GB2401054A - Patient ventilation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A patient ventilation device comprises a sac 40 of flexible material having a closed end 41 and an open end 42 adapted to be applied to the face of the patient around the nose and mouth with an adhesive surface 43 which seals around the nose and mouth. The sac contains a filling of comfortable material adapted to mould to the contours of the face and seal around the mouth and nose of the patient, such that the nose is blocked by the sac. The device has an opening through the sac in the region of the mouth, wherein the mouth opens through the opening enabling ventilation via the mouth. The comfortable material may be a gel 44, and the adhesive layer may be a hydrocolloid adhesive. The opening through the sac is provided by a tube 46 which has one end 47 extending within the patient's mouth and the other end 48 projects externally.

Description

2401 054

PATIENT VENTILATION DEVICES

This invention relates to patient ventilation devices.

The invention is more particularly concerned with face masks for use in ventilating patients.

Conventional face masks have a cone-shape mount with a soft cuff extending around its edge, which is applied against the skin of the patient around the nose and mouth. A port opens into the interior of the mount so that air or other gas can be supplied to the patient's nose and mouth. Usually, these face masks are held against the face manually or by means of a strap extending around the patient's head. The pressure needed to ensure an effective seal can cause damage to the patient's skin. It can also be difficult to achieve an effective seal without applying manual pressure; this is a disadvantage because it occupies a nurse or clinician. Alternatively, it has been proposed in US3357426 and W 099/25410 that a face mask be secured to the patient's face by means of an adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative ventilation device.

According to the present invention there is provided a patient ventilation device including a sac of flexible material having a closed end and an open end adapted to be applied to the face of the patient around the nose and mouth, and an adhesive surface adapted to seal around the nose and mouth of the patient, the sac containing a filling of a conformable material adapted to mould to the contours of the face and seal around the mouth and nose of the patient such that the nose is blocked by the sac, the device having an opening through the sac in the region of the mouth, and the mouth opening through the opening enabling ventilation via the mouth.

The conformable material may be a gel. The adhesive may be in an outer layer of the sac and the conformable material may be within the adhesive. The opening through the sac is preferably provided by a tube, one end of the tube extending within the patient's mouth and the other end projecting externally. The adhesive may include a hydrocolloid.

A ventilation device according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear of a first device not before use; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear of a modification of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear of an alternative device according to the present invention.

The device shown in Figures I to 3 is not within the scope of the present invention and is the subject of patent application No GB0120593.9.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the device takes the form an adhesive face mask arranged to block the nose and enable ventilation through the mouth. The device comprises a flexible sheet or plate 1 the rear surface 10 of which is adhesive, such as in the form of a hydrocolloid or other skin-compatible adhesive. The plate 1 has two cheek pads 11 and 12 extending laterally on opposite sides, a small, semicircular, downwardly-projecting chin pad 13 and a larger upwardlyprojecting nose pad 14. The nose pad 14 has four split lines 15 to enable it to be shaped about the nose. The device also has an opening through the plate 1 in the form of a short, rigid, tubular plastics fitting 16 secured to the plate and projecting through it at a location centrally across its width, so that it is in line with the mouth. The fitting 16 enables a vent tube 17 to be inserted, the vent tube having one end 18 that extends into and opens within the mouth and an opposite end 19 that projects externally forwardly from the device. In use, the forward end 19 of the tube is either left open, when the patient is breathing spontaneously, or is connected to ventilation or anaesthesia equipment, when necessary. The vent tube 17 can be removed from the fitting 16 when not required, such as when initially securing the device to the patient's face. Alternatively, the device could have a vent tube permanently fixed with the plate 1. The device is fitted by aligning the fitting 16 with the patient's mouth and smoothing the pads 11 to 14 onto the skin. The vent tube 17 can then be inserted.

With reference now to Figure 3, there is shown a modified form of the device in which the plate 1' has a central region 20' that is nonadhesive, clear and transparent so that the region around the mouth can be viewed by the clinician. This region 20' may be a flexible film or a rigid clear plastics. The outer part of the plate 1' is flexible and adhesive. Figure 3 shows a vent tube 17' permanently fixed with the plate 1' and having a patient end 18' terminating flush with the patient-side surface of the plate, so that it does not extend within the mouth.

With reference now to Figure 4 there is shown an alternative form of ventilation device according to the present invention. This comprises an outer sac 40 of a flexible material such as rubber or silicone rubber, which has a substantially triangular section and tapers in width from its closed forward end 41 to its open rear or patient end 42. The size and shape of the rear end 42 of the sac 40 are such that it can fit around the nose and mouth of the patient. The sac 40 is filled with two different materials. It contains an outer layer 43 of an adhesive, such as a hydrocolloid, and an inner mass 44 of a conformable material, such as a gel. The hydrocolloid layer 43 is relatively thick, typically around lOmm, so that the rear face of the device presents an adhesive annular, peripheral region that is sufficiently wide to ensure secure retention on the skin. The adhesive layer need not extend around the entire inner surface of the sac 40 providing that it forms an adhesive peripheral region around the open end 42 of the sac. Instead of the adhesive being inside the sac, it could, for example, be provided on an externallyprojecting flange. The device is completed by a vent tube 46 extending along the sac 40 through the gel 44. The rear end 47 of the tube 46 projects a short distance from the open end 42 of the sac 40 so that it extends into the patient's mouth. The forward end 48 of the tube 46 projects externally from the forward end of the device to enable connection to ventilation equipment.

The gel 44 and adhesive 43 are protected by a release sheet (not shown), which is removed just before use. The device is then held up to the patient's face and the rear end 47 of the vent tube 46 is located in the patient's mouth. The device is pressed firmly against the face so that the gel 44 moulds about the contours of the nose and mouth and so that the adhesive 43 bonds with the skin. Once firmly in position, the device can be released since it is self- supporting.

The arrangements of the present invention enable reliable ventilation via the mouth without the need for continuous manual pressure and without the need for straps or the like, which can cause skin damage after prolonged use. The device of the invention can be used on patients of differing builds without the need to provide a wide range of different sizes.

Claims (5)

1. A patient ventilation device including a sac of flexible material having a closed end and an open end adapted to be applied to the face of the patient around the nose and mouth, and an adhesive surface adapted to seal around the nose and mouth of the patient, wherein the sac contains a filling of a conformable material adapted to mould to the contours of the face and seal around the mouth and nose of the patient such that the nose is blocked by the sac, wherein the device has an opening through the sac in the region of the mouth, and wherein the mouth opens through the opening enabling ventilation via the mouth.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the conformable material is a gel.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive is in an outer layer of the sac and the conformable material is within the adhesive.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening through the sac is provided by a tube, and wherein one end of the tube extends within the patient's mouth and the other end projects externally.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive includes a hydrocolloid.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive includes a hydrocolloid.

6. A patient ventilation device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

A patient ventilation device including a sac of flexible material having a closed end and an open end adapted to be applied to the face of the patient around the nose and mouth, and an adhesive surface adapted to seal around the nose and mouth of the patient, wherein the sac contains a filling of a conformable material adapted to mould to the contours of the face and seal around the mouth and nose of the patient such that the nose is blocked by the sac, wherein the device has an opening through the sac in the region of the mouth, and wherein the opening is arranged to enable ventilation through the mouth via the opening.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the conformable material is a gel.

3. A device according to Claim I or 2, wherein the adhesive is in an outer layer of the sac and the conformable material is within the adhesive.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening through the sac is provided by a tube, and wherein one end of the tube extends within the patient's mouth and the other end projects externally.