Nasal masks

Abstract

The present invention is related to patient interfaces, such as nasal masks ( 2 ), particularly though not solely for use in providing continuous positive airway pressure therapy or positive pressure ventilation to patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea. In a first form the invention is a patient interface that has securement means ( 601 ) releasably attaching the interface to headstraps wherein the securement means ( 601 ) is slidably engaged with the patient interface, In a second form of the invention the mask headgear is formed of a plurality of straps ( 701, 702 ) where at least one of the plurality of straps is slidably engaged with another of the plurality of straps. In a further form the patient interface may be provided with vertically adjustable engaging means ( 802 ) that engage the patient interface with the headgear straps.

1 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user comprising or including: 
 a patient interface, which in use is in fluid communication with said supply of gases,    securement means attached to or around the head of said user, and    engaging means adapted to slidingly engage said securement means with said patient interface,    wherein said engaging means comprises or includes an attachment portion able to be engaged with said securement means and the engagement between said securement means and said engaging means is caused by the releasable engagement of a protrusion, located on one of said attachment portion and said securement means, into a complementary shaped aperture located on one of said member and said securement means.    
   
   
       2 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to  claim 1  wherein said patient interface is a nasal mask.  
   
   
       3 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to  claim 2  wherein said nasal mask comprises or includes a body portion having an inlet receiving said supply of gases, and sealing means attached to or integrated with said body portion said sealing means adapted to seal against the facial contours of said user.  
   
   
       4 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein said engaging means is an elongate member adapted to allow said securement means substantial movement with respect to said nasal mask, while still providing compressive force on said sealing means to ensure said supply of gases is delivered to said user without significant leakage.  
   
   
       5 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to any of  claims 1  to  4  wherein said securement means is a strap having two ends each having said protrusion located thereon and said elongate member has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end and said second end each have located thereon said aperture.  
   
   
       6 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to any of  claims 1  to  5  wherein said engaging means further comprises or includes at least one restraining means on said body portion, wherein, in use, said member is restrained in at least one dimension but, which can slide easily within at least one other dimension by said restraining means and can be easily disengaged therewith.  
   
   
       7 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to  claim 6  wherein said restraining means is substantially vertically adjustable upon said body portion in either a freely moveable manner or lockable in at least one vertical position.  
   
   
       8 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to any one of  claims 5  to  7  wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       9 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user comprising or including a pressurised source of gases, transport means in fluid communication with said pressurised source adapted to convey said gases, and a nasal mask in fluid communication with said transport means, in use, delivering said gases to said user, said nasal mask comprising or including: 
 a body portion having an inlet, in use said inlet receiving a supply of gases,    sealing means engaged with said body portion, and adapted to seal against the facial contours of said user, and    engaging means adapted to in use provide a sliding engagement with a means of securement to a user, and a compressive force on said sealing means to ensure said supply of gases is delivered to a user without significant leakage,    wherein said engaging means comprises or includes an attachment portion able to be engaged with said securement means and the engagement between said securement means and said engaging means is caused by the releasable engagement of a protrusion, located on one of said attachment portion and said securement means, into a complementary shaped aperture located on one of said member and said securement means.    
   
   
       10 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to  claim 9  wherein said securement means is a strap having two ends each having said protrusion located thereon and said engagement means is an elongate member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end and said second end each have located thereon said aperture.  
   
   
       11 . A continuous positive ail-ways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to any one of claims  9  or  10  wherein said engaging means comprises or includes a restraining means adapted to in use restrain said member in at least one dimension, but allowing said elongate member to slide easily within at least one other dimension, and providing a compressive force on said sealing means to avoid any significant leakage, said restraining means adapted to in use easily disengage with said member.  
   
   
       12 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to  claim 11  wherein said restraining means is vertically adjustable upon said body portion in either a freely moveable maimer or lockable in at least one vertical position.  
   
   
       13 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to any one of claims  11  or  12  wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means, to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       14 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user comprising or including: 
 a patient interface, which in use is in fluid communication with said supply of gases,    securement means attached to or around the head of said user, and    engaging means adapted to slidingly engage said securement means with said patient interface,    restraining means on said patient interface to restrain said engaging means at least in one dimension on said patient interface, but allowing said engaging means to slide within said restraining means in at least one other dimension, said restraining means being substantially vertically adjustable on said patient interface in either a freely moveable position or locable in at least one vertical position.    
   
   
       15 . A device for delivering gases to a user according to  claim 14  wherein said engaging means is an elongate member.  
   
   
       16 . A device for delivery gases to a user according to any one of claims  14  or  15  wherein said patient interface is a nasal mask.  
   
   
       17 . A device for delivering gases to a user according to any one of  claims 14  to  16  wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means, to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       18 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user comprising or including a pressurised source of gases, transport means in fluid communication with said pressurised source adapted to convey said gases, and a nasal mask in fluid communication with said transport means, in use, delivering said gases to said user, said nasal mask comprising or including: 
 a body portion having an inlet, in use said inlet receiving a supply of gases,    sealing means engaged with said body portion, and adapted to seal against the facial contours of said user, and    engaging means adapted to in use provide a sliding engagement with a means of securement to a user, and a compressive force on said sealing means to ensure said supply of gases is delivered to a user without significant leakage,    restraining means on said body portion to restrain said engaging means at least in one dimension on said body portion, but allowing said engaging means to slide within at least one other dimension, said restraining means being substantially vertically adjustable on said body portion in either a freely moveable position or locable in at least one vertical position.    
   
   
       19 . Advice for delivering gases to a user according to  claim 18  wherein said engaging means is an elongate member.  
   
   
       20 . A device for delivering gases to a user according to any one of  claims 13  to  15  wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means, to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       21 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user comprising or including: 
 a patient interface, which in use is in fluid communication with said supply of gases,    securement means attached to or around the head of said user, and    engaging means adapted to engage said securement means with said patient interface,    wherein said securement means comprises or includes a plurality of straps that are fastened around the head of said user in order to secure said patient interface to said user's face, and at least one of said plurality of straps is slidably engaged with another of said plurality of straps.    
   
   
       22 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user according to  claim 21  wherein said patient interface is a nasal mask.  
   
   
       23 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user according to  claim 22  wherein said nasal mask comprises or includes a body portion having an inlet receiving said supply of gases, and sealing means attached to or integrated with said body portion said sealing means adapted to seal against the facial contours of said user.  
   
   
       24 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user according to any one of  claims 21  to  23  wherein said engaging means slidingly engages said securement means with said nasal mask and is adapted to allow said securement means substantial movement with respect to said nasal mask, while still providing compressive force on said sealing means to ensure said supply of gases is delivered to said user without significant leakage.  
   
   
       25 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user according to any one of  claims 21  to  24  wherein said engaging means further comprises or includes an elongate member and at least one restraining means on said patient interface, in use said member is restrained in at least one dimension by said restraining means, but allowing said member to slide easily within at least one other dimension, said restraining means adapted to in use easily disengage with said member.  
   
   
       26 . A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user according to  claim 25  wherein said restraining means is vertically adjustable upon said body portion in either a freely movable manner or lockable in at least one vertical position.  
   
   
       27 . A device for delivering a supply of gases according to any one of claims  21  to wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       28 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user comprising or including a pressurised source of gases, transport means in fluid communication with said pressurised source adapted to convey said gases, and a nasal mask in fluid communication with said transport means in use delivering said gases to said user, said nasal mask comprising or including: 
 a body portion having a inlet, in use said inlet receiving a supply of gases,    sealing means engaged with said body portion, and adapted to seal against the facial contours of said user, and    engaging means adapted to in use provide a sliding engagement with a means of securement to a user, and a compressive force on said sealing means to ensure said supply of gases is delivered to a user without significant leakage,    wherein said means of securement comprises or includes a plurality of straps, that are fastened around the head of said user in order to secure said patient interface to said user's face, and at least one of said plurality of straps is slidably engaged with another of said plurality of straps.    
   
   
       29 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to  claim 28  wherein said engaging means comprises or includes an elongate member and at least one restraining means on said body portion, in use said member is restrained in at least one dimension by said restraining means, but allowing said member to slide easily within at least one other dimension, and providing a compressive force on said sealing means to avoid any significant leakage, said restraining means adapted to in use easily disengage with said member.  
   
   
       30 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to  claim 29  wherein said restraining means is vertically adjustable adjustable upon said body portion in either a freely movable manner or lockable in at least one vertical position.  
   
   
       31 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user according to any one of claims  29  or  30  wherein said elongate member has a section along it's length that is narrower in diameter than the rest of said elongate members length, said narrower section being easily fittable into said at least one restraining means, to allow for the ease of fitting or removal of said member within said at least one restraining means.  
   
   
       32 . A device for delivering a supply of gases as herein described with the reference to  FIG. 2  and FIGS.  6  to  9 .  
   
   
       33 . A continuous positive airways pressure system for delivering gases to a user as herein described with reference to  FIG. 2  and FIGS.  6  to  9 .