JP2002527155A - Nasal respiratory mask for treating breathing disorders, especially sleep apnea - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention relates to a respiratory apparatus including a shell (2) defined by a nasal chamber (3). The shell (2) has two lateral extensions (4) that enhance the support of the user's face when the respirator is positioned in the user's nose area to enhance the fit. Having. The respirator comprises a connector (6) having a ring (5) with a capture orifice (11) cooperating with a secure harness (14) consisting of a capture strap. The capture orifice (11) has several anchoring positions (11a, 11b, 11c) to properly position the respirator, whatever the structure of the user's face, It is possible to support it. The respiratory apparatus is useful for treating respiratory disorders, especially sleep apnea.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to nasal respirators that can be used to treat or prevent respiratory disorders in users, such as sleep apnea.

[0002]

[Prior art]

Respiratory masks are currently used in the context of treatment with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or two pressure levels to provide a mixture of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air prior to surgery, especially for those suffering from lung disease. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, such as to provide anesthetic gas in stages and to provide compressed air to persons suffering from respiratory disorders, such as sleep apnea.

[0003] Thus, a respirator includes a pressure and / or volume medical ventilator,
It forms an interface with the patient to whom respiratory assistance gas is supplied.

[0004] Such a respiratory mask is generally manufactured by molding a plastic material, and is formed so as to conform to a contour of a nose of a user.

There are actually two main types of nasal respiratory masks. That is, a mold that covers the nose,
A type with a connection adapted to contact the nose like a cannula.

[0006] These two types of masks differ fundamentally in the manner in which leakage is provided.

[0007] A first type of mask provides a leak-proof around the nose, as disclosed in DE-A-88134445 or FR-A-2,479,176.

[0008] Conversely, in the second type, leakage prevention is achieved in each nostril.

[0009] Masks with a nasal connection have the advantage of avoiding contact with the patient's bridge of the nose, which is generally an area that is generally very sensitive to contact for supporting industrial masks. .

However, this type of mask is difficult to maintain in an accurate position due to the small area in contact with the face, which area is limited to a portion inside the nostrils.

The result is that the mask that covers at least the nose is the most used mask.

The result is that the mask that covers at least the nose is the most used mask.

[0013] These are generally made of a polymeric material such as vinyl chloride or silicone, which allows to eliminate or reduce the unpleasant effects of the mask on the patient's skin.

[0014] Depending on the mask, the gas suction device is changed, but many of them have a central orifice for air supply. The connection of the orifice to the air supply path or the compressed gas of the respiratory assist device is made by a connector or a similar device.

[0015] In this regard, US Patent Publication US-A-4,655,213, US-A-3
, 850, 051, and US-A-5,117,819.

As described in US Pat. No. 4,944,310, masks sometimes have several air passages.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a better leak-proofing of the mask when the mask is located on the user's face, EP-A-462710 is shaped to cover the nasal area of the user. Has proposed a nasal mask with a shell,
When the mask is in use, i.e., when in place over the user's nose, it defines a chamber having a thin wall that is inflatable outwardly and an outwardly convex end region. The elastic member is provided with a thin film that can be spread as described above.

A variant of this type of mask is that the shell for receiving the user's nose and the shell between the shell and the user's face are in contact with the patient's face. ,
WO-A-97 / 09090 has been proposed in WO-A-97 / 09090 which describes a mask with leakproofness obtained by the presence of a peripheral chamber filled with gel.

However, these masks, which have a flexible membrane or a peripheral chamber filled with gel, provide a relatively fragile part that always comes into contact with the face of such a user.
It has been found that it has the disadvantage of having to be replaced quite frequently.

Further, WO-A-96 / 28207 describes a facial ventilation mask provided with a rigid concave shell, with orifices for connection to a ventilation system, The shell has a shape that encompasses not only the entire mouth and nose, but also the appropriate parts of the face: the cheekbones, the squamous structure of the temporal bone, and the entire area adjacent to the outside of the face defined by the mandible. This very expanded mask shape is intended to improve mask leakage, i.e., minimize gas leakage by the continuous support of the inner surface in the facial area described above.

However, it is bulky and inconvenient for the patient when a sleep mask must be worn to overcome respiratory disorders, especially sleep apnea such as sleep apnea. It will be immediately recognized that it has a particularly large drawback.

[0022]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to propose a nasal mask that does not have the drawbacks of current masks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nasal breathing mask in which the weight of the mask is adapted for night use and can be considerably adapted, that is to say as closely as possible to the face of the patient wearing the mask. It is also to propose.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a nasal mask that is very comfortable, even after repeated use and extended use of the mask.

In particular, the nasal mask according to the invention must be able to be used for several consecutive hours a day to transport gas pressure and / or flow into the upper respiratory tract of a patient according to medical prescriptions. No.

In other words, the nasal mask is given the benefit of treatment by a device that controls the precise leakage of gas, so that the nasal mask causes more leakage than is measured and delivered inside the device. Not.

[0027]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

Thus, for this purpose, the nasal mask must be fitted to the patient as accurately as possible. That is, in particular, the effective positioning of the mask on the patient's nose is a real source of discomfort for the patient, since it depends closely on the shape of the mask, and
There is a need to prevent or minimize leakage in the patient's nasal region, which cannot be avoided simply by tightly fitting the mask to the patient's face.

Thus, the present invention is also intended to solve the problem of correct and effective fitting of the mask on the patient's face and in place.

Thus, the present invention relates to a respiratory mask comprising a shell shaped to cover the user's nasal region, defined by an internal hollow nasal chamber.

[0030] In this mask, the shell has at least two lateral extensions or wings that can be supported on at least a part of the user's face, preferably near the nose. When in the position on the nose of the person, the shell has at least one air supply orifice and connection means arranged in the area of the air supply orifice, the connection means comprising at least one ring with at least one ring. The connector has a capture means with a capture orifice that can cooperate with the support means, the capture orifice effectively positioning the mask on the user's face by the structure of the user's face. And has several anchoring locations to support and thereby ensure effective leak tightness.

Depending on the circumstances, the mask according to the present invention may have one or more of the following characteristics:

The shell and the at least two lateral extensions are preferably made of a polymeric material such as silicon.

The shell and the at least two lateral extensions form a single piece so that it can be manufactured by molding.

The at least two lateral extensions are arranged symmetrically with respect to one another.

The at least two lateral extensions have a size of 1 to 5 cm.

An air supply orifice communicates with the wall of the shell in this passage so as to supply compressed gas conveyed through one or more gas conduits inside the nasal chamber.

The connection means may be connected to a source of compressed gas, at least the mask, via one or more gas conduits, preferably flexible and / or flexible gas conduits.

The connection means has at least one connector with at least one ring.

The connector has an angled connection member that can connect at least one gas conduit to the mask, the connector being circumferentially movable with respect to the axis of the air supply orifice or otherwise. Absent.

The ring has a catching orifice which can cooperate with locking means, in particular with supporting means such as races or straps.

The ring has a locking orifice with several anchoring positions.

[0042] The support means is a race, strap or fixed harness, preferably a hooked fixed harness.

The anchoring harness has three adjustable straps each equipped with an anchoring hook.

The ring has a catching means with two symmetrical lateral catching orifices, these locking orifices each being capable of changing the anchoring position of the hooked harness. It has three different anchoring locations.

The harness consists of several races with fixing hooks at the ends and / or straps, rubber or inelastic strings, which are symmetrical formed in the ring. It may cooperate with a lateral capture orifice.

[0046]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, given by way of non-limiting example.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side elevational view of a nasal respirator according to the invention, located in the nose area of the user 8.

More precisely, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a nasal mask 1 according to the invention comprises a shell 2 defined as a nasal chamber 3, which nasal chamber 3
Is formed so as to cover at least a part of the nose area of the user 8, that is, to cover at least the nose of the user 8.

The shell 2 has two symmetrical side extensions 4, which, when the mask 1 is located in the nose area of the user 8, on the one hand, are leak-proof and, on the other hand, on the face. Is intended to be supported on the face of the user 8 in a very reliable and enhanced manner in the positioning of the mask.

The shell 2 and the lateral extension 4 are preferably manufactured as a single molded member, in other words as a unitary member of a polymeric material such as silicone.

Further, the shell 2 of the mask 1 is provided with an orifice 9 for a breathing gas passage,
In the area of the channel orifice 9 there are connection means 5 and 6 for connecting said mask 1 to a source of compressed gas, such as a ventilator for delivering respiratory gas at one or more pressure levels, or another respiratory aid. .

In this embodiment, the connection means comprises a connector 6 having a connection ring 5 with catching means, in particular the locking orifice 11 and the safety orifice 13
It may cooperate with a harness 14 provided with hooks and / or races and / or similar fastening means.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the former ring 5 of the connector 6 forms a shoulder, in other words, this ring 5 has a circular shape lacking a lower part.

In this embodiment, the ring 5 has two symmetrical side orifices 11, each of which can be held and positioned effectively on the face of the user 8, in particular in the manner of the hook 7. , Three different fixing points 11a to 11c that enable the fixing position of the harness 14 to be changed in accordance with the structure of the user 8.

In addition, the safety orifice 13 is formed in the upper part of the ring 5 at equal intervals from two symmetrical side orifices 11.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a detail of the lateral extension 4 of the shell 2, from which the following can be seen. That is, to distribute pressure and increase comfort to the user as described above, while effectively supporting the mask 1 on the user's 8 face, the two lateral extensions 4 And a width of L of 1 to 4 cm are selected.

The nasal mask according to the present invention can be directly connected via a connector 6 to a gas line that carries the respiratory airflow from a respiratory gas source such as a respiratory assist device to the upper airway of the patient.

The connector 6 is preferably an angled polycarbonate connection part,
And an anchoring harness 14 having three adjustable straps, each with an anchoring hook 7.

The mask according to the invention can be used for systematic treatment of breathing disorders during sleep, in particular sleep apnea, or nasal breathing.

In some situations, respiratory masks according to the present invention may be of the nasal type or the nasal type.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a nasal respirator according to the present invention, located in the nose area of a user, viewed slightly from the side.

FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic diagram of a lateral extension 4 of the shell 2. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a nasal mask according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a connector ring.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS , JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A respiratory mask comprising a shell (2) defining a nasal chamber (3) shaped to cover at least a part of a nasal region of a user (8),
When the mask (1) is positioned over the nose area of the user (8), the shell (2)
) At least two lateral extensions (4) capable of supporting at least a part of the face, at least one orifice (9) for the supply of gas, and an area of the orifice (9) for gas supply. And at least one connector (6) with at least one ring (5), said connection means (5, 6) being arranged on said ring (5). 5) is a holding unit (7)
, 14) with capture orifices (11) cooperable with the user (8), the capture orifices (11) corresponding to the contour of the face of the user (8). ) So that it can be effectively positioned and held on the face.
1a, 11b, 11c). 2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the shell and the at least two lateral extensions are formed of a polymer material, preferably silicone. 3. The shell (2) and at least two lateral extensions (4) form an integral part that can be molded.
Or the mask according to 2. 4. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the at least two lateral extensions are arranged symmetrically with respect to one another. 5. The at least two lateral extensions (4) are between 1 and 5 cm
5. A mask according to claim 1, having a diameter (D) and / or a width (L) of 1 to 4 cm. 6. The connection means for at least connecting the mask (1) to a source of compressed gas, preferably by means of a flexible and flexible gas conduit. The mask according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the connector has an angled connection or an angled connection piece. 8. The holding means according to claim 1, wherein said holding means is a race, a strap or a fixed harness (14), preferably a fixed harness (14) with hooks (7). 2. The mask according to claim 1. 9. A mask according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring harness has three adjustable straps, each with an anchoring hook. . 10. The ring (5) has three fastening positions (11a, 11b, 1) each of which makes it possible to change the fastening position of a harness (14) having a hook (7).
10. A mask according to claim 1, comprising a catching means having two symmetrical side catching orifices (1) having 1c). 11. The ring (5) has at least one mounting orifice (11).
13), characterized in that the mounting orifice (13) is preferably arranged at the top of the ring (5), equidistant from the two symmetrical lateral orifices (11). The mask according to claim 1. 12. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the ring (5) of the connector has a cut circular shape.