Nasal seals, masks, and respiratory interface assemblies

Abstract

To provide an improved respiratory interface. [Solution] The nasal seal, mask, or interface assembly has a seal body that defines a breathing chamber. A nasal port is provided in the seal body. The nasal port has a central portion sandwiched by a pair of lateral portions. The nasal port further has an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge defines an internal projection within the central portion. The lower edge defines an internal protective portion within the central portion. Thus, the nasal port may be substantially bean-shaped or bow-tie-shaped. The mask may include a frame having a central portion that supports the seal and a pair of arm portions that extend behind the seal and are configured to connect to a headgear. The central portion may be more rigid than the arm portions. The mask may be configured to reduce noise transmitted through a bias flow exhaust port.

Claims

1. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, The nasal port of the seal body comprises a central portion sandwiched by a pair of lateral portions, and further comprises an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, Equipped with, A nose seal in which the upper edge defines an inner protruding portion within the central portion, and the lower edge defines an inner protective portion within the central portion.

2. The nose seal according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the inner protruding portions of the upper edge and the lower edge are curved.

3. The nose seal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nose port is roughly bean-shaped or bow tie-shaped.

4. The nasal seal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a thickened rim portion extending over part or the entirety of the outer circumference of the nasal port, wherein the thickened rim portion has a wall thickness greater than the seal portion adjacent to the thickened rim portion.

5. The nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seal body comprises a central portion sandwiched between a pair of lateral portions, and is configured such that when pressure is applied to the central portion by the user during use, the lateral portions move inward.

6. The nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface of the nose seal facing the user has a thin wall portion.

7. The nose seal according to claim 6, wherein the thin wall portion of the surface facing the user has or is equal to the minimum wall thickness of the seal body.

8. The nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a pair of thick wall portions that come into contact with the user's cheeks when in use.

9. The nose seal according to claim 8, wherein the thickened wall portion has or is equal to the maximum wall thickness of the seal body.

10. The nose seal according to claim 8 or 9, wherein each of the thick wall portions is provided with a groove within the thick wall portion, and the groove allows for the separate movement of several portions of the thick wall portion on both sides of the groove.

11. The nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a connector configured to allow the nose seal to be coupled to a frame, wherein the connector comprises a first portion inside the seal body and a second portion outside the seal body, and the first portion and the second portion are coupled to each other.

12. The nose seal according to claim 11, wherein the first portion comprises a flange and a hub, the hub extending through an aperture of the seal body, and the second portion is coupled to the hub of the first portion.

13. The nose seal according to claim 12, wherein the seal body comprises a rim that extends partially or entirely around the aperture, and the rim is captured between the first portion and the second portion.

14. The nose seal according to claim 13, wherein the rim has a substantially T-shaped cross-section having a base, a first lobe extending from the base in a first direction, and a second lobe extending from the base in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

15. The nose seal according to claim 14, wherein each of the first and second portions of the connector has a recess configured to receive the first lobe and the second lobe, respectively.

16. The nose seal according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the seal and the connector have interfering portions that prevent or stop relative rotation between the seal and the connector.

17. The nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the seal body has a first uneven surface on the side that contacts the user and a second uneven surface on the opposite side, and the second uneven surface is different from the first uneven surface.

18. A nose seal according to any one of claims 1 to 17, A frame comprising a central portion and a pair of arm portions extending rearward from the central portion, wherein the arm portions are configured to be connected to a headgear, A nose mask equipped with [a specific feature].

19. The nose mask according to claim 18, wherein the central portion of the frame has a shape that corresponds to the side of the seal body facing the central portion.

20. The nose mask according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the central portion has higher rigidity than the arm portion.

21. The nose mask according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the pair of arm portions are overmolded on the central portion.

22. The nose mask according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein each of the pair of arm portions is provided with a hinge portion that allows the rear end of the arm portion to bend relative to the central portion of the frame.

23. The nasal mask according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the central portion comprises a seal connector portion configured to removably receive the seal.

24. The nasal mask according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the central portion comprises a conduit connector portion that supports a conduit connector.

25. The nasal mask according to claim 24, wherein the conduit connector comprises an elbow.

26. The nose mask according to claim 25, further comprising a bias flow exhaust port located at the conduit connector portion.

27. The nasal mask according to claim 26, further comprising an expansion portion in a flow path defined between the upstream end of the conduit connector portion and the breathing chamber of the seal body, wherein the bias flow exhaust port is located upstream of the expansion portion.

28. The nasal mask according to any one of claims 24 to 27, further comprising a mask tube coupled to the conduit connector, wherein the upstream end of the mask tube is configured to be connected to a gas supply conduit of an associated respiratory therapy system, and the inside of the connector is the same size and shape as the inside of the mask tube.

29. The nose mask according to claim 28, wherein the end of the connector abuts against the upstream end of the mask tube, and the connector and the mask tube are connected by a joint sleeve.

30. The nose mask according to claim 29, wherein the joint sleeve is overmolded over the mask tube and the connector.

31. The nose mask according to any one of claims 18 to 30, further comprising pads disposed on the inner surfaces of each of the pair of arm portions.

32. The nose mask according to claim 31, wherein the pad and the arm portion are joined by an overmolding process.

33. The nose mask according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the pad has an uneven surface finish.

34. The nose mask according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the pad comprises a cloth outer layer.

35. A nasal mask according to any one of claims 17 to 34, A headgear comprising an upper strap, a rear strap, and a front strap extension that connect to the arm portion of the frame, An interface assembly equipped with the following features.

36. The interface assembly according to claim 35, wherein at least the upper strap and the front strap extension are non-stretchable.

37. The interface assembly according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the rear strap is stretchable.

38. The interface assembly according to any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein one of the front strap extension and the arm portion includes a plurality of posts, and the other of the front strap extension and the arm portion includes a plurality of openings, each configured to receive one of the posts.

39. The interface assembly according to claim 38, wherein one of the plurality of posts has a different shape from another of the plurality of posts, and one of the plurality of openings has a different shape from another of the plurality of openings.

40. The interface assembly according to any one of claims 35 to 39, wherein the front strap extension and the arm portion are adjustablely connected to each other.

41. The interface assembly according to claim 40, wherein the front strap extension and the arm portion have a plurality of separate adjustment positions.

42. A nose mask and A frame attached to the aforementioned nose mask, Headgear and The frame and the side arm connecting the headgear, Equipped with, An interface assembly in which the side arm is rigid in the vertical plane and movable in the horizontal plane relative to the user's face.

43. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arm includes a hinge.

44. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arm is formed from a modular segment.

45. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arm includes an accordion spring.

46. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arm has a cut on the surface of the side arm.

47. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the end of the side arm has a hook connector that engages with a toothed post positioned on the frame.

48. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arms include a leaf spring configured to bias the frame between the side arms.

49. The central portion connected to the end of the side arm, The channel arranged in the frame, Furthermore, The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the central portion is disposed within the channel such that the frame is movably supported by the central portion.

50. The interface assembly according to claim 42, wherein the side arm is extendable.

51. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, A nasal port disposed on the seal body, comprising a central portion sandwiched by a pair of lateral portions, and further comprising an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, A flange extending from the upper edge toward the breathing chamber, configured to contact the user's nose when the user's nose is inserted into the nasal port, A nose sticker equipped with [features].

52. Through hole located within the flange The nose seal according to claim 51, further comprising:

53. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, A nasal port disposed on the seal body, further comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, A nasal blocking member is inserted into the nasal port and configured to come into contact with the user's nose. A nose sticker equipped with [features].

54. The nose seal according to claim 53, wherein the nose blocking member is positioned on the nose port, attached to the nose port, and includes a woven mesh extending over the nose port.

55. The nasal seal according to claim 53, wherein the nasal blocking member is disposed in the nasal port and includes a through hole extending through the nasal blocking member.

56. The nasal seal according to claim 53, wherein the nasal blocking member is positioned above the nasal port and includes a tether attached to the bottom surface of the breathing chamber.

57. The nasal seal according to claim 53, wherein the nasal blocking member extends from the bottom surface of the breathing chamber toward the nasal port.

58. The nasal seal according to claim 53, wherein the distance between the upper edge and the lower edge is narrowest at the midpoint along the width of the nasal port.

59. The nose seal according to claim 53, wherein the nose port includes a thick bead positioned along the upper edge of the nose port.

60. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, A nasal port disposed on the seal body, further comprising an outer lateral portion and a central portion disposed between the outer lateral portions, Equipped with, The central portion of the nasal port is narrower in width than the outer lateral portion of the nasal port. A nasal seal, wherein the central portion is configured to come into contact with the user's nose, which is inserted into the nasal port.

61. The nasal seal according to claim 60, wherein the distance between the upper edge and the lower edge of the nasal port is narrowest at the lateral midpoint of the nasal port.

62. The nasal seal according to claim 60, wherein the outer lateral portion further comprises an egg-shaped port, the central portion further comprises a throat-shaped portion, and the throat-shaped portion connects the egg-shaped port.

63. The nose seal according to claim 62, wherein the oval-shaped ports are angled toward each other.

64. The nose seal according to claim 62, wherein the throat-shaped portion is closer to the lower edge of the oval-shaped port than to the upper edge of the oval-shaped port.

65. The nose seal according to claim 62, wherein the throat-shaped portion is closer to the uppermost edge of the oval port than to the lowermost edge of the oval port.

66. The nose seal according to claim 60, wherein the nose port is crescent-shaped.

67. The nasal seal according to claim 60, wherein the nasal port is kidney-shaped.

68. The nose seal according to claim 60, wherein the outer lateral portion comprises an oval port separated by the central portion.

69. The nasal seal according to claim 60, wherein the upper portion of the nasal port and the lower portion of the nasal port overlap.

70. The nose seal according to claim 62, wherein the upper portion has a recess, the lower portion has a projection, and the projection is disposed within the recess.

71. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, The nasal port is positioned in the seal body, A marking is placed on the seal body, configured to indicate the position of the user's nose above the nasal port, A nose sticker equipped with [features].

72. The nose seal according to claim 71, wherein the marking is printed on the seal body.

73. The nose seal according to claim 71, wherein the marking is scented.

74. The nose seal according to claim 71, wherein the marking is formed from matte silicone.

75. The nose seal according to claim 71, wherein the marking is deformable.

76. A nose mask and A frame attached to the aforementioned nose mask, Headgear and An upper connecting member rotatably connected to the frame and the upper portion of the headgear, A lower connecting member that connects the frame and the lower portion of the headgear, Equipped with, An interface assembly in which the relative movement between the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member causes the frame to rotate.

77. The interface assembly according to claim 76, wherein the upper connection and the lower connection are connected to the head gear by pulleys.

78. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, An upper part that can be deflected downwards, Equipped with, A nose seal in which the upper portion that can be deflected downwards curves downward relative to the lower portion of the seal.

79. Lower part that can be deflected upwards Furthermore, The nose seal according to claim 78, wherein the lower portion that can be deflected upward is curved upward relative to the lower portion of the seal.

80. A seal body that defines the breathing chamber, The nasal port is positioned in the seal body, A deformable nasal interface portion formed above the nasal port, Equipped with, A nasal seal in which the deformable nasal interface portion deforms inward within the breathing chamber and expands outward from the breathing chamber.

81. The nasal seal according to claim 80, further comprising a reinforcing region surrounding the nasal port, wherein the reinforcing region has a thickness greater than the deformable nasal interface portion.

82. A front wall having a rim that surrounds the gas inlet opening in the circumferential direction, the front wall extending proximal to the rim and joining to the rear wall, A breathing chamber is positioned between the front wall and the rear wall, A recess in the rear wall formed by the central portion of the rear wall extending distally to the first and second lateral portions of the rear wall, wherein the central portion is located between the first and second lateral portions; A nasal aperture communicating with the breathing chamber through the recess in the posterior wall, A nose sticker equipped with [features].

83. The nose seal according to claim 82, wherein the front wall has a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness, and the first thickness is at least three times the second thickness.

84. The nose seal according to claim 82 or 83, wherein the anterior wall extends to the posterior wall without passing through an inflection point.

85. The nose seal according to any one of claims 82 to 84, further comprising a connector fixed to the rim.

86. The nose seal according to claim 85, wherein the connector comprises an arm extending proximal to the front wall.

87. The nasal seal according to any one of claims 82 to 86, wherein at least a portion of the nasal aperture is closer to the distal point of the anterior wall than to the nearest point of the anterior wall.

88. The nasal seal according to claim 87, wherein the entire nasal aperture is closer to the distal point of the anterior wall than to the nearest point of the anterior wall.

89. The nose seal according to any one of claims 82 to 88, further comprising a bottom wall extending from the gas inlet opening to the recess, wherein the bottom wall has a front portion distal to the rear portion, and the rear portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of the front portion.

90. The nose seal according to claim 89, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a central portion inserted between the front portion and the rear portion, and the central portion has a thickness less than the thickness of the front portion.

91. The nasal seal according to any one of claims 82 to 90, wherein the posterior wall further comprises a thickened portion that surrounds the nasal aperture.

92. The nose seal according to claim 91, wherein the thickened portion extends away from the nose aperture by a width less than three times the maximum thickness of the thickened portion.

93. The nose seal according to claim 91, wherein the thickened portion extends away from the nose aperture by a width exceeding three times the maximum thickness of the thickened portion.

94. The nose seal according to any one of claims 82 to 93, wherein the rim comprises a truncated portion having a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of the adjacent portion of the rim.

95. The nose seal according to any one of claims 82 to 94, wherein when in use, the nose seal has a usage angle of 0° to 70°, and the usage angle is the angle formed between a horizontal line and a line perpendicular to a line extending between the furthest and nearest points of the gas inlet opening.

96. The nose seal according to claim 95, wherein the usage angle is 40° to 50°.

97. The nose seal according to claim 95, wherein the usage angle is selected to reduce the tensile force applied to the nose seal by the hose connected to the nose seal.

98. The nose seal according to any one of claims 82 to 98, wherein the entrance aperture forms an air pocket positioned between the entrance aperture and the nose of the user of the nose seal.

99. The nasal seal according to any one of claims 82 to 98, further comprising a thickened raised portion positioned above the nasal aperture and extending distally from the posterior wall.

100. A front wall having a rim that surrounds the gas inlet opening in the circumferential direction, the front wall extending proximal to the rim and joining to the rear wall, A breathing chamber is positioned between the front wall and the rear wall, A recess in the rear wall formed by the central portion of the rear wall extending distally to the first and second lateral portions of the rear wall, wherein the central portion is located between the first and second lateral portions; A nasal aperture communicating with the breathing chamber through the recess in the posterior wall, A bottom wall extending from the gas inlet opening to the recess, A nose sticker equipped with [features].

101. The nose seal according to claim 100, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion inserted between the front portion and the rear portion, the central portion having a thickness less than the thickness of the front portion.

102. The nose seal according to claim 100 or 101, wherein the central portion has a thickness less than the thickness of the rear portion.

103. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 102, wherein the bottom wall further comprises at least one thickened portion extending from the front portion to the rear portion.

104. The nose seal according to claim 103, wherein the bottom wall comprises at least two thickened portions, the at least two thickened portions being spaced apart from each other and forming a sub-nose window inserted between at least two adjacent thickened portions.

105. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 104, wherein the lateral portion of the central portion extends from the bottom wall onto at least a portion of the front wall, the rear wall, or both the front wall and the rear wall of the nose seal.

106. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 105, wherein the thickness of the central portion changes across the central portion.

107. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 106, wherein the thickness of the central portion changes discontinuously across the central portion.

108. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 106, wherein the thickness of the central portion changes continuously across the central portion.

109. The nasal seal according to any one of claims 100 to 108, further comprising an inner clip and an outer clip, wherein at least a portion of the inner clip is positioned within the breathing chamber and the rim is positioned between the inner clip and the outer clip.

110. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 109, wherein the inner clip is attached to the outer clip by a crimping fit.

111. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 110, wherein the inner clip is attached to the outer clip by a weld selected from the group consisting of a shear weld and a surface weld.

112. The nose seal according to any one of claims 100 to 111, wherein the inner clip extends to the back of the outer clip and crosses the entire outer circumference of the gas inlet opening to separate the outer clip from the gas inlet opening.

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