Interface sizing tool and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus can be used in the selection of correctly sized respiratory interfaces. The method includes the use of light beams to project sizing markers onto a patient's face, which enables the size of the patient's facial features to be measured relative to a set of interface sizes. A sizing apparatus can include a light source and beam splitters that will refract and project the light source into a series of beams that can be aligned on a patient's face in order to measure the features of the patient.

1 . An interface sizing tool, comprising:
 a body;   a light source supported relative to the body, the light source configured to project a beam of light;   one or more light manipulation arrangements that manipulate the beam of light to project one or more markers onto the face of a patient;   wherein a location of the one or more markers corresponds to an interface size.   
     
     
         2 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more markers is a beam of light. 
     
     
         3 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein multiple light manipulation arrangements are provided. 
     
     
         4 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the beam of light from the light source passes through the multiple light manipulation arrangements, each light manipulation arrangement configured to partially manipulate the beam of light from the light source to generate the one or more markers. 
     
     
         5 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the light manipulation arrangement is a beam splitter. 
     
     
         6 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 5 , wherein each marker is generated by splitting the beam of light from the light source into the one or more markers. 
     
     
         7 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple beam splitters are spaced apart from one another on the body. 
     
     
         8 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 7 , wherein the beam splitters are shaped and spaced such that the markers are spaced a predetermined distance from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing of two or more of the multiple markers corresponds to the size of the interface. 
     
     
         10 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lens positioned in front of one or more of the beam splitters and configured to focus the marker light beam. 
     
     
         11 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein a reference marker is generated by a reference beam splitter. 
     
     
         12 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the beam splitters refract only a portion of the incident beam of light from the light source such that all of the markers are visible on the face of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the beam splitters is movable along a length of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one movable beam splitter is movable to two or more positions corresponding to two or more interface sizes. 
     
     
         15 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a track and at least one platform movable within the track, wherein the each of the at least one movable beam splitters is carried by one of the movable platforms. 
     
     
         16 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein a mechanism for moving the at least one movable beam comprises a push button, a twist knob or a sliding switch. 
     
     
         17 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a clip that permits the tool to be attached to an object by the clip. 
     
     
         18 . The interface sizing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a laser pointer or writing tip. 
     
     
         19 . A method of sizing a patient for an interface, comprising:
 projecting one or more markers generated by a light source onto the face of a patient;   determining the size of an interface to be used on the patient based on the location of the one or more markers.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the projection one or more markers comprises projecting a reference marker and at least one sizing marker. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)