RESPIRATORY MASK
A respiratory mask is reduced in size to better fit patients with smaller faces by folding accordion folds of the mask. An adjustment member allows for selective folding of the accordion folds, thereby determining the size of the mask. The respiratory mask can thus be adjusted to fit both larger and smaller persons.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/766,413, filed Jan. 28, 2004, entitled “RESPIRATORY MASK”, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/041,523, entitled “SIZE-ADJUSTABLE RESPIRATORY MASK” and filed Jan. 8, 2002, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,428, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to respiratory masks used to administer treating gases or medications to patients. A representative treating gas is oxygen, and a representative medication is an aerosol for asthma treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHospitals and respiratory therapists administer treating gases to individual patients by placing a respiratory mask over the patient's nose and mouth. The masks are supplied in standard sizes intended for adults and children. However, many adult patients have smaller facial dimensions such that the standard sizes do not fit properly, at best making the mask uncomfortable and at worst leading to ineffective administration of treating gases. In addition, many children have smaller facial dimensions such that the standard mask sizes provided for children do not fit them. Hence, an adjustable-size respiratory mask is needed to fit patients with smaller facial dimensions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,010 discloses an adjustable face mask in which the bottom of the mask may be extended lengthwise by fastening a separate extension portion (lower portion 14) to the mask. The lower portion 14 is provided with snap closures 42 that mate with eyelet holes 40 in the upper portion of the mask. The separate extension portion is awkward, and size adjustments cannot effectively be made while the mask is in place over a patient's face. Most patient discomfort is caused when a too large size mask covers their eyes and/or forehead, making the bottom portion size adjustment in this prior patent less helpful when trying to solve the problems associated with over-sized respiratory masks. Moreover, the separate extension portion is more apt to be disconnected or lost before or during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA size-adjustable respiratory mask has a plurality of accordion folds formed between upper portion and a lower portion of the mask. The accordion folds have an open position which is most suited when the mask is to be used for an average or larger size adult, and a folded position most suited for when the mask is to be used for a smaller person. An adjustment member is used to adjust the length of the mask by folding the accordion folds.
The accordion fold may be formed by one or more ribs connected by a flexible material, or by one or more tubes connected by a flexible material. In the most preferred embodiment, the accordion fold is formed integrally with the lower portion of the mask. The entire mask can be formed of a single piece of plastic material of constant thickness.
The mask may be constructed from one or more resilient plastic materials that are known as suitable for medical applications. Preferably, the mask material is latex free and free of other known allergens. Preferably, the mask is constructed from one or more of the following materials: thermoplastic resins, polyurethane resins, poly(vinyl chloride), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, SURLYN® from E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc., or other plastics. A particularly preferred poly(vinyl chloride) is VM 1775 NT Clear 0001 from Maclin Company of City of Industry, Calif.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Referring first to
The mask 10 is provided with means for adjusting mask size. As shown in
Accordion folds 22 are provided in a parallel array at the top of the nose portion of the mask 10. Each accordion fold comprises a rib or tube of stiffer material than the more resilient plastic material used to form the body of the mask. Each rib or tube is connected by lateral edge to an adjacent rib or tube. When expanded, as shown in
A snap or button 24 is associated with each accordion fold 22. The buttons 24 are mounted on pins 26 to separate slightly the buttons from the edges of the accordion folds 22. A band 28 is connected to the deformable metal strap 18 at its proximal end and defines one or more openings 30 at its distal end. The band 28 is formed from poly(vinyl chloride) resin or plastic material. Preferably, the band 28 has a thickness comparable to the distance of separation between the buttons 24 and the accordion folds 22. As shown in
The means for attaching the band 28 to a button 24 associated with an accordion fold 22 is shown in
Various size adjustments are possible. Referring next to
Preferably, the mask 10 is fabricated from nonallergenic materials known to be suitable for contacting a patient's skin. Such materials include: thermoplastic resins, polyurethane resins, poly(vinyl chloride), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, SURLYN® from E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc., or other plastics. The preferred mask 10 is formed from a clear poly(vinyl chloride) resin or plastic (with a thickness of about 0.020 inch) so that a respiratory technician or health care worker can observe the patient's face while treatments are administered. A particularly preferred poly(vinyl chloride) is VM 1775 NT Clear 0001 from Maclin Company of City of Industry, Calif.
A second preferred embodiment of the respiratory mask 10 is shown in
A third preferred embodiment of the respiratory mask 50 is shown in
As an alternative to the grooves 40, perforations 42 (
The embodiment of the invention shown in
Referring next to
A snap or button 24 is associated with each accordion fold 98. The buttons 24 are mounted on pins 26 to separate slightly the buttons from the edges of the accordion folds 98. A band 28 is connected to the deformable metal strap 18 at its proximal end and defines one or more openings 30 at its distal end. The band 28 is formed from poly(vinyl chloride) resin or plastic material. Preferably, the band 28 has a thickness comparable to the distance of separation between the buttons 24 and the accordion folds 22. As shown in
The size of the mask 90 is reduced to better fit the face of a smaller adult or a teenager or child by creasing or folding the mask material along the accordion folds 98. The folds are held in such creased or folded position by inserting one or more of the buttons 24 into holes or openings 30 in the band 28. Because the folds 98 have a tapered shape that terminates at point 97, they can be folded to reduce the mask size yet still permit the contours of the outer edges of the mask to better conform to the patient's face.
Each of the masks 10, 50, 80 and 90 may be modified also by incorporating a swivel joint connection as shown in
A connector 66 is snap fit into the inlet tube 62 during manufacture. The connector 66 has a tubular distal end and a ball joint 68 formed at its proximal end. The ball joint 68 defines an opening 72 such that the connector communicates with the inlet tube to permit gases or treating fluids to flow therethrough. The ball joint 68 is held within the annular groove 64 of the inlet tube 62. The ball joint 68 defines a center point 70 about which the ball joint may swivel. The center point 70 is positioned within the volume defined by the inlet tube between the uppermost edge of the annular groove and the lowermost edge of the annular groove. With this placement, the connector 66 swivels with respect to the inlet tube 62 so that the distal end of the connector can be moved away from a patient's face when a source tube for a gas treatment or a nebulizer is being connected. In addition, the swivel connection permits the patient to adjust the angle of the source tube for increased comfort.
A fifth preferred embodiment of a respiratory mask 110 is shown in
As in the embodiment shown in
The size of the mask 110 is adjustable by compression or expansion of accordion folds 122 arranged in a parallel array below the upper portion 113 of the mask 110. An adjustment member 150 is used to adjust the degree to which the accordion folds 122 are compressed. In this way the size of the mask 110 is adjusted along a vertical extent of the mask 110. When fully expanded, as shown in
Each accordion fold 122 may comprise a rib or tube of stiffer material than the more resilient plastic material used to form the body of the mask 110. In this embodiment, each rib or tube is connected by a lateral edge to an adjacent rib or tube. Preferably, as shown in
The accordion folds 122 may also be made as a single continuous piece with and from the same injection-molded material as the remainder of the mask 110. The entire mask 110 may be formed from, for example, a single thickness of plastic material in order to simplify production. The accordion shape of the folds 122 allows for adjustment of mask size.
The adjustment member 150 is shown in detail in
The first bracket 152 includes a band portion 153 that is fixedly mounted below the nose portion 113, and is attached at each end to adjusting bars 158. The second bracket 154 includes a band portion 155 that is fixedly attached at a bottom portion 130 of the mask 110 below the accordion folds 122, and includes slots 160 for receiving the adjusting bars 158. Locking members 162 are pivotably mounted on the second bracket 154. The locking members 162 have proximal ends that selectively engage teeth 166 on the adjusting bars 158. The undersides of the teeth 166 slope upwardly so that the bottom portion 130 of the mask 110 can be easily pushed upwardly until a desired tooth 166 is engaged by the proximal end of a locking member, attaining the desired size of the mask 110. The distal ends of the locking members 162 can be pivoted inwardly (toward the mask as indicated by arrows in
Referring to
Preferably, the brackets 152, 154 are attached to the mask at one or more target protrusions or posts 170 extending outwardly from the mask 110. For example, three posts 170 can extend from the upper portion 113 of the mask 110 to mate with small cavities (not shown) in the band portion 153 and attach the bracket 152, and three posts 170 can be used to attach the band portion 155 of bracket 154 to bottom mask portion 130. The posts can be distributed across the width of the upper portion 113 and bottom portion 130 of the mask 110. The brackets 152, 154 slide over the posts in a manner similar to the attachment of an aluminum nose clip 118 to snaps 120. Alternatively, adhesive or glue may be used solely or in combination with protrusions or posts 170 to secure the brackets 152, 154 to the mask 110.
The first and second brackets 152, 154 can be made as, for example, integral molded plastic parts. Rigid but flexible plastics, such as ABS plastic or polypropylene are preferable.
The size of the mask 110 may also be adjusted using a button and snap arrangement as illustrated in
The mask 110 may be modified by incorporating a swivel joint connection as shown in
The mask 110 illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the mask 110 has the form of a “partial rebreather” mask. In this embodiment, the exhaust ports 116 are replaced by a pattern of a plurality of small apertures on each side of the mask 110, similar to the exhaust holes 92 illustrated in
In yet another alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the mask 110 has the form of a “nonrebreather” mask. In this embodiment, the exhaust ports 116 are replaced by a pattern of a plurality of apertures on each side of the mask 110, similar to the exhaust holes 92 illustrated in
In yet another alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the mask 110 has the form of a “venturi” mask. The venturi mask has exhaust ports or apertures, similar to the ports 116 shown in
In still yet another alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the mask 110 has the form of a “simple” mask. The simple mask has a plurality of small apertures on each side of the mask 110, similar to the exhaust holes 92 illustrated in
Preferably, the mask embodiments disclosed in this specification are fabricated from nonallergenic materials known to be suitable for contacting a patient's skin. Such materials include: thermoplastic resins, polyurethane resins, poly(vinyl chloride), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, SURLYN® from E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc., or other plastics.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A respiratory mask, comprising:
- an upper portion defining an upper mask edge;
- a bottom portion defining a bottom mask edge, such that the mask has a first vertical length between the upper mask edge and bottom mask edge;
- a plurality of accordion folds extending across a width of the mask between the upper portion and the bottom portion; and
- an adjustment member attached at the bottom portion of the mask,
- wherein the accordion folds are compressible from an open position of the first vertical length of the mask to a closed compressed position of a second vertical length of the mask that is reduced from the first vertical length by adjustment of the adjustment member that maintains the folds in the closed compressed position to reduce mask size.
2. The mask of claim 1, wherein the accordion folds are adjustable from an open position for a first mask size to a closed position for a second mask size.
3. The mask of claim 1, further comprising:
- a deformable strap bridging the upper portion of the mask, wherein the deformable strap is formed of bendable material and is bendable to conform to the contours of a patient's nose to hold the mask in place.
4. The mask of claim 1, wherein the accordion folds are formed by one or more ribs connected by a flexible material.
5. The mask of claim 1, wherein the accordion folds are formed integrally with the upper and bottom portions of the mask.
6. The mask of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises: one of a button and snap arrangement, a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and a band adjustment arrangement.
7. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: thermoplastic resins, polyurethane resins, poly(vinyl chloride), polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene.
8. The mask of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one exhaust port or a plurality of apertures disposed in the upper portion of the mask.
9. The mask of claim 9, further comprising:
- a tubular inlet disposed at the bottom of the upper portion of the mask.
10. The mask of claim 1, wherein the upper portion, the bottom portion and the accordion folds comprise a continuous piece of material.
11. The mask of claim 11, wherein the continuous piece of material forming the upper and bottom portions and the accordion folds is of substantially constant thickness.
12. A method of adjusting a respiratory mask, comprising:
- providing a mask comprising an upper portion defining an upper mask edge, a bottom portion defining a bottom mask edge, such that the mask has a first vertical length between the upper mask edge and bottom mask edge, and a plurality of accordion folds extending across a width of the mask between the upper portion and the bottom portion; and
- adjusting an adjustment member to maintain the accordion folds in a desired unfolded or folded position so as to obtain a desired length along the vertical extent of the mask that is the first vertical length or a length reduced from the first vertical length.
13. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the adjustment member comprises:
- adjusting one of a button and snap arrangement, a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and a band adjustment arrangement.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the accordion folds comprise one or more ribs connected by a flexible material.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the upper portion, the bottom portion and the accordion folds comprise a continuous piece of material of substantially constant thickness.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 23, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2006
Inventor: Carnell Dennis (Wilmington, DE)
Application Number: 11/308,418
International Classification: A62B 18/02 (20060101); A62B 23/02 (20060101);