U.S. patent application number 13/486333 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-20 for device for detecting electrical potentials of the forehead region of a patient.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAP Medizin-Technologie GmbH. Invention is credited to Harald GENGER, Claus NEGELE.
Application Number | 20120238898 13/486333 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27438947 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120238898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GENGER; Harald ; et
al. |
September 20, 2012 |
DEVICE FOR DETECTING ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS OF THE FOREHEAD REGION
OF A PATIENT
Abstract
A device for detecting electrical potentials in the forehead
area of a patient has a transverse member adapted to rest against
the forehead of the patient, a vertical member extending crosswise
to the transverse member and a mask on the vertical member.
Electrodes are provided on the transverse members at least at its
ends and at the center at which the vertical bar crosses the
transverse member.
Inventors: |
GENGER; Harald; (Starnberg,
DE) ; NEGELE; Claus; (Munchen, DE) |
Assignee: |
MAP Medizin-Technologie
GmbH
Martinsried
DE
|
Family ID: |
27438947 |
Appl. No.: |
13/486333 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12914488 |
Oct 28, 2010 |
8204584 |
|
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13486333 |
|
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|
11311862 |
Dec 19, 2005 |
7848794 |
|
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12914488 |
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|
09980573 |
Feb 6, 2002 |
7054680 |
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PCT/EP00/03997 |
May 4, 2000 |
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11311862 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/547 ;
128/204.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 16/021 20170801;
A61M 16/0633 20140204; A61B 5/0478 20130101; A61B 5/4818 20130101;
A61B 5/6814 20130101; A61M 16/0069 20140204; A61B 5/097 20130101;
A61M 2230/432 20130101; A61M 2230/04 20130101; A61M 2230/10
20130101; A61M 2205/52 20130101; A61M 2016/0021 20130101; A61M
2230/205 20130101; A61M 16/00 20130101; A61M 2230/30 20130101; A61M
16/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/547 ;
128/204.23 |
International
Class: |
A61M 16/00 20060101
A61M016/00; A61B 5/053 20060101 A61B005/053 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 1999 |
DE |
199 20 433.0 |
Aug 5, 1999 |
DE |
199 36 505.9 |
Oct 8, 1999 |
DE |
299 17 806.4 |
Nov 26, 1999 |
DE |
199 56 841.3 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for detecting electrical potentials in the forehead
region of a patient, comprising: a patient interface adapted to
communicate with the airways of the patient in use; and an
electrode device provided to the patient interface and having at
least two electrode elements directly engagable with the forehead
region to detect electrical potentials, a measuring circuit that
produces measurement data in accordance with the electrical
potentials detected by the electrode device, wherein the measuring
circuit is integrated into a forehead support element that is
self-locating relative to the patient's forehead region in use by
virtue of fitting the patient interface to the patient, and a
measurement data recorder that records the measurement data
produced by the measuring circuit.
2. A CPAP apparatus in which a characteristic of a respiratory gas
feed is varied in accordance with the apparatus of claim 1.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
breathing gas duct connected to the patient interface, wherein the
forehead support element is connected to the breathing gas
duct.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the breathing gas
duct extends through the forehead support element.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit
is provided in a recess of the forehead support element and
contacts of the measuring circuit contact co-operating contacts in
the recess.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising three electrode
elements, wherein two electrode elements are provided at respective
ends of the forehead support element and the third electrode
element is provided in a middle portion of the forehead support
element.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit
comprises a clock that determines a time at which measurement data
is produced.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit
is provided in a band which is fitted in the forehead support
element.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least two
electrode elements are provided in the band.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two
electrode elements are elastically mounted to the forehead support
element.
11. An apparatus for detecting electrical potentials in the
forehead region of a patient, comprising: means for feeding
respiration gas to the airways of the patient; and means provided
to the patient interface and directly engagable with the forehead
region for detecting electrical potentials, means for producing
measurement data in accordance with the detected electrical
potentials, wherein the measurement data producing means is
integrated into a forehead support element that is self-locating
relative to the patient's forehead region in use by virtue of
fitting the respiration gas feeding means to the patient, and means
for recording the measurement data produced by the measurement data
producing means.
12. A CPAP apparatus in which a characteristic of a respiratory gas
feed is varied in accordance with the apparatus of claim 11.
13. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a
breathing gas duct connected to the respiration gas feeding means,
wherein the forehead support element is connected to the breathing
gas duct.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the breathing gas
duct extends through the forehead support element.
15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the measurement
data producing means is provided in a recess of the forehead
support element and contacts of the measurement data producing
means contact co-operating contacts in the recess.
16. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electrical
potential detecting means comprises three electrical potential
detecting means, wherein two electrical potential detecting means
are provided at respective ends of the forehead support element and
the third electrical potential detecting means is provided in a
middle portion of the forehead support element.
17. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the measurement
data producing means comprises a means for determining a time at
which measurement data is produced.
18. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the measurement
data producing means is provided in a band which is fitted in the
forehead support element.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the electrical
potential detecting means is provided in the band.
20. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electrical
potential detecting means is elastically mounted to the forehead
support element.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/914,488, filed Oct. 28, 2010, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/311,862, filed 19 Dec. 2005, now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,848,794, which is a continuation of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/980,573, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,680, filed 6 Feb. 2002
as a national stage of PCT/EP00/03997 filed 4 May 2000 and based
upon German National applications 199 20 433.0 of 4 May 1999, 199
36 505.9 of 5 Aug. 1999, 299 17 806.4 filed 8 Oct. 1999, and 199 56
841.3 filed 26 Nov. 1999 under the International Convention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a device for detecting electrical
potentials in the forehead region of a patient.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is possible, on the basis of electrical potentials to
draw conclusions about the brain activity of a human being. In
particular, it is possible, in the case of a person who is asleep,
to determine the individual sleep states, on the basis of the brain
activity which is ascertained during sleep.
[0004] German patent application DE 199 20 433.0 to the present
applicants describes a CPAP device system in which the
characteristic of the respiration gas feed is varied in dependence
on the sleep state of the patient. For that purpose, the required
electrodes are glued onto the forehead of the patient by way of an
adhesive strip.
[0005] The correct application of such electrodes requires
particular care and is frequently found to be unpleasant by the
patient in question.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the invention is to improve the reliability of
detection of electrical potentials in the forehead region of a
patient and to permit application of the required electrodes in a
manner which is agreeable to the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the invention that object is attained by
a device for detecting electrical potentials on a patient, with an
electrode device which can be applied in the forehead region of the
patient, wherein the electrode device is arranged on a forehead
support element which co-operates with a breathing mask device in
such a way that the application position of the electrode device is
established in conjunction with the application position of the
breathing mask device.
[0008] That makes it advantageously possible to apply the electrode
device in the correct position, with a high level of reproduction
accuracy.
[0009] In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of
the invention the forehead support element is coupled to the
breathing mask device. In that arrangement, the electrode device
can advantageously be directly applied to and removed from the
breathing mask arrangement. It is possible to forego the adhesive
strips which were hitherto required, which is an advantage.
[0010] A particularly high level of adaptability of the forehead
support element to the individual configuration of the forehead
part of the patient and a high degree of wearing comfort is
afforded, in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of
the invention, by virtue of the forehead support element being
formed from an elastomer material.
[0011] An embodiment of the invention which in particular saves
weight and which is advantageous from hygiene points of view is
afforded if the forehead support element is formed in one piece
with a mask base member of the breathing mask device.
[0012] In accordance with a particular aspect of the present
invention the spatial configuration of the unit formed from the
forehead support element and the mask member can be adapted to the
individual contour of the face of the patient by the provision of a
stiffening element which stiffeningly couples together the forehead
support element and the breathing mask device.
[0013] The electrode device preferably includes at least two
electrode elements, the potential difference being detected between
those two electrode elements. Considerably more accurate
determination of the electrical brain activity of the patient is
made possible by the electrode device having at least three
electrode elements. The electrode elements are placed for example
in the frontal measurement locations fP1 and fP2 and a location
therebetween. Preferably the measurement locations are disposed in
the forehead region of the patient about 30 mm above the
eyebrows.
[0014] A particularly high level of measuring accuracy is
advantageously achieved if the electrode elements are supported
flexibly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
application face. That ensures that for example the arrangement
does not give rise to electrode contact pressure forces which are
different in dependence on a forehead band tension. For that
purpose for example the electrode elements are accommodated in a
cup structure. The flexible effect can be achieved by elastomer
elements, in particular rolling bellow diaphragms. As an
alternative thereto it is also possible for the electrode elements
to be accommodated in a recess, the depth of the recess
substantially corresponding to the thickness of the electrode
elements.
[0015] In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of
the invention the electrode elements are coupled to a signal
processing device arranged in the immediate proximity of the
electrode elements. For that purpose the signal processing device
is particularly advantageously integrated into the forehead support
element and has its own voltage supply device, for example in the
form of a button cell. The output of the signal processing device
is preferably potential-free and communicates directly with a data
transmission device for cord-less and in particular radio
transmission of the processed signals to a data processing device.
It is possible for the potentials detected by way of the electrode
elements also to be processed in the region of the forehead support
element by means of a suitable data processing device so that a
compressed or more informative data set is produced which can be
forwarded at a lower level of transmission complication and
expenditure. On the other hand it is also possible to forward
substantially only the raw data, that is to say the measurement
results, to a separate receiving device.
[0016] That receiving device can be part of a patient monitoring
system of a sleep laboratory. It is also possible for the receiving
device to be integrated directly into a CPAP device. Particularly
in the case of that embodiment, it is also possible, in place of
telemetric signal transmission, to provide a data line which is
particularly advantageously integrated into a breathing gas
hose.
[0017] Particularly in regard to the area of use of sleep therapy
for treating sleep-related respiratory disturbances the
above-specified object is also attained by a breathing mask
arrangement for feeding a respiration gas to a patient under an
increased pressure, comprising a mask member which engages over the
nose region of the patient, a sealing device for sealing off an
inner region of the mask with respect to the ambient atmosphere,
and a forehead support element for supporting the mask member in
the forehead region of the patient, characterized in that provided
in the region of the forehead support element is an electrode
device for detecting electrical and in particular brain-electrical
potentials.
[0018] In that respect the forehead support element, as already
described in greater detail hereinbefore, is also preferably formed
from an elastomer material and is either produced integrally with
the mask member or is coupled thereto in a defined manner by way of
a suitable joining structure.
[0019] Particularly when the forehead support element and the mask
member involve an integral design configuration, it is also formed
from an elastomer material. Particularly in this embodiment, the
forehead support element and the mask member are provided with
stiffening or bracing means which extend into the forehead support
element, the stiffening means preferably being adapted to the
individual face contour of the patient.
[0020] In combination with the above-described features or also
alternatively thereto, the above-specified object is also attained
by a device for detecting electrical potentials in the forehead
region of a patient, in particular for determining sleep stages,
comprising an electrode device, a measuring circuit arrangement for
producing measurement data in accordance with the electrical
potentials detected by the electrode device, wherein the measuring
circuit arrangement is integrated into a forehead support element,
and there is provided a signal transmission device for cord-less
transmission of the measurement data produced by the measuring
circuit arrangement.
[0021] The measuring circuit arrangement preferably has a data
compression device for transmitting a compressed data set to the
signal transmission device.
[0022] In accordance with the invention, the foregoing object is
attained in an advantageous fashion in accordance with a further
aspect of the present invention by a device for detecting
electrical potentials in the forehead region of a patient, in
particular for determining sleep stages, comprising an electrode
device, a measuring circuit arrangement for producing measurement
data in accordance with the electrical potentials detected by the
electrode device, wherein the measuring circuit arrangement is
integrated into a forehead support element, and there is provided a
measurement data recording device for recording the measurement
data produced by the measuring circuit arrangement.
[0023] In a particularly advantageous manner that measurement data
recording device includes an approximately postage stamp-size
memory card element which is releasably coupled to the forehead
support element and which can be removed for example from the
forehead support element for further processing of the recorded
items of information. The measurement data can possibly be
compressed by a compression device provided in the region of the
forehead support element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Further details will be apparent from the description
hereinafter of a number of preferred embodiments of the invention
and detail structures which are advantageously embodied in that
respect, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows a perspective view
of a breathing mask with a forehead support element which has three
electrodes for detecting electrical potentials in the forehead
region of the patient,
[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view which shows an elastically
yielding mounting of an electrode element,
[0027] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of an elastomer band element
which has three electrodes for detecting the electrical brain
activity of a patient, wherein the band element can be coupled to a
forehead support element,
[0028] FIG. 3b is a simplified sectional view through a forehead
support element into which the band element shown in FIG. 3a is
fitted,
[0029] FIG. 3c is a simplified sectional view through an electrode
element as is used in particular in the forehead support element
shown in FIG. 3a,
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a
forehead support element with integrated electrode elements for
detecting the electrical brain activity of a patient, wherein the
forehead support element can be coupled to a duct portion of a
breathing mask,
[0031] FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram to illustrate a forehead band
element with integrated signal processing device,
[0032] FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a signal processing device
provided for use in a forehead support element, either in case a
for telemetric data transmission (for example by radio) or case b
for the storage of a preferably compressed data set on an
interchangeable data carrier, preferably in chip card form,
[0033] FIG. 6b is a simplified sectional view through a receiving
portion in a forehead support element for receiving the signal
processing device shown in FIG. 6a, and
[0034] FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view of a measuring
arrangement according to the invention for detecting the electrical
brain activity of a patient here with a total of five electrode
elements pre-positioned by way of a breathing mask and a telemetric
data transmission device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The breathing mask shown in FIG. 1 includes a mask member 1
which delimits an internal space 2 of the mask. Provided on an edge
portion which is towards the ambient region of the nose of a
patient is a sealing device 3 which here has at least one elastic
sealing lip which comes into intimate contact with the surface of
the face of the patient and in so doing seals off the internal
space 2 of the mask with respect to the ambient atmosphere. Here,
the sealing device 3 has a portion 4 which is drawn in
comparatively deeply in the region of the bridge of the nose,
thereby affording placement of the mask member 1 with respect to
the nose of the patient, in such a way that it remains the same
with a high degree of accuracy of repetition.
[0036] In the embodiment illustrated here the mask member 1 has a
breathing gas duct 5 which extends through a forehead support
element 6. The gas duct 5 is a stiffening element which
stiffeningly couples the forehead support element 6 to the mask 1.
In the embodiment illustrated here, the mask member 1 and the
forehead support element 6 are formed integrally from an elastomer
material, in particular a fully transparent silicone rubber
material.
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the forehead support element
6 is provided with connecting members 7 by way of which the
forehead support element 6 can be coupled to a preferably cushioned
forehead band. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface 8
of the forehead support element 6, which faces towards the forehead
of the patient, is of a slightly concave configuration and in
addition is adapted by a stiffening element (not shown here) to the
individual contour of the forehead region of the patient, in terms
of the curvature thereof. In the illustrated embodiment arranged in
the contact surface 8 are a total of three electrode elements 9, 10
and 11, by way of which it is possible to detect electrical
potentials in the forehead region of the patient. The forehead
support element 6 is transverse to the tubular member 5 and has
free ends on opposite sides of a central portion, an electrode 9,
11 being on each end and the other electrode 10 being on the
central portion.
[0038] The position of the electrode elements 9, 10, 11 relative to
the patient can be maintained with high level of accuracy of
repetition as the unit formed by the mask member 1 and the forehead
support element 6 is fixed precisely, in particular by the nose
region of the patient.
[0039] In the embodiment illustrated here, the breathing gas duct 5
is of a non-round and in particular polygonal cross-section and in
addition is of a configuration such as to curve towards the
patient, corresponding to the curvature of the forehead of the
patient. The cross-sectional shape used here provides that the
breathing gas flows into the internal space 2 of the mask in a
substantially eddy-free flow. That measure represents an
independent novel structural configuration of the invention for
improving the breathing gas flow which can also be implemented on
its own account, independently of the features otherwise described
herein.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, shown therein is a simplified
diagrammatic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the
mounting of the electrode elements 9, 10, 11 as are used in the
breathing mask shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, the electrode
elements 9, 10, 11 are formed by a thin metal plate 12 which is
mounted yieldingly substantially perpendicularly to the contact
surface 8. The yielding mounting is achieved in this case by a
diaphragm structure which is formed integrally with the forehead
support element 6. Provided in the rearward region of the metal
plate 12 is a highly flexible metal line device 14 which will be
described hereinafter in an embodiment which is described in
greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3a and 5. The elastically
yielding mounting for the electrode elements 9, 10 and 11 as shown
in FIG. 2, provides that the electrode elements are urged against
the surface of the skin of the patient with a contact pressure
force which remains substantially the same, thereby avoiding
possibly falsified measurement results as a consequence of
different forces in the forehead band arrangement.
[0041] FIG. 3a shows a particular embodiment of the electrode
arrangement according to the invention, which here has a band 15
which is formed from an elastomer material and into which the
electrode elements 9, 10 and 11 are fitted. The band 15 is of an
outside contour which permits positionally accurate coupling to a
forehead support element. Fitted in an end portion of the band 15
is a signal processing device 16 which is connected by way of thin
connecting lines 14, 17 and 18 to the respective electrode elements
9, 10 and 11.
[0042] The potential differences between the respective electrode
elements are detected and evaluated in that signal processing
device. The measurement data obtained in that way are either stored
in suitably encoded form or passed by telemetric means to a
receiving device for further data processing.
[0043] FIG. 3c is a sectional view through a portion of a forehead
support element 6 into which is fitted the band 15 referred to in
reference to FIG. 3a. For that purpose a recess 19 is provided in
the forehead support element 6. The depth of the recess 19, which
is set back with respect to the contact surface 8, is such that the
contact surface 20 formed by the band 15 terminates substantially
flush with the contact surface 8.
[0044] The electrode elements 9, 10 and 11 are mounted on the band
15, as already indicated in FIG. 3a.
[0045] As indicated in FIG. 3b for example the electrode elements
can be fixed by the electrode elements having on their rear side
needle-like projections 21, by way of which the electrode elements
can be individually placed on the band 15 or directly on the
forehead support element 6.
[0046] As an alternative thereto it is also possible to form
shallow recesses in the forehead support element 6 or in the band
15. The shallow recesses are delimited by a peripheral edge into
which the electrode elements 9, and 11 can be clipped, by means of
a slight clipping fit.
[0047] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a forehead support
element 6 which can be coupled to a breathing gas duct portion of a
breathing mask. For that purpose the forehead support element 6 has
a mask fixing portion 22. The mask fixing portion, in the
embodiment illustrated here, includes a flexible band 23 defining a
through passage 24 for receiving the breathing gas duct 5.
[0048] The forehead support element 6 also has connecting members 7
which--as already indicated with reference to FIG. 1--serve for the
further connection of a forehead band. The electrode elements 9, 10
and 11 are again fitted in the region of the contact surface 8 of
the forehead support element 6. The electrode elements 9, 10 and 11
can be repeatably applied in an accurate position in the forehead
region of the corresponding patient, as a consequence of the
breathing mask being coupled to the forehead support element 6.
[0049] FIG. 5 indicates in a simplified manner the fashion in which
the individual electrode elements 9, 10 and 11 are coupled to the
signal processing device 16 by way of the connecting lines 14, 17
and 18. In this case, the signal processing device 16 includes a
directly connected data transmission device 24 by way of which the
measurement data obtained can be cordlessly forwarded to a suitable
system for further processing. In the embodiment illustrated here,
all of the specified components are sealingly embedded in the base
member of the forehead support element 6, the base member being
formed from an elastomer material.
[0050] FIG. 6a shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the
signal processing device 16 which is here accommodated in an outer
casing 25 and has a plurality of contact elements 26, 27 and 28
which can be electrically connected to the connecting lines 14, 17
and 18 referred to in connection with FIG. 5. The processing device
16 illustrated here includes its own voltage supply device formed
by a button cell (not shown) and, in dependence on the potential
differences detected between the contacts elements 26, 27 and 28,
produces binary-coded data. Those data can be transmitted to an
external data processing system, as indicated for case a, in the
form of electromagnetic waves, in particular by radio. As an
alternative thereto or also in combination therewith, it is
possible--as indicated for case b--for the measurement data
obtained to be stored on a data carrier 29. In order to obtain
direct association in respect of time of said measurement data, the
signal processing device 16, in accordance with a particularly
preferred embodiment of the invention, can be provided with a clock
so that the measurement data produced are also stored in accordance
with an association in respect of time.
[0051] The signal processing device 16 which is in the form of a
completely self-contained block can be clipped--as indicated in
FIG. 6b--into a recess 30 which is clipped directly in the forehead
support element 6 or as indicated for example in the case shown in
FIG. 3a into a suitable band 15. In that case, by virtue of the
inherent elasticity of the material surrounding the recess 30, the
contact elements 26, 27 and 28 on the signal processing device 16
come into a sufficiently high pressing contact relationship with
the further co-operating contacts 31 provided in the forehead
support element 6. Those co-operating contacts 31 are connected to
the above-mentioned signal lines 14, 17 and 18.
[0052] FIG. 7 shows in a simplified fashion the way in which a
breathing mask according to the invention with integrated forehead
electrodes is applied in the face region of a patient. It will be
clear in that respect that extremely precise positioning of the
electrode elements is achieved by virtue of the coupling in
accordance with the invention of the electrode elements to a
forehead support element which is provided to support a breathing
mask. That arrangement makes it possible for a plurality of
electrode elements, in particular as shown here five electrode
elements, to be applied in the forehead region of the patient, in
which case upon fresh application of the electrode elements
substantially the same measurement position is again employed as in
the case of the preceding measurement procedures. That provides for
considerably improved comparability of the data obtained in the
context of different measurement cycles.
[0053] The measuring arrangement shown in FIG. 7 includes the mask
member 1 and the forehead support element 6 which is coupled
thereto by way of the breathing gas duct portion 5 and which is
only indicated here. Arranged in the forehead support element 6 in
this case are a total of five electrodes 9, 10, 11 and 33 and 34 by
way of which it is possible to detect electrical potential
differences in the forehead region of the patient.
[0054] The potential differences detected in that way are evaluated
by the signal processing device 16 integrated in the forehead
support element 6 and forwarded by way of radio signals to an
external receiving device for further processing and in particular
for the control of a CPAP unit.
[0055] In this case, the feed of respiration gas to the internal
space of the mask, which is defined by the mask member 1, is by way
of a breathing gas hose 35 provided with a reinforcing insert of
spiral configuration.
[0056] Particularly in the case of a breathing gas hose of that
kind, it is possible to provide that the signals are transmitted by
means of a line device which is integrated into the breathing gas
hose 35, in particular in the spiral reinforcing member thereof,
instead of the signals produced by the signal processing device 16
being transmitted by way of radio.
[0057] The region of the mask member which is adjacent to the mouth
of the patient, is urged against the face of the patient with a
predetermined contact pressure force, by a lower webbing band
arrangement 36. The forehead support element 6 is urged against the
forehead of the patient with an adjustable contact pressure force
by an upper webbing band arrangement 32 which extends around the
region of the back of the head of the patient. Both the lower band
arrangement 36 and also the upper band arrangement 32 in the
embodiment illustrated here are formed by a cushioned band material
which is comparatively resistant to tensile force. The high level
of resistance to tensile force of that band material provides that,
even when the breathing mask is applied to the face of the patient
with comparatively low levels of contact pressure force, the
breathing mask does not lift away from the face of the patient, as
a consequence of the increased pressure which obtains in the inside
of the mask. In the region of the coupling location between the
breathing gas hose 35 and the breathing gas duct portion 5 of the
breathing mask it is optionally possible to provide a ball joint
device which still further suppresses the application of any
turning moments to the breathing mask.
[0058] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *