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Mouth Seal Assembly for Nasal Mask System

a technology of mouth seals and nasal masks, applied in the field of mouth seals, can solve the problems of reducing the effectiveness of cpap therapy, patient's tendency to leak, and inability to obtain the full benefit of the delivered treatment pressure, so as to eliminate or minimize the effect of mouth leakag

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-05-07
RESMED LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]One aspect of the invention relates to a mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system that eliminates or at least minimizes mouth leak.

Problems solved by technology

When nasal mask systems are used, e.g., nasal masks or nozzle assemblies, some patients have a tendency for mouth leak.
When air escapes through the patient's mouth, the patient does not obtain the full benefit of the delivered treatment pressure.
Therefore, the effectiveness of CPAP therapy is diminished.
In addition, mouth leak may result in noise, increased treatment pressure to compensate for the leak, increased load on the nasal passages, nasal obstruction, and / or runny nose, for example.

Method used

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  • Mouth Seal Assembly for Nasal Mask System
  • Mouth Seal Assembly for Nasal Mask System
  • Mouth Seal Assembly for Nasal Mask System

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

1. First Embodiment of Mouth Seal Assembly

[0040]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a mouth seal assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the mouth seal assembly 10 includes a mouth seal 12 adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth and a strap arrangement 14 attached to the mouth seal 12 to maintain the mouth seal 12 in a desired position on the patients face. The mouth seal assembly 10 is intended to be used in conjunction with or as a part of a nasal mask system that provides pressurized breathable gas to the patient's nose, e.g., nasal passages. In use, the mouth seal assembly 10 eliminates or at least minimizes mouth leak in order to enhance the effectiveness of therapy.

[0041]In the illustrated embodiment, the mouth seal 12 includes a flat strip of silicone 16 or similar flexible material. As illustrated, the mouth seal 12 includes a length and height sufficient to completely cover the patient's mouth. A small ridge 18 may be incorporated into ...

second embodiment

2. Second Embodiment of Mouth Seal Assembly

[0048]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a mouth seal assembly 210 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the mouth seal assembly 210 includes a mouth seal 212 adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth and a strap arrangement 214 attached to the mouth seal 212 to maintain the mouth seal 212 in a desired position on the patient's face.

[0049]In the illustrated embodiment, the mouth seal 212 includes an inflated, gel-filled, or foam-filled balloon section 216. As illustrated, the mouth seal 212 includes a length and height sufficient to completely cover the patient's mouth. The mouth seal 212 is held against the patient's lips by the strap arrangement 214 which includes a strap 220 that extends around the back of the patient's neck. Ends of the strap 220 may be attached to the mouth seal 212 in any suitable manner, e.g., anchors, hook and loop fasteners, etc.

[0050]The mouth seal assembly 210 also includes an anti...

third embodiment

3. Third Embodiment of Mouth Seal Assembly

[0054]FIGS. 7-10 illustrate a mouth seal assembly 310 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 7-8, the mouth seal assembly 310 is used in conjunction with a nasal mask 350 adapted to form a seal with the patient's nose. The nasal mask 350 includes a nasal cushion / frame assembly 360 structured to seal around the patient's nose in use, and headgear 370 attached to the nasal cushion / frame assembly 360 to maintain the nasal cushion / frame assembly 360 in a desired position on the patient's face.

[0055]The illustrated nasal mask 350 is commercially sold under the name of MIRAGE® by ResMed Ltd. Further details and embodiments of this nasal mask 350 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,746, the entirety being incorporated herein by reference. While the mouth seal assembly 310 is described as being used in conjunction with a nasal mask of the type described above, it may be implemented into other nasal masks. ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system includes a mouth seal adapted to form a seal with the patient's mouth. The mouth seal is substantially independent from a supply of pressurized air from the nasal mask system. An anti-asphyxia valve may be provided to either the mouth seal over the patient's lips or the nasal mask system. A strap arrangement may support the mouth seal in a desired position on the patient's face in use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 711,669, filed Aug. 29, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system for Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) and for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Treatment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask systems involves the continuous delivery of air (or other breathable gas) pressurized above atmospheric pressure to the airways of a human or other mammalian patient via a conduit and a mask. Typically, the mask fits over the nose and / or mouth of the patient. Pressurized air flows to the mask and to the...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A62B18/08A62B18/02
CPCA61M16/06A61M16/0683A61M2210/0618A61M16/0694A62B9/06A61M16/0493A61M16/0638A61M2210/0625A61M16/0611
Inventor FRATER, ROBERT HENRYPEAKE, GREGORY ROBERT
Owner RESMED LTD
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