U.S. patent application number 13/450561 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-09 for forehead and nose bridge pad for cpap interface.
Invention is credited to Karen Leigh MOORE.
Application Number | 20120199128 13/450561 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40581265 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120199128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOORE; Karen Leigh |
August 9, 2012 |
FOREHEAD AND NOSE BRIDGE PAD FOR CPAP INTERFACE
Abstract
A pad is attachable to the forehead part of a CPAP face mask
with pockets sewn into the body of the pad. The pad protects the
forehead of the wearer and the nose bridge by a flap of material
that fits between the seal of the mask and the wearer's nose bridge
distributing the pressure from the mask seal. Persons with sleep
apnea rely on CPAP therapy to prevent the obstruction in order to
continue to breathe while sleeping. The CPAP masks appear medical
and strange, especially to a new user of the device. By making the
CPAP mask more comfortable with soft padding and also preventing
marks and sores, it is more likely that the person will continue
their therapy and improve their health. The invention is designed
to be colorful, soft and comforting to help people with sleep apnea
continue to get the necessary therapy.
Inventors: |
MOORE; Karen Leigh;
(Stanardsville, VA) |
Family ID: |
40581265 |
Appl. No.: |
13/450561 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12288271 |
Oct 17, 2008 |
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13450561 |
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60999199 |
Oct 17, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/205.25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 16/0683 20130101;
A61M 16/0633 20140204; A61M 2210/0618 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/205.25 |
International
Class: |
A61M 16/06 20060101
A61M016/06 |
Claims
1. A padding for a CPAP interface to cover a forehead part on a
CPAP mask, said padding comprising: a forehead pad comprising: an
exterior fabric material comprising distal ends, long sides
extending between said distal ends, with corner notches in said
exterior fabric material to form end flaps and long flaps extending
between said end flaps, wherein said end flaps are folded and
attached to form opposing pockets at said ends and opening
therebetween, and said long flaps are folded to overlap at least
portions of said end flaps, and wherein said notches reduce bulk
exterior fabric material where said flaps are folded, and an
interior padding layer, said flaps being folded around said
interior padding layer so that said interior padding layer is
within said exterior fabric material.
2. The padding of claim 1, wherein said exterior fabric material
comprises a decorative outer surface.
3. The padding of claim 1, wherein said exterior fabric material
comprises a soft outer surface.
4. The padding of claim 1, wherein said exterior fabric material is
selected from the group consisting of fleece, micro fleece and
micro suede.
5. The padding of claim 1, further comprising stitching securing
said edges of said end flaps.
6. The padding of claim 1, wherein said interior padding layer is
attached by a seam of thread joining said interior padding layer at
the sides thereof.
7. A padding for a CPAP interface to cover a forehead part on a
CPAP mask, said padding comprising: a forehead pad comprising: an
exterior fabric material comprising distal ends, long sides
extending between said distal ends, with corner notches in said
exterior fabric material to form end flaps and long flaps extending
between said end flaps, wherein said end flaps are folded and
attached along edges to form opposing pockets at said ends that are
spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, and said long flaps
are folded to overlap at least portions of said end flaps, and
wherein said notches reduce bulk exterior fabric material where
said flaps are folded, and an interior padding layer, said flaps
being folded around said interior padding layer so that said
interior padding layer is within said exterior fabric material.
8. The padding of claim 7, wherein said exterior fabric material
comprises a decorative outer surface.
9. The padding of claim 7, wherein said exterior fabric material
comprises a soft outer surface.
10. The padding of claim 7, wherein said exterior fabric material
is selected from the group consisting of fleece, micro fleece and
micro suede.
11. The padding of claim 7 further comprising stitching securing
said edges of said end flaps.
12. The padding of claim 7, wherein said interior padding layer is
attached by a seam of thread joining said interior padding layer at
the sides thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/288,271 filed on Oct. 17, 2008, which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/999,199,
filed Oct. 17, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of
respiration, or breathing and/or ventilation masks. In particular,
the invention relates to the forehead portion and seal of masks
used in the treatment of sleep apnea.
BACKGROUND
Prior Art
[0005] Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (commonly referred to as
obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, and/or sleep apnea) is a medical
condition that has as one symptom repeated prolonged episodes of
cessation of breathing throughout the night. This is generally a
condition in which a person's airway becomes blocked or restricted
due to the over-relaxation of the muscles and tissues in the throat
during sleep. A restrictive air supply impairs the oxygen flow to
the lungs and, in turn, to the brain.
[0006] An individual with OSA can stop breathing, or suffer an
apnea, for many times (typically from 10 to 30 times an hour) each
night. The apneas are generally followed by sudden reflexive
attempts to breathe. As a result, the individual suffering from OSA
experiences fragmented sleep. Such non-refreshing sleep results in
daytime drowsiness, headaches, weight gain, limited attention span,
memory loss, lethargy, inability to maintain concentration and/or
depression. OSA has also been linked to increased hypertension and
greater risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes if left
untreated. Untreated sleep apnea is also a leading cause of
automobile accidents.
[0007] Effective treatment requires the airway to remain open
during sleep. Modern respiratory therapy utilizes a "continuous
positive airway pressure" (CPAP) machine and a ventilation
interface during sleep in order to keep the airways open. A variety
of CPAP machines can provide this treatment. BiPAP and VPAP are two
specialized examples of CPAP machines that vary the pressure
received based on the patient's breathing patterns. All positive
airway pressure machines use an interface to deliver ambient air,
under pressure, to the patient's airway which effectively forms a
splint for the trachea. This interface usually consists of a nasal
mask, full face mask (covering both the nose and mouth), or nasal
pillows held onto the patient's face with straps, or headgear, and
connected to the CPAP machine by way of an air hose. The nasal mask
and full face mask employ a forehead pad that rests against the
patient's forehead to stabilize the mask and to position the mask
seal over the nose.
[0008] No matter what type of OSA interface is used, holding it in
place over the nose and/or mouth is difficult, due to the air
pressure blowing into it. The interface must be held in place
securely to prevent air from escaping around the seal. The
structure of the interface also must be rigid, and at the same
time, soft against the wearer's skin. The mask seal against the
bridge of the nose can cause pressure ulcers or bruising. When this
is unresolved, it can be a major deterrent for the user to continue
CPAP therapy.
[0009] Another difficulty results in the psychological aspects of
the treatment. The CPAP and mask must be used anytime the person
sleeps, including naps, for the duration of the patient's life in
order to be effective against the long-lasting dangers of OSA. The
mask and headgear is unnatural, cumbersome, medical, uncomfortable
as well as unattractive on the face. CPAP treatment has even been
the cause of personal relationships being destroyed. The hospital
look of the mask during use, and the marks remaining on the face
after use are a continual reminder of the patient's medical
condition.
[0010] As a result of the varieties of difficulties and discomfort,
some patients remove their masks in the night, at times not having
realized that they have done so. Some patients choose to
discontinue treatment for OSA because of the many difficulties
associated with adjusting to the CPAP masks and nightly treatment.
Without treatment compliance, OSA progressively becomes more severe
as a person ages.
[0011] Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers (DME) have limited style
choices available in masks and CPAP machines for the patients. Most
of the masks and headgear are very similar in appearance and
structure. Most patients have little knowledge about OSA when they
are diagnosed and know very little about the treatment options. The
patients are further handicapped due to the very nature of the
disorder, and cannot think as clearly before as after receiving
proper treatment, so are often given the mask and machine the DME
selects for them. Having little input in the choice of equipment
can negatively affect the dedication the patient has toward the
treatment, especially considering the variety of challenges it
presents and the extended time required to feel the benefits of the
therapy, often taking a month or longer.
[0012] The invention of a colorful, very soft, forehead and nose
bridge protection alleviates parts of the problems with OSA therapy
listed above and helps patients remain compliant with their
treatment. Compliant treatment allows the patients to experience a
much greater quality and length of life.
[0013] In the related art, numerous attempts at treatment of OSA
have been made. These attempts have included new masks and headgear
designs; some have included designs to reduce the amount of contact
area against the skin. Although the present style of masks include
a forehead part, they do not address adequately the marks and
bruising caused by the forehead part as well as the seal where it
contacts the patient's nose bridge. A search of the prior art did
not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the
invention herein disclosed, however, the following patents were
considered relevant:
TABLE-US-00001 U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 4,944,310 Colvin
E. Sullivan Jul. 31, 1990 5,177,819 Servidio et al Jun. 2, 1992
5,243,971 Sullivan et al Sep. 14, 1993 5,570,689 Starr et al Nov.
5, 1996 5,657,752 Landis et al Aug. 19, 1997 5,746,201 Lisa A. Kidd
May 5, 1998 5,724,965 Handke et al Mar. 10, 1998 5,887,587 Allen W.
Groenke Mar. 30, 1999 6,122,746 Kwok et al Sep. 5, 2000 6,199,693
Kwok et al Sep. 19, 2000 D441,860 S Kopacko et al May 8, 2001
D439,326 S Hecker et al Mar. 20, 2001 6,412,487 B1 Gunaratnam Jul.
2, 2002 6,467,483 B1 Kopacko et al Oct. 22, 2002 D464,727 S Austin
et al Oct. 22, 2002 6,520,182 B1 Gunaratnam Feb. 16, 2003 6,860,269
B2 Kwok et al Mar. 1, 2005 7,210,481 B1 Lovell et al May 1, 2007
7,219,670 B2 Jones, Jr. et al May 22, 2007 D545,960 S Fu et al Jul.
3, 2007 7,243,650 B2 W. Keith Thornton Jul. 17, 2007 7,296,574 B2
Peter Ho et al Nov. 20, 2007 D567,935 S Fu et al Apr. 29, 2008
D576, 271 Gunaratnam et al Sep. 2, 2008
BACKGROUND
Objects and Advantages
[0014] While there are devices that provide treatment options for
OSA, these do not disclose a successful padding solution for the
CPAP interfaces. In this respect, the nasal headgear padding
described herein departs from any present designs in providing
comfort, physically and mentally, and style. Compliancy improves
dramatically when the patient has comfortable options for the
treatment of OSA.
[0015] The present invention, (Forehead and Nose Bridge Pad for
CPAP Interface) discloses a padding which covers the CPAP forehead
pad on the mask adjacent to the face. It also includes padding to
prevent pressure ulcers on the nose bridge area. This extremely
soft pad protects the wearer's forehead and bridge of the nose from
any irritation caused by the presence of the interface. The present
invention also protects the facial skin from any allergic reaction
to the materials of the forehead part of the mask by forming a
physical barrier. The material of the present invention is such
that it promotes air circulation under the forehead pad controlling
moisture build up and discomfort. The present invention provides
distribution of the pressure applied by the mask to the skin in the
areas of the forehead as well as the area of the bridge of the
nose. By padding the edge of the forehead pad of the mask, the
present invention prevents lasting indentions from forming on the
forehead, and the flap portion prevents bruising and sores on the
nose bridge. The softness of the present invention is comparable to
a very soft blanket against the forehead and nose bridge adding
physical as well as psychological comfort to the treatment of OSA.
Soft comfortable padding increases the ease of falling to sleep and
staying asleep.
[0016] The present invention (Forehead and Nose Bridge Pad for CPAP
Interface) discloses that padding the forehead and nose bridge and
preventing facial marks and sores allow the wearer of the CPAP mask
to only think about the treatment of OSA at night when going to
bed. It allows the medical nature of the disorder to be a private
matter instead of having to explain the marks or sores on the face
left behind by the interface at night. Psychological benefits
include a more positive self image, and improve social interaction.
The present invention improves the outward medical appearance of
the headgear by being colorful and very soft as well as
personalized. It also allows individual style for each person by
being available in many colors. The present invention can match
other clothing worn to bed and feel more like an accessory.
[0017] The present invention can be changed often when the wearer
wants a different style or color on the headgear.
[0018] The present invention (Forehead and Nose Bridge Pad for CPAP
Interface) discloses that by adding padding to certain
non-adjusting forehead parts, it effectively reduces the pressure
of the mask seal on the wearer's face.
[0019] Prior art treatment options for OSA do not adequately
address a successful padding solution for the headgear of CPAP
interfaces. The Forehead and Nose Bridge Pad for CPAP Interface
padding described herein deviates from any prior art in providing
improvements in the way of comfortable options for OSA patients and
thereby improves compliancy. Still further objects and advantages
will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing
description and drawings.
SUMMARY
[0020] In accordance with the present invention, Forehead and Nose
Bridge Pad for CPAP Interface, the padding for CPAP interfaces
comprise a resilient, sufficiently bulky fabric formed in a fashion
to provide secure padding protection for the skin on the forehead
and nose bridge of a sleep apnea patient receiving CPAP therapy.
This padding invention increases comfort, prevents marks and
bruising on the forehead and nose bridge for patients using a CPAP
mask. By offering a colorful addition to the CPAP mask, this also
can add some personalization to the interface. Any improvement to
OSA therapy can help patients remain compliant with their therapy
which ultimately results in improved health.
DRAWINGS
Figures
[0021] FIG. 1 shows Prior Art example of facial CPAP mask and the
conventional forehead part.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the front view of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the back view of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the cutting diagram before construction.
[0025] FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 5c show the construction process
steps.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the invention installed on a typical CPAP
mask.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0027] 21 Decorative side of the material making up the nose bridge
flap
[0028] 22 Decorative side of the material making up the forehead
padding body
[0029] 23 Terminal ends fold in exterior decorative fabric
[0030] 24 Stitching line securing the fabric in the shape to work
properly
[0031] 25 Lateral fold in exterior decorative fabric
[0032] 26 Padding in the interior of the invention
[0033] 27 Wrong side of the exterior fabric
[0034] 28 Broken line showing the fabric beneath the surface
[0035] 29 Notches cut from the rectangle to form the shape needed
to make the invention
[0036] 30 Flap portion of dense material single thickness
[0037] 31 Portion of the original shape that is folded over the
padding layer to form pocket
[0038] 32 Slit cut along the lateral fold to accommodate straps
[0039] 33 Forehead part of typical CPAP mask, hidden under pad
exterior
[0040] 34 Seal of typical CPAP mask
[0041] 35 Straps of typical CPAP mask
[0042] 36 Nose bridge protector flap tucked under the seal
[0043] 37 Hidden portion of the edge forming the receiving pocket
of the pad
[0044] 38 Pocket to receive forehead part of CPAP mask
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a prior art example of the conventional CPAP
facial mask with integral forehead pad 39 with straps 35 which are
used to secure the mask and to preserve the seal 34 against the
wearer's face.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows the front view of the present invention,
Forehead and Nose Bridge Pad for CPAP Interface, which is intended
to cover the forehead part 39 on the mask in FIG. 1. In the
preferred embodiment, the forehead pad FIG. 2 is constructed of
fabric material. While any fabric can be used, thin polyester micro
fleece is preferred because of its soft outer surface 22 and
tendency to remain completely free from raveling when cut, so as to
remain un-hemmed in the application.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows the rear view of the present invention
revealing the pockets 38 for attachment to the forehead part of the
mask 39, and the padding layer 26. FIG. 3 further details the
stitching line 24 that secures the folded fabric into a shape to
attach to the forehead part of the CPAP mask. Also FIG. 3 shows the
slits 32 through the distal end folds 23 of the main forehead pad
which the straps 35 may extend for certain masks to effect the
stable attachment of the invention on said mask. FIG. 3 further
details the nose bridge protector flap 30 size and shape in
relation to the main forehead portion of the invention. The
stitching line 24 secures both the sides of the invention 25 and
the attached nose bridge protector flap 30.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows the approximate shape of the cut pieces of
fabric making up the invention before construction. FIG. 4 shows
the padding layer 26 and the placement of this on the exterior
fabric. The notches 29 in the exterior fabric are to reduce the
bulk when the edges are folded around the padding layer 26 during
the construction. The flap piece 30 is attached after the edges of
the exterior fabric are folded up.
[0049] FIGS. 5A-5C show the steps in constructing the invention
including the formation of the folds 23 in the distal ends. The
flap on the long sides forms folds 25 and overlaps the end flaps 31
on FIG. 4 forming pockets on both ends of the main forehead pad.
FIG. 5C further shows the stitching line 24 securing the edges of
the pocket 38 as well as the flap 30 attachment. FIG. 5C also shows
the slits 32 that allow certain styles of masks straps 35 to secure
this invention on that style mask. FIG. 5C further shows the hidden
edges 28 of the fabric under the lateral folded edge 25 and the
method in which it is secured with the stitching line 24.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows the installation of the Forehead and Nose
Bridge Pad for CPAP Interface on a typical CPAP mask and the method
of providing padding for the wearer. FIG. 6 shows with dotted lines
the CPAP mask that is improved by this invention. The mask itself
is not part of this invention. FIG. 6 demonstrates the hidden edge
of the pockets 37 that fit over the forehead part of the mask 33
with the slits 32 accommodating the mask straps 35. Furthermore,
FIG. 6 demonstrates the nose bridge flap 30 installed tucked into
the mask seal 34 providing padding on the seal that causes bruises
or ulcers on the user's nose bridge.
* * * * *