JP4290773B2 - Breathing nose mask - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a respiratory nasal mask. More specifically, the present invention relates to a respiratory nasal mask used for CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy suitable for treatment of sleep apnea syndrome, NIPPV (Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation) therapy suitable for ventilation failure, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to treat patients with sleep apnea syndrome, nasal continuous positive pressure breathing (CPAP) is performed, and a constant positive pressure gas of about 4 to 20 cmH ₂ O is supplied to the nostril of the user during sleep. A breathing assistance device is employed. In addition, in order to treat patients with ventilatory insufficiency, nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is performed, and intermittent positive pressure gas of about 4 to 24 cmH ₂ O is applied to the nostril of the user, such as during sleep. The supplied breathing assistance device is employed.
[0003]
Originally, when this apparatus is used, various respiratory nasal masks and nostril masks have been developed in order to continuously apply positive pressure to the nostrils.
[0004]
For example, USP 5,243,971 discloses a respiratory nasal mask that fits a nasal mask having a thin film swelled by a positive pressure by pressing it against the nose during use as a nasal mask for a CPAP device. JP-A-9-10311 discloses a mask means for treating sleep apnea syndrome, for the purpose of preventing patient discomfort, reducing weight, and the like. A respiratory nasal mask covering the gap is disclosed.
[0005]
Conventional breathing nasal masks are prone to displacement of the nasal mask wearing position due to body movement such as turning over, and when positive pressure gas is supplied, gas leaks from the interface between the nasal mask and the face, and the eyes There are cases in which the user feels uncomfortable, such as irritation to the part or chills due to leakage airflow, and in some cases the treatment must be stopped. The nose roots and nose wings are prominent as gas leaks, and the only way to prevent gas leaks is to tighten the breathing nasal mask fixing belt, regardless of the leak location. It is also pointed out that the nose mask can hurt the user's face when worn for a long time.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention can prevent the displacement of the nasal mask wearing position due to any body movement such as turning over during sleep without tightening the breathing nasal mask fixing belt, and minimizes gas leakage without causing pain to the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved respiratory nasal mask that can be kept to a minimum and that is comfortable and can be used for a long time.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies on such problems, the present inventors have found that by providing a bellows-like elastic body between the nose mask and the frame for attaching the nose mask, it is possible to absorb the user's body movement and prevent gas leakage. .
That is, the present invention includes a nasal mask 1 that contacts the user's face, a frame 3 for attaching the nasal mask 1, and a headgear 4 for fixing the frame 3 using the shape of the head, etc. A respiratory nasal mask for supplying positive pressure gas to a user's nose, comprising a bellows-like elastic body 7 between a frame 3 and a surface closely contacting the face of the nasal mask 1. It is to provide.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration when the nasal respiratory mask of the present invention is worn. Preferred examples of the respiratory nasal mask of the present invention include a nasal mask 1, a frame 3 for attaching the nasal mask, and a headgear 4 for fixing the frame 3 using the shape of the head or the like. The hose 2 for supplying a positive pressure gas is used by connecting to a positive pressure gas generator. When viewed from the front of the user, the nasal mask 1 has an approximately isosceles triangular shape, and has an interface that contacts the face around the nose except for the nostril and the vicinity thereof. The interface is made of thin silicon rubber or the like. It has been.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the conventional respiratory nasal mask, since the CPAP and NIPPV therapy is mainly performed during sleep, one of the headgears attached to the head when the left / right movement of the head accompanying turning over occurs. Since the portion is in contact with the pillow or the bed, the relative movement between the headgear and the head occurs due to the frictional force, and the balance of the forces applied to the left belt 5 and the right belt 6 is lost as shown in FIG. Will move out of the proper position, move and / or rotate, and the nasal mask fixed to the frame will also move out of the original position. In addition, due to body movement, the force from the hose 2 is also directly applied to the nasal mask, and the nasal mask may be detached from the original position.
[0010]
Originally, the center line A of the face and the center line B of the frame coincide, and the nose mask and the face are in close contact, but the angle α ° shifts to create a gap between the nose mask and the face, causing air leakage To do. As described above, the conventional respiratory nasal mask cannot avoid gas leakage caused by body movement.
[0011]
The respiratory nasal mask of the present invention has a surface closely contacting the face of the nasal mask 1 in order to minimize the displacement of the nasal mask 1 itself and / or the surface closely contacting the face of the nasal mask even when there is a frame shift. By interposing a bellows-like elastic body 7 that can be expanded and contracted in any direction between the frame 3 to which the nasal mask 1 is attached, the displacement of the frame can be absorbed, and the surface closely contacting the nasal mask 1 itself and / or the face of the nasal mask. Can be suppressed.
[0012]
Further, the bellows-like elastic body 7 has appropriate elasticity, and the nasal mask 1 can naturally and uniformly adhere to the face due to the property of extending in all directions. Further, by providing positive pressure gas to the respiratory nasal mask, the nasal mask 1 can be brought into close contact with the face without tightening the belts 5 and 6 due to the property that the bellows-like elastic body 7 expands. .
[0013]
Furthermore, the problem of the present invention can be solved even if the position of the bellows-like elastic body 7 is interposed between any position between the face of the nose mask 1 that is in close contact with the face and the frame 3 to which the nose mask 1 is attached. Here, a method of placing the bellows-like elastic body 7 between the frame 3 and the nose mask 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
[0014]
When this method is used, the peripheral shape of the bellows-like elastic body 7 matches the peripheral shape of the nasal mask 1 to be connected, and the contour of the concave or sharp line of the bellows is on the plane. . If the bellows-like elastic body 7 is made of silicon rubber or the like, which is the material of the nasal mask 1, and integrally molded with the nasal mask 1, the manufacturing cost is low and there is an advantage that it is easy to wear. The number of bellows pitches, the distance between pitches, and the thickness can be determined by the size of the positive pressure gas used, the size of the mask, the amount of deviation to be suppressed, the angle of deviation, the material used, and the like.
[0015]
Since the frame shift angle (α) is usually within 10 °, it is preferable that the bellows-like elastic body can compress the height in a natural state where no load is applied to about half at the time of wearing. The height of the bellows-like elastic body is preferably 10 to 30 mm, and the pitch number is preferably 2 to 10 pieces. The bellows thickness is preferably 1 to 3 mm.
[0016]
By using a bellows-like elastic body within such a range, it is possible to provide a respiratory nasal mask that has good stability against displacement when worn and can be worn without a sense of incongruity.
[0017]
【Example】
Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. One of the bellows-like elastic bodies 7 was formed integrally with the nasal mask 1, and the other was fixed to the frame 3. As the material for the bellows-like elastic body 7, silicon rubber that is easily adapted to the human body was used. In a natural state where no load is applied to the bellows-like elastic body, the height of the bellows-like elastic body 7 is designed to be 15 mm, and the pitch number of the bellows is three. Since the frame shift angle (α) is almost within 10 °, the bellows-like elastic body 7 can be compressed to half the height in the natural state at the time of wearing. The thickness of the bellows was 1.2 mm.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
The respiratory nasal mask of the present invention can suppress the displacement of the nasal mask due to body movement and can reduce gas leakage to the minimum. Therefore, it is not necessary to tighten the fixing belt particularly tightly, and it is possible to provide a breathable nasal mask that can be used comfortably and for a long time, with less pain at the face contact portion. Of course, it can be easily inferred from the technical idea of the present invention that the present invention can be applied to various respiratory nasal masks such as a nose mouth mask.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred respiratory nasal mask of the present invention (when viewed from the side of a face).
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional respiratory nasal mask (when viewed from under the face).
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a preferred respiratory nasal mask of the present invention (when viewed from below the face).
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a conventional respiratory nasal mask.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Nose mask Hose Frame 4. Headgear 5. Left belt 6. Right belt 7. Bellows-like elastic body Center line of the face Frame centerline

Claims (1)

A nose mask (1) in contact with the user's face, a frame (3) for attaching the nose mask (1), and a headgear (4) for fixing the frame (3) using the shape of the head or the like In the breathing nasal mask configured to supply positive pressure gas to the user's nose, the bellows extending by the positive pressure gas supply between the face of the nasal mask (1) that is in close contact with the face and the frame (3) Breathing nose mask, characterized in that it has an elastic body (7).

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