally facing surface. 57. The cushion of claim 56, wherein a contour of the externally facing surface is substantially consistent with little variation between the vertex and the frame, and wherein a contour of the internally facing surface is variable between the vertex and the frame. 58. A cushion for a breathing mask, the cushion comprising: a mask shell engaging portion configured to secure the cushion to a shell of the breathing mask;a sealing lip configured to form a seal with a patient's face when the cushion engages the patient's face, the sealing lip defining an opening adapted to receive at least a patient's nose; anda bellows portion configured to provide flexible suspension of the sealing lip, the bellows portion being connected to the mask shell engaging portion at a first vertex and connected to the sealing lip at a second vertex so that the bellows portion is between the mask shell engaging portion and the sealing lip, the bellows portion comprising an indentation defining a third vertex, the indentation having a first leg extending from the first vertex to the third vertex and a second leg extending from the second vertex to the third vertex, whereina length of at least one of the first and second legs is greatest at the apex of the cushion,the first leg includes an internal indentation in an elastomeric wall so that an elastomeric wall thickness of the first leg varies between the first and third vertices, andthe first leg projects radially inwardly from the first vertex, the first and second legs project radially outward from the third vertex, and the second leg projects radially inwardly from the second vertex. 59. A cushion according to claim 58, wherein the sealing lip comprises a bead positioned at an end of the sealing lip. 60. A breathing mask comprising: a mask shell with a connecting portion adapted to connect to an air supply tube;a cushion according to claim 58; andheadgear configured to support the breathing mask on a patient's head. 61. A breathing mask as set forth in claim 60, wherein the breathing mask is a nasal mask. 62. A cushion according to claim 58, wherein a thickness of the elastomeric wall at the internal indentation is thinner than surrounding portions of the elastomeric wall. 63. A cushion according to claim 58, wherein a degree of flexibility of the cushion is greatest toward an apex of the cushion. 64. A cushion according to claim 58, wherein the elastomeric wall of the first leg comprises an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein the internal indentation is in the internal surface. 65. A cushion according to claim 64, wherein a contour of the external surface is substantially consistent with little variation between the first vertex and the third vertex, and wherein a contour of the internal surface is variable between the first vertex and the third vertex.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (28)
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Sullivan Colin E. (Birchgrove AUX) Bruderer Jakob W. (Kingsford AUX), Nasal mask for CPAP having ballooning/moulding seal with wearer\s nose and facial contours.
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Barnett Shari S. (Pittsburgh PA) Handke Patrick M. (Monroeville PA) Sabo Kristine K. (New Kensington PA) Scarberry Eugene N. (Trafford PA), Respiratory mask facial seal.
Burns James A. (Lake Elmo MN) Reischel Joseph G. (St. Paul MN), Respiratory mask having a soft, compliant facepiece and a thin, rigid insert and method of making.
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