US 7089941 B2
A face mask support for continuous positive airway pressure comprises a circumferential band with biasing means support at the crown of the head on the medial line of the head. The circumferential edge of the cap extends from just below the forehead of a patient to below the inion protrusion at the nape of the neck. A biasing means which is preferably of length of spring steel is formed so as to extend from the biasing means support hold a nasal or face mask apposed to the face of a patient. The circumferential band is stabilized by a band extending from the circumferential band at the region of the ear to the biasing means support.
1. A face mask support comprising a circumferential band adapted to encircle the head of a patient from just below the hairline to an inion protrusion of a patient;
a stabilizing band attached to the circumferential band and extending upward toward the crown of the head of a patient;
a biasing means support positioned between the circumferential band and the stabilizing band; and
biasing means inserted into at least one receiving slot on the biasing means support and extending horizontally forward from the biasing means support to a point forward of the nose of a patient and then forming at least one descending arm at a 90 degree angle so as to be parallel to a face of a patient.
2. The biasing means of
3. The means for horizontal and vertical adjustment of
4. The biasing means support of
This application in a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/643,642, filed Aug. 19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,465, issued Feb. 15, 2005; and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/404,685, filed Aug. 20, 2002; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/619,536, filed Oct. 15, 2004.
This invention relates generally to a face mask support for providing pressurized gas to a patient. The mask support may be connected to a full face mask or a nasal mask. The pressurized gas may be ambient air, oxygen or a mixture thereof.
As a person ages, airway patency may be reduced due to loss of muscle tone in the muscles of the throat which normally serve to prevent the tissues from impinging on the airway. This condition is more severe in patients who are obese, have naturally narrow airways or airways that may be partially blocked by tonsils, soft palate or uvula. The result can be snoring as the tissues vibrate as air is forced through the narrowed airway under heightened pressure. Snoring is disruptive to sleep; the snorer not only keeps companions awake but will himself awaken many times in the night. This sleep disturbance leads to a feeling of tiredness or exhaustion during the day and a decrease in mental and physical performance.
In about a third of snorers, the condition can be lethal. When narrowing of the airway proceeds to complete occlusion, the condition is termed sleep apnea. A faulty feedback loop between the brain and the respiratory system lets the airway completely collapse until the brain registers low oxygen levels and the patient jerks awake to resume breathing. These constant jump starts, which can happen as often as once a minute, send the heart rate on a roller coaster. In susceptible patients, high heart rates can bring on fatal arrhythmia or myocardial infarction.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a method in use for some time to alleviate the symptoms of snoring or sleep apnea by delivering air or gas under a pressure sufficient to mimic the effect of the natural waking tone of the throat muscles in holding the soft tissues around the airway from partially or totally occluding the airway passage. Patients other than those with airway problems can benefit from CPAP. These groups include patients with weakened respiratory muscles who cannot pull air into their lungs, such as those with post polio or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, patients with traumatic nerve damage or adult respiratory distress. CPAP apparati are generally comprised of a blower for providing a stream of air or gas under pressure, a mask and tubing to connect the mask to the blower source. The mask can cover both the mouth and nose, the nose alone, or have plugs that insert only into the nares. Whatever the configuration, the mask must have, as a minimum, a means of sealing the mask to the face so that the blower gas does not escape, thereby reducing the pressure to the airway. Vents must be provided for exhaled gases. Preferably the vents are placed so as to avoid the eyes of the patient. A mask support is necessary to hold the mask and tubing in proper apposition.
Patient compliance is often a problem. Many of the masks currently available are uncomfortable, tend to be dislodged during sleep or disconnected from the blower source. If the mask is a full face mask covering both nose and mouth or a nasal mask covering only the nose, the peripheries of the mask will touch the bridge of the nose, the upper or lower lip and must seal around the malar region. Individual variations in the topography, especially of the malar region, make it necessary to hold the mask to the face with some pressure. It has been shown that a double seal, with a semirigid internal support and a flexible skirt can be inflated with air, forming a seal that more readily conforms to the malar region. The ideal mask support is usable with any variety of full face or nasal mask to accommodate individual needs and preferences.
The mask support must be capable of holding the mask firmly in position with as low a pressure as possible to avoid irritation of the face, especially the bridge of the nose. A popular design comprises a rigid band cantilevered over the medial line of the skull, with the blower source tubing arranged and secured along the band. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,081,745 and 6,347,631.) The only points at which the support applies pressure to the patient are at the occipital lobe and the mask.
The need remains for a face mask support that is comfortable, does not apply pressure to small or sensitive areas of the head and is not easily dislodged or disconnected from its blower source.
A mask support for continuous positive airway pressure comprising a flexible cap and a blower source operably attached to the cap, the blower source being operably attached to a mask. The blower source is preferably a blower unit with external coil-supported, smooth interior tubing connecting the blower to the mask. The lower circumferential edge of the cap surrounds the head from below the inion protrusion of the occipital bone to a point on the medial line of the head defined by a diameter through the head from the occipital lobe to the forehead.
The cap is approximately hemispheric and is made of light, flexible material. The circumferential edge is provided with a means for tightening. The means can be elastic inserts, buckles, draw strings or the like or the entire assembly may be constructed of an elastic material. The medial line from occipital lobe to forehead is reinforced with a flexible but firm band.
The open cap embodiment is comprised of a band defining the circumferential edge and a medial band passing over the approximate medial line of the head and attaching to the circumferential band at the forehead and below the inion protrusion of the occipital bone. The circumferential band is preferably provided with means for adjustment. The medial band may be bifurcated above its attachment to the back of the circumferential band. When the medial band is bifurcated, each arm is separately connected to the circumferential band, close to the medial line. The circumferential and medial bands may be formed from a single piece of material.
The medial band is fitted with a biasing means support that extends from just above the forehead attachment of the circumferential and medial bands back along the medial band to a point near the apex of the cranium. The biasing means support is approximately wedge shaped with the base curved to accommodate the curvature of the cranium and the top surface is at approximately a right angle to the vertical plane of the face and is comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material so as to afford stable positioning for the biasing means. The biasing means support comprises at least one slot for the insertion of the ends of the biasing means.
The biasing means is comprised of spring steel, springs, or any metallic or plastic capable of transmitting force from one site to another, without fatigue. The biasing means is preferably a continuous length of spring steel formed into a loop and two equal length lateral arms, each end of which is insertible into the biasing means support, parallel to the top surface of the biasing means support and curved to an approximately 90 degree angle with the vertical plane of the face. The biasing means extends thus for a length sufficient to extend forward of the nose, and is at that point formed into a 90 degree curve so as to be parallel to the vertical plane of the face. The descending lateral arms form a loop that fits around the distal surface of the face mask. The mask support is adaptable to hold any full face or nasal mask in place. The descending lateral arms may also be separate length of spring steel, each independently inserted into biasing means and into the face mask at either its proximal or distal end.
The slots of the biasing means support are provided with means for adjusting the length of insertion of the ends of the arms of the biasing means, thereby adjusting the horizontal forward length of the biasing means. The adjustment means may be a ratchet or friction hold. This adjustment accommodates both individual facial differences and the force to be applied to hold the face mask in position.
The circumferential band of the open cap is adjustable at each side of the head, the adjustment being by velcro, buckle, snap clamp or the like. Minor and quick adjustment may be provided by a cord with a slip clamp, which may be quickly pulled and released for minor adjustment and quick sizing. The medial band may likewise be provided with means for adjustment at the back of the head. When the medial band is bifurcated, each arm of the bifurcation may be provided with means for adjustment.
A second embodiment comprises a circumferential band, a stabilizing band, and a biasing means anchored by a biasing means support. This embodiment lacks a medial band. The circumferential band encircles the head from below the inion protrusion of the occipital bone of a patient to a point high on the forehead just below the hair line of a patient. The circumferential band is formed from a flexible material into a semi-rigid outer substrate and an inner substrate of a soft material, which is in contact with the skin or hair of a patient.
The circumferential band is provided with a means for tightening. The means can be Velcro, elastic inserts, buckles, draw strings or the like. The means may be incorporated into a band that is securely attached to the circumferential band by any means, such as ultrasonic welding or glue. The circumferential band is curved into an S-shape at an area just above the ears of a patient.
The stabilizing band extends across the crown of the head and attaches to the circumferential band at each side at approximately the S-shaped curve. The stabilizing band may pass under the biasing means support or may be separately attached to the biasing means support. The attachment may be by any means, such as ultrasonic welding or glue. Preferably, the biasing means support is provided with a loop at each side and the stabilizing band is attached through the loops by buckles, or is turned through the loops back on itself and secured with Velcro.
The biasing means support is approximately wedge shaped with the base curved to accommodate the curvature of the cranium and is comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material so as to afford stable positioning for the biasing means. The biasing means support extends toward the crown of the head from the forehead area just below the hairline of a patient and the frontmost end is firmly attached to the circumferential band at the forehead and the back end is attached to the stabilizing band. The biasing means support is preferably provided with a cushion lining which is textured so as to allow some air circulation under the support.
The biasing means support comprises at least one slot for the insertion of an end of the biasing means. The circumferential band may have an upward extension from the forehead area to the crown of the head to act as a cushion to the biasing means support. Alternatively, the stabilizing band may extend continuously across the crown of the head and the biasing means may be positioned on the circumferential band in front and directly on the stabilizing band at the crown of the head, wherein the circumferential and stabilizing bands act as cushions.
The biasing means is comprised of spring steel, springs, or any metallic or plastic capable of transmitting force from one site to another, without fatigue. The biasing means may be formed in several configurations, the end or ends of which are insertible into receiving slots on the biasing means support, parallel to the top surface of the biasing means support. The biasing means extends for a horizontal length sufficient to extend forward of the nose, and is at that point formed into a 90-degree curve so as to be parallel to the vertical plane of the face. The descending lateral arm or arms fit around or above the mask. The mask support is adaptable to hold any full face or nasal mask in place.
In any configuration of the biasing means, the horizontal length of the biasing means is fitted with a mechanism for horizontal positioning within the biasing means support so as to adjust the mask support outward from the face. Likewise, the descending arms or arm is fitted with a mechanism for positioning the plenum so as to adjust the mask vertically. The preferred means of adjustment is a ratchet, with the corresponding ratchet fitted into the biasing means support and plenum, respectively.
When the face mask is a full face mask, the biasing means is attached at or around the distal end of the face mask. When the face mask is a nasal mask, the biasing means is attached at or above the nasal mask. Preferably, the face mask support to be used with a nasal mask will incorporate a plenum, a connection means to interface between an air hose and the nasal mask, and at least one hole or preferably several vent holes for exhaled gas. The vent holes are preferably placed at the top surface of the plenum so as to direct the exhaled air away from the patient.
In either embodiment, the mask support is made of soft, flexible material, while the biasing means support is a more rigid material and the biasing means is a very firm material. Preferably, the circumferential band and the stabilizing bands are comprised of two layers of substrate. The outer substrate is sufficiently firm to prevent the band from rolling while the inner substrate, which is in contact with a patient's skin, hair and scalp, is soft and may be provided with texture such as rounded protuberances to allow some air circulation under the support.
When the mask support is made of an elastic material, the means for adjustment may be eliminated. One skilled in the art can readily substitute materials to achieve the same or substantially the same support. Such materials are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.
When used in this patent application, the following terms have the following meaning:
“Air” is used to denote a gas to be delivered to a patient and includes atmospheric gas, oxygen or a combination thereof.
“Crown of the head” refers to the area of the head past the vertical plane of the forehead, that is, the top of the head.
“Hair line” refers to highest area of the forehead, whether or not hair is present.
“Face mask or full face mask” refers to a mask that covers the nose of a patient and is apposed to the face all around the periphery of the mask.
“Nasal mask” refers to a mask that is apposed to a patient only at the nares.
“Appose” means to press one surface against another.
The objective of the inventors is to provide as lightweight, comfortable CPAP mask support as is consistent with stability. The mask support face mask for CPAP must be held apposed to the face with sufficient force to provide a seal so that the air pressure may be applied directly to the patient's airway without leaking significantly. The force may be through straps or through a biasing means as described in patent application Ser. No. 10/643,642, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,465, issued Feb. 15, 2005.
For the purpose of defining this invention, “face mask” or “mask” is used to include any device for linking a positive pressure system (blower) to the airway of a patient. A face mask may be a mask that covers the full face, a mask that covers nose and mouth, a mask that covers only the nose or nasal plugs. A face mask support is any device that holds the face mask apposed to the face.
As noted, the loading of the circumferential band is applied independently of the loading for the face mask. The vectors created in tightening the band include the main rear vector 12 and the main front vector 13, which each occur normal to the surface of the head. The analysis of the resultant X 14 and Y 15 vectors show how the “clamping” of the head is accomplished. Noting the vectors X and Y, it can be seen that as the circumferential edge contacts the forehead at too high a position, clamping would fail because there would be no effective “undercut” for gripping and front vector X would be free to move the non rigid band back off of the head. Likewise, if the band contacts too high on the inion protrusion, rear vector Y would have no undercut to resist it and the flexible band would slip upward off of the head. Once the cap is sufficiently clamped by proper positioning of the hemispheric contour, the medial band is held on the medial line of the head and forms a stable anchor zone 16 for attachment of the biasing means support. The extensive stability of the anchoring zone established by the medial band allows for the use of a short length of rigid or semirigid material comprising the biasing means support. It should be noted that the biasing means support and the biasing means are the only components of the mask support that are not soft and flexible.
With this flexible but stable construction, the biasing means is capable of creating a counter-clockwise moment needed to keep the mask apposed to the face, which translates the force into a clockwise moment of the mask loading force, tending to keep the mask on the face without leaking and without the loading force being applied to a small anchor area.
In use, the patient adjusts the cap by means of the adjustment means 6 to a “loose comfort” and place the cap on his or her head, positioning it from the nape of the neck to the forehead. The patient then uses the quick-sizing cord 7 (on those embodiments which are provided with a quick-sizing means) to pull the cap snugly around the head. The medial bands are adjusted for proper fitting. The cap being fitted, the air tube from a blower is attached to a face mask so that the loop of the biasing means passes around the distal protuberance of the face mask. The ends of the biasing are fitted into the slot of the biasing means support and length l adjusted to accommodate variations in bias force required to hold the nose piece apposed to the patient's face. Once the original adjustments are made, the biasing means is left attached to the mask support. The mask support is totally soft and flexible except for the biasing means and the biasing means support, which rests on the patient's head from the upper forehead to the top of the cranium, which are areas less sensitive to pressure than the lower forehead and eye area. The result is a CPAP apparatus which is comfortable, stable and leads to increased patient compliance.
The face mask support of Example 1 is comfortable and stable. Improvements to the design were sought to further reduce the weight and the area of contact with the patient's head to make a support that is even more comfortable, while retaining the clamping feature that provides stability shown in
Either embodiment of this invention provides the force necessary to hold the nasal or face mask apposed to the face. The force is transmitted from the top of the head to the nasal or face via the biasing means. It should be noted that the force will vary from patient to patient. The variables include:
By providing a lightweight, less restrictive mask support with easily adjustable biasing means, circumferential and stabilizing bands, most patients will find the invention comfortable and will be encouraged to comply with its use.
While the configuration of the biasing means as shown in
It is to be understood that each of these biasing means as shown in
It may be understood that following the teachings of this patent application, those skilled in the art to which it pertains may readily make insubstantial changes, which changes are considered to be within the spirit and scope of this invention.
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