JPH10337327A - Nose mask for breathing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nose mask for breathing which can supply positive pressure air for a patient suffering from the sleep apnea syndrome without causing pain or discomfort, and without much gas leakage from the interface between the mask and the patient's face. SOLUTION: This nose mask 1 for breathing for supplying positive pressure gas to a user's nose has a thin film to cover the surface of the user's nose. The thin film has a hole 2 for sending positive pressure gas for breathing into the user's nostrils and a dent at the center on the user's side. In addition, an elastic body for supporting the mask may be attached on the surface of the thin film opposite to the user's side on the side wall part of the mask. The elastic body is so shaped that it can be easily rolled inward when the user wearing the mask pushes his/her face into the elastic body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a nasal respirator. More specifically, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy suitable for treatment of sleep apnea syndrome, NIPPV (Nasal Intermittenttent) suitable for ventilation failure
The present invention relates to a respiratory nasal mask used for positive pressure ventilation (therapy) and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to treat patients with sleep apnea, nasal continuous positive airway pressure CPAP (Continu
ous Positive Airway Pressure) is performed, and a breathing assist device (hereinafter, also referred to as a “CPAP device”) in which positive pressure air of about 4 to 20 cmH ₂ O is supplied to a user's nares during sleep is adopted.

[0003] Originally, in using this device, various mask means have been developed to continuously apply a positive pressure to the nostrils. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,971 discloses a mask having a thin film swelled by positive pressure, which is fitted to a nose at the time of use, as a nasal mask for a CPAP device. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-10311 discloses a mask means for treating sleep apnea, in order to prevent discomfort of the patient and to reduce the weight, for the purpose of reducing the weight, the side part of the nose adjacent to the nostrils, the tip part,
A mask for covering between the upper lip is disclosed.

Many of the conventional off-the-shelf nasal masks do not reflect the shape of the nose of the user, and the interface between the nasal mask and the face when worn and supplied with a positive pressure gas. Gas leaks easily from In particular, a large amount of leakage occurs around the nasal wing of the user, and the amount of leakage increases when the head is moved. Even in the case of a nasal mask using a thin film that can be easily deformed, the shape does not reflect the shape of the nose, so when worn, the thin film part is forced to deform excessively, and wrinkles are generated somewhere on the thin film . Even if a positive pressure gas is supplied into the nasal mask, wrinkles generated in the thin film are not easily eliminated, and gas leakage always occurs through the wrinkles.

[0005] In addition, since the nasal mask made of such a thin film is easily deformed when a load is applied thereto, the wearing state of the nasal mask is lost only by moving the head, and the stability is lacking. ing. Also in the mask means described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-10311, the stability of the mask when the head moves is not sufficient because of its small size.

[0006] Leakage of gas from the interface between the nasal mask and the face causes discomfort to the user's face, and the therapeutic effect decreases as the amount of leakage increases. Also, if gas leaks around the root of the nose (near the left and right eyes), it will irritate the eyes of the user. By strongly pressing the nose mask against the face, gas leakage from the interface between the nose mask and the face can be prevented, but the site where the user wears the nose mask will be damaged, making it impossible to use it for a long time .

[0007] Furthermore, a nose mask made of a relatively strong material so that the nose mask is stable on the face may damage a user's skin at a contact portion between the nose mask and the face when worn.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved respiratory nose that provides a patient in need of positive pressure ventilatory therapy (CPAP, NIPPV, etc.) with a supply of positive respiratory gas through the patient's nose. It is intended to provide a mask.

Considering the therapeutic effect of a patient who is a user of a nasal mask, a nasal mask which does not cause pain or discomfort to the user and does not hurt the skin of the user, or an interface between the nasal mask and the face. A nose mask that minimizes gas leakage from the skin and that can be applied to any movement of the user during sleep and that can maintain stability on the user's face is required. . Furthermore, it is preferred that the nasal mask is not a personalized one, but rather a nasal mask that can be applied to most users in several sizes.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present inventors have made intensive studies and as a result, have a thin film three-dimensionally formed in a general nose shape of a user, and see the thin film when viewed from the user side. On the opposite side of the membrane, a respiratory nasal mask characterized by having a mask retaining elastic body attached so that the nasal mask stabilizes on the user's face solves such a problem. Things.

That is, the present invention comes into contact with the user's face,
A respiratory nasal mask for supplying a positive pressure gas for respiration to a user's nose has a thin film capable of covering at least the periphery of the user's nose. An object of the present invention is to provide a respiratory nasal mask having a hole through which a pressurized gas can be sent, wherein the central portion of the thin film has a concave shape when viewed from the user side.

Further, according to the present invention, on the side wall of the respiratory nose mask, on the side opposite to the user side of the thin film, there is provided a mask holding elastic body having a shape which is easily rolled in when the face is pressed when the nose mask is worn. The nasal respirator for breathing, wherein the concave shape of the thin film is three-dimensionally shaped into a general nose shape of a user, and expands and deforms when a positive pressure gas is supplied, and is worn by the user. The purpose of the present invention is to provide the above-mentioned respiratory nasal mask, wherein the respiratory nasal mask is adapted to the shape of the periphery of the nose, which is a site, and adheres closely at the site.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the respiratory nose mask of the present invention, the central portion of the thin film has a concave shape reflecting the nose shape when viewed from the user side, and the concave contour when viewed from the user side. Is an isosceles triangle with rounded corners. As a method of forming the concave shape of the thin film, for example, first, a representative person is selected from the users, and the nose shape of the person is removed with gypsum. The removed nose has a concave shape, and the concave shape of the thin film may be formed based on the nose. Of course, a plurality of sizes may be created by selecting some representatives who take the nose shape, or a person other than the user may be selected as the nose type representative. Also, if there is any data related to the nose without using the actual nose of a person, a thin film may be formed based on the data. The above-mentioned area near the base of the rounded isosceles triangle should cover at least the maximum width of the nose width of the user, and in the direction corresponding to the height of the isosceles triangle, at least the right and left sides of the user Cover the area from the point on the nose, which is at the same height as the lowermost point of the eyes, to the point below the nasal point.

Such a thin film is formed of a material such as a thin silicon rubber which easily expands and contracts and has a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Also, a hole of an appropriate position and size is formed in the thin film so that positive pressure gas for breathing can be sent to the user's nostril.

By shaping the concave-shaped thin film portion into a general human nose shape, the mask can be worn without forcibly deforming the thin film when worn, and wrinkles are generated when worn. Can be minimized.
Even when the shape of the thin film does not completely match the shape of the user's nose, a positive pressure gas is supplied into the nasal mask by using a stretchable material such as silicon rubber as the material for forming the thin film. Thus, the thin film portion can self-adapt to the nose shape of the wear site of the user. Therefore, under the supply of the positive pressure gas, the thin film portion can almost completely seal the interface between the nasal mask and the face, and gas leakage can be minimized.

Further, in order to maintain the stability of the nasal mask on the user's face, the user attaches the mask to the opposite side of the concave-shaped thin film as viewed from the user and presses the face to form the nasal mask. An elastic body for holding a mask having a shape that is easy to be wound inside is attached by bonding, or is integrally formed with a concave-shaped thin film. The mask-holding elastic body is connected to the concave-shaped thin film at the end of the nasal mask opposite to the face or at the side wall of the nasal mask.

The mask holding elastic body is a film having a thickness greater than that of the concave-shaped thin film, and is formed of an elastic material such as silicon rubber, for example. Although it is about 5 mm, it is continuously changed, for example, about 5 mm at the end portion opposite to the face. The tip portion of the mask holding elastic body, which is on the user's face side, is slightly curled inward so that it can contact the user's face at least near the left and right outer sides of the user's nose via the concave-shaped thin film. Shape. In other words, most of the movement of the head during sleep is swinging in the left and right direction, so supporting the nasal mask near the left and right outer sides of the user's nose is very important in maintaining the stability of the nasal mask. It is valid. Due to the presence of the elastic body for holding the mask, the deformation of the nasal mask can be minimized even if the user's head moves, and the nasal mask can be used for any movement of the user during sleep. Gas leakage at the interface with the face can be prevented.

The nasal mask according to the present invention does not need to be pressed strongly against the user's face because the concave thin film prevents gas leakage at the interface between the nasal mask and the face. It only needs to be applied lightly to the person's face. Therefore, the mask holding elastic body does not cause pain or damage to the user's face.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows an example of use of a nasal respirator 1 for respiration.
FIG. 2 shows the wearing site 13 of the nasal mask 1 when the user 6 is viewed from the front.

The nasal respirator 1 of the present invention is connected to a positive pressure gas supply device 4 through a mask shell 2 and a positive pressure gas supply tube 3 for use. The mask shell is connected between a tube connected to the breathing assist device and the nasal mask, and holds the deformable nasal mask. By attaching a number of straps 5 whose length can be adjusted to the mask shell 2, the nasal mask 1 can be fixed to the user 6 wearing the nasal mask. The mask shell 2 has an exhalation discharge hole 7. An arm 8 extending from the upper part of the mask shell 2 in the direction of the forehead of the user 6 is connected, and a forehead pad 9 made of a flexible material that can be in close contact with the forehead of the user 6 at the tip thereof. By attaching the, the stability of the nasal mask 1 on the face of the user 6 is further increased.

FIG. 3 shows a nasal respirator 1 according to the present invention.
Is a perspective view of a preferred example, FIG. 4 is a schematic external view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a transparent sectional view thereof. When viewed from the user 6 side, the thin film 10 whose central portion has a concave shape reflecting a general user's nose shape is bonded to the mask holding elastic body 11 in the vicinity of the connection portion with the mask shell 2. . The thin film 10 and the mask holding elastic body 11 are formed from silicon rubber. Thin film 1
0 is a thickness of 0.2 mm, and the thickness of the mask holding elastic body 11 is continuously changed so that the face side is 0.6 mm and the opposite side is 4 mm. The thin film 10 is used by the user 6
It has an appropriately positioned and sized hole 12 so that respiratory gas can be delivered to its nostrils. The hole 12 may be cut out according to the shape around the nostril of the user 6. In other words, by making the hole 12 as small as possible, it is possible to increase the sealing area formed by the thin film 10 at the interface between the nasal mask 1 and the face of the user 6, thereby causing gas leakage. Can be further prevented.

[0022]

By applying the respiratory nose mask according to the present invention, it is easy to form a respiratory nose and mouth mask. In other words, if the size is expanded to cover not only the user's nose but also the mouth, the opening area of the hole should be large so that gas for breathing can be sent to both the nose and mouth. Good.

In the respiratory nose mask according to the present invention, since the contact surface with the user has a concave shape reflecting the nose shape of the user, the thin film on the surface of the nose mask is not forced to be deformed. No wrinkles are generated on the thin film as compared with the respiratory nose mask of No. In addition, since the thin film can be inflated like a balloon by supplying a positive pressure gas, it is possible to completely seal the user's nasal mask wearing site. Further, due to the presence of the mask holding elastic body, the deformation of the nasal mask can be minimized even if the user's head moves. Therefore, the nasal mask according to the present invention
It can respond to any movements of the user during sleep and does not need to be pressed so strongly that the user feels pain or discomfort on the face, preventing gas leakage at the interface between the nasal mask and the face be able to. That is, it is possible to maximize the therapeutic effect of the user with the assisted positive pressure ventilation (CPAP, NIPPV, etc.).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of using a respiratory nose mask.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wearing site of a nasal respiratory mask.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a respiratory nose mask.

FIG. 4 is an external schematic view of a respiratory nose mask.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective cross-sectional view of a respiratory nose mask.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. 1. Respiratory nose mask Mask shell 3. 3. Positive pressure gas supply tube 4. Positive pressure gas supply device Strap 6 User 7. 7. Exhalation vent Arm 9. Forehead pad 10. Thin film 11. Elastic body for holding mask 12. Hole for gas supply 13. Wearing respiratory nose mask

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A respiratory nasal mask for contacting a user's face and supplying a positive pressure gas for respiration to a user's nose, comprising a thin film capable of covering at least the periphery of the user's nose. The thin film has a hole through which a positive pressure gas for breathing can be sent to a user's nostril, and the central portion of the thin film has a concave shape when viewed from the user side. mask. 2. A mask holding elastic body having a shape which is easy to be rolled in when the face is pressed when the nose mask is worn, on the side of the side wall of the breathing nose mask opposite to the user side of the thin film. The respiratory nose mask according to claim 1, wherein 3. The concave shape of the thin film is three-dimensionally shaped into the shape of a nose of a user. When the positive pressure gas is supplied, the thin film swells and deforms, and the shape of the thin film becomes self-shaped around the nose, which is a wearing site of the user. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body adapts and adheres at the site.
The nasal respirator for respiratory medicine according to 1. 4. The respiratory nasal mask according to claim 2, wherein the mask holding elastic body can contact the user's face via the thin film at least near the left and right outer sides of the user's nose. .