Forehead supports for facial masks

Abstract

A face mask assembly (FMA) for supplying breathable gas to a wearer. The face mask assembly (FMA) includes a mask frame including a support, a facial cushion attached to the mask frame, and a forehead support. The forehead support includes a forehead cushion assembly and an adjustment knob operatively coupled to the forehead cushion assembly. The adjustment knob is threadably engaged with the forehead cushion assembly such that turning movement of the adjustment knob causes the mask frame to be moved between retracted and extended positions with respect to the forehead cushion assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is the US national phase of international application PCT / AU2006 / 000037, filed 12 Jan. 2006, which designated the U.S. and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60 / 643,113, filed Jan. 12, 2005, 60 / 696,502, filed Jul. 6, 2005, 60 / 715,173, filed Sep. 9, 2005, and 60 / 735,823, filed Nov. 14, 2005, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of forehead supports for facial masks used to supply breathable gas to a wearer's airways. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Facial masks are well known for use in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of various respiratory ailments and sleep disordered breathing (SDB), such as, for example, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and / or other ventilatory assistance treatments such as noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In one embodiment, a mask forehead support provides for greater universality of fit as compared to conventional forehead support structures. More specifically, according to embodiments of the present invention, forehead supports are provided which are capable of a more useful and beneficial range of adjustment as compared to conventional forehead support structures thereby allowing the forehead supports of the present invention to more universally fit a much larger number of patients.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the receiver comprises a pair of opposed openings, and the slider bar comprises a series of apertures spaced apart from one another in a general lengthwise direction of the slider bar and capable of respective alignment with the opposed openings of the receiver upon sliding movement of the slider bar between said retracted and extended positions thereof. A position pin may be provided which is insertable through said opposed openings and a respective one of said apertures of the slider bar when said at least one aperture is aligned with said openings to positionally maintain the slider bar relative to the receiver.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the slider bar comprises a gear rack, and the receiver comprises an adjustment knob having a pinion gear meshed with said gear rack. As such, turning movement of the adjustment knob causes the slider bar to be moved between the retracted and extended positions thereof.

Problems solved by technology

One problem that arises with existing masks used for CPAP treatments is that tightening of the mask straps results in compression of the mask against the wearer's face which may therefore apply undue force against certain of the wearer's facial features, such as the wearer's nose.

A poorly fitting mask can leak when pressurized which encourages a patient to tighten the headgear straps excessively which, in turn leads to discomfort, marks on the face and in some cases facial sores.

A problem with conventional forehead supports for masks, however, is that the range of adjustment is relatively limited which therefore does not in fact provide a universal fit for a relatively large number of wearers.

That is, due to the anthropometric features of a particular user's head, the adjustability of conventional forehead supports may not be sufficient to allow for a comfortable fit.

Images