U.S. patent application number 12/923942 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-10 for device for preventing leakage from the mouth.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAP Medizin-Technologie GmbH. Invention is credited to Martin Bechtel, Achim Biener, Bernd Christoph Lang.
Application Number | 20110030701 12/923942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35645835 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110030701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lang; Bernd Christoph ; et
al. |
February 10, 2011 |
Device for preventing leakage from the mouth
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device for avoiding leakage
from the mouth when nasally supplying a respiratory gas on a
pressure level lying above ambient pressure. The device comprises a
base body made from an elastomeric material and comprises an inner
edge portion and an outer ring edge portion, wherein the two ring
edge portions are coupled with each other via a web portion, and
wherein furthermore the base body, in combination with the two ring
edge portions and the web portion, is configured in such a manner
that in the application position of the base body the latter
defines a lip receiving area for receiving the lips of the
user.
Inventors: |
Lang; Bernd Christoph;
(Grafelfing, DE) ; Biener; Achim; (Aufkirchen,
DE) ; Bechtel; Martin; (Winsen/Luhe, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Assignee: |
MAP Medizin-Technologie
GmbH
Martinsried
DE
|
Family ID: |
35645835 |
Appl. No.: |
12/923942 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11794178 |
Jul 26, 2007 |
7814914 |
|
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PCT/EP2005/014142 |
Dec 30, 2005 |
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12923942 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/848 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 16/0488 20130101;
A61M 16/0493 20140204 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/848 |
International
Class: |
A61F 5/56 20060101
A61F005/56 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 3, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 000 712.0 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system supplying
a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient pressure,
comprising: a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric material, the
mouth seal having a lip receiving area adapted to receive lips of a
patient, the mouth seal being a solid member dimensioned to cover a
mouth of the patient in use, wherein the mouth seal is adapted to
suppress exhalation of air from the patient's mouth.
9. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the
elastomeric material is silicone.
10. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the
elastomeric material is a transparent silicone rubber material.
11. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the mouth
seal does not include an aperture.
12. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein said
mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion
and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining
portion.
13. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 12, wherein the
outer ring edge portion extends radially outward beyond the inner
ring edge portion.
14. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least
one of the ring edge portions is upendable so that it can be
brought from a first position providing an enlarged lip receiving
area into a holding position in which a reduced gap between the two
ring edge portions is formed.
15. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 12, wherein the base
body is provided with an inner web adapted to extend to and be
anchored behind the user's teeth.
16. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 12, wherein the base
body is configured in such a manner that the ring edge portions are
adapted and shaped to slightly clamp the lips of the user in an
edge portion that is radially further spaced from the mouth opening
by an elastic deformation of the base body.
17. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system
supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient
pressure, comprising: a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric
material, the mouth seal being a solid member dimensioned to cover
a mouth of the patient; and a lift-off device being structured to
deform the mouth seal upon application of tensile forces to the
lift-off device to facilitate removal of the mouth seal from the
mouth of the user.
18. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the
lift-off device comprises a ring clip, a loop or a ring
bracket.
19. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the
elastomeric material is silicone.
20. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the
elastomeric material is a transparent silicone rubber material.
21. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein said
mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion
and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining
portion.
22. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 17, wherein the
mouth seal does not include an aperture.
23. A mouth seal assembly for use with a nasal mask system
supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above ambient
pressure, comprising: a mouth seal formed from an elastomeric
material, the mouth seal having a an essentially elliptically and
concavely bulged lip rest area, the mouth seal being a solid member
dimensioned to cover a mouth of the patient in use, wherein the
mouth seal does not include an aperture so as to completely
suppress leak through the mouth seal.
24. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 23, wherein the
elastomeric material is silicone.
25. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 23, wherein said
mouth seal comprises a base body having an inner ring edge portion
and an outer ring edge portion coupled together by a joining
portion.
26. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 25, wherein the
outer ring edge portion extends radially outward beyond the inner
ring edge portion.
27. The mouth seal assembly according to claim 25, wherein at least
one of the ring edge portions is upendable so that it can be
brought from a first position providing an enlarged lip receiving
area into a holding position in which a reduced gap between the two
ring edge portions is formed.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for preventing
leakage from the mouth when supplying a respiratory gas on a
pressure level which lies above ambient pressure.
[0002] In particular for the treatment of sleep-related respiratory
diseases it is known to supply a patient with a breathable gas,
e.g. ambient air, on a pressure level which lies above ambient
pressure at least in phases. It is thus possible to cause an effect
in the area of the upper respiratory passages which is called
pneumatic splinting and which can prevent possible obstructions in
this area. The supply of a breathable gas on a level lying above
ambient pressure can also have further therapeutic advantages in
addition to the treatment of sleep-related respiratory disorders or
disturbances.
[0003] In known systems for the treatment of sleep-related
respiratory disorders or for supplying a breathable gas on a level
lying above ambient pressure, the respiratory gas is normally
supplied by means of a supply device, in particular a CPAP device,
which is coupled with the respiratory passages of the patient via a
flexible respiratory gas conduit and a breathing mask applied to
the patient. The breathing mask can be configured in such a manner
that the respiratory gas is supplied only nasally or nasally
combined with orally. The combined nasal/oral supply of the
respiratory gas has proved advantageous vis-a-vis a merely nasal
supply of the respiratory gas because in said combined supply no
inadmissible leakage from the mouth (flow-off of respiratory gas)
can occur.
[0004] Although breathing mask systems for the combined nasal/oral
supply of the respiratory gas are advantageous in view of the
prevention of leakage from the mouth, the users often accept such
systems only very reluctantly.
[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide
solutions which are advantageous in view of a reduced occurrence of
leakage from the mouth when supplying a respiratory gas on a
pressure level lying above ambient pressure.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, this object is
achieved with a device for suppressing leakage from the mouth when
nasally supplying a respiratory gas on a pressure level lying above
ambient pressure. Said device comprises a base body made from an
elastomeric material and having an inner ring edge portion and an
outer ring edge portion, wherein the two ring edge portions are
coupled with each other via a web portion and wherein moreover the
base body, in combination with the two ring edge portions and the
web portion, is configured in such a manner that in the application
position of the base body the latter defines a lip receiving area
for receiving the lips of the user.
[0007] Preferably at least one of the ring edge portions is
configured so as to be upendable, so that said ring edge portion
can be brought from a first position providing an enlarged lip
receiving space into a holding position in which there is a reduced
space between the two ring edge portions. Upendability can be
achieved in that the respective ring edge portion has a convex or
concave shape so that the respective position is obtained thereby
leading to a temporary deformation, in particular widening of the
outer areas and upsetting of the inner areas of the ring edge
portion.
[0008] The base body is preferably made from a silicone rubber, in
particular a fully transparent silicone rubber material.
[0009] It is possible to provide the device, in particular the base
body, with a lift-off means, e.g., in the form of a ring clip or
loop, for facilitating the removal of the base body from the mouth
of the user. It is thus possible to remove the device quickly,
e.g., for respiration through the mouth. It is possible to
configure the lift-off means in such a manner that upon application
of tensile forces said lift-off means deforms at least one of the
ring edge portions such that the device according to the present
invention can be removed easily.
[0010] The side of the base body which faces the row of teeth in
the application position can be provided with an inner web or any
other inner structure for supporting, holding or positioning the
base body in combination with the teeth or rows of teeth of the
user.
[0011] The base body, in particular the ring edge portions thereof,
are preferably shaped in such a manner that the lips of the user
are slightly clamped in an edge portion that is radially further
spaced from the mouth opening by an elastic deformation of the base
body. It is thus possible to slightly clamp the lips of the user in
an area which surrounds the mouth opening and is less
pressure-sensitive.
[0012] The outer ring edge portion is preferably configured such
that it defines an essentially elliptic and concavely bulged lip
rest surface. This means that the shape of the outer ring edge
portion preferably corresponds to the shape of the top or cover of
a commercially available baby dummy.
[0013] The base body can preferably consist of several parts. It is
possible to provide different variants of the ring edge portions
and to select and combine them in accordance with the requirements
of the individual users. It is also possible to shape the device
according to the present invention specifically for an individual
user, for example by making impressions of the open mouth.
[0014] Furthermore, a channel means via which the respiratory gas
is supplied and discharged in a defined manner can be provided in
the area of the web portion. It is possible to assign to said
channel means a valve or throttle arrangement which allows, e.g.,
the inspiration of air or a limited expiration of air. It is
possible to supply said channel means via a connecting conduit
which communicates, e.g., with the overpressure region of the mask.
It is also possible to control the throttle or valve means
depending on the nasally applied respiratory gas pressure.
[0015] Further details and features of the invention can be taken
from the following description in combination with the drawings in
which
[0016] FIG. 1 is a sketch for explaining a preferred configuration
of the device according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2a is a sketch for explaining how the device according
to the present invention is seated in the mouth area of a user;
[0018] FIG. 2b is a sketch for explaining how a further variant of
the device according to the present invention is seated in the
mouth area of a user; and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sketch for explaining how the outer ring edge
portion as well as the cross-section of the web portion can
possibly be contoured.
[0020] The device shown in FIG. 1 serves for suppressing leakage
from the mouth when nasally supplying a respiratory gas on a
pressure level lying above ambient pressure.
[0021] The device comprises a base body made from an elastomeric
material. The base body in turn comprises an inner ring edge
portion 1 and an outer ring edge portion 2. The two ring edge
portions 1, 2 are coupled with each other via a web portion 3. The
base body, in combination with the two ring edge portions 1, 2 and
the web portion 3, is configured in such a manner that in the
application position of the base body the latter defines a lip
receiving area L for receiving the lips of the user.
[0022] In the shown embodiment, the outer ring edge portion 2 is
upendable, i.e. bulgeable so as to snap-in, so that the outer ring
edge portion 2 can be brought from a first position (shown)
providing an enlarged lip receiving area L into a holding position
(dashed lines) in which a reduced gap between the two ring edge
portions 1, 2 is formed.
[0023] The base body is made from a silicone rubber and provided
with a lift-off means, which is not shown in detail and can be
realized, e.g., as a ring bracket, for facilitating the removal of
the base body from the mouth of the user.
[0024] The base body can be realized in such a manner that the ring
edge portions are shaped such that the lips of the user are
slightly clamped in an edge portion that is radially further spaced
from the mouth opening by an elastic deformation of the base
body.
[0025] The outer ring edge portion 2 can furthermore be configured
such that the latter defines an essentially polygonally or
elliptically contoured lip rest area which is concavely bulged
towards the user.
[0026] The device according to the present invention can be
configured in such a manner that it cooperates with the lips of the
user in the application position shown in FIG. 2a. In this example,
the outer ring edge portion 2 is configured such that it projects
from the inner ring edge portion 1 in the radial direction. As an
example only, said embodiment also shows a web projection 4 which
projects into the gap between the teeth rows and which allows a
further positioning of the device over the mouth area of the
user.
[0027] FIG. 2b shows a variant in which the outer ring edge portion
2, the web portion 3 and the inner ring edge portion 1 are
configured such that the inner ring edge portion 1 rests on an
inner side of the rows of teeth facing away from the lips of the
user.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a preferred polygonal contouring of the outer
ring edge portion 2. Said outer ring edge portion 2 preferably
forms a rest area which is concavely bulged towards the user and
whose bulging preferably essentially corresponds to a large extent
to the bulging of the area surrounding the mouth. The outer ring
edge portion 2 is contoured such that it is slightly recessed in
the rest area of the upper lip, close to the opening of the nose,
as well as diametrially opposite thereof. Said contouring is
preferably selected such that the outer ring edge portion has a
favorable feathering outer edge.
* * * * *