Respiration mask interface seal

Abstract

A seal device or gasket assembly usable with respiration or ventilation mask systems and that is preferably at least one of adhesive or deformable. The gasket is disposed between the mask and the wearer and reduces the escape of respiration gases between the perimeter edge interface of the mask with the anatomy of the wearer and limits exposure of the epidermis located within the perimeter of the mask and between the mask and the wearer to the respiration gas flows. The mask system is particularly useful for improving communication of the respiration gases for those wearers having facial hair, abnormal dontia, and/or other abnormal facial features.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A respiration mask sealing device comprising;
 a seal body having a generally planar shape that is defined by a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side;   wherein the first side of the seal body is adapted to face toward facial anatomy of a user and includes an adhesive layer that is adapted to adhere to an epidermis of a user such that the seal body surrounds at least one respiration flow passage defined by anatomy of the user;   a backer that removably cooperates with the adhesive layer associated with the first side of the seal body such that removal of the backer exposes the adhesive for securing the adhesive layer to the epidermis of the user proximate the at least one respiration flow passage; and   wherein the second side is configured to engage a perimeter edge of a mask such that the seal body extends in a continuous manner about a perimeter edge of the mask and overlays at least a portion of the anatomy of the user that is oriented inboard of the perimeter edge of the mask and isolates an epidermis of the user that is inboard of the perimeter edge of the mask from a respiration flow within the mask.   
     
     
         2 . The respiration mask sealing device of claim I wherein the seal body is formed of a film material. 
     
     
         3 . The respiration mask sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the seal body is formed of a hydrocolloid material. 
     
     
         4 . The respiration mask sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the seal body is formed of a foam material. 
     
     
         5 . The respiration mask sealing device of  claim 1  further comprising another backer attached to the second side of the seal body and that removably cooperates with another adhesive associated with the second side of the seal body. 
     
     
         6 . The respiration mask sealing device of  claim 5  wherein the another adhesive is configured to selectively repeatedly sealingly cooperate with the perimeter edge of the mask. 
     
     
         7 . The respiration mask sealing device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the backer and another backer are split to allow selective exposure of a respective portion of the respective one of the adhesive and another adhesive when the respective at least one of the backer and another backer are removed from the seal body. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of an oral opening shaped to circumferentially surround a mouth of the user and a nasal opening shaped to overlie a nose and circumferentially surround a nasal opening of the user formed by the seal body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the seal body is deformable in a thickness direction that is oriented in a crossing direction relative to the first side and the second side of the seal body. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of a horizontal line and a medial line configured to accommodate customization of the seal device for cooperation with features unique to the user. 
     
     
         11 . An interface seal device for sealing an interface between a user and a ventilation device, the interface seal device comprising:
 a generally planar flexible seal body that is defined by a first lateral side and a second lateral side that extend on opposite sides of the seal body between a perimeter edge of the body;   an adhesive disposed along at least one lateral side of the generally planar flexible body and that is removably securable to an epidermis of a wearer and includes a backer material that is removably engaged with the adhesive; and   wherein the generally planar flexible body is shaped to cooperate with the epidermis of the wearer proximate a respiration flow passage so that the generally planar flexible body is disposed between the wearer and a perimeter edge of a mask and extends in a lateral direction inboard of the perimeter edge of the mask along the epidermis of the wearer and terminates proximate the respiration flow passage.   
     
     
         12 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  further comprising a seam formed in the removable backer material so that respective portions of the adhesive can be selectively exposed. 
     
     
         13 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  wherein the generally planar flexible body is formed of a film material. 
     
     
         14 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  wherein the generally planar flexible body is formed of a hydrocolloid material. 
     
     
         15 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  wherein the generally planar flexible body is formed of a foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  further comprising another removable backer that is engaged with another adhesive disposed on the second lateral side of the generally planar flexible body wherein the another adhesive is selectively removably securable to a perimeter edge of a mask. 
     
     
         17 . The interface seal device of  claim 11  wherein the generally planar flexible body is shaped to define at least one of a nasal passage and an oral passage through the generally planar flexible body. 
     
     
         18 . The interface seal device of  claim 17  further comprising at least one tab that is defined by the generally planar flexible seal body and which extends at an upper portion of the generally planar flexible seal body to overlap at least a portion of an eye socket of the wearer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a ventilation interface seal, method comprising:
 providing a generally planar flexible body defined by a first lateral side and a second lateral side that extend along opposite sides of the generally planar flexible body between a perimeter edge of the generally planar flexible body;   providing an adhesive associated with at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side such that the adhesive is removably securable to an epidermis of a wearer;   providing a backer material that is engaged with an adhesive and removable to expose the adhesive when the backer material is removed therefrom; and   shaping the generally planar flexible body to cooperate with the epidermis of the wearer via the adhesive proximate a respiration flow passage so that the generally planar flexible body continuously circumscribes at least one discrete respiration flow passage and is disposed between the wearer and a perimeter edge of a mask and isolates epidermis of the wearer that is within a perimeter of the mask from flows contained by the mask.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing at least one indicia on at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the generally planar flexible body wherein the at least one indicia is associated with at least one of a median line and a horizontal line of the generally planar flexible body for individualization of the generally planar flexible body to anatomic features of a discrete user.